Now that the women’s qualifying season culminated with the ASP 6-Star SATA Airlines Azores Pro last weekend, the ASP Top 17 surfers have been confirmed for 2013. The 2013 ASP Top 17 is comprised of the top 10 finishers on the 2012 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) rankings, the next six finishers from ASP Women’s World Rankings, and the ASP Wildcard.

Among the new crop of surfers, there is really only one “new” face, and that is 19 year-old Bianca Buitendag of Victoria Bay, South Africa. Bianca, a Roxy team rider, has numerous South African national titles under her belt and won the ASP 2011 World Junior Championships.

The other 15 women have all re-qualified from past stints on tour.

There is still the one wildcard spot to be determined by the ASP, but this will not be decided until the women compete again for the Roxy Pro Gold Coast in February 2013.

The Top 10 qualifiers from 2012 ASP Women’s WCT Rankings are:
- Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
- Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
- Carissa Moore (HAW)
- Tyler Wright (AUS)
- Courtney Conlogue (USA)
- Malia Manuel (HAW)
- Lakey Peterson (USA)
- Laura Enever (AUS)
- Coco Ho (HAW)
- Paige Hareb (NZL)

The Top 6 qualifiers from the ASP Women’s World Ranking are:
- Sage Erickson (USA)
- Bianca Buitentag (ZAF)
- Pauline Ado (FRA)
- Rebecca Woods (AUS)
- Alana Blanchard (HAW)
- Sofia Mulanovich (PER)

Stephanie Gilmore won the 2012 crown in France in the summer, regaining the title from 2011 champ Carissa Moore.

Congratulations, ladies. Which one of these amazing women do you think has 2013 all wrapped up?

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com.