Quiksilver Pro 27.2.08

Posted by admin on February 28th, 2008 filed in Surf contest video, Surf videos from our friends

• HAWAIIAN IRONS ON FIRE
• AUSSIE ACE BUCHAN BACK FROM INJURY
• WILDCARD WILSON DRAWS FANNING IN ROUND THREE
  SURFING PIONEER MARK WARREN INDUCTED INTO AUSTRALIAN SURFING HALL OF FAME

Three-times world surfing champion Andy Irons (Kauai, Haw) blasted back into contention at the season-opening Quiksilver Pro presented by LG, dominating his round two heat over Tahitian wildcard Tamaroa McComb at Snapper Rocks on Australia’s Gold Coast today.

 

After a three-day break, the ASP Top 45 hit the Snapper lineup for men’s ASP world tour action in clean 1-metre plus (3-4ft) point break waves.

 

Irons was on fire in the morning’s low tide conditions, posting the day’s top wave score (9.7), to leave 16 year-old McComb with no come-back.

 

World no.6 Irons is now on track to win his first Gold Coast Quiksilver Pro crown after finishing with a two-wave combined heat total of a 16.37 (out of a possible 20)  to McComb’s 5.90.

 

Irons has struggled in his last three world tour outings, only advancing past round two on one occasion, but today he emerged as a serious threat to the men’s title.

 

Joining Irons in round three is Australian wildcard Julian Wilson (Coolum, Qld), who bundled out world no.7 Pancho Sullivan (Sunset Beach, Haw) in the second heat of the day.

 

19-year-old Wilson showcased the form that saw him defeat eight-times world champion Kelly Slater (Florida, USA) in round one at last year’s event, unleashing a slick performance to outpoint Sullivan (13.23) with a 14.00 heat total.

 

Wilson will now meet world no.1 Mick Fanning (Coolangatta, Qld, Aus) in a highly anticipated round three showdown.

 

It has been a whirlwind 12 months for the Sunshine Coast teenager whose enormous talent was acknowledged when he became the youngest-ever recipient of the industry’s coveted Breakthrough Performer of the Year award.

 

But Wilson knows he will have to rise above his nerves to outperform defending champion and Snapper star Fanning in the “heat of the event”.

 

NSW, Avoca ripper Adrian Buchan (Avoca, NSW, Aus) proved he has put his injury riddled past behind him, scoring the day’s highest combined heat score (17.17) en route to defeating Brazilian Jihad Khodr (Parana).

 

Buchan, who has been hampered by an ankle injury in the last two seasons, returned to top form today, shredding the Snapper line-up to pieces with a polished brand of backhand mastery to book himself a spot in the third round. 

 

Other Aussies also advancing through to round three include Tom Whitaker (Bronte, NSW, Aus), Kieren Perrow (Byron Bay, NSW, Aus) and Jay Thompson (Burleigh Heads, Qld, Aus).

 

Whittaker disposed of world tour debutant and good mate Dan Ross (Yamba, NSW, Aus), whilst Perrow edged out former world no.2 Michael Campbell (Port Macquarie, NSW, Aus).  Thompson progressed automatically via the withdrawal of Hawaiian Fred Pattachia, who injured his leg surfing Pipeline on Hawaii’s North Shore.

 

Tour debutant Aritz Aranburu (Zarautz, EUK) was another surfer forced to withdraw due to injury, allowing Brazil’s Neco Padaratz (Santa Catarina) to advanced through to round three. The Basque rookie currently receiving medical treatment for a leg injury.

 

Former world champion C.J. Hobgood (Florida, USA) narrowly avoided elimination today, overcoming a nervous start to just outpoint tour newcomer Nic Muscroft (Torquay, Vic, Aus).

 

On the back foot in the opening stages of the sudden death heat, world no.11 Hobgood bounced back to record a 12.16 total to Muscroft’s 12.00.

 

Californian Ben Bourgeois backed up Hobgood as a round two winner.

 

2007 Rookie of the Year Jeremy Flores (Reunion Island) flew the flag for European surfers, ousting good friend and Tahitian charger Michel Bourez in their sudden death man-on-man heat.

 

In a low-scoring affair, 19-year-old Flores squeezed past Bourez with a 10.83 total.

 

Both surfers head a new wave of Europeans competing in the elite world tour.

 

Conditions will be re-accessed at 7am tomorrow morning as to whether to stage round three of the Quiksilver Pro presented by LG or the women’s round three of the Roxy Pro presented by LG.

 

Shot List: 

00.00.00 Cutaways

00.00.30 Andy Irons (Kauai, Haw) setup (red jersey)

00.00.35 Andy Irons (Kauai, Haw) surfing (red jersey)

00.01.06 Andy Irons (Kauai, Haw) signs autographs (red jersey)

00.01.13 Andy Irons (Kauai, Haw) post heat IV (red jersey)

00.01.28 Julian Wilson (Coolum, Aus) surfing (black jersey)

00.02.18 Julian Wilson (Coolum, Aus) post heat IV (black jersey)

00.02.37 Jeremy Flores (Reunion Island) setup (red jersey)

00.02.42 Jeremy Flores (Reunion Island) surfing (red jersey)

00.02.59 Jeremy Flores (Reunion Island) post heat IV (red jersey)

00.03.28 CJ Hobgood (Florida, USA) setup (red jersey)

00.03.35 CJ Hobgood (Florida, USA) surfing (red jersey)

00.03.51 CJ Hobgood (Florida, USA) post heat IV (red jersey)

00.04.12 Nic Muscroft (Torquay, VIC, Aus) surfing (black jersey)

00.04.35 Tom Whittaker (Bronte, NSW, Aus) surfing (red jersey)

00.04.57 Kieren Perrow (Byron Bay, NSW, Aus) surfing (black jersey)

00.05.27 Adrian Buchan (Avoca, NSW, Aus) surfing (red jersey)

00.06.02  Adrian Buchan (Avoca, NSW, Aus) surfing (red jersey)

 

23rd ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN SURFING AWARDS

MARK WARREN INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME

Award vision slated – no shot list required.

 

Surfing pioneer Mark Warren (Avalon, NSW, Aus) was honoured as the 2008 Hall of Fame Inductee at the 23rd annual Australian Surfing Awards at Twin Town Services Club in Coolangatta last night.

 

Warren’s varied and successful careers within surfing span three decades. A ‘70s pro surfer – a media sports personality in the ‘80’s – National Coach and ASP Tour representative in the ‘90’s.

Warren the 1970 NSW Junior Champion from Narrabeen went onto become one of the worlds first pro surfers winning numerous contests including the 1976 Smirnoff World Pro-Am at Sunset Beach, Hawaii and The Duke Kahanamoku Classic at Waimea Bay, Hawaii in 1980.

 

To this day Warren remains at the forefront of the sport, responsible for the live web streaming of the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro tournaments around the globe.

Reigning ASP world champions Mick Fanning (Tweed Head, NSW) and Stephanie Gilmore (Kingscliff, NSW) claimed the coveted 2008 ‘Male and Female Surfer of the Year Awards’.

Gilmore’s sensational 2007 performance saw her become the only male or female surfer to win an ASP World Title in their rookie year.

 

Gilmore will continue her 2008 Roxy Pro campaign against Hawaiian ‘super grommet Carissa Moore when round three commences.

 

Gilmore isn’t underestimating her opponent and will be going all out to halt the giant-killing run of wildcards at the women’s world tour event.

 

Moore rode her way into the record books as the youngest surfer to ever feature in a world tour event final after finishing second to Chelsea Hedges (Gold Coast, Qld, Aus) last year.

 

A bumper 2007 for Fanning saw him bring the world crown back to Australian shores for the first time in a decade.

 

Sunny Abberton accepted the ‘The Surf Movie of the Year Award’ on behalf of the Bra Boys. A film about the cultural evolution of the Sydney beach side suburb of Maroubra and the social struggle faced by it’s youth, “Bra Boys” was a popular winner.

 

Further Information

Mandy McKinnon

61 (0) 4117 079941

mandy.mckinnon@bigpond.com

 

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Round 2 Results  

Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) 16.37 vs. Tamaroa McComb (PYF) 5.90

Heat 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.00 vs Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 13.23

Heat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.83 vs. Michel Bourez (PYF) 8.00

Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.16 vs. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 12.00

Heat 5: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.33 vs. Daniel Ross (AUS) 10.83

Heat 6: Roy Powers (HAW) 13.74 vs. Damien Hobgood (USA) 9.60

Heat 7: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 14.84 vs. Michael Campbell (AUS) 12.66

Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 17.17 vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA) 12.50

Heat 9: Ben Bourgeois (USA) 12.34 vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 11.70

Heat 10: Neco Padaratz (BRA) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) (withdrawal)

Heat 11: Leonardo Neves (BRA) 13.67 vs. Tiago Pires (PRT) 7.33

Heat 12: Jay Thompson (AUS)  vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) (withdrawal)

Heat 13: Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.20 vs. Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 10.06

Heat 14: Daniel Wills (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

Heat 15: Royden Bryson (ZAF) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)

Heat 16: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)