From a starting field of 112 competitors, just 16 remain at the Billabong Pro Cascais including Hawaii’s Keanu Asing and Ezekiel Lau. Each is guaranteed at least 3,700 Qualifying Series points with a chance at the top prize still in
From a starting field of 112 competitors, just 16 remain at the Billabong Pro Cascais including Hawaii’s Keanu Asing and Ezekiel Lau. Each is guaranteed at least 3,700 Qualifying Series points with a chance at the top prize still in the cards.
It’s an interesting mix remaining at this QS 10,000 stop and the points and prize money are obviously a major draw. Asing has continued to build on his strong 2017 campaign and will remain in a qualification position upon leaving Portugal. But he can really cement his status with a few more heat wins. Anything from this point on would be his best result of the year, boosting him up from his current seventh-place ranking on the QS.
To make that happen, he has a tough matchup with Italo Ferreira in round five. The field is evenly split and Ferreira is one of the eight Championship Tour regulars left in the draw. He may even be considered the favorite, given his prior success on the CT. With only head-to-head heats remaining, his contest expertise could propel him to the $20,000 top prize and 10,000 ranking points.
Asing has won two of his three heats, grinding his way to mediocre scores in difficult conditions. He’s had a high work rate, forcing the judges’ hands. But he’ll have to prove himself as the better man against just one opponent at this point.
In Lau’s case, he has focused mostly on the CT during this, his rookie season on the world tour. That may come back to bite him, depending upon how his final few CT events go. He’s currently in 25th on the CT, so he needs to work himself up a few spots to re-qualify for a sophomore go. His QS ranking before Cascais was 105th, but that could change quickly with a huge result this week. A win should put him right on the edge of the top 10.
To move in that direction, Lau takes on Brazil’s Alejo Muniz in his fifth-round heat. He came in second in each of his three heats to this point, but his point totals have been mostly strong.
Stu Kennedy, Kanoa Igarashi, Joan Duru, Jadson Andre, Frederico Morais and Leonardo Fioravanti are the other CT surfers remaining. Current QS points leader Jesse Mendes also highlights the talented finals day cast.
Wright suffers knee injury in free surf
An explanation for her early defeat in the Cascais Women’s Pro could be a knee injury that Tyler Wright suffered last Monday during a free surf. She continued in the event, but lost in the second round to Teresa Bonvalot.
The defending world champ had her knee looked at and revealed an MCL injury with a good portion of the ligament coming off the bone. Though she hasn’t decided to withdraw from any upcoming events just yet, the injury should certainly impact her ability to remain in contention for another world title.
With only two contests remaining, Wright will still be in the best position to overtake current points leader Sally Fitzgibbons. But if she’s unable to surf at a high level, or if she may risk further damage to her knee, then maybe turning the page towards 2018 is a smart move.
Obviously it’s tempting to go after that crown when it seems so close and within reach, but Wright has a long career ahead of her. I feel like the competitor in her will want to give it a shot, but the fact that she does now have a world title on her resume may allow her to relinquish that desire until next season.
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David Simon can be reached at dsimon@thegardenisland.com.
