Friday At The Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro

by The Editors on May 7, 2010

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Jordy Smith was getting all over the nearly perfect performance waves at the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro at Trestles today. In the round of 48 he and Josh Kerr rolled over Brazil’s Wiggoly Dantas and Damien Hobgood and then he marched right through Gabe Kling and Aritz Aranburu and will meet Josh Kerr in Heat 8 of the Round of 16 tomorrow morning. It doesn’t look like much will stop him.

Click here for photos from today, or follow the jump for the official world from the ASP.
DREAM TOUR TALENT SHINES AMIDST YOUTH UPRISING AT ASP PRIME 6.0 LOWERS PRO

Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior Action Finishes on Saturday

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., May 7, 2010 – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) PRIME 6.0 Lowers Pro continued to play host to the future of progressive surfing today with several ASP Dream Tour competitors launching their way into the Round of 16 by punting a mind-blowing variety of aerial maneuvers while several up-and-comers continued to showcase committed above-the-lip surfing to decide the Round of 16.

With the influx of the ASP One World Rating, the 6.0 Lowers Pro’s ASP PRIME status attracted 36 ASP Dream Tour competitors and the world’s finest up-and-comers looking to capitalize on the increasingly valuable ratings points on offer towards their global standing.

Jadson Andre continued to flare by continually punting massive air-reverses while logging in the highest heat total of the day in his Round of 24 heat, a 17.70 out of 20, en route to surpassing his personal best result at Lower Trestles by advancing through to the Round of 16.

“I don’t event really know what to say about this wave, it’s one of the best in the world,” Andre said. “Competing here always pushes the level of surfing and everyone’s out there trying to do their best. I’m just stoked to make one more heat. This is the best result of my career at Lowers. Last year I lost first round, so I’m stoked to make it to the Round of 16.”

Andre’s success throughout the rounds has been no easy task, as the goofy-footer has faced a stacked draw of global talent in each of his heats.

“There were more than 30 World Title surfers in this event, so it’s almost like a World Title event,” Andre said. “Then there are guys like Seabass (Sebastian Zietz) too, so the draw is really hard, but I think it helps me improve my surfing.”

Andre, who is currently rated fourth overall on the ASP World Title ratings, is fresh off of his inaugural ASP Dream Tour victory defeating Kelly Slater in front of his Brazilian home crowd and although Andre is still elated with the win, he remains focused on the task at hand at the 6.0 Lowers Pro.

“I’ve already won my first event on tour and it’s my first year and I don’t know what to say, I’m still really happy about that contest,” Andre said. “Now I’m trying to surf better and know that I can’t think about the win in Brazil. I’m just trying to take one heat at a time here at Trestles.”

Chris Davidson (AUS), 33, who has been a standout in each round of 6.0 Lowers Pro competition, continued to flare throughout the firing swell with two convincing heat wins today while advancing to the Round of 16. Davidson detonated one of the highest single wave scores of the day, a massive 9.57 out of 10 with rail-to-rail carves and fins-free blasts on a long Lowers righthander.

“We started with those sets so it was good,” Davidson said. “The boys all sort of got a wave and my first one was good. Then the next one was just on the line, I’m stoked I got it. I’m just happy to keep it going and glad I made it to the last day of the contest.”

Davidson, who is currently rated No. 13 on the ASP World Title ratings, has been focused on his fitness while dialing in his equipment throughout the year and is finding a rhythm as the year progresses.

“I’m starting to feel fitter and I’ve got great boards under my feet at the moment,” Davidson said. “I’ve been getting good boards from my shaper back home and I got a couple of good ones over here for this contest.”

John John Florence (North Shore, HI), 17, unleashed a fury of massive airs and rail gouges to scalp the highest single-wave score of the day, a near-perfect 9.87 out of 10, while taking an impressive heat victory over fellow Hawaiian and three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons (Hanalei, HI, 31, who advanced behind Florence in second, and current ASP Dream Tour competitor Tiago Pires (PRT), 30.

“I’m super stoked to make it to the Round of 16,” Florence said. “The waves are just perfect and it’s great to surf against guys like Andy (Irons), who are guys that I’ve looked up to since I was little.”

The young Hawaiian charger was elated to take the heat win over his idol, Irons, and continues to build his confidence while moving into the Round of 16.

“This heat win builds up my confidence so much,” Florence said. “Andy is a three-time World Champ, so I’m so stoked right now. I made the Semifinals at the 5-Star at Pipeline, but this is my best result in a PRIME.”

Also putting in memorable performances today were three-time ASP World Champion, Irons, who advanced through to the Round of 16 behind Florence after a brilliant Round of 48 performance, current ASP Dream Tour rookie Owen Wright (AUS), 20, who posted some of the event’s highest scores, and Alejo Muniz (BRA), 20, who ousted ASP Dream Tour veteran Taylor Knox (Carlsbad, CA), 38, with a last-minute score, and ASP Dream Tour No. 2 Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22.

Tomorrow will see both ASP PRIME 6.0 Lowers Pro and ASP Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior Champions crowned by day’s end. For all of the LIVE action log on to nike6lowerspro.com . For more about the Oakley Pro Junior, visit oakleyprojunior.com.

The 6.0 Lowers Pro and Oakley Pro Junior wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of sponsors. A special thank you goes out to title sponsor Nike 6.0 and junior title sponsor Oakley, co-sponsors Red Bull and Corralejo Tequila, and media sponsors Surfer, Surfing and FUEL TV.

6.0 Lowers Pro Round of 24 Results:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.10, Heitor Alves (BRA) 14.90, Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 11.33
Heat 2: Nic Muscroft (AUS) 15.70, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.50, Taylor Knox (USA ) 11.17
Heat 3: Chris Davidson (AUS) 15.80, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.83, Kolohe Andino (USA) 12.27
Heat 4: Jadson Andre (BRA) 17.70, Sebastien Zietz (HAW) 16.57, Nate Yeomans (USA) 10.40
Heat 5: Owen Wright (AUS) 17.27, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.44, Blake Thornton (AUS) 12.60
Heat 6: John John Florence (HAW) 16.90, Andy Irons (HAW) 16.67, Tiago Pires (PRT) 11.43
Heat 7: Cory Lopez (USA) 14.50, Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.43, Joan Duru (FRA) 10.77
Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.33, Gabe Kling (USA) 13.60, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 12.14

6.0 Lowers Pro Round of 48 Results:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.67, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.43, Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.97, T.J. Barron (HAW) 3.43
Heat 2: Heitor Alves (BRA) 12.58, Nic Muscroft (AUS) 12.17, Nat Young (USA) 10.93, Ben Dunn (AUS) 8.83
Heat 3: Taylor Knox (USA) 16.43, Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 14.50, Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 13.07, Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 12.80
Heat 4: Chris Davidson (AUS) 15.40, Nate Yeomans (USA) 13.50, Shaun Cansdell (AUS) 11.33, Tim Reyes (USA) 11.27
Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 16.26, Sebastien Zietz (HAW) 14.80, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.70, Eric Geiselman (USA)
Heat 6: Jadson Andre (BRA) 16.94, Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.13, Adam Robertson (AUS) 13.33, Dylan Graves (PRI) 13.33
Heat 7: Blake Thornton (AUS) 15.50, John John Florence (HAW) 13.84, Dane Reynolds (USA) 13.70, David Weare (ZAF) 10.00
Heat 8: Owen Wright (AUS) 15.37, Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.33, Dean Morrison (AUS) 5.67, Michael Picon (FRA) 3.67
Heat 9: Andy Irons (HAW) 17.23, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.43, Dion Atkinson (AUS) 13.40, Thiago Camarao (BRA) 12.07
Heat 10: Cory Lopez (USA) 16.10, Gabe Kling (USA) 14.53, Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 13.36, Nathan Hedge (AUS) 12.60
Heat 11: Joan Duru (FRA) 15.13, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 13.77, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 13.07, Drew Courtney (AUS) 10.97
Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.43, Josh Kerr (AUS) 16.34, Wiggoly Dantas (BRA) 12.03, Damien Hobgood (USA) 11.93

FORECAST FOR SAT. MAY 8TH

OVERVIEW: South-southwest swell will be fading on Saturday, but still offers very fun surf at Lowers. Small northwest windswell will also mix in through Saturday.

SWELL/SURF: Fading, but still fun SSW swell in the 3-5’ range (waist to head high) with occasional larger waves early. The size will fade through the day. Small NW windswell also mixing in.

WIND: Light/variable to light S wind in the early morning, with light to moderate SW shifting W wind in the afternoon 8-12kts.

DISCUSSION: SSW Southern Hemisphere swell (195-205) will fade through the day on Saturday, but will continue to offer fun waves at Lowers. Starting in the waist-head high range in the morning, with some leftover larger sets and then backing down for the second half of the day. We’ll also see small local northwest windswell continue Saturday. A weak coastal eddy will again prevail on Saturday. Wind will range from light/variable to light southerly in the early morning. Southwest shifting west wind will take over for the mid to late morning and continue through the afternoon.

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