Beachley’s swan song

It's only fitting that Layne Beachley ends her 20-year professional surfing career at Honolua Bay, where she has clinched five of her record seven world titles.

Beachley and the other Association of Surfing Professionals competitors arrive on Maui today for the eighth and final ASP event of the year, the $85,000 Billabong Pro. The contest, which has a 12-day holding period, could start Monday, surf permitting.

Beachley has been crowned world champion on the Honolua cliff five times, and has had a great time surfing the ''Cave'' surfbreak.

''I have lasting memories, 10-foot barreling waves will be impregnated in my memory bank for the rest of my life,'' Beachley said.

The day she won her final title in 2006 featured 20-foot wave faces at Honolua, and Beachley had the highest two-wave score of the day.

''It was the most amazing day I've ever had the pleasure of surfing,'' she said.

That was even more memorable than the day in 2003 when she received her first and only perfect ''10'' score for a double-barrel ride at the cave.

''That was pretty solid,'' Beachley said. ''Fortunately I've got that one on tape, I get to watch it all the time.''

Still some would question why the 36-year-old from Manly, Australia, would quit the tour. She won her seventh world title just two years ago, and is currently fourth. She has reached the semifinals in four of the seven ASP events this year.

''It's a combination of things, my priorities have shifted,'' Beachley said. ''I want to retire while I'm still at the top of my game. I wanted to leave on my own terms instead of being kicked out.''

Last week Beachley became engaged to rocker Kirk Pengilly of the band INXS. They plan to live

in Manly, a resort town north of Sydney.

''My whole life has been dictated by the ASP schedule,'' Beachley said. ''I'm looking forward to staying in one place, staying home and face responsibilities.''

Those responsibilities include her involvement in Beachley Athletic, an activewear clothing line distributed at K-Marts in Australia, and various foundations and charities she helps to support. She is also the figurehead for the Beachley Classic, the contest with the biggest women's purse on the ASP tour.

Ironically, despite having a record 29 ASP career wins, she has never raised the Honolua trophy over her head.

''It will be good to have a swan song at Honolua Bay, I'm looking forward to it,'' Beachley said. ''It's an ideal way to head out. Although victory has eluded me the last 10 years, maybe this year I can bring home the pineapple.''

Billabong Pro notes:

Beachley is leading the Vans Triple Crown after two events. The other two events were on Oahu: the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa, and the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach.

The winner of the Billabong Pro trials heat will earn one of the 18 spots in the main event. Competitors include Paige Hareb, of New Zealand; Lani Doherty, of Wailuku; Monyca Byrne-Wickey, of Hana; Melissa Proud, of Paia; and Alana Hendrickson, of Lahaina. The other spot will go to the winner of women's pro-am division at the Hi-Tech / Lopez / Split Surfbash at Hookipa on Sunday.

Stephanie Gilmore, of Australia, won her second consecutive world title when she won the Roxy Pro. It was her fourth victory of the year, and she leads the tour with $61,500 in prize money. She is also the defending Honolua champion, defeating 2006 champion, Jessica Miley-Dyer in the final.

Honolulu's Carissa Moore, the winner of the Reef Hawaiian Pro, is a junior at Punahou School, and at 16, is the youngest to ever win a triple crown event. She is scheduled to compete in the Surfbash on Sunday.