(Sunday, October 31, 2010) – The Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search Puerto Rico opened today up with Round 3 of competition in punchy two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at the primary site of Porta Del Sol.
The 2010 ASP Women’s World Title Race is still on with current ASP Women’s World No. 1 Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, and current ASP Women’s World No. 2 Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 19, advancing through to the Quarterfinals. Gilmore posted a solid victory over dangerous wildcard Pauline Ado (FRA), 19, pushing her one step closer to an unprecedented fourth, consecutive ASP Women’s World Title.
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 19, current ASP Women’s World No. 2, is now the sole remaining contender for the 2010 ASP Women’s World Title, and handily won her Round 3 bout against rookie Nikita Robb (ZAF), 21. Gilmore’s Round 3 win knocks rookie Carissa Moore (HAW), 18, out of ASP Women’s World Title contention, but the young Hawaiian remained positive following a close Round 3 victory over Day 1 standout Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), 27.
“I’m just focusing on the events right now,” Moore said. “Steph (Gilmore) and Sally (Fitzgibbons) are incredible surfers and I’m just happy to be having a good year. I missed Peru to attend my graduation (High School) and I don’t regret it at all. I just want to finish the year strong now that I’m 100% focused on the tour. It’s beautiful in Puerto Rico and I’m really thankful to Rip Curl for having the girls here.”

For Gilmore to clinch her fourth ASP Women’s World Title at the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search Puerto Rico, the following scenarios must occur:
- If Gilmore finishes Equal 3rd or better, she clinches the 2010 ASP Women’s World Title.
- If Gilmore finishes Equal 5th, Fitzgibbons needs to win the event to send the 2010 ASP Women’s World Title Race to Hawaii.
- Essentially, if Fitzgibbons fails to finish higher than Equal 3rd in the event, Gilmore will clinch the 2010 ASP Women’s World Title. Concurrently, if Gilmore advances through the Quarterfinals (one more heat), she will clinch the 2010 ASP Women’s World Title.

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH PUERTO RICO ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 7.56 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 7.03
Heat 2: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 10.67 def. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 10.60
Heat 3: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 11.94 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.70
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.57 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 12.26
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.83 def. Nikita Robb (ZAF) 7.40
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW) 13.17 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 8.06
Heat 7: Carissa Moore (HAW) 10.00 def. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 7.87
Heat 8: Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.73 def. Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 9.17

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH PUERTO RICO QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Lee Ann Curren (FRA) vs. Chelsea Hedges (AUS)
QF 2: Melanie Bartels (HAW) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
QF 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Coco Ho (HAW)
QF 4: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)