Who is Steph Gilmore...? A tree-hugging hippie; a receptionist;...

Who is Steph Gilmore...? A tree-hugging hippie; a receptionist; a skater girl; a seamstress; a bum; a pervert...? Nope. She's just a damn good surfer.

teph Gilmore is the most talked about athlete in women's surfing. Still a teenager and only just finished high school, Steph has already done more than most of us can dream...

After learning to stand on a bodyboard at the double-digit age of 10, Steph fell in love with the freedom of surfing. She rates "everyone that surfs" as an inspiration and loves travelling her country and the world on Rip Curl Search trips.

Steph is the girl everyone believes will push women's surfing beyond the boundaries and no matter whether you've seen her in videos or watched her at Snapper one hundred times, her advanced style impresses with something new every time she's in the water.

Steph had an unbelievable year in 2005, headlined by her world famous win at Snapper Rocks (Australia) in the opening WCT of the ASP Season.

Steph, then aged 17, was given entry to the event Trials (because she's a local) and after winning the Wildcard entry into the WCT main event, went about beating the reigning world champion Sofia Mulanovich (twice), world #9 Samanth Cornish, six-time world champion Layne Beachley and 2004 Rip Curl Malibu Pro champion Megan Abubo on her way to the title.

"Holy cow," said Steph, on the podium in front of her hometown crowd. "My whole body's just like jelly... I'm just so happy!"
The WCT success didn't stop there for Steph though, as she went on to win a further three Wildcard WCT spots out of five attempts.

From the Gold Coast, the women's WCT moved on to Bells Beach in southern Australia for the SPC Fruit Pro. Unfortunately for Steph she missed the available Wildcard, losing a close final to Rip Curl team mate Jessi Miley-Dyer at Gunnamatta Beach.

The Tour then shifted to Tavarua, Fiji, where Steph suited up in the Trials competition again. Unlike Bells, Tavarua was kind to Steph and she won through into the main event.

It was the same story at the Rip Curl Venus Festival WCT in Hossegor, France in June and then again at the Rip Curl Malibu Pro in the USA in October.

All of this top level exposure will be invaluable for Steph, for in 2006 her studies are no more and she's concentrating on qualifying for the WCT through the World Qualifying Series.

On top of her WCT results, Steph also had a great season in the junior ranks. It was a case of déjà vu for the ever-smiling Australian when she won the gold medal and back-to-back world titles in the Under 18 Girls division at this year's ISA World Championships.

"There has been a lot of learning," said Gilmore.

Added: July 13, 2008
Producer: Rip Curl
Copyright: Rip Curl
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