Roy Poweres eliminated Andy Irons : 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 

ROOKIES CONTINUE TO PREVAIL IN BILLABONG PRO ROUND TWO

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 17 July, 2006 : - -It was another huge day for the underdog today at the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay with round two getting underway today in clean one metre (three foot) waves at the famed break known as “Supertubes”. With the swell being somewhat inconsistent many of the biggest names in the sport found the going tough as the rookies and lesser-ranked competitors flourished.

Finding themselves ousted from the event were none other than three-time Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour champion Andy Irons (HAW), his brother Bruce Irons (HAW), currently third ranked Bobby Martinez (USA), 2001 world champion CJ Hobgood and 2005 ASP Rookie Of The Year Fred Patacchia (HAW).

Finding the big scores needed to claim wins were rookies Roy Powers (HAW (defeated Andy Irons), Jarrad Howse (AUS) (defeated Martinez), David Weare (ZAF) (defeated Bruce Irons), Mikael Picon (FRA) (defeated CJ Hobgood) and Pancho Sullivan (defeated Patacchia).

Creating the biggest stir today was Powers. His victory has put a serious dent in Andy Irons’ fourth world crown aspirations just when it looked like the highly competitive naturalfooter was on a roll after his win in the previous event held in Mexico. Powers was in excellent form and in perfect tune with the waves and came from behind in the last three minutes to post a 7.33 on a long walling wave where he executed no less than six top to bottom rail turns.

Kelly Slater : photo ASP/Covered Images

Powers had mixed emotions after the heat – he was elated with himself and his win, given that it is only his second since joining the top ranks in 2006, but he also felt for friend Irons who so desperately needs to get another solid result in order to reel in the ratings lead of Kelly Slater (USA).

“It feels good to get a win,” said Powers. “I haven’t had one all year except in my first heat and it has been a little bit depressing, but I feel good now. It kind of sucks beating someone you grew up with, somebody you look up to. I mean, he’s my hero. He’s been my hero since I was a little kid, and he’s really done a lot of stuff for me, so in a way I feel bad, but then, you know, it feels good for me to beat him too, ‘cos he is the champ.”

Powers is now looking forward to brighter things and is hoping to maintain the momentum and finish in the business of the esteemed event. “I’ve been looking anywhere for a turning point to tell you the truth!” laughed Powers. “But definitely, I thought to myself ‘this is going to be the heat of my year’ because this heat is against number two in the world and he’s the hardest guy to beat, so I feel like it’s a turning point. But you just take it heat by heat, see where you go and don’t get too ahead of yourself and start getting all big headed.”

Howse, like Powers, was ecstatic with his win over Martinez, who has been one of the form surfers of the year. Howse has also been struggling to find the means to win throughout the year, but today he attributed a “crisis meeting” and a bit of help from his friends as giving him the edge for the heat victory.

Taj Burrow  : photo ASP/Covered Images

“Yeah, we had a crisis meeting last night and we said ‘it’s our day boys, step it up!’” said Howse. ”Roy beat Andy which was pretty gnarly. It was inconsistent, and he got the good one at the end. Similar to me, Bobby had the better of the exchange but I sort of played a smart heat and had my mates on the hill waving when sets were coming so I knew what waves to take. You need every bit of help you can get out in waves like that.”

Howse has now set a goal to get past the third round. “We’re midway through the year and I’ve had two 17ths and three 33rds. Now, I can hopefully go on to get my first ninth, or quarters, or who knows? Anything can happen. I feel like I’m surfing good and I just hope that the waves come up and I get through a few more heats.”

Local Davey Weare had the support of the massive crowd on hand and every time he sprung to his feet there was a huge roar egging him on to victory. He also found strength in the fact that many other big names had already gone down to rookies and underdogs.  “It all started with Roy taking out Andy in the beginning,” said Weare. “Today it’s just about who gets the best waves and luckily enough I got one towards the end that was by far the best actual wave of the heat. I’ve been here a bunch of times so I feel pretty comfortable."

The three-man South African contingent on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour have been a rising force this year and later in the day Weare’s good mate Travis Logie showed shear determination to win his heat against Bede Durbidge (AUS) surfing with a broken foot. Weare strongly believes that a win for a South African is just around the corner.

Victor Ribas : photo ASP/Covered Images 

“South Africans on the whole are doing a lot better than a few years back,” said Weare. “Definitely, one of the South Africans has the ability to take this whole thing out. It could easily happen. I’m not going to make any predictions, but I want to get pretty far in this event and just have fun, I guess. It could happen here – you have the whole crowd behind you, so that’s great.”

Leading the Brazilian charge into round three was none other than pint-sized Adriano de Souza. Slater claimed last year that the young hot shot could very likely win an event in his maiden year on tour – and the form he showed today demonstrated why this is such a strong possibility. In defeating Cory Lopez (USA), de Souza was solid all the way down the line and pulled out every trick in the book.

“I was so lucky,” said de Souza. “In the beginning Cory surfed so well and got an 8.0 and a 6.0, and I was way behind right at the start of the heat! But I’m pretty stoked, I found two good waves, an 8.0 and a 9.0. This was an amazing heat and today’s been one of the best days for me since joining the tour this year.”

Sporting a peroxided hair do, de Souza revealed that it was the result of a bet on the soccer World Cup gone wrong. “I made a bet with my hair and the World Cup, and because Brazil lost, I lost too!” said de Souza. “I think I have to keep this hair for the rest of the year. My girlfriend doesn’t like it, but I’ll still keep it!”

Tim Reyes : photo ASP/Covered Images 

Also of note was the withdrawal of Chris Ward (USA) due to injury and the scratching of Damien Hobgood (USA) due to his wife giving birth to the couple's first child. For the full rundown of today’s action head to www.billabongpro.com in the news section and inspect the heat-by-heat updates.

There is still one heat to be completed in round two and organisers will return to assess conditions at first light tomorrow. There is every chance that the first heat of the day will hit the water at 7.30am local tiime.

Round two results:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.50 def Stirling Spencer (USA) 8.50
Heat 2: Roy Powers (HAW) 10.83 def Andy Irons (HAW) 10.66
Heat 3: Pedro Henrique (BRA) def Damien Hobgood (USA) withdrawn
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.50 def Toby Martin (AUS) 13.73
Heat 5: Jarrad Howse (AUS) 12.83 def Bobby Martinez (USA) 12.00
Heat 6: Davey Weare (ZAF) def Bruce Irons (HAW)
Heat 7: Mikael Picon (FRA) def CJ Hobgood (USA)
Heat 8: Tim Reyes (USA) 16.83 def Marcelo Nunes (BRA) 11.97
Heat 9: Victor Ribas (BRA) 15.67 def Dean Morrison (AUS) 15.34
Heat 10: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 17.60 def Cory Lopez (USA) 14.67
Heat 11: Travis Logie (ZAF) 15.60 def Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.50
Heat 12: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 15.07 def Fred Patacchia (HAW) 12.17
Heat 13: Mick Lowe (AUS) 16.67 def Luke Stedman (AUS) 15.10
Heat 14: Mark Occhilupo (AUS) def Chris Ward (USA) scratching
Heat 15: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 15.17 def Jake Paterson (AUS) 14.53

Round three heat draw:

Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 2: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 3: TBC vs Adrian de Souza
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs Yuri Sodre (BRA)
Heat 5: Phil Macdonald (AUS) vs David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 6: Shaun Cansdell (AUS) vs Peterson Rosa
Heat 7: Nathan Hedge (AUS) vs Mick Lowe (AUS)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs Sean Holmes (ZAF)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF)
Heat 10: TBC vs Pancho Sullivan (HAW)
Heat 11: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs Jarrad Howse (AUS)
Heat 12: Danny Wills (AUS) vs Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 13: Taylor Knox (USA) vs Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 14: TBC vs Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 15: Tim Reyes (USA) vs Pedro Henrique (BRA
Heat 16: Mark Occhilupo (AUS) Raoni Monteiro (BRA)

Dolphins in the lineup  : photo ASP/Covered Images 

Mid-Day report:

Andy Irons eliminated from Billabong Pro in Jeffreys Bay 

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 17 July, 2006 : - - In a major upset, second seed Andy Irons was eliminated from the Billabong Pro in Jeffreys Bay this morning when competition resumed in the R2 million Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour event. The former three-time world champ from Kauai, Hawaii, was narrowly defeated by rookie fellow Hawaiian Roy Powers whose final ride in the 35 minute second round heat earned him 7.33 points for a 10.83 vs. 10.66 point victory. 

Irons won the last tour event in Mexico at the end of June to leapfrog the other contenders into second place on the 2006 rankings, a slender 93 points behind leader kelly Slater (Florida, USA). Slater was on top of his game this morning after missing his first round heat on Friday. The top seed and defending event champ posted 9.50 and 8.0 point rides leaving wildcard Stirling Spencer (USA) needing a combination of rides for the lead. 

Slater advances to round three where he joins the 16 round one and other 15 round winners. Andy is eliminated in =33rd place overall earning 225 rating points and US $4 000 (approx R28 000) In other round two action Pedro Henrique (BRA) was given a ‘walk-through’ when his opponent third seed Damien Hobgood flew back to the USA to be with his wife during the birth of their child. 

Taj Burrow beat Toby Martin in an all Australian match-up, Jarrad Howse (Aus) squeaked past current world #3 Bobby Martinez (USA) and David Weare (Durban) made it four SA surfers in the third round when he beat Bruce Irons (Hawaii). Round two of the Billabong Pro got underway at 9.30 this morning as small but clean waves fanned by an offshore SW wind peeled down Supertubes point. 

Starting from round two each heat features two surfers in the man-on-man format that sees the winner advance and the loser eliminated. Organisers are expected to try complete the round two today.

Miky Picon defeated CJ Hobgood in Round Two : photo ASP Covered Images

AM Report:

ROUND TWO OF BILLABONG PRO J-BAY UNDERWAY 

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 17 July, 2006 : - - Round two of the R2 million Billabong Pro got underway at 9.30 this morning as small but clean waves fanned by an offshore SW wind peeled down Supertubes point.

The first of 16 heats in the round features defending event champ and top seed Kelly Slater against wildcard and fellow Floridian Stirling Spencer. Slater was relegated to the so-called ‘losers’ round when he failed to arrive for his first round heat on Friday after missing his flight from the USA. 

Seeds two to five are also in round two after slow starts in round one. (Winners of first round heats advance directly to round three while second and third head to round two.)

Starting from round two each heat features two surfers in the Man-on-man format that sees the winner advance and the loser eliminated. Organisers are expected to try complete the round today and they may well be helped by the withdrawal of Chris Ward (USA) and Travis Logie (Durban) due to injury.

Ward ruptured knee ligaments practising at Supertubes before the event started and Logie dislocated his big toe during his last second defeat by Shaun Cansdell on Friday.

Both have been advised not to compete by the event doctor, but the choice is theirs  and only needs to be made 5 minutes before the scheduled start of the their respective heats.

 
3 ft waves this morning at Jbay : photo ASP/Covered Images

Early AM Report:

BILLABONG PRO JEFFREYS BAY ROUND TWO WILL SURF TODAY

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 17 July, 2006 : - - With swell conditions just measuring up this morning at Jeffreys Bay, organizers of the Billabong Pro have decided to send out competitors for round two with the first heat between Kelly Slater (USA) and Stirling Spencer (USA) kicking off at 9.30am local time.

The round two draw is perhaps one of the most star-studded lineups seen in recent pro surfing history with numerous Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour top competitors having been relegated to what is called “the losers round” after suffering defeats in round one.

Check out the full heat draw below and 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 : Billabong Pro is off: Irons & Whitaker win Fosters titles 

# 9 :   John John Florence wins Billabong Junior Showdown..
# 10 : Billabong Pro Jefreys Bay postponed for Sunday July 16
# 11 : Coming soon
# 12 : Coming soon  

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