Rip Curl MP Classic

Gold Coast Queensland Australia
3 - 4 February 2007

Local Surfers Star At Rip Curl MP Classic Rip Curl MP Classic Underway At Duranbah Beach

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 3 February, 2007 : - -Michael ‘MP’ Peterson was without doubt the greatest competitive surfer of the 1970’s demonstrating a powerful style that combined an acute tube sense with deep rail carves.  

Growing up near Kirra Point, MP swiftly became a key player in the exploding Coolangatta surfing scene, where he set the standard in performance surfing – even winning surfing's first professional event at Burleigh Heads!

 The Gold Coast surfing legend was again being honoured today with his own event, the sixth-annual Rip Curl MP Classic kicking off in super clean 3-4ft waves at Duranbah Beach. An 80-strong field of World Qualifying Series (WQS) hopefuls, rising junior stars and contest savvy internationals (South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and Indonesia) donned competition rash vests to pay tribute to the iconic surfing star.   

Leading the charge was a host of Australia’s most promising junior surfers, who entered the event as part of the Surfing Australia High Performance Camp.  This Team Australia Selection Camp is utilising the tournament as the perfect battleground for selecting the Australian Team to compete at the ISA World Junior Championships in Portugal in May, 2007. 

Team Australia’s High Performance Coach Sasha Stocker is fully mindful of how important the event is for selecting the team adding, “Over the last week we’ve been running mock heats where the squad members have been competing against each other. This is a great opportunity for team members to compete in a professional event against a quality field of surfers.” 

Of the 14 squad members, it was Ellis Ericson (Byron Bay) and Dean Bowen (Gerroa) who took it to Queensland’s most experienced competitors, posting the morning’s highest combined heat scores en-route to securing convincing round one victories.  

Despite an impressive start by the rising junior stars, it was the local duo of Scott Wildin (Tweed Heads) and Jay Phillips (Fingal) who shone in the mid-morning round two heats. Wildin, 32, who was a MP Classic finalist in 2006, laid down a combination of powerful forehand cutbacks that would have made MP proud.

The talented natural footer opened with an excellent 8.25-point ride to leave his opponents; Trevor Tripcony (Coolum), Dean Bowen (Gerroa) and Ed Amorim (Coolangatta) playing catch-up for the entire 20 minute heat. He sealed the deal with a 4.25 to finish with a heat total of 12.5 to Tripcony’s 11.5. “It’s a huge honour to be competing in his event,” he said.  “He was a bit before my era…. But to surf in an event that tributes MP is amazing.”

Wildin advanced along with Tripcony into tomorrow morning’s round three heats. Phillips, who has honed his stylish surfing approach on the hard-hitting beach break peaks of Duranbah, coasted to an easy win in round two. Using speed and a variety of manoeuvres, Phillip’s (14.25) smashed his foes; Joel Nantes (10.75, Coolangatta), Alejo Muniz (9.5, Mexico) and Brent Savage (8.25, Kingscliff), to book himself a spot in round three.

Others surfers to impress on day one included Ben Hannah (Palm Beach), Dru Adler (Tweed Heads), Blake Wilson (Maroochydore), Samba Mann (Tweed Heads) and Clancy Dawson (Coolangatta). The two day specialty tournament runs  from Saturday 3rd February through to Sunday 4th February, 2007.  The ‘07 Rip Curl MP Classic is mobile from Kirra through to Duranbah Beach. 

Duranbah is expected to be the event location for day two of competition with surfing to kick off at 8am sharp!    

2007 RIP CURL MP CLASSIC FAST FACTS : 
 
What: Rip Curl MP Classic
Dates: February 3rd & 4th, 2007
Sponsors: Media partner Tracks magazine
Location: Mobile event at the best available waves on the Gold Coast, Qld
More Info and How To Enter: See Tracks Magazine & Rip Curl websites.

History :
The Rip Curl MP Classic is held in tribute to the legendary surfer and Australian cult hero Michael “MP” Peterson. The first MP Classic was held in February 2002. The event is strategically timed to coincide with the world’s best surfers located at the surfing epicentre of the Gold Coast, in a prime surfing window, over the peak summer period. 2007 is its 6th year. Rip Curl has joined with MP and his family to bring the event to SE Queensland.

Who is MP? MP is the most feared competitor of the 70’s professional era and an iconic figure to generations of surfers the world over. He has taken on titles such as “King of Kirra” from his unique and iconic style of surfing.

Past Winners:
2002 - Shane Bevan, Kingscliff, NSW;
2003, 2004 & 2005 - Shaun "Gossy" Gossmann, Burleigh Heads,Gold Coast Qld.
2006 – Dave Readon-Smith, Coolum, Qld 

Previous reports:
# 1 : Rip Curl Michael Peterson Classic aims for Gold Coast
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Jake White

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