Julian Wilson has been granted a wildcardto the event : photo Surfing Australia
Maitland Toyota Open
ASP 4 Star WQS Mens Event
Midori Pro
ASP 5 Star WQS Womens Event
Merewether Newcastle, NSW
12 - 18 March 2007
Mens' Maitland Toyota Open WQS and Womens' Midori Pro WQS Underway at Merewether
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 March, 2007 : - - A WHOPPING 312 local, national and international surfers have converged at Merewether for the next seven days of surfing competition in the mens' 4 star Maitland Toyota Open and the womens' 5 star Midori Pro World Qualifying Series events.
Today's perfect 3-4 ft south-easterly swell made for a roaring start to the round of 240 in the men's Maitland Toyota Open and round of 72 in the women's Midori Pro.
Action got underway just before midday with six heats in the Midori Pro being completed. Shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton flew in from Hawaii to compete but was knocked out in the first round along with Newcastle local Philipa Anderson (Merewether, NSW). In the womens' contest, the next round of 60 will get underway on Tuesday at 2.20pm.
Wednesday will see female surfers with big reputations hit the waves. The first of 12 heats commencing at 1pm will see teenage sensation and World Championship Tour (WCT) surfer Stephanie Gilmore (Tweed Heads, NSW) begin the charge of seeded surfers towards the prize pool of $US 25,000.
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A total of 11 of the 17 women on the WCT are scheduled to contest the Midori Pro and all will surf on Wednesday afternoon. Besides Gilmore, other female contenders from the WCT include Amee Donohoe (AUS), Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Megan Abubo (HAW), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Caroline Sarran (FRA), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Roseanne Hodge (ZAF), Samantha Cornish (AUS), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) and three-time winner at Newcastle, Rebecca Woods (AUS).
In the men's round of 240, eight heats were completed. Despite being a reserve entrant, local surfer Travis Lynch (Merewether, NSW) announced his entry into the competition by securing the highest wave score of the competition so far with an 8.5 in heat one. Another Merewether local from the reserve list that made it through to the next round was Lynch's good mate, Rhys Smith.
In the same heat as Lynch, 24-year-old Dane Durbin (Cronulla NSW) cruised through to the next round of 224 with a score of 12.5. However, it was Durbin's onshore antics that earnt him 'good samaritan' status when he loaned his board to a disheartened Dallis Peterson who snapped his board in a later heat and was pereparing to walk up the beach in defeat.
"I was going for free surf when I saw he had snapped his board so I just gave him mine," the softly spoken Sydneysider said. "I'd like someone to do the same if it happened to me," he added. The act of kindness was not sufficient for Peterson to progress.
Veteran Nathan 'Noodles' Webster (Narrabeen, NSW), won his heat and displayed the skill he has developed during his 10 years on the World Championship Tour.
Other big names contesting the Maitland Toyota Open include defending champion Neco Padaratz (BRA), Dane Reynolds (USA) and current world number one, Mick Fanning (AUS). Fanning, another three time winner at Newcastle, will surf on Friday morning.
He will come up against wildcard Julian Wilson, the U/18 world champion who accounted for Kelly Slater in the opening round of the Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast less than a fortnight ago.
In the Newcastle Pro Junior completed today, local Drew McPherson (Nords Wharf, NSW) took home the boys' trophy while 15-year-old wildcard entrant Laura Enever (Narrabeen, NSW) grabbed the girls'prize.
All the action, including a live webcast and live scores will be available at www.surfest.com from Monday morning at 7.30am The tentative running schedule is on the website under 'What's On'.
Another southerly blow is predicted for tomorrow and the swell will increase throughout the day. Conditions will be testing for the afternoon heats.
Paul Scott
WQS Contests - Surfersvillage |
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