Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, has won the 2008 Billabong Girls Pro Rio, defeating fellow finalist Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 25, in rifling four foot (1.5 metre) barrels at Barra da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro today.

Stormy surf in the five foot (1.5 metre) range was on offer this morning at Barra da Tijuca in Rio De Janeiro, but heavy rains and onshore winds forced event organizers at the Billabong Girls Pro Rio to call another lay day today.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Sunday, September 14, 2008) – Small surf in the one-to-two foot (0.5) metre range and onshore winds have forced event organizers at the Billabong Girls Pro Rio to call another lay day today.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Thursday, September 11, 2008) – The Billabong Girls Pro Rio is back on this morning with the elimination Round 2 and potentially Round 3 running in improved, glassy two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Barra da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro.

Round 1 of the Billabong Girls Pro Rio was completed today in challenging two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf at Barra da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro, and despite the onshore and inconsistent conditions, the ASP Top 17 lit up the playful beachbreaks to post some solid scores.

The waiting period for the 2008 Billabong Girls Pro Rio is just days from commencing and the world’s best female surfers are descending upon the idyllic beaches of Barra de Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro for stop No. 4 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour.

The ASP Top 17 will return to Brazil this coming week to prepare for the Billabong Girls Pro Rio, event No 4 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, and with the race for the ASP Women’s World Title in full swing, the performance levels are sure to be heightened in the playful beachbreaks of Barra de Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.