Billabong Rio Pro draws finalized: Dusty out, Freddy in

Josh Kerr © ASP / Cestari

Billabong Rio Pro

ASP World Tour Men's event #3
ASP Women's World Tour event #5
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
9 - 20 May 2012

Live Coverage | Results/Photos/Videos etc

World’s Best Men & Women to Battle in Brazil

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 May, 2012 : - - Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil -- The draw has been finalized for the next stop on the ASP World Championship Tour, the Billabong Rio Pro, cementing the Round 1 match-ups for the world’s best surfers to go down at Rio de Janeiro’s Barra da Tijuca this week.

Event No. 3 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, the Billabong Rio Pro will recommence this year’s race for the ASP World Title, following wins by Taj Burrow (AUS), 33, on the Gold Coast and Mick Fanning (AUS), 30, at Bells Beach, with the current ratings’ lead being held by 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 40.

Dusty Payne (HAW), 23, has withdrawn from the Billabong Rio Pro, citing an ankle injury that has kept him out of the water all season. Payne will be replaced by fellow Hawaiian Frederick Patacchia (HAW), 30. Event wildcards for the Billabong Rio Pro are Tomas Hermes (BRA) and Peterson Crisanto (BRA). When men’s competition commences, up first will be Jordy Smith (ZAF), 24, Brett Simpson (USA), 27, and Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 30, in Heat 1 of Round 1.

The Billabong Rio Pro will run from May 9 - 20, 2012 and will be webcast LIVE via billabongpro.com. Running in conjunction with the men’s event is the fifth stop on the 2012 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, the Billabong Women’s Rio Pro. This year has bore witness to return of four-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 24, to the top of the ratings after posting two big wins.

Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 28, and Silvana Lima (BRA), 27, have both withdrawn from the event due to illness and injury. They have been replaced by Melanie Bartels (HAW), 30, and Sarah Mason (NZL), 17, respectively. Event wildcard for the Billabong Women’s Rio Pro is Juliana Quint (BRA). When women’s competition commences, up first will be Courtney Conlogue (USA), 19, Lakey Peterson (USA), 18, and Sage Erickson (USA), 21.

Webisodes

Webisode 3 Webisode 2 Webisode 1

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BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Brett Simpson (USA), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 2: Owen Wright (AUS), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS), Raoni Monteiro (BRA), Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Tomas Hermes (BRA)
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Peterson Crisanto (BRA)
Heat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 8: Julian Wilson (AUS), Damien Hobgood (USA), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 9: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Tiago Pires (BRA)
Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA), Kolohe Andino (USA)
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF), Alejo Muniz (BRA), Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA), John John Florence (HAW), Matt Wilkinson (AUS)

BILLABONG WOMEN’S RIO PRO ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Lakey Peterson (USA), Sage Erickson (USA)
Heat 2: Tyler Wright (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL), Justine Dupont (FRA)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Sarah Mason (NZL), Juliana Quint (BRA)
Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Heat 5: Carissa Moore (HAW), Coco Ho (HAW), Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
Heat 6: Laura Enever (AUS), Malia Manuel (HAW), Pauline Ado (FRA)

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Running in conjunction with the men’s event will be the fifth stop on the 2012 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour season, the Billabong Rio Pro, featuring the world’s best female surfers.

www.billabongpro.com
www.aspworldtour.com