Veteran Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Dream Tour surfer Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS/WA/Dunsborough/33 years of age) today won her fourth Drug Aware Pro at Margaret River defeating rising Hawaiian star Coco Ho (17 years old/North Shore Ohau) in clean 1.25m (3 to 4 feet) surf.
Redman-Carr’s local knowledge and experience at the break saw her select the superior waves in the final which she won comfortably with a combined top two-wave final score tally of 12.60 To Ho on 7.67.
“I have really surprised myself winning here today,” said Redman-Carr.
“The younger emerging girls here have been ripping and I was sure I’d be eliminated in the opening quarter-final today when I faced Carissa Moore (Haw); she has been the form surfer all week and I thought she’d win the event”
“The waves were really fun out there today and I’m sure my local knowledge helped out a lot” added Redman-Carr.
Redman-Carr opened with a 5.83 ride and was never seriously challenged by Ho who had difficulty finding the right waves to deliver any high scores at all.
Redman – Carr sealed the final with 3 minutes remaining when she used her priority on a clean righthand breaking wave, scoring the finals top scoring ride of a 6.77.
That left Ho chasing a very difficult 8.10 and with no waves in the final few minutes the 2009 Drug Aware title was Redman-Carr’s.
Redman- Carr’s experience includes finishing second on the ASP World Tour on two occasions, the last time in 2006 and she officially retired from full time professional surfing this year following the birth of her daughter Willow last year.
Being a local girl with an affinity to the surf here at Margaret River she accepted a wildcard into this event and went on to win $US 4000 in prize money.
In today’s semi-finals, Coco Ho defeated Paige Hareb (NZ), the Drug Aware Pro defending champion while Redman Carr was too strong for Peru’s Sofia Mulanovich.
The Men’s Drug Aware Pro is down to the final 16 surfers with both WA surfer Jay Davies (Yallingup) and Luke Campbell (Trigg Point) progressing through.
Depending on conditions, organizers are considering running the round of 16 Drug Aware Men’s this afternoon which will leave quarter-finals through to final to be surfed tomorrow.
Tomorrow’s waves are expected to remain clean and good for the Drug Aware Men’s final which should finish around 2 pm.
At the time of writing the following round of 16 heats are awaiting to be surfed – Australian unless otherwise stated.
1. Daniel Ross v Paulo Moura (BRA)
2. Brandon Jackson (ZAF) v Owen Wright
3. Luke Munro v Aritz Aranburu (Spain)
4. Brett Simpson (USA) v Warick Wright (ZAF)
5. Jay Thompson v Jay Davies
6. Luke Campbell v Dion Atkinson
7. Blake Thornton v Pablo Paulino (BRA
8. Jack Perry v Adam Melling