Quiksilver Pro
presented by Samsung

ASP World Championship Tour 2007 
Snapper Rocks, Gold Coast, Australia
27 February – 11 March 2007

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ROOKIES AND WILCARDS CAUSE UPSETS AT DAY 1 OF THE QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST  > Francaise en dessous

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 1 March, 2007 : - - COOLANGATTA, Australia – Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Samsung was full of upsets after the ASP Foster’s 45 did battle in the three to four foot (1 to 1.2 metre) surf at Snapper Rocks today, Mar. 1 2007.

Julian Wilson (AUS), who gained entry into the Quiksilver Pro as a wildcard, wasted little time in his inaugural opportunity against the world’s best, scoring a sensational upset in defeating reigning and eight-time Foster’s ASP World Tour champion Kelly Slater (USA).

“I’m stoked – I have never surfed in a big comp like this before and my expectations weren’t this high,” Wilson said.  “I’m trying to keep them high, but it’s pretty hard when you’re looking into a lineup like the one I have ahead of me.  I’m just taking it one step at a time and hopefully I’ll do all right.” Slater, who is the defending Quiksilver Pro champion, was relegated to Round 2 while Wilson has been seeded directly into Round 3.

“Julian is a good surfer – he is one of those guys who you’ve started to hear about in the last two/three years and he has the talent,” Slater said.  “He is one of those guys who comes from a free surfing background but he is starting to develop into a good contest surfer – obviously, he won that heat.”

Dale Richards : photo ASP/Covered Images

Slater will next meet 19-year-old local wildcard Dale Richards (AUS), who alongside former three-time Foster’s ASP World Champion Andy Irons (HAW), was sent to Round 2 at the hands of South African Greg Emslie.

“I get Dale Richards now who obviously knows the wave real well,” Slater said. “He hasn’t had the chance to surf these events before so we’ll see if he can get himself real calm and just focus on what he is doing. If he doesn’t get too distracted, he could do real well.” Richards won the Quiksilver Pro trials to earn main event entry and, in doing so, has become the first-ever indigenous Australian in a Foster’s ASP World Tour event.

“I guess I am the first indigenous surfer to make it one of these events so I feel real privileged to be that surfer,” Richards said. “I’ve actually never really thought about competing against Slater, but I’m looking forward to it now, definitely. I’ve just seen him in the movies and watched his first heat, that’s all.”

Taj Burrow (AUS) was the third of the Top 5 seeded Foster’s 45 surfers failing to advance straight through to Round 3 today.   Although netting an impressive 9.27 out of a possible 10 for a beautiful series of carves and aerials, it was too little too late and he will have to battle his way out of the elimination Round 2.

Julian Wilson : photo ASP/Covered Images

Mick Fanning (AUS), No. 3 seed in the Quiksilver Pro, led a local charge today that saw Gold Coast surfers Joel Parkinson (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS) and rookie sensation Josh Kerr (AUS) advance through their respective heats straight into Round 3. Bobby Martinez (USA), 2006 Foster’s ASP World Tour Rookie of the Year, is proving just as dangerous in 2007 – netting the day’s high heat score 17.90 out of a possible 20.

“This is a bonus to skip a round,” Martinez said.  “It’s nice because then you get to have a day off and you don’t have to worry about the 33rd round which is never any fun. Last year I was just trying to requalify and that’s what I am going to do again this year. I’m not trying to get ahead of myself. I’m just taking it heat by heat."

Of the 10 new faces on the 2007 Foster’s ASP World Tour, six advanced straight to Round 3 today – Leonardo Neves (BRA), Kai Otton (AUS), Ben Dunn (AUS), Josh Kerr (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA) and Ricky Basnett (ZAF) among them. Event organizers are expecting an increase in swell size over the next few days due to a cyclone off of the Northern Queensland coast. Next call will be 6am tomorrow.

Quiksilver Pro Round 1 Results: 1st advances to Round 3; 2nd and 3rd surf Round 2

Heat 1: Dean Morrison (AUS) 13.52, Bernardo Miranda (BRA) 12.46, Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 9.97
Heat 3: Leonardo Neves (BRA) 14.17, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.77, Luke Stedman (AUS) 10.50
Heat 4: Kai Otton (AUS) 15.34, Damien Hobgood (USA) 10.00, Michael Lowe (AUS) 8.73
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.50, Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.46, Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 10.46
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) 17.90, Luke Munro (AUS) 15.66, Shaun Cansdell (AUS) 14.97
Heat 7: Trent Munro (AUS) 14.93, Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.50, Chris Ward (USA)8.34
Heat 8: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.40, Kelly Slater (USA) 11.93, Daniel Wills (AUS) 8.20
Heat 9: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 14.40, Andy Irons (HAW) 12.86, Dale Richards (AUS) 10.33
Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.83, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.83, Jake Paterson (AUS) 8.47
Heat 11: Ben Dunn (AUS) 13.73, Cory Lopez (USA) 12.50, Victor Ribas (BRA) 12.17
Heat 12: Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.33, Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 13.07, Troy Brooks (AUS) 8.90
Heat 13: Raoni Moneteiro (BRA) 14.76, Bruce Irons (HAW) 13.34, Neco Padaratz (BRA) 13.17
Heat 14: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.10, Dayyan Neve (AUS) 11.50, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.92
Heat 15: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.33, Royden Bryson (ZAF) 7.13, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 5.60
Heat 16: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 13.40, Fred Patacchia (HAW) 12.13, Michael Campbell (AUS) 11.77

Pics for today's action

More photos

Francaise

Les rookies bousculent les ténors !

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 1 March, 2007 : - - 6 des 10 nouveaux venus parmi l’élite cette saison ont remporté leur série aujourd’hui au Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, première manche du Championnat du Monde de Surf 2007. Parmi eux, le français Jérémy Florès (Team Quiksilver), seul européen du WCT, s’impose notamment devant l’ancien Champion du monde CJ Hobgood et se qualifie directement pour le 3ème tour du Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

Jérémy Florès : examen de passage réussi 

C’était le baptême du feu pour Jérémy Florès… Le plus jeune sociétaire du WCT et vainqueur du WQS 2006 n’a pas flanché dans cette première confrontation face à l’élite mondiale du surf masculin sur la Gold Coast australienne. Opposé au Champion du Monde américain CJ Hobgood (vainqueur du WCT en 2001) et au sud-africain Royden Bryson, 4ème du classement WQS 2006, Jérémy a attaqué d’entrée avec deux vagues à 4.83 et 6.83 points tandis que ses adversaires cherchaient désespérément leur premiers points.

Dans des conditions difficiles, vagues d’un mètre et vent onshore, le réunionnais de 18 ans n’a plus lâché la tête de la série et planté une ultime vague notée 8.50 points pour s’imposer avec le score final de 15.33 points. Satisfait de sa gestion impeccable de la série et de la qualité de son surf, le français a déclaré qu’il pouvait faire mieux encore.

Cette victoire lui permet d’accéder directement au 3ème tour tandis que ses dauphins devront passer par un périlleux 2ème tour dit de repêchage où le perdant sera définitivement éliminé.

Un autre rookie, l’australien Julian Wilson (Team Quiskilver) a fait sensation à Snapper Rocks en battant l’octuple Champion du Monde et tenant du titre, Kelly Slater (USA, Team Quiksilver) ainsi que son compatriote et cadre du WCT, Danny Wills (Australie, Team Quiksilver). Wilson, considéré comme l’une des futures stars du circuit, a su tirer profit du swell capricieux et de la mésaventure de Slater, contraint à sortir de l’eau pour récupérer sa planche après avoir brisé son leash.

Leonardo Neves : photo ASP/Covered Images

Slater n’est pas le seul favori à trébucher dans ce premier tour du Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast. En effet, les hawaiiens Andy et Bruce Irons, les australiens Taj Burrow et Phil Mc Donald ont tous été vaincus et devront passer par la case repêchage pour se maintenir dans la course.

En revanche, Mick Fanning (Australie), Bobby Martinez (USA) et Joel Parkinson (Asutralie), respectivement 3ème, 5ème et 6ème du classement final 2006, ont réussi leur premier round.  

Le 1er de chaque série est qualifié pour le 3ème tour. Le 2ème et le 3ème vont au 2ème tour.  

Heat 1: Dean Morrison (AUS) 13.52, Bernardo Miranda (BRA) 12.46, Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 9.97
Heat 3: Leonardo Neves (BRA) 14.17, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.77, Luke Stedman (AUS) 10.50
Heat 4: Kai Otton (AUS) 15.34, Damien Hobgood (USA) 10.00, Michael Lowe (AUS) 8.73
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.50, Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.46, Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 10.46
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) 17.90, Luke Munro (AUS) 15.66, Shaun Cansdell (AUS) 14.97
Heat 7: Trent Munro (AUS) 14.93, Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.50, Chris Ward (USA)8.34
Heat 8: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.40, Kelly Slater (USA) 11.93, Daniel Wills (AUS) 8.20
Heat 9: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 14.40, Andy Irons (HAW) 12.86, Dale Richards (AUS) 10.33
Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.83, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.83, Jake Paterson (AUS) 8.47
Heat 11: Ben Dunn (AUS) 13.73, Cory Lopez (USA) 12.50, Victor Ribas (BRA) 12.17
Heat 12: Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.33, Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 13.07, Troy Brooks (AUS) 8.90
Heat 13: Raoni Moneteiro (BRA) 14.76, Bruce Irons (HAW) 13.34, Neco Padaratz (BRA) 13.17
Heat 14: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.10, Dayyan Neve (AUS) 11.50, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.92
Heat 15: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.33, Royden Bryson (ZAF) 7.13, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 5.60
Heat 16: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 13.40, Fred Patacchia (HAW) 12.13, Michael Campbell (AUS) 11.77

www.roxy.com
www.quiksilver.com
www.aspworldtour.com. 

Previous reports:
# 1 : Kelly Slater to defend his Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast title
# 2 : Surfing's elite gather downunder to kick off 2007 WCTs..
# 3 : ASP Foster's 45 gear up for Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast
# 4 : All systems go on the Goldie for Quiksilver & Roxy Pros  
# 5 : Quiksilver Pro round 1 to commence today at Snapper

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