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SEIGNOSSE, France
(Monday, Sept. 4, 2006) – Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), the reigning ASP Women’s
World Champion, has defended her Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle title today with a
win over current world No. 1 Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) at Les Bourdaines today. 
Georgeson
remains third on the ASP ratings, but has lessened the gap between her and world
No. 2 Layne Beachley (AUS). Redman-Carr who fell to second in the world last week,
is back on top after her runner-up finish to Georgeson. “I’m
just happy to have my first win this year.” Georgeson said. “It feels
like forever since my last win at Maui. It’s definitely been a hard start
to the year, because Mel’s just been on fire. She won the first three contests
of the year and there hasn’t been a whole lot of room for anyone else up
there at the top. At the same time, it’s really good competition.” 
Georgeson
commanded today’s thirty-minute all-Australian final, leaving Redmann-Carr
needing a combination of two excellent scoring waves to overtake her. This marks
Georgeson’s third ASP Women’s World Tour victory in France – her
first was in 2003. “France has always been a really special
place for me,” Georgeson said. “I love coming here, I love the people
and the place. To come first here again feels really good and hopefully next year
I can make it three in a row." 
Though
no easy task, the current world champ is still mathematically capable of defending
her world crown. She will, however, need to win at least two of the three remaining
events on this year’s tour. "Right now, each contest
is about trying to get a win because that’s all I can do to get the world
title back and that’s what it’s going to take to get it back,”
Georgeson said. “You can’t win it with seconds and thirds, it’s
going to takes firsts at the moment. I’ve only got one win, Mel’s got
three, but hopefully I can do this in the next three contests – just do what
I did here, be really focused and hope everything comes together for me." 
Things
have definitely been coming together for Redman-Carr. Her result today marks her
fourth podium finish in five events. Though she was decidedly beaten by Georgeson
in the final, the 33-year-old Western Australian leaves France in a commanding
position. "I was really happy to make it into the finals;
I had already regained my ratings lead at that point, but I didn’t really
feel like I was in the final – I just felt like I was drifting around out
there,” Redman-Carr said. “Chelsea got the best waves today and I probably
missed one or two. I just mistimed them, so it was just quite boring for me out
there – I was just drifting around out there hoping it would end." 
Redman-Carr
eliminated Silvana Lima (BRA) en route to the final in much the same fashion.
Lima, who has had an excellent rookie season, only caught three waves during their
semifinal heat. "The waves were good, but I couldn’t
catch them because I was paddling for the wrong ones.” Lima said. “It
was a good heat but luck was definitely on Mel’s side, not mine. Overall
it was a good experience, getting another third place is a good result for me.
I just hope I can do better next time. I’m gaining experience on the WCT
and am in a good position on the ratings – I’m focused and hoping to
keep doing well." Jessi Miley-Dyer, current world No.
4 and the ASP Women’s World Tour’s only other 2006 rookie, was beaten
by Georgeson in their semifinal heat after only catching one wave. “I’m
stoked just to make it through to the semis and get another strong result,”
Miley-Dyer said. “Chels surfed really good and when people surf really well
like that, you can’t really do much about it. Maybe if I’d caught two
waves I could have given myself a better chance!” The
next event on the 2006 ASP Women’s World Tour is the Havaianas Beachley Classic
in Sydney, Australia in October. FINAL: 1st earns US$10,000,
2nd earns US$6,000
Final: Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) 15.65 def. Melanie Redman-Carr
(AUS) 10.25 SEMIFINALS: 1st advances to Final, 2nd finishes
equal 3rd and earns US$4,250 Semifinal 1: Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 11.00 def.
Silvana Lima (BRA) 2.30 Semifinal 2: Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) 13.75 def. Jessi
Miley-Dyer (AUS) 5.00 ASP Women’s World Tour Ratings After
the Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle
1. Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 4752 points
2.
Layne Beachley (AUS) 4452 points
3. Chelsea Georgeson 4044 points
4. Jessi
Miley-Dyer (AUS) 2808 points
5. Silvana Lima (BRA) 2796 points
6. Rebecca
Woods (AUS) 2580 points
7. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 2568 points
8. Heather
Clark (ZAF) 2388 points
9. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 2376 points
10. Rochelle
Ballard (HAW) 2196 points
10. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 2196 points
12. Megan
Abubo (HAW) 2184 points
12. Keala Kennelly (HAW) 2184 points
13. Julia
Christian (USA) 1992 points
15. Trudy Todd (AUS) 1632 points
16. Jacqueline
Silva (BRA) 1440 points
17. Serena Brooke (AUS) 1260 points | 
