Dean Morrison : photo Rowland/ASP Covered Images

Rip Curl Pro Search  

MORRISON ELIMINATES SLATER AT RIP CURL PRO SEARCH CHILE                                  > Francaise ci dessous 

Bruno Santos avanza a los cuartos de finales del Rip Curl Pro                    > Clic aquí para Espanol
Bruno Santos nas quartas-de-final do Rip Curl Pro Search no Chile             > Clique aqui para Portugues

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 June, 2007 : - - Arica Chile  -- Australia’s Dean Morrison dazzled in his Round 4 heat against Kelly Slater (USA) to eliminate the 8X Foster’s ASP World Champion from the Rip Curl Pro Search Chile today.

Slater was on the first plane out of Arica after earning his second equal 9th place finish of the season. Morrison walked away with the highest two-wave heat total of the event – 18.83 out of 20.00 – and a quarterfinal berth.
 
“Every time you come up against Kelly, it’s easy to play mind games with yourself,” Morrison said. “Luckily enough, I was able to stick to my game plan and not worry about him. That’s what I was able to do in that heat and I came out on top.”  Morrison’s victory over Slater today was his first since 2003 when he beat Slater on the Gold Coast of Australia and went on to win the contest.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve beat Kelly so I’m just stoked I got to surf against him and have a good heat,” Morrison said. “I’m really proud of it.” Morrison and Slater went wave for wave, before Morrison made it out of an almost impossible looking barrel to post a perfect 10.00 – the second of the event. 

Kelly Slater : photo Rowland/ASP Covered Images

“It stood up nice,” Morrison said. “It had a nice line on it and I knew it was going to taper off and I was able just to hang in there and keep that line and it let me out. It’s the second 10-point ride I’ve ever had so it means a lot.” Slater fought back until the final seconds but couldn’t find a wave offering the 9.37 scoring potential he needed.

“Dean’s 10.00 looked kind of like a closeout to me,” Slater said. “There was a little too much bend on the end of it, but obviously it held open and there you have it. I probably got the second best wave and he got the third. I was going to need the second and third to catch him and just didn’t quite have it.”  The reigning world champion is currently sitting 6th on the Foster’s ASP World Tour ratings.

“At this point, it’s not feeling like a World Title year for me so far,” Slater said. “To lose out here, that’s the fourth event that Mick has bettered me in and it’s going to be really hard to catch him. If he stays somewhat consistent at all, he is going to be hard to catch this year. If he were to better me in just two more events this year, I don’t think I could catch him. That’s a fact of life and that’s the reality of where we’re at right now.”

Current ratings leader Mick Fanning (AUS) advanced over Chris Ward (USA) in Round 4 and will now meet Bobby Martinez (USA) in Quarterfinal 2. Fanning, who was interviewed before Slater and current World No. 4 Joel Parkinson (AUS) were eliminated later in the day, is well on his way increasing his ratings lead. He remains humble.

Bruno Santos : photo Rowland/ASP Covered Images

“There are still guys who are still close,” Fanning said. “Joel’s still there and Andy’s still there, Kelly’s got a heat right now and Damien’s got a heat coming up, so if those guys keep getting through, I want to keep getting through with them. I’m just trying to get a better result.”

Joel Parkinson was eliminated by Andy Irons in Quarterfinal 1. Competition was called off after Quarterfinal 1 due to unfavorable wind conditions. Irons and Damien Hobgood (USA), rated 7th and 3rd in the world respectively, are still in Rip Curl Pro Search Chile contention. Irons will finish with an equal 3rd or better result.

Twin brothers CJ and Damien Hobgood are through to the Quarterfinals and will meet each other in the Semifinal 2 should they win their heats when competition resumes. Damien, who won the last event on the Foster’s ASP World Tour in Tahiti, indicated that he is less worried about matching his brother’s world title success (CJ was ASP World Champion in 2001) and more focused on winning events.

“I just like to win,” Hobgood said. “That globe trophy that Rip Curl gives out is pretty sweet and I’m just trying to go for that.” Damien will meet wildcard Bruno Santos (BRA) in Quarterfinal 4. Santos eliminated 2006 Rip Curl Pro Search runner-up Taylor Knox (USA) today.

“I’m so lucky because I fell three times in my last heat and I still made it – I’ve had a lot of good luck this contest,” Santos said. “The heat before mine had so many waves but me and Taylor waited so long for waves; there were not many sets in our heat, but I’m stoked I made it.”

Swellnet.com.au are forecasting easing swell for tomorrow, Wednesday, June 27, 2007, with an increase expected on Thursday. Six heats of the Rip Curl Pro Search Chile remain and another call on competition status will be made tomorrow at 7am. .

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH CHILE QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Andy Irons (HAW) 14.67 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5.43
 
RIP CURL PRO SEARCH CHILE ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.26 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 12.80
Heat 2: Andy Irons (HAW) 17.10 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 11.17
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) 11.34 def. Daniel Wills (AUS) 6.93
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.44 def. Chris Ward (USA) 9.27
Heat 5: Dean Morrison (AUS) 18.83 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 17.37
Heat 6: CJ Hobgood (USA) 13.34 def. Fred Patacchia (HAW) 4.60
Heat 7: Bruno Santos (BRA) 10.84 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 6.83
Heat 8: Damien Hobgood (USA) 15.63 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 1.60

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH REMAINING QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 2: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)
QF 3: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. CJ Hobgood (USA)
QF 4: Bruno Santos (BRA) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)

- Images from today -

- More images from today - 

Francaise

Morrison élimine Slater du Rip Curl Pro Search Chili

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 June, 2007 : - - Arica Chile  -- L’australien Dean Morrison élimine le 8x champion du monde Kelly Slater lors du 4ieme tour du Rip Curl Pro Search Chili. Slater a pris le premier avion après avoir terminé le Rip Curl Pro Search à la 9ieme place. Morrison enregistre lors de ce 4ieme tour la meilleure combinaison de vagues de la journée avec un 18.83 points sur 20 – et une qualification pour les ¼ de finales.

“A chaque fois que tu surfes contre Kelly Slater, c’est facile de se faire du mouron” déclara Morrison. « Heureusement, j’ai pu surfer selon mes plans, sans me soucier de ce qu’il faisait. ». La victoire de Morrison sur Slater aujourd’hui fut la première depuis 2003 lorsqu’il avait battu Slater en Australie sur la Gold Coast et remporté la compétition.

“Cela faisait longtemps que je n’avais pas gagné contre Kelly. Je suis content et très fier» continua Morrison. Morrison et Slater ont pris vague après vague, avant que Morrison ne réalise l’impossible, un tube parfait à 10 points – second de la compétition. « C’est le second 10 de ma carrière, ça signifie beaucoup pour moi » déclara Morrison.

Slater s’est battu jusqu’à la fin mais n’a pas pu scorer la vague à 9.37 points dont il avait besoin pour reprendre la tête de la série. « Le tube à 10 points de Morrison ressemblait plutôt à un close out au départ. Mais à la fin, le tube s’est bien ouvert et était en fait parfait…je crois avoir pris la meilleure seconde vague et Dean a pris la 3ieme. Ce fut dur après de revenir au score ».

Le champion du monde est actuellement classé 6ieme au classement ASP. “A ce stade, je ne pense pas que le titre mondial soit pour moi” avoua Slater. « De perdre ici, c’est la 4ieme compétition que Mick me passe devant et ca va être très dur de le rattraper. S’il continue d’être aussi consistent, ça va être dur de le battre. ».

Actuellement leader au classement, Mick Fanning s’est qualifié pour les ¼ de finales après avoir éliminé Chris Ward lors du 4ieme tour. Il se retrouvera maintenant face à Bobby Martinez lors de la 2nde ¼ de finale.  Fanning, interviewé avant que Slater et Joel Parkinson soient éliminés plus tard dans la journée, est en bonne route pour rester en pole position. Le surfeur demeure cependant très humble.

“Il y a toujours des gars qui sont encore trop prêts” déclara Fanning. «Joel est toujours la, Andy et Kelly et Damien aussi. Donc si ses gars avancent, il me faut à tout prix les devancer et les battre. Il me faut réaliser le meilleur résultat. »

Joel Parkinson a été éliminé par Andy Irons lors du premier ¼ de finales.  La compétition a été suspendue en suivant, les vents onshore commençant à dégrader les conditions. Irons et Damien Hobgood, classe 7ieme et 3ieme font donc encore partis des favoris. Irons terminera 3ieme au pire.

Les frères jumeaux CJ et Damien Hobgood se sont tous deux qualifiés pour les ¼ de finales et pourraient éventuellement se retrouver face à face s’ils remportent leur série respective des ¼ de finales. Damien, qui a remporté la dernière compétition à Tahiti indique qu’il est moins préoccupé de concourir contre son frère et focalise plutôt sur une victoire.

“J’aime gagner” déclara Hobgood. “Le trophée du Rip Curl Pro Search est un beau trophée et mon but est de le remporter”. Damien se retrouvera face au wildcard Bruno Santos lors de la série 4 des ¼ de finales. Santos avait auparavant éliminé Taylor Knox lors du 4ieme tour.

“J’ai été très chanceux car j’ai chuté par trois fois et j’ai tout de même réussi à remporter la série. J’ai eu de la chance dans cette compétition jusqu’à présent. Il n’a avait pas beaucoup de vagues dans notre série donc je suis plutôt content de m’être qualifié ». déclara Santos.

Les prévisions de SwellNet annoncent une légère baisse de la houle pour mercredi 27 Juin mais une nouvelle houle est attendue pour Jeudi. Il ne reste plus que 6 séries à jouer pour connaitre le nom du futur champion du Rip Curl Pro Search Chili. Les organisateurs se réuniront demain matin 7h pour évaluer les conditions.

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH CHILI – RESULTAT DES ¼ DE FINALES
QF 1: Andy Irons (HAW) 14.67 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5.43

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH CHILI – SERIES DES ¼ DE FINALES A VENIR:
QF 2: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)
QF 3: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. CJ Hobgood (USA)
QF 4: Bruno Santos (BRA) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH CHILI – RESULTATS DU 4IEME TOUR:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.26 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 12.80
Heat 2: Andy Irons (HAW) 17.10 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 11.17
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) 11.34 def. Daniel Wills (AUS) 6.93
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.44 def. Chris Ward (USA) 9.27
Heat 5: Dean Morrison (AUS) 18.83 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 17.37
Heat 6: CJ Hobgood (USA) 13.34 def. Fred Patacchia (HAW) 4.60
Heat 7: Bruno Santos (BRA) 10.84 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 6.83
Heat 8: Damien Hobgood (USA) 15.63 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 1.60

Previous reports:
# 1 : Rip Curl Pro Search WCT Chile coming up in six weeks
# 2 : 3 week countdown begins to Rip Curl Pro Search Chile
# 3 : Fanning leads as tour hits Rip Curl Pro Search in Chile
# 4 : WCT surfers warm up in Chile for Rip Curl Pro Search 

# 5 : Slater & Irons set to bring heat to Rip Curl Search Chile 
# 6 : Fanning and Flores set pace at Rip Curl Pro Search Chile
# 7 : Irons narrowly escapes elimination at Rip Curl Pro Chile
# 8 : Rip Curl Pro Search Chile off today due to monster surf

# 9 : Rip Curl Pro: Foster's showdown runs, round 2 called off
# 10 : Rip Curl Pro Search Chile completes 10 heats of round 2
# 11 : Rip Curl Pro Search Chile - Burrow's out & Fanning's in

www.ripcurl.com
www.ripcurl.com/chile
www.aspworldtour.com

About ASP
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the Foster’s ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships.

The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

About Foster’s Group
Foster’s Group is a premium global drinks company delivering a portfolio of beer, wine, spirits, cider and non-alcoholic beverages. The Foster’s network spans three regions: 1) Australia, Asia and Pacific, 2) Americas and 3) Europe, Middle East and Africa. Foster’s has been the naming rights Title sponsor of the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour since 2004. Foster’s Lager is the official beer of the tour and is the world’s seventh largest international beer brand - available in 155 countries.

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