Glenn Hall ousts Curran, claims Mr Price Pro Ballito

Glenn Hall © Cestari / Mr Price

Mr Price Pro Ballito

ASP Men's Prime event
Ballito, South Africa
2 - 8 July 2012

Live Coverage | Results/Photos/Videos

Hall claims Mr Price Pro victory as 'Biggest Win of My Career'

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 July, 2012 : - - Ballito, KwaDukuza, South Africa -- Australian born, Irish surfer Glenn Hall, 30, secured the biggest win of his career taking out the ASP Prime Mr Price Pro Ballito defeating Nathaniel Curran, 27, (USA) in the Final at Willards Beach, in South Africa on Sunday, July 8, 2012.

The final day of competition culminated with the best swell of the waiting period as solid 1.5 metre, offshore conditions provided the idyllic arena for an action-packed day of world-class surfing.

Glenn Hall held his composure throughout the 35- minute Final, opening with an excellent 8.33 (out of ten) waiting until the final minute to regain his priority, earning more than the required score to snatch the win from Curran with his 6.67 back-up ride, winning the heat by 15.00 to 13.67 (both out of 20.00).

Glenn Hall © Cestari / Mr Price

“It’s the biggest win of my career by far, I kinda felt like if you got the wave out there you could get the score and I was just praying for a wave at the end,” Hall said. “Nathaniel is an amazing surfer and I was pumped to have a Final against him. It was always going to be a tough heat but I’ve learnt never to be content with second and to always push for more until you’ve won.”

Hall’s victory comes off the back of a stellar competition season winning a 4 Star in China followed by a runner-up finish at the ASP Prime Lowers Pro at Trestles, California, his consistency rocketing him from 27th to 16th on the World Rankings.

“It’s still a long road ahead and I’m just going to keep trying and see where I end up,” Hall explained. “I’m not doing JBay (6 Star) and I’m proud of my choice. I came here and put all eggs into one basket because if you are here to qualify its about the Primes. That’s my focus so I’m taking it to the next event in America.”

Nathaniel Curran © Cestari / Mr Price

Nathaniel Curran proved a standout throughout the week revealing the depth of his surfing repertoire with a combination of airs, barrels and carves but suffered a disappointing defeat in the Final losing priority and ultimately gifting the Australian the win.

“It still feels great to get a result,” Curran said. “I’ve been struggling for a year and a half so I’m stoked to make the Final. It was an awesome contest, I’ve been coming here since I was 18 and the waves are always insane. I love coming here and I can’t wait for next year.”

Taking down some big names including South African hopeful Travis Logie (ZAF) in the Quarterfinals, followed by ASP Word No. 4 Adriano De Souza (BRA) in the Semifinals, Curran’s runner-up finish sees him jump from 96th to 42nd on the World Rankings.

Adriano De Souza © Cestari / Mr Price

Adriano De Souza showed exactly why he is the World No. 4, posting convincing heat wins all week as well as the highest individual wave score of the event a 9.50 against Brian Toth (PIR) in the Quarterfinals. De Souza finished equal third falling just short of the mark against Curran in the Semis.

“I’m disappointed not to be in the Final but it’s still a good result,” De Souza said. “I came here without any pressure and Nathaniel was surfing better than me so he deserves to be in the Final. I’ll be here watching the best two guys in the event battle it out in the Final and may the best man win.”

Nat Young (USA) posted his best result of the year placing equal third, reaching the Semifinals where he was narrowly defeated by Hall with 14.50 to 14.67. Young proved on-point throughout the week, taking down top names including former Mr Price Pro Champion World No. 8 Jordy Smith (ZAF) in the Quarterfinals.

Nat Young © Cestari / Mr Price

South African’s Jordy Smith and Travis Logie placed equal fifth, the pair reaching the Quarterfinals where they were eliminated, Logie by Curran and Smith by Young. Brian Toth (PRI) and Jack Freestone (AUS) joined the South African duo with equal fifth place results, Toth defeated by De Souza while Freestone fell to fellow Australian Hall.

The 13th edition of the Mr Price Pro Ballito proved a resounding success with record crowds and world –class surfing from 96 of the world’s finest surfers.

Jordy Smith © Cestari / Mr Price

MR PRICE PRO FINAL RESULT:
1 - Glenn Hall (IRL) 15.00
2 - Nathaniel Curran (USA) 13.67

MR PRICE PRO SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
Heat 1: Nathaniel Curran (USA) 12.10 def Adriano De Souza (BRA) 11.00
Heat 2: Glenn Hall (IR) 14.67 def Nat Young (USA) 14.50

MR PRICE PRO QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
Heat 1: Nathaniel Curran (USA) 11.60 def Travis Logie (ZAF) 10.83
Heat 2: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 17.33 def Brian Toth (PRT) 5.73
Heat 3: Nat Young (USA) 15.00 def Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.00
Heat 4: Glenn Hall (IR) 10.44 def Jack Freestone (AUS) 9.90

ASP Rankings After the Mr Price Pro Ballito Prime

1	Florence,John John	HAW	31925
2	Fanning,Mick	AUS	24863
3	Slater,Kelly	USA	24500
4	Medina,Gabriel	BRA	23390
5	Burrow,Taj	AUS	23145
6	Kerr,Josh	AUS	23036
7	De Souza,Adriano	BRA	22625
8	Parkinson,Joel	AUS	20870
9	Smith,Jordy	ZAF	19940
10	Hobgood,C.J.	USA	19450
11	Otton,Kai	AUS	18095
12	Buchan,Adrian	AUS	17805
13	Wright,Owen	AUS	16800
14	Wilson,Julian	AUS	15800
15	Flores,Jeremy	FRA	15570
16	Hall,Glenn	IRL	15480
17	Pupo,Miguel	BRA	15050
18	Andino,Kolohe	USA	12261
19	Wilkinson,Matt	AUS	12202
20	Alves,Heitor	BRA	12080
21	Young,Nat	USA	11890
22	Hobgood,Damien	USA	11750
23	Cardoso,Willian	BRA	11650
24	Muniz,Alejo	BRA	11250
25	Patacchia,Fredrick	HAW	11234
26	Simpson,Brett	USA	11060
27	Pires,Tiago	PRT	10790
28	Toth,Brian	PRI	10625
29	Logie,Travis	ZAF	10320
30	Yeomans,Nathan	USA	10104
31	Gudauskas,Patrick	USA	9980
32	Bourez,Michel	PYF	9150
33	Eleogram,Olamana	HAW	9094
34	Melling,Adam	AUS	9040
35	Ribeiro,Alex	BRA	8820
36	Da Silva,Jean	BRA	8230
37	Monteiro,Raoni	BRA	8150
38	Dantas,Wiggolly	BRA	7869
39	Larsen,Granger	HAW	7866
40	Hermes,Tomas	BRA	7682
41	Zietz,Sebastien	HAW	7606
42	Curran,Nathaniel	USA	7564
43	Kling,Gabe	USA	7156
44	Durbidge,Bede	AUS	7042
45	Occhilupo,Mark	AUS	6815
46	Duru,Joan	FRA	6650
47	Atkinson,Dion	AUS	6403
48	Gudauskas,Tanner	USA	6341
49	Bettero,Hizunome	BRA	6290
50	Toledo,Filipe	BRA	6120