Mr Price Pro

ASP 6 Star Mens WQS Event
ASP 5 Star Womens WQS Event
North Beach, Durban
30 June- 9 July 2006

Scores/Results/Photos/Video etc

Ricky Basnett wins Mr Price Pro
Brandon Jackson wins Mr Price Pro Junior

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 9 July, 2006 : - - Durban, South Africa - Its been twenty-eight years since a South African surfer first triumphed at the Mr Price Pro, formerly known as the Gunston 500, and today Ricky Basnett (Bluff), 20, won the Six Star World Qualifying Series (WQS) event for the first time, since South Africa’s legendary surfing hero, Shaun Tomson back in 1978.

On a day that will be etched into South African surfing history, Basnett who entered as a wildcard into the round of 96, defeated world number four on the WQS Dayyan Neve (Aus) with a total of 15.60 (out of 20.00) to Neve’s 10.50.icking- off with an explosive frontside aerial-reverse to score 8.5 out of a possible ten points, followed by a hands-free aerial earning 7.17, Basnett left his opponent in a combination situation, a feat that would have made Tomson proud.

As the ocean went flat, Basnett began counting down the minutes before stepping onto the sand as the 2006 champion. Swarmed by friends and drenched it beer, Basnett held the South African flag high as he was carried up the beach above a sea of fans. “I don’t know what is going through my mind right now, I’m more stoked than I could ever be. This tastes better than beer!” said Basnett absolutely shaking from adrenaline.

“I got those two waves in the beginning and then the ocean went flat. When I saw my friends on the beach with the South African flag and I could not really believe what was happening. I was just sitting out there counting down the time.” Adding this victory to his stellar performance at the four-star WQS in Margaret River, Australia, where he finished second, Basnett has climbed to fifth on the ASP WQS ratings and is closer to realising his dream of qualifying for the World Championship Tour.

Despite posting the highest individual wave score of the entire contest, an excellent 9.63 (out of ten) against defeating world number 23 Troy Brooks (Aus) in the semi-finals, the ocean failed to provide for Neve in the final and the Australian was relegated to second place. However, this result was as good as a victory for Neve who has reached three WQS finals this year and is now at number one on the WQS ratings.

“This result means everything to me. I’m trying really hard to make the WCT this year so I’m really happy to get another final, especially in a Six Star,” said Neve who was considering quitting the tour when he dropped to 116th on the WQS at the end of last year, before deciding to give it one last go in 2006.

“It’s not the best place to come second to a South African, but if I’d won back in Australia at my local beach, I know it would be the same, just the other way around. I’m stoked for Ricky, he deserved the win and he’s got his friends and family around to celebrate with.”

Also reaching the semi- finals at North beach today was former Mr Price Pro Champion Neco Padaratz (Brazil), who bowed out to Basnett, needing a 6.44. Taking off on a wave, realising it was not going to have the potential he was looking for, the Brazilian clapped his hands in applause of Basnett, impressing the crowd with his great display of sportsmanship.

South African’s Travis Logie (Durban) and Jordy Smith (Umbilo) made it as far as the quarterfinals, the two surfers finishing equal fifth, earning R14000 for their efforts. Logie was defeated by Brooks, while Smith’s hopes were dashed by Neve.

Mr Price Pro Junior Men

The Mr Price Pro junior men’s final saw Brandon Jackson (Durban North) successfully defend his Mr Price Pro Junior title over Jordy Smith (Umbilo), who was penalised for an interference. Taking off on the same wave, Jackson heading left and Smith right, the two surfers met in the middle, Smith failing to make way for Jackson, which cost him the win.

Despite posting two 8.17 scores (out of a possible ten), Smith had his second ride halved, relegating him to second place while Jackson held onto first. “You can never right-off Jordy, he’s won contests on interferences before”, said Jackson markedly pleased with his win. “Jordy’s won every contest this year but you can’t win them all and I’m just happy I could halt his run.”

Jackson posted two six-point scores for a package of tight off the top turns and, despite numerous attacks from Josh Redman (Umdloti) and Brandon Roberts (Cape Town), who finished third and fourth respectively, maintained his heat lead, earning R3000 for his efforts. Smith earned R2000 and valuable ratings points, which will keep him at the top off the ASP Africa ratings. Disappointed with his error Smith said, “I just got unlucky I guess, and I’m going to learn from this for next time, but still, well done to Brandon for winning.”

Results/Photos etc

Men's WQS Ratings After Evt#22 Mr Price Pro, Durban-South Africa 

Neve,Dayyan	AUS	1	7538
Padaratz,Neco	BRA	2	7055
Kling,Gabe	USA	3	6980
Munro,Luke	AUS	4	6844
Basnett,Ricky	ZAF	5	6834
Dunn,Ben	AUS	6	6372
Perrow,Kieren	AUS	7	6210
Kerr,Josh	AUS	8	6209
Rebiere,Eric	FRA	9	6175
Courtney,Drew	AUS	10	6093
Flintoff,Kirk	AUS	11	5990
Bourgeois,Ben	USA	12	5927
Bryson,Royden	ZAF	13	5834
Flores,Jeremy	REU	14	5713
Otton,Kai	AUS	15	5664
Howse,Jarrad	AUS	16	5451
Gudauskas,Patrick	USA	17	5345
Simpson,Brett	USA	18	5247
Miranda,Bernardo	BRA	19	5149
Neves,Leonardo	BRA	20	5106
Muscroft,Nic	AUS	21	5100
Gouveia,Fabio	BRA	22	5021
Beven,Patrick	FRA	23	4996
Todd,Mike	USA	24	4911
Ross,Daniel	AUS	25	4901
Quinn,Maz	NZL	26	4878
Campbell,Michael	AUS	27	4876
Hansen,Bobby	NZL	28	4860
Sedley,Leigh	AUS	29	4781
Hall,Glenn	AUS	30	4685
Silva,Andre	BRA	31	4614
Curran,Nathaniel	USA	32	4562
Alves,Heitor	BRA	33	4520
Logie,Travis	ZAF	34	4495
Ribas,Victor	BRA	35	4493
Wright,Warwick	ZAF	36	4466
Pires,Tiago	PRT	37	4455
Fernandes,Gustavo	BRA	38	4451
Bettero,Hizunome	BRA	39	4427
Ohno,Masatoshi	JPN	39	4427
Toth,Brian	PRI	41	4394
Redman,Daniel	ZAF	42	4322
Cuizon,Dustin	HAW	43	4315
Eleogram,Ola	HAW	44	4296
Winter,Russell	GBR	45	4245
Boal,Tim	FRA	46	4206
Dornelles,Rodrigo	BRA	47	4175
Gray,Alex	USA	48	4168
Nolan,Asher	USA	49	4127
Sullivan,Jarrad	AUS	50	4062
Bacalso,Kekoa	HAW	51	4059
Silva,Jean da	BRA	52	4043
Coutinho,Odirlei	BRA	53	3992
Thompson,Jay	AUS	54	3974
Centeio,Joel	HAW	55	3875
Stedman,Luke	AUS	56	3858
Gossmann,Shaun	AUS	57	3844
Rocha,Marcondes	BRA	58	3781
Aranburu,Aritz	ESP	59	3780
Lipke,Marlon	DEU	60	3718
Brown,Yerin	AUS	61	3650
Moody,Sean	HAW	61	3650
Yeomans,Nathan	USA	63	3625
Ward,Shaun	USA	64	3599
Bombaci,Rhys	AUS	65	3596
Campbell,Ryan	AUS	66	3592
Trekinho,Marcelo	BRA	67	3565
Gaskell,Hank	HAW	68	3517
Romao,Simao	BRA	69	3469
Khodr,Jihad	BRA	70	3464
Riou,Alain	PYF	71	3457
Weare,David	ZAF	72	3442
Barnes,Jock	AUS	73	3435
Coghlan,Nick	AUS	74	3413
Gutierrez,Pablo	ESP	75	3379
Smith,Jordy	ZAF	76	3353
Galvao,Renato	BRA	77	3316
Barca,Dustin	HAW	78	3281
Faria,Junior	BRA	79	3258
Bortoletto,Antonio	ZAF	80	3225
Jones,Matt	AUS	81	3217
Acero,Eneko	ESP	82	3213
Quinn,Jay	NZL	83	3115
Belo,Jano	BRA	84	3070
Hardman,Daniel	BRA	85	3050
Powers,Roy	HAW	86	3045
Mitchell,Beau	AUS	87	2937
Brooks,Troy	AUS	88	2908
Mujica,Justin	PRT	89	2892
Ziems,Corey	AUS	90	2888
Paulino,Pablo	BRA	91	2878
Carroll,Nathan	HAW	92	2873
Herdy,Guilherme	BRA	93	2820
Barreto,Tanio	BRA	94	2807
Moura,Paulo	BRA	95	2806
Petruso,Anthony	USA	96	2804
Fahrenfort,Damien	ZAF	97	2800
Melling,Adam	AUS	98	2799
Sodre,Yuri	BRA	99	2759
El Harim,Abdel	MAR	100	2707

Scroll down for Daily Updates from the beach:

Ricky Basnett and Dayyan Neve into the Final!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 9 July, 2006 : - -  After two amazing Semis, the finalists of the 2006 Mr Price Pro have been decided: South Africa’s Ricky Basnett and Australian Dayyan Neve!

Bluff local Ricky Basnett’s loose and consistent surfing saw him take down an in form Neco Padaratz, leaving the Brazilian requiring a 6.44 at the end of the heat. Despite a long wait, the ocean failed to deliver for Padaratz, and as he took off on his last wave, knowing it was not going to have the potential he was looking for, he clapped his hands in applause of Basnett. The Brazilian bowed out of the event in third place, and impressed the crowd with his great display of sportsmanship. Basnett progressed through to the final along to roaring cheers from a very stoked local crowd.

Semi-Final number two was a great showdown between Aussies Troy Brooks and Dayyan Neve, but Brooks was left in a combination situation after Neve’s explosive surfing saw him earn an awesome 9.63 and a back-up of 8.17. Neve’s total of 17.80 is the highest heat total of the event so far, and despite attempting his trade-mark Superman air, Brooko just couldn’t match Neve’s winning form.

Neve and Basnett’s surfing throughout the week has set the bar for the final, coming up after the Mr Price Pro / Real Wiiings Air Show and the Junior Men’s Final. Keep watching, because this is what we’ve all been waiting for!

And the four Semi-finalists are:

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 9 July, 2006 : - - Neco Padaratz (Brazil) currently lying 11th on the WQS and looking to re-qualify for the WCT this year after a six-month ban from competition due to steroid use.

Ricky Basnett (South Africa) ASP Africa Pro Junior Champion, currently 25th on the WQS, had a cracker start to the year with one runner up finish at the four star WQS in Margaret River and will be looking to improve on this result at the Mr Price Pro today.

Troy Brooks (Australia) a standout at the event for his superman maneuvers which he has employed to eliminate a number of big names including South Africa''s Travis Logie in their quarterfinal match-up.

Dayyan Neve (Australia) has been competing on WQS for 5 years. After falling Down to 100 on the WQS in 2005, Neve has decided to go for one last power drive in 2006. Neve is currently rated fourth on the WQS.  

It’s the morning of the Final !!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 9 July, 2006 : - - It’s a beautiful morning here on the final day of the 2006 Mr Price Pro, and we are about to get underway with the culmination of a great week of surfing. Although slightly smaller, the waves are more consistent than yesterday, and the WQS boys are sure to rip out there again today.

We’re kicking off proceedings with the four heats of the Men’s Round of 12, and will be going all the way through to the Semi Finals before twelve top aerialists take to the water for the Mr Price Pro Real Wiiings Airshow, scheduled to start at 12:45pm.

Following the airshow will be the Pro Junior Mens Final, with the final of the 2006 Mr Price Pro set to hit the water at 2:30pm this afternoon.

The Round of 12 is made up of a strong contingent of surfers from around the globe, with every surfer a potential winner. On the South African front we have Ricky Basnett, Travis Logie and youngster Jordy Smith still flying the flag, the Durban trio all keen to bring the title home for the first time in many years.

We also have previous event winner and a stand-out this year, Brazilian Beto Fernandes, as well as countryman and WQS charger Neco Padaratz. Six Australians are still in the event, including air master Josh Kerr and Dayyan Neve, currently ranked fourth on the WQS and looking set to appear on the 2007 WCT. Lone European Eneko Acero has been ripping the whole week and is a definite name to watch today.

To watch all the action live from North Beach log-on to www.mrpricepro.com 

Previous reports:
# 1 : Mr Price Pro WQS in Durban expecting a fantastic start
# 2 : Big upsets as Mr Price Pro Junior finalists are decided
# 3 : Eight surfers advance into the Mr Price Pro main event
# 4 : Jordy Smith an early standout at Mr Price Pro in Durban
# 5 : Four South Africans ‘in the Money’ at the Mr Price Pro...

# 6 : Rautenbach leads SA girls charge at Mr Price Pro '06
# 7 : Durban duo Bortoletto & Smith on a roll at Mr Price Pro
# 8 : South African trio advance to next round at Mr Price Pro 
# 9 : Surfing Hotting up with Hodge at Mr Price Pro in Durban
# 10 : Happy Gilmore wins 5 star WQS womens Mr Price Pro

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