Melanie Bartels learned a huge life lesson at Sunset Beach today:...

Melanie Bartels learned a huge life lesson at Sunset Beach today: If you don't believe in yourself, you're not going to succeed.
Fortunately for Mel, she learned it the right way. The Westside Oahu native dominated the Roxy Pro all the way from the trials, through six heats and eventually a ridiculously tight final in which she beat wunderkind Stephanie Gilmore.

And if there's anyone in women's pro surfing that needed a win like this to prove just how talented she really is, it's Melanie Bartels. For years people have been claiming that Mel is easily the best female surfer in the world. But for unidentified personal turmoil, Melanie has always lacked the drive.
Some might say it's almost as if Mel feels like she doesn't deserve to be a top pro. Yet, it may not be too late for the 23-year-old. Today's win obviously proved that she has what it takes to be the best and that is: To believe in yourself. "I'm believing in myself finally, believing in my surfing," Melanie said.

"I used to be negative and kind of discouraged and unfocused but this contest -- for some reason -- gave me that extra push and motivation I needed to stay in there and keep it going," said Mel. "I just f***ing stuck to my game and turned that negative into a positive and came out winning and it worked in every heat. I'm so fortunate man, definitely."

You could tell, in her tone of voice, that she was hungry. "I woke up every single day before this contest even started and I told myself I'm going to win one contest in Hawaii and it came true," recalled Mel. "That was my dream, winning the contest, but I didn't think it would come to this."

As she stood on the stage, accepting her award and $10,000 check, you could see just how much emotion was running through her body. "I think I was going to cry at one point," she said.

For at least an hour after being crowned the winner of the Roxy Pro, Melanie was stalked by journalists, photographers, TV crews, fans and more. Everyone wanted a piece of her. Mel's known for shying away from such attention, so this was something new. Her O'Neill team manager Karin Moran laughed in the midst of the media frenzy; "This is what happens when you win a WCT!" she said.

Despite having competed on the 'CT back in 2004 and 2005, Melanie had never even advanced past Round Three. And to come into this highly prestigious WCT event as an injury wildcard, then to go on to win the whole thing was such an amazing feat to witness from beginning to end. "I'm really, really happy for Mel," said fellow Hawaiian and finalist Rochelle Ballard. "It's just great because she has so much talent and she's such a giving, great person and has so many desires inside. It's just a matter of her unleashing them and she did today."

Unfortunately, for the other finalists, the waves lacked consistency and quality. But out of the four-woman lineup, Steph Gilmore and Mel were the only ones who managed to pull it together. The other two finalists, Chelsea Georgeson and Rochelle Ballard, found themselves at a loss when neither could bring in a score nearing three points. "I had a shocker in the final. I just had a pretty bad heat." said Chelsea who is currently looking to win her second consecutive world title at the next and final event, the Billabong Pro at Honolua Bay on Maui.

Right from the start of the final, Steph held a solid lead on Melanie. It looked like Stephanie -- who also entered this event as a wildcard -- was going to make this her third WCT win before making the WCT. But with only 14 seconds remaining in the 30-minute final, Melanie managed to get herself up and riding on a wave that would change everything. "I did know I was in the lead and I was getting pretty excited -- but Mel just bitch slapped me," Stephanie said, laughing. "I knew she only needed a six and I thought luck was going my way; the ocean had slowed down. But that one little wave came and she didn't look that interested. I could have got onto it but I kind of thought I'd leave it because there'd be another one behind it and there wasn't."

"I just turned around and heard she was getting barreled," said the Australian. "But that's competition. I'm so happy for her because she really needed it and it's such a good confidence boost for her. Hopefully she'll take it on board and next year she'll just use that and just blow up as she has been the whole event -- and just take us."

Stephanie and Melanie are just two of the new crop of surfers who'll be joining the WCT in 2007. They're going to be a real threat, come the first event at Snapper Rocks -- another legendary righthand pointbreak. "I suppose it just lets the girls on tour know we're coming and next year's going to be pretty exciting and hopefully it's just going to lift the game of everyone," commented Steph. "All the older girls will have to step it up a bit and even the younger girls. The whole level of women's surfing is just going to get pushed entirely."

Along with plenty of drama, action and insane surfing to watch next year, this was a perfect way to foreshadow what's to come. But for Melanie Bartels, this was more than just another big contest or proving ground for what she'll be bringing to the WCT next year; to Mel it was a turning point in her surfing: A new mindset towards life in general. "Something clicked and made me think positive," admitted Melanie. "I'm very happy right now and stoked on everything I'm doing. It's kinda all coming together and this might be my time. You know, everybody has their time and this is my time today and I'm stoked."

Added: December 4, 2006
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