Posts Tagged ‘professional surfing’

Quiksilver Pro Final Mens Highlights

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

Quiksilver Pro Final Mens Highlights from McKinnon Media Productions on Vimeo.

SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland/Australia (Sunday, March 4, 2012) – The final day of the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover culminated today with perennial ASP World Title threat Taj Burrow (AUS), 33, and four-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 24, taking the respective wins in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at the primary venue of Snapper Rocks.
Burrow defeated dangerous South American Adriano De Souza (BRA), 25, in a Final that came down to the wire. De Souza caught a wave in the dying minutes and launched into a massive air-reverse, requiring a 7.87 out of a possible 10 to take the lead. The judges deliberated until after the siren sounded and when it was announced that De Souza came a mere 0.27 short, Burrow was chaired up the beach and declared the 2012 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast champion.
De Souza finished runner-up at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast for the second time, after coming 2nd to Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, in 2009. De Souza was easily one of the event’s top performers this season with gouging turns and inverted aerials taking him to a podium finish.
Burrow used a heat-high wave score of 9.43 to win with a total of 15.86 to de Souza’s 15.60 much to the delight of a raucous capacity Snapper Rocks crowd who adopted the West Australian as one of their own.
Burrow assumes the No.1 ranking as the World Tour heads to Bells Beach from April 3-14, while de Souza on No.2 is well placed to improve on last year’s finish of fifth on the world rankings.
Snapper Rocks has proved a happy hunting ground for Burrow, who has appeared in the past three finals, winning in 2010 and finishing second to Kelly Slater (USA) last year.
Burrow said victory was sweet after last year’s loss to Kelly Slater.
Earlier in the semi-finals, Burrow defeated South African Jordy Smith 15.56 to 14.20 while de Souza defeated crowd favourite Josh Kerr (AUS) 14.16 to 13.57 in the dying seconds.
Burrow was forced to work hard for the spoils with a tough road to the final including defeating opponents such as Dane Reynolds (USA), Julian Wilson (Aus), Adrian Buchan (Aus) and Smith.

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Posted in ASP World Tour, competition, Pro Surfing, Quiksilver Pro, surf contest, surf shop, surfing, Surfside Sports, Taj Burrow | No Comments »

Quiksilver Pro calls the third, consecutive lay day this morning.

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

Quiksilver Pro

 

 

 

 

 

SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland/Australia (Friday, March 2, 2012); SURFING siblings Owen and Tyler Wright (Lennox Head, NSW, Aus) are on course to surf their way into the history books as the first brother and sister to win am ASP World Title event at the Quiksilver and Roxy Pros at Snapper Rocks.

The pair have already created history as the first brother and sister to compete on the ASP world tour at the same time.

Last years runner-up Tyler advanced into the semifinals of the Roxy Pro with fellow Australians Stephanie Gilmore. Sally Fitzgibbons and Laura Enever after eliminating world champion Carissa Moore (Haw).

Wright’s combined total of 18.03 outpointed Moore’s 13.47 to advance the 17-year-old to the semi-finals, where she’ll surf off against compatriot Enever.

Twenty-two year-old Owen, progressed to the quarterfinals with an impressive 16.20 (out of a possible 20) in his do-or-die round-five heat against Tahiti surfer Michael Bourez, who scored 15.43.

It sets up a quarterfinal rematch with Brazil’s Adriano De Souza.

Poor wind conditions and non-existent surf have forced event organizers to call the third, consecutive lay day this morning.

World no.2 Joel Parkinson said the break has been great after such an intense start to the season.  The former two-time event champion will take on rival Jordy Smith (ZAF) in the quarter finals when competition resumes in the ASP men’s World Title event.

Event organizers will reconvene at 6:30am tomorrow to assess conditions for a possible 7:30am start.  Competition is expected to recommence this weekend.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
Mandy McKinnon: Email: mandy.mckinnon@bigpond.com
M. +61 (0) 417 079941

UPCOMING QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Adriano De Souza (BRA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
QF 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
QF 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)

UPCOMING ROXY PRO GOLD COAST SEMIFINALS MATCH-UPS:
SF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Laura Enever (AUS)
SF 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

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Posted in ASP World Tour, Pro Surfing, quiksilver, Quiksilver Pro, surf contest, surfing, Surfside Sports, waves | No Comments »

Rip Curl and Mick Fanning Announce Renewed 5-Year Commitment

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

 

For Immediate Release – Rip Curl and Mick Fanning Announce Renewed 5-Year Commitment

 

March 1, 2012: Rip Curl International is ecstatic to announce the re-signing of 2x ASP World Champion Mick Fanning to another 5 years. Per company policy, terms of the deal are not being disclosed.

 

Hailing from Australia’s Gold Coast, Fanning (30) has been a Rip Curl teamrider for over 14 years. From countless Search strikes to our ASP World Tour events, Mick has been an icon for the Brand, and he now enters the next 5 years with energy and enthusiasm for what the future holds.

 

“Maintaining my relationship with Rip Curl means a lot to me. We’ve been through so much together since I signed with them when I was just 16,” Fanning said.

 

“Working with Rip Curl has brought me some competitive success,” Fanning continued, “and I’m confident that with their support there will be more good times in the future.”

 

Neil Ridgway, Rip Curl Group Advertising and Marketing Chairman, shares the same excitement about the continued relationship, “Mick is our number one guy. He’s part of our crew and we love him. There was never any doubt we’d have another five years together. Stoked.”

 

Coming off a lingering neck injury, Fanning is rejuvenated and healthy as he enters the 2012 ASP World Tour season in pursuit of his 3rd ASP World Title.

 

Aside from competition, some new Rip Curl/MF (Mick Fanning) video projects and product collections are in the works that both parties are excited about.

 

“The most exciting thing about staying with Rip Curl is some of the projects we have planned together for the future,” Fanning stated. “Rip Curl have shared their vision with me and it’s something I want to be apart of.”


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Quiksilver Pro Round 4 and 5 Highlights

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

Quiksilver Pro

Quiksilver Pro Round 4 and 5 Highlights

GOLD COAST, Feb 28 – The world’s best surfers blasted through another marathon day at the Gold Coast’s Snapper Rocks as the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro presented by Land Rover completed 16 heats, determining the men’s Quarterfinalists and women’s Semifinalists before day’s end. The opening stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, The Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast has seen four, consecutive days of action with event organizers making the most of the swell on offer.

Home town favourite Joel Parkinson (AUS) has scored the first perfect 10 of the Quiksilver Pro presented by Land Rover to reach the quarter final of the ASP men’s world surfing championship event on the Gold Coast. Not even the lashing pain of a bluebottle sting could distract him as he grabbed the 10-point wave with five minutes remaining to leave fellow Queenslander Julian Wilson no hope of catching him.

Parkinson comes up against Jordy Smith (ZAF) in the quarter final in what could be a lively meeting – earlier in the day Smith relegated Parkinson to round five as the South African advanced with the win into the quarter finals. At their previous meeting at Snapper Rocks in 2011 the South African eliminated Parkinson from the event in round five.

The other quarterfinal heats pit Gold Coaster Josh Kerr against the red hot Kelly Slater, (USA). Owen Wright (Aus) against Brazil’s Adriano De Souza and Taj Burrow (Aus) against fellow Aussie Adrian Buchan (Aus).

Earlier in round four Australian Taj Burrow (17.34) confirmed his strong title aspirations with a convincing victory against Adrian Buchan (AUS – 12.33) and Julian Wilson (AUS – 9.33) to advance directly into the Quiksilver Pro quarterfinals in on-shore 3 – 4ft waves at Snapper Rocks today. Burrow was forced to change a broken board late in the heat, but already had the heat victory secure with wave scores of 9.27 and 8.07 locked in. Burrow’s trainer Johnny Gannon ran the replacement board up to the Snapper Rocks keyhole with just four minutes remaining.

Eleven-time world champion KELLY SLATER (USA) used his 14.00 heat tally to join Burrow in the quarterfinals with a round three win over HEITOR ALVES iBRA – 12.13) and MICHEL BOUREZ (PYF- 11.10). The 40 year-old Floridian overcame a shaky start and changed to a shorter board with more fins after his first wave in the round four heat of the ASP men’s World Tour event. Slater said he got caught off guard for the early morning heat and felt all three surfers in the heat were out of rhythm.

Brazil’s Adriano de Souza (15.37) also advanced to the quarterfinals relegating Wright (15.13) and Kerr (9.00) into the elimination round. De Souza said wave selection was key in the tricky conditions. All competitors who finished 2ndand 3rdwill surf in two-man elimination Round 5 heats for a spot in the quarterfinals, while all the winners advanced.

A call will be made at 7AM tomorrow morning as to whether competition will resume at Snapper Rocks.

UPCOMING QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
HEAT 1: Adriano De Souza (BRA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
HEAT 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
HEAT 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
HEAT 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 5 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.20 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.43
HEAT 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) 14.44 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 9.84
HEAT 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.00 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 10.06
HEAT 4: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.03 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 13.27

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 4 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 15.37, Owen Wright (AUS) 15.134, Josh Kerr (AUS) 9.00
HEAT 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.00, Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.13, Heitor Alves (BRA) 11.10
HEAT 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.44, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.30, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 11.04
HEAT 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 17.34, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.33, Julian Wilson (AUS) 9.33

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Posted in ASP World Tour, Grom surfing, Joel Parkinson, Jordy Smith, Kelly Slater, News, Pro Surfing, quiksilver, Quiksilver Pro, surf contest, surfing, Surfside Sports, Taj Burrow, waves | No Comments »

Quiksilver Pro Round 3 Highlights

Monday, February 27th, 2012

Quiksilver Pro Round 3 Highlights from McKinnon Media Productions on Vimeo.

SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland/Australia (Monday, 27 February, 2012) – The Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Gold Coast presented by Land Rover, the opening stop on the 2012 Men’s and Women’s ASP World Championship Tours, ran for the third consecutive day at Snapper Rocks today, and the world’s best surfers collectively lifted the high-performance levels today in two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Snapper Rocks.

Julian Wilson (AUS), 23, 2012 ASP Top 34 sophomore, found form in his Round 3 heat against Adam Melling (AUS), 26, posting the highest heat total of the day, an 18.57 out of a possible 20. On his third different board in as many heats, it appears that the young natural-footer has dialed in his equipment moving forward.

“I lost in this round last year in a close one against Taj (Burrow) and went on to lose a bit early in the next few events so I was nervous before that one,” Wilson said. “I did want to make a statement. In my first two heats I wasn’t myself – it didn’t feel like it was coming together for me. Then in that heat I felt a lot better, felt solid on my board and good to get some high scores.”

Wilson will take on Adrian Buchan (AUS), 29, and Taj Burrow (AUS), 33, in Round 4 of competition.

Miguel Pupo (BRA), 20, caused the biggest upset of the event thus far by eliminating perennial event favourite and two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 30. Pupo put pressure on Fanning early in the heat by posting a 7.60 (out of a possible 10), and the local Queenslander was unable to recover from a slow start.

“I just tried to find good waves because it’s pretty tough out there,” Pupo said. “I had to win that one, to be on tour you have to beat the big boys. Mick (Fanning) surfs so good. He’s got a couple of ASP World Titles and I knew that it would be a tough one. I tried my best.”

Pupo faces Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, and Jordy Smith (ZAF), 24, in Round 4 when competition resumes.

Owen Wright (AUS), 22, opened the day with an exciting match-up against compatriot Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 23. The pair of goofy-footers gave the crowd a sensational display of backhand surfing at Snapper Rocks, with Wright getting the better of the exchange by a mere 0.40.

“That was our first man-on-man heat on the world tour,” Wright said. “I was really nervous before the heat, but once I got out there I felt comfortable. I knew he was going to get an 8-point-ride, and I knew I could answer straight back. We went wave for wave, score for score, there was nothing much in that heat. We were paddling in and none of us knew who won and I was just happy that one of us was going through to the next round.”

Wright will battle Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, and Adriano de Souza (BRA), XX, when competition resumes

Kelly Slater (USA), 40, reigning 11-time ASP World Champion and defending Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast winner, once again put on a dominant performance at Snapper Rocks over Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 30. Slater’s signature searing forehand carves saw him earn two scores in the excellent range to easily advance to Round 4.

“I could see that Freddy’s (Patacchia) game plan was to sit and wait for those open faced waves,” Slater said. “I just wanted to get moving. There are a few sneaky ones that don’t look good at the peak, but grow down the point. At the start I fell on a couple of good ones, and either one of those could have been a good score. Then I got into a couple of good ones and got some scores, and Freddy never really got into it. Everyone always makes a big deal about weather I’m going to keep going on. When I’m going to quit I’ll tell everybody, how about that?”

Slater will take on Michel Bourez (PYF), 26, and Heitor Alves (BRA), 29, in Round 4 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

Adriano De Souza (BRA), 25, used his experience in his seventh appearance at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast to take the Round 3 win over ASP World Championship Tour rookie Kolohe Andino (USA), 17.

“It was a tough heat for sure,” De Souza said. “I respect Kolohe (Andino) a lot, he’s only 17-years-old, but he can do a lot of damage out there. I’m feeling good and trying to concentrate on myself, I came here 10 days early and really know the wave out there, and I think my experience from 7 years on tour helped me in that heat. I was trying defend my position in the top 5 and he’s trying to do well in his first event, it was a good heat.”

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 2 RESULTS:

HEAT 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 14.90 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.50

HEAT 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.50 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 14.90

HEAT 3: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 14.07 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 12.74

HEAT 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) 14.36 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.83

HEAT 5: Heitor Alves (BRA) 15.07 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.84

HEAT 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.36 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 12.40

HEAT 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.50 def. Yadin Nicol (AUS) 12.27

HEAT 8: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.67 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. 11.17

HEAT 9: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.83 def. Raoni Monterio (BRA) 12.20

HEAT 10: Julian Wilson (AUS) 18.57 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 15.63

HEAT 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 16.03 def. John John Florence (HAW) 13.60

HEAT 12: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.20 def. Travis Logie (AUS) 13.16

UPCOMING QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:

HEAT 1: Owen Wright (AUS), Josh Kerr (AUS), Adriano De Souza (BRA)

HEAT 2: Michel Bourez (PYF), Heitor Alves (BRA), Kelly Slater (USA)

HEAT 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Jordy Smith (ZAF)

HEAT 4: Julian Wilson (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS) Taj Burrow (AUS)

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Posted in ASP World Tour, Joel Parkinson, Jordy Smith, Kelly Slater, Pro Surfing, quiksilver, Quiksilver Pro, surf contest, surfing, Surfside Sports, waves | No Comments »

Quiksilver Pro Day 1 Round 1 Highlights

Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Quiksilver Pro Day 1 Round 1 Highlights from McKinnon Media Productions on Vimeo.

SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland/Australia (Saturday, 25 February, 2012): World No.2 Joel Parkinson (Aus), wildcard Dane Reynolds (USA) and Brazilian wonderboy Gabriel Medina are facing Round Two elimination, but the Kelly Slater (USA) super-show continued on the opening day of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover.Snapper Rocks turned on a dredging 3-4ft swell on the outgoing tide when the men hit the water following Round One of the Roxy Pro and they didn’t disappoint with a spectacular show.

Slater (USA), 40, the 11-times ASP Men’s World Champion left little doubt a 12th World Title was easily achievable with a barrel-riding master class to lock in the day’s highest score of 18.80 for an easy win against Moskova Trials winner Australian Garrett Parkes (12.73) and highly-touted US rookie Kolohe Andino (10.60).

Slater locked in two nuggets scoring 8.93 and 9.87 to bring the big Snapper Rocks crowd alive. The recently turned 40 year-old said his nine-point ride lined up perfectly.

Adam Melling (AUS) was the giant killer on the first day relegating World No.2 Joel Parkinson (AUS) and dangerous wildcard Dane Reynolds (AUS) to a Round Two elimination heat.

In a tight and high quality heat, Melling (15.70), edged out Parkinson (15.43) and Reynolds (14.87), but the Lennox Head surfer admitted to some nerves after letting Parkinson take a potentially heat-winning wave in the dying stages.

Parkinson will meet Parkes in their elimination heat and Reynolds with take on Taj Burrow (WA) in his round two match-ups.

Burrow was relegated to round two by an inform Fred Pattachia (Haw) who used better positioning in the tricky line-up to advance with ease into round three. Pattachia who entered the event as a replacement surfer for fellow Hawaiina Dusty Payne said it was a bittersweet situation.
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> Rookie young gun Gabriel Medina (BRA), 19, is also the facing the prospect of an elimination heat after losing to fellow countryman and Tour veteran Raoni Manteiro, 29. Manteiro prevailed with a score of 11.63 ahead of Australian rookie Yadin Nicol (10.37) and Medina (9.60).

Manteiro, who made his debut on the Tour in 2004, was happy to get one over his young rival.

World No.5 Adriano de Souza (BRA), 25, opened the Quiksilver Pro with a tidy victory scoring 13.83 to defeat Taylor Knox (10.66) and Pipe Masters champion Kieren Perrow (7.00).

Event organisers will reconvene at 6:30am to access conditions for a possible 7:30am start with another promising swell forecast for Day Two.

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Posted in ASP World Tour, competition, Pro Surfing, quiksilver, Quiksilver Pro | No Comments »

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH: FINAL MEDINA DEFEATS PARKINSON

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011


Gabriel Medina Scalps Second Elite Win at Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco; Joel Parkinson Runner-Up.

OCEAN BEACH, San Francisco/California (Monday, November 7, 2011) – Brazil’s teenage surfing sensation Gabriel Medina (BRA), 17, and newcomer to the elite ASP Top 34 after the September rotation, has already scalped his second elite tour win today, claiming the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco over an on-fire Joel Parkinson (Gold Coast, Qld, AUS), 30, in pulsing three-to-four foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves at Ocean Beach.

Event No. 10 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title season, the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco suffered no shortage of action this week with sporting icon Kelly Slater (Florida, USA), 39, claiming a historic 11th ASP World Title before the ascension of the young Brazilian on the final day of competition.

Medina, who joined the ASP Top 34 after the midyear rotation, has been in amazing form thus far, winning two events after competing in just four as an official member of the 2011 roster. The highly-touted Brazilian wasted little time in his Final campaign against Parkinson, belting a 7.50 and a 9.00, both out of 10, in the opening minutes with critical backhand blasts and controlled the heat throughout its entirety

Medina’s run on the Final day of competition was nothing short of amazing, as he took the day’s highest heat total of 17.33, out of 20, while defeating freshly crowned 11-Time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 39, and Taylor Knox (USA), 40, before topping the Stylish Australian in the Final.

Medina who has developed his English by spending extended time in both Australia and the USA this year said it was a dream come true.

Parkinson quietly navigated through the opening rounds of competition, but lit up the high-performance beach break conditions on the final day, threading several technical barrels and unloading his patented carves en route to the Final, but was unable to put a stop to Medina and finished runner-up overall.  Parkinson said Medina is the sports next big superstar, comparing the prodigy talent to that of Slater’s.

Taylor Knox (USA), 40, was impressive in the powerful beach break conditions on offer at Ocean Beach, besting high-flying Brazilian Miguel Pupo (BRA), 19, veteran Australian Kieren Perrow (Byron Bay, Qld, AUS), 34, and Bede Durbidge (Gold Coast, Qld AUS), 28, to match his season-best result of an equal 3rd place finish after he fell to Medina in the Semifinals

Alejo Muniz (BRA), 21, 2011 ASP Dream Tour rookie, matched his best result of the year today, cracking the Semifinals for the third time this season. The young South American blitzed an in-form Brett Simpson (USA), 26, in the Quarterfinals before going down to Parkinson in the Semifinals despite vaulting some solid aerials

Slater fought hard in his Quarterfinals matchup against young Brazilian Gabriel Medina, but was unable to find the score needed to advance out of the heat and is now changing his focus towards the final stop on the ASP World Tour at the iconic Banzai Pipeline. Slater who finished equal fifth overall said a win would have been nice, but he had done what he had come to do and that was to claim the 2011 ASP World Title.

Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco highlights can be found at www.live.ripcurl.com

The next and final stop on the 2011 ASP World Tour will be the Billabong Pipe Masters, which unfolds from December 8 through 20, 2011

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Posted in ASP World Tour, Gabriel Medina, Joel Parkinson, Pro Surfing, Rip Curl, surf contest, video | No Comments »

Quiksilver Pro Semis & Final Highlights

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
Quiksilver Pro Round 4

Quiksilver Pro Highlights Round 4 Gold Coast Snapper Rocks

Quiksilver Pro Final Highlights 2011 from McKinnon Media Productions on Vimeo.

Gold Coast, Australia (Wednesday 9th March, 2011): Gold Coast, Australia (Wednesday 9th March, 2011): KELLY SLATER (USA) has once again etched his name into the surfing record books by becoming the first man to win three Quiksilver Pro titles at Snapper Rocks today.

Despite winning the opening ASP World Title world event of the year, Slater has refused to say whether or not he’ll pursue a quest for an 11th world crown.

Slater defeated defending Quiksilver Pro champion Burrow from Western Australia 11.20 to 10.17 in one of the lowest-scoring finals ever seen at Snapper Rocks.

Every time Slater has won this event he has gone on to win the world title, but even that slice of history didn’t tempt him.

After a thrilling four days of surfing, the final was an anticlimactic affair with the famous Gold Coast point break failing to turn on for the 35-minute showdown.  Thirty-nine year-old Slater survived a late fight back from Burrow, showing his experience by surfing the smarter heat in the testing 1.5m waves at the world famous Gold Coast pointbreak.

Slater opened quickly with a 5.00, before soon consolidating his score with a 5.27.The commanding lead put Burrow under pressure from the start of the 35-minute decider.

After surging into the final the form surfer of the event, Burrow grew frustrated and uncharacteristically, fell on many of his waves. Burrow launched a late fight back, posting the best single-wave score of the heat in the dying minutes with a 7.17.

Burrow said he couldn’t buy out a wave in the final.

Slater added another 5.93 to his tally and in the end the clock proved his enemy for Burrow. Slater was able to hang on with a combined two-wave score of 11.20 to Burrow’s 10.17.

Slater adds the 2011 crown to his 2006 and 2008 Gold Coast titles.

Slater claimed 10,000 ratings points and a US$75,000 winner’s cheque, as well as the world NO.1 ranking heading into the second event of the ASP World Tour season, which kicks off at Bells Beach in Victoria on April 19.

Burrow picked up 8000 ratings points and US$30,000 for second place.

Portugal’s Tiago Pires finished with an equal third-place finish after falling to Slater 16.77 to 8.20 in the semi-finals. Pires was not underestimated by eventual winner Slater who said the Eruopean surfer was one of the most dangerous o tour.

South African Jordy Smith was the other third-place finisher after he was beaten by Burrow in the second semi-final 17.56 to 11.40.  The now world no.3 said it was disappointing not to make the final but still a good start to the 2011 season.

American tour rookie BRETT SIMPSON (USA) enjoyed a sensational run in his opening ASP World Title event eliminated from the quarterfinals of the Quiksilver Pro by TAJ BURROW (AUS).  The twenty-six year old, from Huntington Beach, finished equal fifth to now be ranked at no.5 in the world.

The two-time US Open Champion said he was happy with the result and determined to make his mark on the international surfing arena,

Brazilian rookie ALEJO MUNIZ finished equal fifth overall after he was eliminated by South African sensation JORDY SMITH (ZAF).  The tour youngest surfer impressed all throughout the opening ASP World Title event at Australia’s Snapper Rocks to now be ranked at no.5 in the world.

Hawaii’s, DUSTY PAYNE (Maui) was eliminated from the Quiksilver Pro quarter finals by ten-time world champion KELLY SLATER (USA). The 22 year-old failed to find his earlier event form to be left requiring a two wave scoring combination.   The result has the progressive surfer commencing the 2011 season with a solid result to be now ranked at no.5 in the world.

Australia’s MATT WILKINSON (AUS) narrowly eliminated in the dying seconds of his heat by Tiago Pires from Portugal (14.64 to 14.40). The goofy footer finishing equal fifth overall – the best result of his career – to now be ranked at no.5 in the world.

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Posted in ASP World Tour, competition, Pro Surfing, quiksilver, Quiksilver Pro, surfing, Taj Burrow | 59 Comments »