GALLAZ PRO - HAWAIIAN KEALA KENNELLY WINS GALLAZ WOMEN'S PRO

Teahupoo, Tahiti (Thursday, May 11, 2000). Hawaiian Keala Kennelly, 21, took out her first World Championship Tour (WCT) event today at a venue she openly admits as being her favorite. Despite injuring herself on her last wave during the semi-finals, Kennelly persevered to claim her second title at Teahupoo against Australian Serena Brooke (her first win in 1998 was during a World Qualifying Series (WQS) event).

Surfing four different rounds today in conditions ranging from 4ft-and-perfect to the climax in moderately wind-effected 3ft waves, Kennelly posted the two highest total heat scores of the event (the highest being 25.65 out of a possible 30-points), as well as six out-of-the top seven single scoring rides, including two perfect 10-point rides. Along the way, however, she also suffered some of the heaviest wipeouts and hurt her right hip and leg quite substantially.

Today's win moves the WCT rookie up into equal second position on the world ratings, next to fellow Hawaiian Megan Abubo, and only 230 points behind current two-time world champion Layne Beachley (Aus).

"The final was really anti-climatic, I literally didn't have a leg to stand on and I was trying to do whatever I could to win," explained an exuberant Kennelly on the boat ride back from the lineup after the final. "I tried so hard to get there and nothing was going to stop me. If I didn't win I would have been so pissed, but I mean, honestly, coming here is like winning already. The trophy and the money is just a bonus, I just love it here. Every time I go away from here I just want to come back, and when I get here I don't want to leave. Eventually I'll have to buy a house here (laughs)."

Talking about the injury she suffered at the end of the semi-final, Kennelly added:

"I was doing alright and then I just took a really late drop and did the splits and then the lip landed on my head and I thought my leg was broken. Luckily I could stand on it long enough to win the final. I couldn't even turn in the final, I was just trying to stand there and get a barreled if I could. It was really hard and I was in a lot of pain.

Brooke, 24, was disappointed she couldn't find any better waves during the 40-minute final, but pleased to finish second, nonetheless, after finishing third in last year's event. The world number two has had a poor start to the year, so today's result gives her a much-needed confidence boost.

"I was pretty much just sitting there most of time, nothing was really coming," she said. There were some sets bombing before the final as we were waiting for it to start, but I'm happy with second. I was basically just sticking to the plan of not throwing myself over the falls just to go, I was waiting for the waves I could do maneuvers on, or waves that were going to hold up. Basically, I was just trying to be patient out there and not go stupid ones.

"I surfed against Keala in the first round and she got something like three 8's and then I surfed against her in the final and she beat me both times. But for me I was just happy to do one better than last year. I made the semis then, so I wanted to at least make the final this year, so I'm happy with that.

Defending event champion Kate Skarratt (Aus) was another standout today, being eliminated by Kennelly in their semi-final. Despite being advised by the event doctors not to re-enter the surf after suffering a mild concussion during the quarter-finals when she was hit by her surfboard, Skarratt decided to paddle out in a gallant, yet vain effort to make the final again.

"I'm just disappointed I didn't make the final, but I tried really hard," she reasoned afterward. "I'm not feeling the best, but I really wanted to give it my best. My board hit me when I pulled into a barrel, and they (the doctors) said I was concussed. I'm feeling a lot better now, just a little bit dizzy. It was a really big day and I wished they would have held the semi-finals and final another day, as it was getting a little bit windy, but it was great to see all of the girls surfing really well."

South African Heather Clark also finished third today, losing to Brooke in their match-up. Clark, a newcomer to the WCT in 2000, has started her year in great form, with two thirds already, out of only three starts.

"I felt really relaxed out there today," Clark admitted. "I was a little bit nervous with some of the sets coming through, as it's the first time I've surfed in Tahiti. But there were some good barrels out there and I got some this morning, which I was really stoked with. Serena got the better waves though, and deserved to win.

With the next WCT event in her homeland of South Africa, Clark is excited about finally getting to compete at the famed Jeffrey's Bay.

"Every year for the last three years I've been wanting to get the wildcard position at J-Bay, but Billabong always give it to their riders," she added. "Now I don't have to worry about a wildcard and I can just relax an surf J-Bay."

Beachley, 27, who was beaten today in the quarter-finals by Clark, said she was pleased with her eventual decision to compete at Teahupoo, having originally opted to miss the event due to being intimidated by the treacherous wave's setup.

"My whole reason for coming here was to secure my rating and fortunately the two girls who were sitting on and behind me both lost in the round before me," she explained. "It's a little disappointing, but Heather was surfing incredibly well. I actually thought I had the heat, but then I realized I didn't (laughs). But not only did I secure my lead, I extended it and also confronted my fears of this wave and feel a lot better about surfing here now."

Official Results of the Gallaz Women's Pro held at Teahupoo 1st K. Kennelly (Haw) - US$6,000 2nd S. Brooke (Aus) - US$3,000 =3rd K. Skarratt (Aus); H. Clark (SAfr) - US$2,100 =5th L. Beachley (Aus); R. Ballard (Haw); M. Redman (Aus); L. Andersen (USA) - US$1,700