Jeffreys Bay : photo ASP/Covered Images

Billabong Pro

ASP WCT Mens Event
Supertubes, Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
12 – 22 July 2006

Live Webcast  |  Scores/Results/Photos/Videos etc

STORMY WEATHER PLAGUES BILLABONG PRO JEFFREYS BAY

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 13 July, 2006 : - -  A nasty storm front has moved in over the Jeffreys Bay area in South Africa and organisers of the Billabong Pro have once again opted to call the event off for the day. With strong onshore winds lashing the coast and rain squalls sweeping over the famed right hander it is however hoped that the storm front will assist in an uplift in swell.

Forecasts indicate that by tomorrow we could be witnessing waves shoulder to head high in size. Organisers are hopeful that the event, the sixth on the 11 stop Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour, will kick off in the morning at around 8am local time with the Von Zipper Trials.

The anticipated return of Sunny Garcia (HAW) to competition was thwarted late yesterday when the 2000 world champion withdrew from the event due to flight timing difficulties. The powerhouse naturalfooter who retired at the end of 2005 had accepted an invite to the event two days ago and was eager to participate. Unfortunately there was trouble with flight bookings and he feared that he wouldn’t arrive in time for the start.

Replacing Garcia in the draw will be another wildcard who will be selected from the Von Zipper Trials.

www.billabongpro.com

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Round One:
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs Troy Brooks (AUS) vs Davey Weare (ZAF)
Heat 2: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs Paulo Moura (BRA) vs Jarrad Howse (AUS)
Heat 3: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs Darren O’Rafferty (AUS) vs Toby Martin (AUS)
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs Trent Munro (AUS) vs Pedro Henrique (BRA)
Heat 5: Taylor Knox (USA) vs Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs Mark Occhilupo (AUS) vs Yuri Sodre (BRA)
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs Luke Stedman (AUS) vs Sunny Garcia (HAW)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs wildcard
Heat 9: Andy Irons (HAW) vs Danny Wills (AUS) vs wildcard
Heat 10: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs Fred Patacchia (HAW) vs wildcard
Heat 11: Tim Reyes (USA) vs Jake Paterson (AUS) vs Peterson Rosa (BRA)
Heat 12: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs Nathan Hedge (AUS) vs Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 13: Cory Lopez (USA) vs Chris Ward (USA) vs Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 14: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs Mick Lowe (AUS) vs Marcelo Nunes (BRA)
Heat 15: Phil Macdonald (AUS) vs Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 16: Shaun Cansdell (AUS) vs Travis Logie (ZAF) vs Adriano de Souza (BRA)

J-Bay Fails to Perform for Day One of Billabong Waiting Period,

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 July, 2006 : - - With only meagre waves lapping in at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa today, organisers of the Billabong Pro have elected to call a lay day for the main event. There is however the possibility that the trials could kick off if the swell jumps up in the latter stages of the morning.

“It looks like it could come up today but at this stage there will be no main event,” said contest director Mike Parsons. “There is a remote possibility that we could run the trials today but it is highly unlikely. We are just taking it day by day and we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. There is good swell predicted on the horizon however.”

Regarding the heat draw for the Billabong Pro Jefffreys Bay, which is the sixth event on the 11 stop Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour, Parsons was convinced that the best lineup of surfers of the year were raring to go in front of him. “We have possibly the best lineup of surfers of the year so far,” said Parsons. “With all but one of the top 45 in the world making themselves available for the event we should see some excellent action when the event gets underway.”

Only Adrian Buchan (AUS) is absent from the top 45 draw due to injury and his place will be taken by 2000 Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour Champion, Sunny Garcia (ZAF). Organisers will assess conditions at first light every morning.

All the action can be viewed on the LIVE webcast via www.billabongpro.com or www.aspworldtour.com

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Round One:
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs Troy Brooks (AUS) vs Davey Weare (ZAF)
Heat 2: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs Paulo Moura (BRA) vs Jarrad Howse (AUS)
Heat 3: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs Darren O’Rafferty (AUS) vs Toby Martin (AUS)
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs Trent Munro (AUS) vs Pedro Henrique (BRA)
Heat 5: Taylor Knox (USA) vs Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs Mark Occhilupo (AUS) vs Yuri Sodre (BRA)
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs Luke Stedman (AUS) vs Sunny Garcia (HAW)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs wildcard
Heat 9: Andy Irons (HAW) vs Danny Wills (AUS) vs wildcard
Heat 10: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs Fred Patacchia (HAW) vs wildcard
Heat 11: Tim Reyes (USA) vs Jake Paterson (AUS) vs Peterson Rosa (BRA)
Heat 12: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs Nathan Hedge (AUS) vs Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 13: Cory Lopez (USA) vs Chris Ward (USA) vs Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 14: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs Mick Lowe (AUS) vs Marcelo Nunes (BRA)
Heat 15: Phil Macdonald (AUS) vs Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 16: Shaun Cansdell (AUS) vs Travis Logie (ZAF) vs Adriano de Souza (BRA)

www.billabongpro.com

Previous reports:
# 1 : Surf & music extravaganza at Billabong Pro J-Bay in July
# 2 : Billabong Pro J-Bay next stop on ASP Men's World Tour
# 3 : Irons/Slater ratings battle resumes with Billabong Pro
# 4 : VZ wildcard trials give Africans chance in Billabong Pro  

# 5 : Excellent swell forecast for Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay
# 6 : Coming soon
# 7 : Coming soon
# 8 : Coming soon 

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Simon Barratt
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Images: Pierre Tostee
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