Joel Fitzgerald the standout on Day One Legend Mark Richards predicts Slater & Occy are the surfers to beat.
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 3 April, 2006 : - - Competition in the event was forced to move from Newcastle Beach this morning due to the combination of a south swell direction and a low tide that was hitting the break very straight and causing close-outs on nearly every wave. Perfect barreling right handers around the corner at Merewether created an ideal setting for the first and second rounds to get underway on the opening day of competition.
Narrabeen surfer Joel Fitzgerald was a clear standout on day one, posting the morning’s highest heat score of 14.43. The powerful goofy footer was too strong on his backhand, snapping critically under the lip and making the seeming impossible look easy. Also through to the second round with impressive wins was Sunshine Coaster Blake Wilson (Alexandra Headland), Rique Smith (Newcastle/Margaret River), Brendan Leckie (Gold Coast) and Lennox Head surfer James Wood.
The Vodafone Surfest presented by Billabong can be viewed live on the internet on www.surfest.com. Due to an unusual change in location this morning, the opening day was unable to be streamed live however the day’s video highlights are available to view on the event website.
Legend Richards predicts Slater and Occhilupo will be the surfers to beat
Four times world surfing champion Mark Richards predicts that Kelly Slater and Mark Occhilupo will be the surfers to beat in this week’s Vodafone Open presented by Billabong following Slater’s win on the Gold Coast last month and Occhilupo’s remarkable victory at Margaret River on the weekend.
Occhilupo last won at Margaret River 21 years ago and hasn’t taken out a tour victory for 7 years, but showed everyone on the weekend that he is still a formidable surfing force. Not one of the surfers in the international line-up contesting today’s opening round of the 4-star World Qualifying Series (WQS) would disagree with event patron Richards who reckons he is in awe of Occy’s unstoppable surfing prowess.
The 39-year-old Occhilupo will be entering the Newcastle event with renewed confidence following his first ASP trophy in 7 years. Once again he will take on surfers half his age at the event he first won twenty years ago in 1986 and won again in 1998. A third victory at Newcastle would see him equal Mick Fanning’s hat-trick of trophies.
Occy will hit the water in Newcastle in the round of 64 on Thursday, along with other top seeded surfers including current world champion and 2006 wct ratings leader Kelly Slater (Florida, USA).
Australian surfing icon Richards, who coincidently was defeated by the powerful Gold Coast based goofy footer in the 1985 Margaret River final 21 years ago, turned on his own display of surfing brilliance this morning with some perfect pits directly out in front of his house at the Merewether Beach competition site.
An enthused Richards said that he would love to see Occy in the Newcastle final. “It’s epic today, I think it’s the best day of surf we have had for the event in the history of it and it’s easily the best day we have had so far this year. “It’s been a pretty crappy year of surf in Newcastle, so this is a great start, it’s so rare,” Richards said.
“I’m sure Occy’s stoked, even though it was a WQS and not a WCT it’s a win, and you could argue that sometimes it is harder to win a WQS by coming through the four man heats and up against guys who are so hungry to get points to qualify for the World Championship Tour,” said Richards.
James Wood : photo Hilly/Vodafone Open
“I’m sure Occy is totally stoked and I know he is surfing in this contest at Newcastle, so he will be coming into this one full of confidence. I’m sure the fans in Newcastle would like nothing more than to see Occy standing on the podium. “It’s a pretty interesting field, there are over 200 competitors in it and we have got everyone from 16-year-old guys to guys Occ’s age.
“The Vodafone Billabong event is a wonderful thing for Newcastle, it showcases some of the best surfing in the world on the Newcastle beaches and it’s a really popular surfing event on the calendar. It’s my favourite time of year when the event is on,” said Richards. Richards also welcomes the return of seven times world champion Kelly Slater to the event.
The greatest surfer of all time, who will line up on Thursday against young Boat Harbour wildcard Nick Coghlan, has also been in devastating form which he showed by claiming the WCT season opener on the Gold Coast. “We are stoked that he is coming back, it was great to see him win the event a couple of years ago and everyone was really excited when they heard he was actually entering the event again this year,” said Richards.
“I think he is going to be incredibly hard to stop. I think the young guys wouldn’t like it but it would be incredible to see a Kelly and Occy final, the beach would go ballistic if that were to happen.” One youngster who dreams of a possible match up against Occhilupo in this event is 17-year-old Hawaiian surfer Mason Ho.
The son of Michael and nephew of 1993 world champion Derek, young Mason is surfing in his first ever Surfest, an event that both his father and his uncle had a long affiliation with throughout the 80’s and 90’s. Progressing through his opening heat of competition this morning, the youngster is staying with Richards and wife Jenny and admits surfing against Occhilupo would be unbelievable.
“It would be a dream come true,” said Ho. “He has been really close to me since I have grown up. I have watched him surf in Hawaii and it’s just Occy, he is the best. “I love him like a dad and he has always taken care of me. It would be an honour to come up against him and that is just another goal to look forward to,” the young Hawaiian added.
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