Hawaii is finally back on the Women’s WCT tour for 2014. Photo: ASP/SCHOLTZ

The ASP have just confirmed the very welcome addition of a WCT event at the revered Hawaiian break of Honolua Bay, the event slotting into the current schedule as the final venue on the women’s world tour. The waiting period will run from November 24 through December 6, in parallel to the men’s final WQS event at Sunset Beach. With the further addition of Fiji and Trestles to this year’s women’s tour, this latest piece of news now rounds up the schedule to a very respectable 10 legs.

“Maui will always hold a special place in my heart,” five-time ASP champ Steph Gilmore said. “It’s where I clinched my first world title and Honolua Bay was very good to me over the years. It’s a world-class wave and befitting of the talent we have on tour this season. What a fantastic way to end the year.”

Sure enough, before it was axed in 2010 because the ASP were unable to find another sponsor to replace Billabong, Gilmore dominated the last years of the event with her winning there three years running in ’07, ’08, and ’09 so she’ll no doubt be feeling confident about Maui’s gem returning to the tour.

That said Hawaii’s reigning two-time world champ Carissa Moore, who only surfed the event as a wildcard back in 2009, certainly won’t be upset about the news either. And with the women’s WCT predominantly being held in beachbreaks over previous years, you can bet all the girls will be amping to step it up a level at this year’s additional reef breaks on tour.

2014 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour Schedule

Roxy Pro Gold Coast: March 1 – 12, 2014
Margaret River Pro: April 2 – 13, 2014
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach: April 16 – 27, 2014
Rio Women’s Pro: May 7 – 18, 2014
Fiji Women’s Pro: May 25 – 30, 2014
Vans US Open of Surfing: July 27 – August 3, 2014
Trestles Women’s Pro: September 9 – 20, 2014
Hossegor Women’s Pro: September 23 – 29, 2014
Cascais Women’s Pro: October 1 – 7, 2014
Maui Women’s Pro: November 24 – December 6, 2014