Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach pres. by Snickers
Stop No. 2 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour
South Africa’s Jordy Smith continued his rampage through the ranks of world’s best surfers, reaching the quarterfinals and delivering the highest single ride score on the fourth day of action at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers in Australia today.
Smith, rated ASP No. 2 after his runner-up finish in the opening event of the 2010 ASP World Tour last month, revelled in today’s clean one metre waves at Winkipop, convincingly overcoming the challenge of highly touted Australian rookie sensation Owen Wright in their Round 3 match-up.
The Durbanite then went on to outpoint Roy Powers (HAW) in Round 4 to move into the last 8, in the process posting a near perfect score of 9.80 points out of 10 when he lacerated a running right-hander by punting multiple aerials before executing a “Superman” air to finish.
“It was a fun heat,” Smith said. “It’s too bad that I had Roy (Powers) again. He’s a teammate of mine and we’re travelling together so it’s a little tough, but I’m just happy I made it through. There were actually some really good waves out there – a little smaller, but a lot more consistent than my first heat so I’m stoked.”
“I think I had two average waves, like two 7’s under of my belt, and Roy (Powers) didn’t want that wave,” Smith said of his high scoring ride. “It was a small one, so I took it and it ended up being a good one, walling up through the inside and it just allowed me to do some good turns.”
Smith will take on reigning two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, in the quarterfinals when the event recommences. Fanning advanced by defeating Brazilian prodigy Gabriel Medina, 16, who had earlier caused the upset of the event by eliminating former ASP World Champion CJ Hobgood (USA)
Current ASP No. 1, Taj Burrow (AUS) was another standout, dispatching Matt Wilkinson (AUS) and then former three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons (HAW) with the highest heat tally of the day on his way to the quarters where he will take on Adriano de Souza (BRA).
Kelly Slater (USA), 38, former nine-time ASP World Champion, survived a closely-contested Round 3 heat against rookie phenom Dusty Payne (HAW), 21, to advance through to Round 4. Slater, who spent the day in hospital getting scans on his right foot (inflamed ligaments suspected), battled back after Payne secured an excellent 9.17 out of a possible 10.
Travis Logie, the only other South African in the Rip Curl Pro, recorded his second successive 33rd place finish of the season when he was ousted by American veteran Taylor Knox by the narrowest of margins. Just seven hundredths of a point separated the pair in a scoreline of 13.67 vs. 13.60.
Logie now has three more events in which to stake his claim for a place amongst the top 32 ranked surfers who will contest the last five events of the year when the field is cut from the present 45 contenders after Event No. 5 in Tahiti at the beginning of September.
The Rip Curl Women’s Pro presented by Ford Fiesta, which runs in conjunction with the men’s event, was won by three-time and reigning ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), who got to ring the famous bell trophy for the third time in four years by defeating Sofia Mulanovich (PER) in the final.
South Africa’s Rosanne Hodge and Nikita Robb (both from East London) finished equal 17th after being eliminated in Round 3 by Chelsea Hedges (AUS) and Silvana Lima (BRA) respectively.
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am (Australian East Coast time) for a possible 7:30am start.
When competition resumes, up first will be defending Rip Curl Pro winner Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, up against compatriot Adrian Buchan (AUS), 27, in Heat 5 of Round 4.
Highlights from today’s Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by SNICKERS are available via www.live.ripcurl.com
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 16.67 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 11.16
Heat 2: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.37 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.70
Heat 3: Andy Irons (HAW) 10.67 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 6.70
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 17.04 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.33
Heat 5: Roy Powers (HAW) 13.50 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 12.34
Heat 6: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.67 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 8.47
Heat 7: Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.14 def. Daniel Ross (AUS) 12.17
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.20 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11.84
Heat 9: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.16 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 13.57
Heat 10: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.17 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.06
Heat 11: Bobby Martinez (USA) 12.83 def. Drew Courtney (AUS) 10.34
Heat 12: Jadson Andre (BRA) 16.53 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 14.37
Heat 13: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.90 def. Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 15.63
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) 14.34 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 14.17
Heat 15: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.10 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 13.84
Heat 16: Michel Bourez (PYF) 16.24 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.00
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.90 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.90
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 17.77 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 11.93
Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.30 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 13.77
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.60 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 10.90
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH REMAINING ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Jadson Andrew (BRA)
Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
