Boardom: Whos Hot - Layne Beachley

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The thrill is in the ride

What's New	Who's Hot: Layne Beachley Following years of disappointment and second place finishes to Lisa Andersen in 1995 and 1997 Australian Layne Beachley officially won her first ASP world surfing title in France in August 1998. Layne won a total of five World Championship Tour (WCT) event victories in a season of 11 tournaments, won by the greatest points margin in the history of the sport (2,420 points) and claimed the most contest earnings ever for single season for women ($75,300). That was more prize money than 43 of the world’s top 44 men earned in ’98. She capped a brilliant year with a successful defense of her Hawaiian Triple Crown championship. Layne’s grand entrance into competitive surfing came at age 15 in the scholastic titles. It was 1987, and on the other side of the world, 22-year-old South African Wendy Botha was claiming her first of four world surfing titles. While in 10th grade at Mackellar Girls High, Layne entered and won the regional scholastic title that gave her a place among the state of New South Wales’ best school-girl surfers. She went on to win at the state level before placing fifth in the nationals. It was a victorious beginning to a surfing career that would encompass a multitude of firsts around the globe. Layne’s first World Tour victory came in 1993, the year that she celebrated her 21st birthday and the year that 23-year-old Pauline Menzer won the world title. In true Beachley style, Layne went big, winning none other than the coveted Diet Coke Surf Classic at North Narrabeen, Australia. "I was shocked!" Beachley says, looking back. "But I had trained so hard for it that I knew I was going to win. It was a shock, but such a relief… and exciting. More relief than anything, to have finally won an event. Much like how it felt to win the world title."
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After wrestling with disappointment, self-doubt, fatigue, burnout and waning motivation, it all finally came together for Beachley in her eighth full season on tour. Having targeted the world title for years, and having fancied herself as a world champion but never quite doing it, finally winning the crown was like laying her hands on the Holy Grail. "My shoulders sank to about my knees after winning in Hossegor and then sealing it in Lacanau," says Layne. "It was like, ‘Thank God it’s over,’ because now I can claim myself as being a world champion rather than just talking about wanting to be.

Date of Birth: May 24, 1972
Years on Tour: 9
Highest Rating: 1 (1998)
1998 WCT Victories: 5
1998 WQS Victories: 0
Career WCT Victories: 14
1998 Earnings: US $75,300
Career Earnings: US $249,285
Personal Details
Height: 5’5"
Stance: Natural
Wave Preferences: 6-8 feet rights, 3-4 feet left and rights peaks
Favorite Breaks: Sunset, North Steyne, Reunion Island, Kong’s-G-Land
Trademark Moves: Go-for-it approach and big wave riding
Favorite Food: Mexican, Italian, Vegetarian
Interests Outside of Surfing: Tennis, Football, Music and working on TV