Just when we thought no one would even get close to 40-year-old Kelly Slater’s ridiculous 18.80 score that he reeled in in 10 minutes during his Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 1Heat 6 match up against Garrett Parkes and Kolohe Andino, along comes 2 John Florence in the final heat of the day to lay down a 19.60 against Damien Hobgood and Tiago Pires.
“Last night was my first time surfing at Snapper, it’s an amazing wave!” Florence said. “I knew there was some good ones out there, I was out at this time last night and I got a couple. I so happy right now, I was stoked to just get those two waves, but to win the heat with some good scores is even better. I’m having a lot of fun.”
As for there rest of the day we had these thoughts: No matter what is coming out of Dane Reynold’s head, the truth is he loves surfing contests once he gets in the water. He charged it against Adam Melling and Joel Parkinson but got stuff in the final minutes of their Round 1 Heat 5 match up. Dane will get another chance in Round 2 Heat 2 when he faces off against Taj Burrow. Jordy Smith is looking lean and mean, Owen Wright got off to a rough start but pulled it. But it’s all going to sort out in the next three rounds.
For the official word from the ASP and full mens and women’s’ Roxy Pro results follow the jump.SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland/Australia (Saturday, 25 February, 2012) – The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover kicked off the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour with some great performances in shifty three-to-four foot (2 meter) surf at Snapper Rocks today. The Top 34 surfers in the world went for broke in the opening non-elimination round, the winners advance directly into Round 3, while 2nd and 3rd are forced to battle it out in Round 2.
Kelly Slater (USA), 40, reigning 11 x ASP World Champion and defending event winner, sent a clear message to his fellow competitors by posting a massive 18.80 (out of a possible 20) in the first 10 minutes of his opening heat of 2012. Slater was matched up against 2012 ASP rookie sensation Kolohe Andino (USA), 17, and event trials’ winner Garrett Parkes (AUS), 20.
“30 seconds before our heat started I saw a really good one behind the rock,” Slater said. “So my plan was to wait for the deep ones. If you watch the heats and see who won and how they won, it’s all about wave quality. The waves are fun when you get them, you just have to catch the second wave of the set because the first waves comes through and cleans it all up.”
John John Florence (HAW), 19, fresh from his maiden Vans Triple Crown win, posted the highest heat total of the day, a near perfect 19.60 (out of a possible 20). This is Florence’s first Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast and he was the only 2012 rookie to notch a Round 1 win today.
“Last night was my first time surfing at Snapper, it’s an amazing wave!” Florence said. “I knew there was some good ones out there, I was out at this time last night and I got a couple. I so happy right now, I was stoked to just get those two waves, but to win the heat with some good scores is even better. I’m having a lot of fun.”
Owen Wright (AUS), 22, scored an epic come-from-behind victory in an all-Australian heat against Bede Durbidge (AUS), 28, and Kai Otton (AUS), 32. Durbidge took control of the heat early, but failed to find a backup score after posting the highest wave score of the heat and was overtaken by Wright who managed to find two good scores.
“It was a really tough heat!” Wright said. “I was out of position for a while at the start, I tried to get a couple of quick scores but it didn’t really work out. Then in the last 15 minutes I decided to wait and be more selective, and I got that wave that I got the score on and I was stoked because it had a nice wall on it. There was a couple of sections to do fingers, so I thought I’d fin it to win it.”
Adam Melling (AUS), 26, took out an action packed heat against Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, and Dane Reynolds (USA), 26. All three surfers lit up the Snapper lineup with massive turns and deep tubes, but it was Melling who put his Lennox Head point break experience to good use by catching the best waves.
“It’s feels great to win that one!” Melling said. “I saw in the news and they were calling it the Dane (Reynolds) verse Parko (Joel Parkinson) heat and I was thinking – what about me, I’m in this one too. Both of those guys surf unreal and I happy to get the win, my boards are feeling good and my body is fit and I’m hoping for a big year.”
Raoni Monteiro (BRA), 29, was ecstatic after his heat win against ASP World Championship Tour rookies Gabriel Medina (BRA), 18, and Yadin Nicol (AUS), 26.
“It’s looking good out there on the low tide,” Monterio said. “I’m very happy to go straight to the 3rd Round, relax a bit, surf some different boards. I’m happy to be here again, I’ve got no sponsor so I’m going to try and get a good result. Gabriel (Medina) is the guy to beat, I don’t think he’s too happy right now, but he will get used to it, someone loses and someones wins. He’s been doing great, winning contests and he’s going to well again this year, for sure.”
Michel Bourez (PYF), 26, advanced directly into Round 3 after an incredible tube that netted him a 9.67 (out of a possible 10), the highest single wave score of the day.
“I waited for that wave for about 15-minutes, it was such a good feeling,” Bourez said. “I knew I needed a big score and I knew I needed to wait for the big waves to get a barrel. After the barrel you just have to hit the lip as hard as you can to get a good score and I’m so stoked. I’m glad to be here, it’s a blessing to be on tour surfing against the world’s best surfers.”
Mick Fanning (AUS), 30, two-times ASP World Champion and former event winner, was on point in his Round 1 heat at the Quiksilver Pro today. Fanning used his local knowledge to position himself in the best spot to capitalize on the available tube rides, finishing the waves off with his signature speed carves.
“It’s great to be at home,” Fanning said. “The neck injury at the end of last year wasn’t great, I missed Pipe and spent a lot of time on the couch. Coming in to this event I guess you never know what to expect until you hit the water, Kerrzy (Josh Kerr) and I have had some great battles out here over the years. I didn’t have the best start to that one, but after a few waves, run arounds and rock jumps I got a couple of scores.”
Event organizers will reconvene at 6:30am to access conditions for a possible 7:30am start.
Today’s highlights available via www.quiksilverlive.com/progoldcoast/2012
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 13.83, Taylor Knox (USA) 10.66, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 7.70
HEAT 2: Owen Wright (AUS) 12.37, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.34, Kai Otton (AUS) 10.37
HEAT 3: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 11.63, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 10.37, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 9.60
HEAT 4: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 15.43, Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.43, Brett Simpson (USA) 11.27
HEAT 5: Adam Melling (AUS) 15.70, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.43, Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.90
HEAT 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.80, Garrett Parkes (AUS) 12.73, Kolohe Andino (USA) 10.60
HEAT 7: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.83, Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.83, Travis Logie (ZAF) 8.67
HEAT 8: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.00, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.96, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.60
HEAT 9: Heitor Alves (BRA) 14.36, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.17, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 10.87
HEAT 10: Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.77, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.67, Jadson Andre (BRA) 8.00
HEAT 11: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.26, Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.67, CJ Hobgood (USA) 11.84
HEAT 12: John John Florence (HAW) 19.60, Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.50, Tiago Pires (PRT) 12.50
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
HEAT 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) VS. Garrett Parkes (AUS)
HEAT 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) VS. Dane Reynolds (USA)
HEAT 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) VS. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
HEAT 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) VS. Kai Otton (AUS)
HEAT 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF) VS. Taylor Knox (USA)
HEAT 6: Alejo Muniz (BRA) VS. Travis Logie (ZAF)
HEAT 7: Josh Kerr (AUS) VS. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
HEAT 8: Damien Hobgood (USA) VS. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
HEAT 9: Jeremy Flores (FRA) VS. Jadson Andre (BRA)
HEAT 10: Kieren Perrow (AUS) VS. CJ Hobgood (USA)
HEAT 11: Bede Durbidge (AUS) VS. Tiago Pires (PRT)
HEAT 12: Brett Simpson (USA) VS. Kolohe Andino (USA)
2012 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour Off To Great Start On Day 1 Of Roxy Pro
SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland/Australia (Saturday, 25 February, 2012) – The wind, weather and rain couldn’t stop the Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented By Land Rover getting the 2012 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour off to a fantastic start at Snapper Rocks today.
Stop 1 of 7 on the elite ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, the Roxy Pro Gold Coast is always one of the most exciting events on tour as the girls get the chance put their full bag of tricks on display at one of the world’s most high performance waves.
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 24, the 4-times ASP Women’s World Champion came exploding out of the gates in her opening heat of 2012. The hometown favorite unleashed a barrage of powerful hacks that saw her earn a massive 9.00 (out of a possible 10).
“I feel strong and am so excited to be back feeling that strength and confidence again,” Gilmore said. “Every heat this morning has been really strong, really consistent and it’s been like anyone can win and that’s exciting to watch. Kelly (Slater) and Joel (Parkinson) were really complimentary of women’s surfing at the ASP Awards the other night and that means a lot to us because we’re working hard to be like those guys and we’re learning a lot from them.”
Carissa Moore (HAW), 19, reigning ASP Women’s World Champion, showed that a six month break from competition hasn’t slowed her down, posting a win in her opening heat of 2012. Moore survived a last-minute fightback from Rebecca Woods (AUS), 27, who finished the heat with a great wave, but came less than half a point away from the score required.
“There’s definitely a different sort of pressure you have to deal with coming in as World Champ and defending your title, as opposed to chasing a title for the first time,” Moore said. “It’s a new experience for me. Coming into the first event we’re all a little nervous because it’s been a while since we’ve been in a jersey, so it’s nice to work out the kinks and the nerves and I’m looking forward to the rest of the event.”
Tyler Wright (AUS), 17, put on a dominant performance in her opening heat at the Roxy Pro today, posting multiple scores in the excellent range to net the highest heat total of the day – 17.70 (out of a possible 20). Wright recovered from a big mistake at the start of the heat, taking off on a wave before the siren sounded, riding all the way to the inside on a wave that didn’t count.
“There were some good waves coming through,” Wright said. “But the rip is strong so I’m really tired, taking off on that wave before heat started probably added to that. It was a mistake, but when I heard the countdown I thought by the time I got to my feet the heat would have started. Oh well, it happens – it was a good wave so I’m glad I caught it. I noticed last year that Carissa (Moore) and Sally (Fitzgibbons) were consistent in every comp with their performance and wave selection and that’s what I’m going to try and do this year.”
Malia Manuel (HAW), 18, took top honors in her first heat as an elite ASP Women’s World Championship Tour competitor. Manuel scoured the Snapper lineup and picked off the biggest and best waves on offer and used her smooth, yet powerful Hawaiian style to beat her more experienced competitors Silvana Lima (BRA), 27, and Courtney Conlogue (USA), 19, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.
“When I got the heat draw emailed to me I found out I was in the first heat and I was pretty nervous,” Manuel said. “But as I paddled out the nerves melted away. It was a relief to go from surfing with 50 people out there, to just a couple. Snapper is a world class wave so even the junk ones are fun. I’m just happy to get the first heat on the first day out of the way.”
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 21, fresh from a win at the ASP 6-Star Australian Open last week, kept the roll going at Snapper today. Fitzgibbons was in control of the heat from the first wave, opening up with a decent score and backed that up with a 7.97 (out of a possible 10), the highest single wave score of the heat.
“It’s crazy to have people walking around in ‘Go Sally!’ shirts,” Fitzgibbons said. “The support from fans and Roxy is what keeps me going out there, it means a lot. This is my fourth season on tour and as I was paddling out for my heat, instead of the jittery nerves I’ve had in the past few years, this time I was stoked to start the season and had a smile from ear to ear.”
Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 28, had a tight back and forth battle with Coco Ho (HAW), 20, in the last heat of the morning. Both picked off great waves and attacked the lip with some critical vertical snaps, but it was Mulanovich’s pair of scores in the 6-point-range that saw her win the heat.
“I love Australia, and this wave is really sun to surf so I’m stoked to be here,” Mulanovich said. “There’s a couple of fun ones out there, you have to take advantage of the nice sections when they come to you. I like being last heat of the say, all the girls have been ripping and I’ve seen some great heats and I’ve been able to learn from them.”
Event organizers will reconvene at 6:30am to access conditions for a possible 7:30am start.
Today’s highlights available via www.quiksilverlive.com/progoldcoast/2012
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
ROXY PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 10.24, Silvana Lima (BRA) 8.73, Courtney Conlogue (USA) 8.10
HEAT 2: Tyler Wright (AUS) 17.70, Lakey Peterson (USA) 12.26, Pauline Ado (FRA) 7.33
HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 13.73, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 11.33, Philippa Anderson (AUS) 11.33
HEAT 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.64, Paige Hareb (NZL) 10.10, Sarah Mason (NZL) 7.94
HEAT 5: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.33, Sage Erickson (USA) 13.70, Laura Enever (AUS) 6.40
HEAT 6: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 12.73, Coco Ho (HAW) 12.13, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 7.54
