{"id":16946,"date":"2010-07-16T11:23:56","date_gmt":"2010-07-16T18:23:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=16946"},"modified":"2010-07-16T11:33:57","modified_gmt":"2010-07-16T18:33:57","slug":"billabong-pro-rips-into-round-3-at-j-bay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=16946","title":{"rendered":"Billabong Pro Rips Into Round 3 At J-Bay"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Owbbgjb10Big\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Luckily, we got up early enough to see Owen Wright’s<\/strong> floater in full motion, live at the Billabong Pro J-Bay<\/a><\/strong>. It was good. So was his three-wave 17 point win over Ben Dunn<\/strong>. Wright apparently likes J-Bay.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been feeling very comfortable out at Jeffreys,\u201d Wright said. \u201cI got here a week early and have been working the place out on boards and sections. It\u2019s such a fun wave. I saw Ben\u2019s heat in Round 2 and he was looking really good so I knew I would have to pull out something special. I didn\u2019t feel nervous at all though, I went out and tried to maximize each wave I caught.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Apparently. For results from the first four heats of round 3, and the entire losers round (CJ Hobgood lost to Tim Reyes) follow the jump.
\nHigh Drama as World\u2019s Best Battle for Survival at Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay<\/p>\n

JEFFREYS BAY, South Africa (Friday, July 16, 2010) \u2013 South Africa\u2019s premier pointbreak delivered once again with clean three-to-four foot (1.5 metre) surf roping along the shoreline as Round 2 and the opening four heats of Round 3 were completed at the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay.<\/p>\n

The fourth stop on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay is seeing the development of two important storylines: 1) the intensifying of the 2010 ASP World Title race, and 2) cutthroat battle for survival amongst the lower seeds to remain amongst the world\u2019s elite following the mid-year field reduction from the ASP Top 45 to 32 (plus two surfer wildcards).<\/p>\n

Owen Wright (AUS), 20, 2010 ASP World Tour rookie and current ASP World No. 11, came into this season touted as one of the most dangerous surfers in the world, and his recent momentum is certainly qualifying the accolade. This evening saw the powerful goofy-footer explode in a fury of progressive backhand surfing in his Round 3 heat, collecting the round-high 17.00 out of a possible 20 and dispatching of Rip Curl stablemate Ben Dunn (AUS), 24.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been feeling very comfortable out at Jeffreys,\u201d Wright said. \u201cI got here a week early and have been working the place out on boards and sections. It\u2019s such a fun wave. I saw Ben\u2019s heat in Round 2 and he was looking really good so I knew I would have to pull out something special. I didn\u2019t feel nervous at all though, I went out and tried to maximize each wave I caught.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a slow start to the season, Wright posted an impressive Equal 3rd at the last event in Brazil which appears to have opened the proverbial flood gates. The young Australian is well within the mid-year qualifying cutoff, and appears to be campaign for a position amongst the ASP Top 10.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m definitely feeling more comfortable as the season moves on,\u201d Wright said. \u201cI felt like I was surfing well in the first few events but had some bad luck. Things obviously went better for me in Brazil and I\u2019m loving it here in J-Bay. Excited to see how things shape up for tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wright will battle current No. 2 on the ASP World Title Race rankings, Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, in Round 4 of competition.<\/p>\n

Smith continued his juggernaut run through the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay today. The powerful natural-footer assaulted the walling righthanders with style, punch and bite this evening, netting a 15.07 out of a possible 20 to dispatch of California\u2019s Nate Yeomans (USA), 28, in Round 3.<\/p>\n

Adriano de Souza (BRA), 23, current ASP World No. 8, stumbled in his opening round heat, but after a late Round 2 victory yesterday, unleashed a barrage in his Round 3 heat this afternoon. The lightning-fast Brazilian appears completely in tune with his body and boards and boasted a forehand assault that netted him a 16.67 out of a possible 20 as he advanced through to Round 4.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery heat I feel like I am gaining more confidence in my abilities,\u201d De Souza said. \u201cI have really good boards right now and am just enjoying surfing excellent waves at Jeffreys Bay. I\u2019m inside the Top 10 right now and I just want to keep pushing here and at the next events to the Top 5, the Top 3 and eventually a World Title.\u201d<\/p>\n

De Souza applied pressure early on in the bout, building momentum throughout before dispatching of Round 2 standout Jay Thompson (AUS), 27.<\/p>\n

\u201cJay (Thompson) had a really good heat earlier today,\u201d De Souza said. \u201cI knew I had to take him seriously. I feel confident though. I was able to put up good scores to start and felt like I built momentum throughout the heat. I chose to run up the beach instead of paddle back up because I wanted to build the hunger inside me more and get excited for the rest of the heat. I know I can perform here and just want to show everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite his Round 3 elimination, Thompson set the Jeffreys Bay community alight this morning, utilizing his powerful frame to blast away at a solid set to the tune of an 8.83 out of a possible 10, before backing it up with the first Perfect 10 of the event. Thompson threaded through an impossible long barrel, exiting to the eruption of cheers on the beach before executing two vicious hacks on the end section.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s funny to think back on what was going through my mind in that barrel,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cI was watching that Kelly Slater film, \u2018Letting Go\u2019, a few nights again and he\u2019s talking about that layback barrel from a few years ago in Tahiti when he beat Bruce (Irons). I was thinking about that as I was in the barrel. I just had so many emotions going through my mind. I have a lot on my plate at this event and I had so much time to think while I was in there. When I came out, I could hear everyone on the beach just roaring, and I don\u2019t usually claim waves but I had to on that one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thompson finishes with an Equal 17th and will hunt a solid result in Tahiti if he is to remain amongst the world\u2019s elite.<\/p>\n

Adrian Buchan (AUS), 27, current ASP World No. 13, was one to notice the effects of the mid-year cutoff firsthand today, battling a rampaging Travis Logie (ZAF), 31, in their Round 3 bout.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou definitely see the urgency and intensity at this event,\u201d Buchan said. \u201cIt was certainly the case today and even yesterday. Everyone on tour this season is so talented and the fact that there are only two more events means that everyone is fighting for survival. It\u2019s a great thing for the spectators to watch and great for the event as well. It\u2019s going to make things very interesting heading into Tahiti.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tanner Gudauskas (USA), 22, 2010 ASP World Tour rookie, survived a tightly-fought Round 2 battle today, overcoming the experience and forehand assault of Tom Whitaker (AUS), 30.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a chess match out there,\u201d Gudauskas said. \u201cI think only four waves came through the whole time \u2013 I got two and Tommy (Whitaker) got two. I just happened to be on the fortunate side of the priority pendulum and the waves I got opened up a lot more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Currently rated No. 31 on the ASP World Title Race rankings, Gudauskas understands the necessity for a result at Jeffreys Bay, but focuses on the immediate in the heat of battle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do my best to think about it but it\u2019s always there,\u201d Gudauskas said. \u201cEveryone is here to win, and when you\u2019re in Round 2, it\u2019s hard to block that out of your mind. But you have to. I just focus on my next heat and my next wave, and when you\u2019re in the lineup, everything just starts by looking down the stringer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gudauskas will face Bede Durbidge (AUS), 27, in the opening heat of the day when competition resumes.<\/p>\n

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am to assess conditions for a possible 7:30am start.<\/p>\n

Highlights from the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay will be available via http:\/\/www.billabongpro.com\/jbay10\/<\/p>\n

The event will be broadcast LIVE on FUEL TV in Australia.<\/p>\n

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, are calling for an increase in surf over the next 24 hours which could see the world\u2019s best surfers back into some solid juice at Jeffreys Bay as early as tomorrow.<\/p>\n

The waiting period for the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay will begin on Friday, July 15 and run through July 25, 2010.<\/p>\n

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com<\/p>\n

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Remaining Round 2 Results:
\nHeat 3: Sean Holmes<\/strong> (ZAF) 13.50 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 11.07
\nHeat 4: Joan Duru<\/strong> (FRA) 13.83 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 11.50
\nHeat 5: Tim Reyes<\/strong> (USA) 13.34 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.23
\nHeat 6: Michel Bourez<\/strong> (PYF) 11.86 def. Blake Thornton (AUS) 11.50
\nHeat 7: Damien Hobgood<\/strong> (USA) 15.04 def. Marco Polo (BRA) 11.30
\nHeat 8: Jay Thompson<\/strong> (AUS) 18.33 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 14.47
\nHeat 9: Neco Padaratz<\/strong> (BRA) 11.36 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 10.93
\nHeat 10: Tanner Gudauskas<\/strong> (USA) 15.03 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 9.00
\nHeat 11: Brett Simpson<\/strong> (USA) 15.40 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.26
\nHeat 12: Dusty Payne<\/strong> (HAW) 12.83 def. Daniel Ross (AUS) 11.37
\nHeat 13: Luke Stedman<\/strong> (AUS) 14.14 def. Drew Courtney (AUS) 12.93
\nHeat 14: Travis Logie<\/strong> (ZAF) 13.60 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 12.00
\nHeat 15: Ben Dunn<\/strong> (AUS) 16.33 def. Pat Gudauskas (USA) 9.83
\nHeat 16: Dean Morrison<\/strong> (AUS) 15.84 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 9.03<\/p>\n

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Round 3 Results:
\nHeat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 16.67 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 9.27
\nHeat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.27 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 11.80
\nHeat 3: Owen Wright (AUS) 17.00 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 10.74
\nHeat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.07 def. Nate Yeomans (USA) 9.10<\/p>\n

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Remaining Round 3 Match-Ups:
\nHeat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
\nHeat 6: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
\nHeat 7: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Andy Irons (HAW)
\nHeat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Sean Holmes (ZAF)
\nHeat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Joan Duru (FRA)
\nHeat 10: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
\nHeat 11: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
\nHeat 12: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
\nHeat 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)
\nHeat 14: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
\nHeat 15: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
\nHeat 16: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Luckily, we got up early enough to see Owen Wright’s floater in full motion, live at the Billabong Pro J-Bay. It was good. So was his three-wave 17 point win over Ben Dunn. Wright apparently likes J-Bay. \u201cI\u2019ve been feeling very comfortable out at Jeffreys,\u201d Wright said. \u201cI got here a week early and have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16946"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16946"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16946\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16949,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16946\/revisions\/16949"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}