Andy Irons & Tom Whitaker win the Fosters Expression Session : 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 

BILLABONG PRO ROUND TWO CALLED OFF FOR THE DAY. FOSTER’S EXPRESSION SESSION ON

Irons and Whitaker take Fosters titles as action continues at J-Bay

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 15 July, 2006 : - - Former three time world champ Andy Irons (HAW) and Tom Whitaker (AUS) captured the Foster’s Expression Session titles at the Billabong Pro on Saturday morning as the action continues at Jeffreys Bay despite the decision not to run the crucial second round of the main event.

Irons successfully executed an outrageous ‘double grab air’ to win the US $2 000 (approx R14 000) for the Best Aerial manoeuvre while Whitaker earned a similar sum for the Best Ride category for long ride punctuated by a series of radical manoeuvres. More than 20 of SA and the world’s best surfers participated in the spectacular 60 minute session that is a feature of each of the 11 stops on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour, also known as the ‘Dream Tour’ as it crowns the annual world surfing champion at exotic locales around the globe.

Scores of innovative and state of the art moves were attempted as the surfers attacked the one metre (3 foot) waves that continue to pour down the fabled Supertubes point with unrestrained abandon. And the action continues at Jeffreys Bay this afternoon with an impromptu international junior surfing event starting at 1.30pm that will feature SA’s top U16 surfers and host of visiting groms who are in town.  

Andy Irons : photo ASP/Covered Images

The likes of Chad du Toit (Durban), Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) and Dale Staples (St Francis Bay) will get a chance to test their skills against internationally renowned juniors such as John John Florence (Hawaii), Kalohe Andino (California) and Brent Savage (Australia) out at Supers. There is already a buzz amongst the youngsters with a custom Billabong surfboard shaped by Graham Smith (father of Jordy) at stake for the winner and Billabong gift vouchers to the value of R1 000, R500 and R250 for second, third and fourth places respectively.

And the action doesn’t it doesn’t stop there as members of the public get an opportunity to meet and obtain the autographs of many of the world’s best surfers at the Billabong Store in Da Gama Road, Jeffreys Bay, starting at 5.30 pm. Andy Irons, 1999 Billabong pro winner Joel Parkinson, aerial expert Taj Burrow and the legendary Mark ‘Occy’ Occhilupo will be amongst those at the session. 

And once night falls, the finale of the massive J-Bay Music Festival presented by Malibu showcases the music talents of Sevenstone, Bed on Bricks, Australian outfit Beeva Feeva and Farryl Purkiss starting at 7pm in Jeffreys Bay. 

Tom Whitaker : photo ASP/Covered Images

The highlight could well be veteran surf / rock musos Steve Walsh and legendary saxophonist Gary Horn who, along with PE local Joe van der Linden on bass and the exceptional Vance Burrow (father of Taj) on guitar, are likely to bring the house down when the top surfer / musicians on the world tour join them on stage for renditions of their favourite covers. 

News from Kelly Slater, who missed his first round heat yesterday, is that his original travel arrangements had him arriving at 9pm on the evening before the start. However, after missing the flight, he was unable to re-route from the USA through Europe and had to wait for the corresponding flight the following day, which got him into J-Bay at 9pm last night. 

The defending event champ is amped and looking forward to taking on wildcard Stirling Spencer, who like Slater hails from Florida, in the first heat of round two when competition resumes. Ominously, Slater also missed his opening round encounter at the Billabong Pro in 2003 before going on the win the title with what is still considered to be one of the most awesome exhibitions of sustained contest brilliance. 

Adriano de Souza  : photo ASP/Covered Images

The next call on when to start the second round of the Billabong Pro will be made at first light on Sunday. While small surf and onshore winds are predicted, forecasts look good for excellent surf and conditions in the early days of next week. Members of the public can dial the event Hotline on 086 000 2006 for a recorded message on the conditions and the status of the event. This will be updated twice daily throughout the event from 12-22 July.  

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

The Von Zipper Wildcard Trials and the Billabong Pro are proudly supported by South African Airways; Von Zipper; Kustom; Mrs Palmers; Kouga Municipality; True Technologies; Blackfoot Productions; Dirk Ellis Motors; Canon; Telkom SA; Bonaqua and Malibu.

AM Report:

Sunrise at Jbay today : photo ASP/Covered Images

BILLABONG PRO ROUND TWO CALLED OFF FOR THE DAY FOSTER’S EXPRESSION SESSION TO TAKE PLACE AT 10am

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 15 July, 2006 : - - Organisers of the Billabong Pro, Jeffreys Bay have called another lay day today as the swell pushing across the famed “Supertubes” section of the famed righthand point has abated slightly and become inconsistent. Feeling that there were not enough waves on offer to accommodate the heats of the high standards on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour, Contest Director Mike Parsons has instead called for the Foster’s Expression Session to hit the water, beginning at 10am local time.

“We’ve been waiting and watching the swell to see if there is any increase in consistency,” said Parsons. “But at this stage we felt that there isn’t enough waves in a standard heat time period to allow two surfers to get sufficient waves. For both the surfers and the spectators, who want to see the guys catch as many waves as possible, the Expression Session was the way to go.”

The round two heat draw is possibly one of the most talent filled ever with the top five Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour seeds all being relegated to the backup round yesterday. (After round one, first place goes straight to round three, second and third go to round two.) The draw from heat one to 16 is littered with the biggest names of the sport with none other than defending Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay champion Kelly Slater (USA) up against wildcard Stirling Spencer (USA) in heat one.

Sunrise at Jbay today : photo ASP/Covered Images

Seven-time world champion Slater actually missed his heat yesterday due to him being in transit on his way to the famed location. And getting his feet wet in an early free surfing session this morning he looked to be in fine form as he scored numerous lengthy barrels. Following on from Slater in heat two will be last years event runner-up and three-time world champion Andy Irons (HAW) who will take on fellow countryman Roy Powers). Irons, despite locking in a perfect 10 yesterday, was shoved into round three by Danny Wills (AUS) who scored amazing 19.20 out of a total of 20.

As mentioned above, today’s focus will be on the Foster’s Expression Session. The Sessions take place at each Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour event and are basically a “free for all” where no less than 16 surfers hit the water at the same time and are encouraged to go for futuristic manoeuvres. There are no penalties for falling in the Sessions and there are no rules. The best of the best can simply go out and have fun. The person who lands the best manoeuvre and the best overall wave are awarded cash prizes.

Stay tuned to www.billabongpro.com or www.aspworldtour.com for all the LIVE action and event updates.

Round Two Heat Draw:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) vs Stirling Spencer (USA)
Heat 2: Andy Irons (HAW) vs Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs Pedro Henrique (BRA)\
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs Toby Martin (AUS)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs Jarrad Howse (AUS)
Heat 6: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 7: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 8: Tim Reyes (USA) vs Marcelo Nunes (BRA)
Heat 9: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 10: Cory Lopez (USA) vs Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 11: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 12: Fred Patacchia (HAW) vs Pancho Sullivan (HAW)
Heat 13: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs Michael Lowe (AUS)
Heat 14: Mark Occhilupo (AUS) vs Chris Ward (USA)
Heat 15: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs Jake Paterson (AUS)
Heat 16: Trent Munro (AUS) vs Troy Brooks (AUS)

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 : Day 2 of Billabong Pro J-Bay plagued by nasty weather
# 7 : Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay: Day of upsets in Round One
# 8 : Coming soon 

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Life's a Beach Communications
lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

Simon Barratt
sbarratt@billabong.com.au

Mandy McKinnon (Australia)
mandy.mckinnon@bigpond.com

ASP Media: Wayne Dart
darty@aspworldtour.com

Images: Pierre Tostee
tostee@tostee.com

Karen Wilson
karenw@tostee.com

WCT Contests - Surfersvillage