Congrats Courtney on your first WCT Win!!!

HSS & Billabong team surfer Courtney Conlogue, 19, has just claimed victory at the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic at Dee Why beach in Sydney, Australia. This was Conlogue's first win on the elite Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour, an achievement that earned the Santa Ana, California native a check for $30,000 and boosted her to fourth place in the global ratings.

Conlogue's ratings ascent was assisted by early exits from the event by the current Women's World No. 1 and 2, Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons. The Australian powerhouses both finished equal fifth in the Commonweath Bank competition.

"I'm speechless right now!" Conlogue said following the final heat. "It's been two years on the ASP Women's World Championship Tour where I kept losing in the Quarterfinals. Then today after winning my Quarterfinal I just tried to go and win the thing...I'm really stoked to have won this event! I love Steph and Sally and to have them chair me up the beach was absolutely amazing!"

Conlogue beat Hawaiian Malia Manuel in the head-to-head final in tricky two- to three-foot surf at the Dee Why contest, an event run by seven-time world champion Layne Beachley. The up-and-coming California surfer produced one of the top scores of the event - a 9.0 out of a possible 10 - en route to defeating Fitzgibbons in the quarters.

The Sydney win comes as a follow-up to Conlogue capturing first place at the 6-star Telstra Drug Aware Pro at Western Australia's Margaret River in spectacular surf in March, her second consecutive victory in that event.

Next up for Courtney is the Billabong Rio Pro in May, one of three remaining events on the women's ASP WCT schedule for 2012.

Several of us here at HSS scored on an early season swell over in the Mentawais. The crew included: Taylor, AJ, Ryan M., Trevor, and Aaron Pai.  We got to surf a bunch of different waves, and were treated to some great surf - and equally great hospitality.  Big thanks to Riley Cooney and Dave Collyer for the photographs.  (Please click on the picture above to see the slideshow)

Find these items that Kelli Woo is wearing at: http://www.hsssurf.com/catalog/product/view/id/146634/s/billabong-ven-aqui-l-s-mesh-top/category/686/

What a man.  The clip of him sitting on the ledge is amazing.

By The Way from Hayley Gordon on Vimeo.

Congrats to both Kanoa and Tbone on their finish at the uppers.  Nice!

Enjoy da weekend!

<3 HSS crew

Now through Monday, save 15% off your purchase at HSSsurf.com.  Simply enter the coupon code: president at checkout to apply this savings to your order.  Please note, this offer is not valid on surfboards, wetsuits, sale items, or in-store.

Have a great holiday weekend!

HSSsurf.com Crew

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HSSsurf.com crew