LIHU‘E — The 2011 Association of Surfing Professionals World Title season commenced Saturday with the best surfers battling one another in rippable two-to-three foot waves at the primary venue of Snapper Rocks for Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold
LIHU‘E — The 2011 Association of Surfing Professionals World Title season commenced Saturday with the best surfers battling one another in rippable two-to-three foot waves at the primary venue of Snapper Rocks for Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover, states a release from ASP.
With little swell projected for the coming week, event organizers opted to make the most of what was on offer, completing Round 1 of both the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast. With Snapper Rocks offering up barrels and air sections throughout the day, the capacity crowd on the beach and watching online were treated to some impressive action.
Local Taj Burrow, defending Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast winner, has had another banner start in 2011, defending his title up the road at the ASP 4-Star in Burleigh Heads last week before setting the pace as the form surfer of Round 1 at Snapper Rocks. Burrow’s combination of impressive tube riding and high performance netted him the highest heat total of the day, a 16.67 out of a possible 20, to best American opponents Bobby Martinez and Cory Lopez.
Jordy Smith, 2010 ASP World Runner-Up, has returned to Australia following an off-season spent in his native South Africa, and the well-built natural-footer continued to shine amongst the world’s best. Smith blitzed opponents Patrick Gudauskas and Mitch Crews with power and aerial prowess.
Mick Fanning, a two-time ASP World Champion, secured the day’s highest single-wave score, a 9.33 out of a possible 10, for a Houdini-esque barrel and some unbridled power surfing.
“I’m pretty stoked I got that one good wave at the start and that settled the nerves,” said the Australian. “It was really slow and really wobbly out there. There wasn’t really any wind, so I’m just pretty stoked to feel one out and make it through that first heat.”
Kelly Slate, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion, remained calculated in dealing with the day’s deteriorating conditions. The Floridian scrapped past wildcard Matt Banting and Kai Otton to advance directly to Round 3 of competition.
“I don’t really approach heats with wildcards differently,” Slater said. “My game plan stays the same. There are heats where you know you have to let loose, but today was more focusing on getting the good waves and completing them.”
Julian Wilson, a 2011 ASP Top 34 rookie, opened up his maiden event as a full-fledged member of the ASP top 34 in sterling fashion, overcoming the goofy-footed onslaught of veterans Adrian Buchan and Heitor Alves to advance directly to Round 3.
“Maybe I was a little more nervous this year than in previous years as a wildcard,” Wilson said. “This is my favorite event of the year and to win Round 1 takes some of the pressure off.”
The ASP Top 17 took to the lineup following men’s competition for Round 1 of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover.
With one of the most impressive assemblies of female surfing talent in the sport’s history comprising the event’s field, it was youngster Tyler Wright, 16, who fired the first shots of the season across the bow, besting reigning four-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore in their Round 1 bout.
“I kind of just did my own thing out there and knew which waves were going to be the best,” Wright said. “Steph (Gilmore) has been out of the water for ages and had a lot on her plate lately. Owen (Wright) gave me some moral support and watching him this morning I kind of just learned from what he did. I have my whole family down here which is nice and the whole vibe is just good. I love this place.”
With her day’s high heat total of a 17.96 out of a possible 20, Wright advanced directly to Round 3 of women’s competition while Gilmore (under the new ASP Women’s World Title competition format) has been relegated to the elimination Round 2.
Also relegated to Round 2 was Alana Blanchard, who took third in her opening heat behind Carissa Moore and Jessi Miley-Dyer.
Blanchard will go head-to-head with Chelsea Hedges when action resumes.
Event organizers will reconvene Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m. to assess conditions for a possible 7:30 a.m. start.
Highlights from the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast will be available via http://www.quiksilverpro.com.
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com.
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1:Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.26, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.44, Heitor Alves (BRA) 6.57
Heat 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.67, Gabe Kling (USA) 12.27, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.03
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.03, Bobby Martinez (USA) 12.57, Cory Lopez (USA) 7.90
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.67, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 9.17, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 9.10
Heat 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.07, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 10.37, Mitch Crews (AUS) 11.07
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.93, Matt Banting (AUS) 11.34, Kai Otton (AUS) 6.70
Heat 7: Owen Wright (AUS) 12.83, Taylor Knox (USA) 11.46, Dusty Payne (HAW) 10.60
Heat 8: Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.70, Marc Lacomare (FRA) 9.87, Brett Simpson (USA) 7.77
Heat 9: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.00, Adriano de Souza (BRA), Alejo Muniz (BRA) 10.20
Heat 10: Daniel Ross (AUS), 13.00, Michel Bourez (PYF) 9.10, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 7.43
Heat 11: Adam Melling (AUS) 11.40, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 11.13, Chris Davidson (AUS) 10.73
Heat 12: Tiago Pires (PRT) 15.83, Jadson Andre (BRA)12.70, Damien Hobgood (USA) 11.77
ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Matt Banting (AUS)
Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Mitch Crews (AUS)
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Marc Lacomare (FRA)
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 5: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Cory Lopez (USA)
Heat 6: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 8: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 9: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 10: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 11: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 12: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Bobby Martinez (USA)
ROXY PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 13.37, Paige Hareb (NZL) 12.00, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 10.86
Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA) 14.10, Pauline Ado (FRA) 13.83, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 8.30
Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) 17.96, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 9.26, Sarah Mason (NZL) 6.36
Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.03, Laura Enever (AUS) 11.83, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 10.36
Heat 5: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.00, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 7.43, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 6.84
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW) 14.66, Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.80, Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 8.16
ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Rebecca Woods (AUS) vs. Courtney Conlogue (USA)
Heat 2: Paige Hareb (NZL) vs. Pauline Ado (FRA)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Sarah Mason (NZL)
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Heat 5: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) vs. Alana Blanchard (HAW)
Heat 6: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) vs. Laura Enever (AUS)
