13-11-2008  BILLABONG PRO MAUI PRESS POINTS

Event:  Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines
Dates:  December 8-20, 2008
Location: Honolua Bay, Maui

Sponsors:
Hawaiian Airlines (Presenting Sponsor)
Kapalua
Verizon Wireless
Dollar Rent A Car
Sony
Smart Water

10 Year Anniversary!

Final event on the 2008 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), Women's World Tour - the elite level of competition.

Billabong Pro Maui decides the 2008 Women’s World Champion

Billabong Pro Maui crowns the 2008 Triple Crown Winner

Billabong Athletes competing in Billabong Pro Maui are:
Silvana Lima (Brazil);
Rebecca Woods (Aus);
Nicola Atherton (Aus);
Billabong Pro Maui Trials wild card = Paige Hareb (New Zealand) - Billabong Athlete.  Will compete in the trials to hopefully secure the lone wildcard into the ASP women’s world tour event.

The 2008 Billabong Pro Maui will be Layne Beachley’s last and final tour event.  Layne is retiring from the ASP Women’s World Tour.

Billabong Pro Maui is part of the VANS TRIPLE CROWN OF SURFING: The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing showcases the world's top pro female surfers in three Hawaiian tournaments that run concurrently with the men's Series.   The WQS at Haleiwa, the Sunset Beach women’s world tour event and the Billabong Pro Maui will collectively determine the 2008 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing champion.  

Prize Purse: $85,000 USD

Billabong Pro Maui Trialists : One main event wildcard will be awarded to the winner of the Billabong Pro Maui Trials featuring six surfers.

Competitors and event staff will be participating in  the Honolua reforestation project to help restore the land above the bay back to its native ecosystem.

Donovan Frankenreiter will be performing live at the Billabong Pro Maui Opening dinner at The Ritz Carlton Kapalua on December 7.