Mick Fanning : photo Cestari/ASP Covered Images

Quiksilver Pro France

ASP World Championship Tour Event #7
Hossegor, Landes, SW France
20 - 30 September 2007

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

SLATER AND IRONS MAKE ROUND 3 EXITS FROM QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE       > Francais en dessous

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 September, 2007 : - - Hossegor, France – Today’s Quiksilver Pro France competition saw the whole of Round 3 and the first heat two heats of Round 4 completed in four to six foot (one to two metre) surf at La Graviere. Foster’s ASP World Title contenders and former World Champions Kelly Slater (USA) and Andy Irons (HAW) made Round 3 exits while Mick Fanning (AUS), Joel Parkinson (AUS) and Taj Burrow (AUS) advanced to Round 4 and beyond.

Parkinson, the defending Quiksilver Pro France champion, earned himself a Quarterfinal berth when he eliminated Phil Macdonald (AUS) in the first heat of Round 4 – the second to last heat of the day.

“I went down after Phil caught that first one, down toward the end to try and find couple that I had seen before when I was watching,” Parkinson said. “Priority isn’t something you really want to have out there, you want to be moving a lot and getting a lot of waves so I just tried to do that.”

Parkinson is currently rated World No. 5 and should gain ground on Irons and Slater in the race for his maiden World Title now that he is through to the Quarters. Still, he’s hesitant to think about the ratings too much. “It’s hard to think about that, you don’t want to,” Parkinson said. “It’s screwed with me a few times before. I just need to take heat by heat.”

Joel Parkinson : photo Cestari/ASP Covered Images

Current World No. 3, Burrow, will meet Parkinson in Quarterfinal 1 after his Round 4 victory in the last heat of the day.  His win over South Africa’s Royden Bryson (ZAF) was the most convincing of the victories he’s had thus far at the Quiksilver Pro.

“I felt a lot better after that heat just because I felt like I surfed better and won the heat a little bit more convincingly that the other ones for sure,” Burrow said.  “I just spent a little time warming up, I have kind of a sore knee, but it’s feeling good now. I’ve never had to deal with a sore knee before and it has been kind of toying with my confidence, at Lowers especially. 

It’s hard to get you head to want it to go different directions, but it’s feeling a lot better now. Even my first few heats here I was just a little bit tentative, not just really confident. I’ve been free surfing as much as  I can to get my knee feeling good. That heat made me feel like it was working properly. urrow is the only surfer with two wins in his scoreline and, as a two-time World Title runner-up, is really hoping to take it all the way this year.

“I’ve got my eyes on the number one position for sure, and I couldn’t help but smile a little bit when Slater and Andy Irons went down,” Burrow said. “But still, it’s not even worth worrying about what everyone else is doing, it’s just try to do your own thing really. I’m just totally focused on winning another contest.”

Michel Bourrez : photo Cestari/ASP Covered Images

Eight-time World Champion Slater’s exit was shown to him courtesy of Tahitian wildcard Michael Bourez. Slater posted an uncharacteristically low heat total of 9.13 after failing to find a 6.18 scoring ride even though there were 10 minutes left on the clock. Bourez advanced and will now meet Raioni Monteiro (BRA) in Round 4.

“I just feel great, it’s amazing, I just did my job today, that’s it,” Bourez said. “I felt pretty lucky because the conditions weren’t that good and it was really hard to catch good waves. I was just waiting and waiting for the good ones. I’m just so happy. Beating Kelly Slater was definitely the biggest thing that has ever happened to me, for sure.”

Current ratings leader Fanning beat former Top 45 competitor and wildcard Mikael Picon (FRA) just after Slater was eliminated by Bourez.

“Yeah, that was a pretty big heat,” Fanning said. “It’s tricky going up against wildcards, especially at their home break. I saw Mikael catch that last wave and heard the crowd go crazy, I was just lucky time had ran out. The wave looked perfect for him. I just plan to keep the ball rolling. I tried to get a busy start out there and improve on every wave I caught, just trying to get the job done. I’ll continue to just surf heat but heat.”

Kelly Slater : photo Tostee/ASP Covered Images

The day’s highest heat total, 15.67 out of 20.00 went to Neco Padaratz, who along with fellow Brazilians Raoni Monteiro, Bernardo Miranda, and Rodrigo Dornelles, will now feature in Round 4. Both Padaratz and Miranda scored 9.00 tube rides today.

“My 9.0 was a really great wave,” Padaratz said. “I saw the wave coming and just got in it and was covered up, I just felt really lucky. I feel that when you get a good start you gain more confidence for the rest of the heat. I knew I just needed to get a second good wave to top that, because I knew that Bobby would come back.”

South African surfers also fared well in Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro France. Greg Emslie eliminated France’s Jeremy Flores, Royden Bryson beat Adrain Buchan (AUS) before losing to Burrow in Round 4 and Ricky Basnett overcame Leonardo Neves (BRA) to break the string of 17th places he’s posted in every single event on the 2007 tour until today.

“It feels great to finally get out of the 17ths… I feel like I just won the World Title,” Basnett said. “It’s pretty tough conditions out there and you really just have to try and get two quick ones under you belt. It worked out for me, so I’m really happy. All of us South Africans are in the fourth round so, we haven’t had that for quite a while, hopefully it carries on.”

A call on competition status will be made at La Graviere at 8am tomorrow. Heat 3 of Round 4 featuring Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF) is up next.

Greg Emslie : photo Tostee/ASP Covered Images

Quiksilver Pro France Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 11.27 vs. Phillip Macdonald (AUS) 8.23
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.17 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 11.14

Quiksilver Pro France Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.33 def. Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 7.33
Heat 2: Phillip Macdonald (AUS) 14.66 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 9.77
Heat 3: Royden Bryson (ZAF) 12.33 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 8.84
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 10.17 def. Trent Munro (AUS) 6.77
Heat 5: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 10.50 def. Victor Ribas (BRA) 6.10
Heat 6: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 12.17 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.67
Heat 7: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 13.67 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 8.84
Heat 8: Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.00 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 9.13
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.06 def. Mikael Picon (FRA) 7.27
Heat 10: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 14.73 def. Leonardo Neves (ZAF) 12.50
Heat 11: Neco Padaratz (BRA) 15.67 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 6.80
Heat 12: Bernardo Miranda (BRA) 15.50 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.67
Heat 13: Luke Munro (AUS) 10.83 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 4.00
Heat 14: Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 12.16 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 8.00
Heat 15: Dayyan Neve (AUS) 13.17 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 10.87
Heat 16: Troy Brooks (AUS) 11.50 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 5.57

Upcoming Quiksilver Pro France Round 4 Match-Ups:
Heat 3: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 4: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) vs. Michel Bourrez (PYF)
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Ricky Basnett (ZAF)
Heat 6: Neco Padaratz (BRA) vs. Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
Heat 7: Luke Munro (AUS) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 8: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)

www.quiksilver.com
www.quiksilverlive.com
www.quiksilver-europe.com 
http://livealert.quiksilver-europe.com

Raoni Montiero : photo Cestari/ASP Covered Images

Francaise

L’exploit de Michel Bourez Hécatombe chez les favoris : Slater, Irons et Florès éliminés

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 September, 2007 : - - Hossegor, France –  C’est une journée pleine de surprises à laquelle le public massé sur la plage de la Gravière et les internautes du Quiksilver Pro France ont assisté aujourd’hui.

A la surprise générale, le surfeur tahitien Michel Bourez a éliminé Kelly Slater au 3ème tour de la compétition. Après s’être payé le triple Champion du Monde Andy Irons (Haw) au 1er tour, le jeune et talentueux polynésien, détenteur d’une wildcard sur ce Quiksilver Pro France, a battu Slater, son modèle, compliquant, par la même occasion, ses chances de redevenir n°1 mondial.

« J’ai du mal à réaliser mais j’ai juste fait mon job. Le placement a été déterminant dans cette série. Il fallait bouger tout le temps et savoir attendre la bonne vague. Ca fait 4 ans que je viens surfer ici. Je ne connais pourtant pas la vague aussi bien que les locaux.

Ce matin, je n’avais pas vraiment la tête dans la série, je voulais juste m’amuser, prendre du plaisir. Kelly, lui, cherche le titre. C’est quelque chose d’énorme pour moi de le battre, surtout en France même si j’ai eu de la chance. C’était un peu la loterie aujourd’hui » expliquait en sortant de l’eau la révélation du jour, au triomphe modeste.

Neco Padaratz : photo Tostee/ASP Covered Images

Jérémy Florès, le français et seul européen du Tour cette saison, n’a pas connu la même réussite. Le rookie le mieux classé du WCT a chuté ce matin face à Greg Emslie (Af Sud) au stade du 3ème tour de la compétition. Alors que le français menait la série et semblait gérer habilement son avance, le sud-africain surnommé « big foot » a saisi LA vague de la série : un long tube dans lequel il s’est engouffré, comme un boulet de canon, à quelques minutes de la fin.

Décontenancé mais toujours à l’affût, Jérémy a bien tenté de trouver une nouvelle vague pour refaire son retard mais aucun set n’est arrivé. Le prodige français, extrêmement déçu, conservera, quoi qu’il arrive, sa place parmi l’élite l’an prochain.

Enfin, le miracle n’a pas eu lieu pour la wildcard landaise Miky Picon, nettement battu par le n°1 mondial Mick Fanning. Avec la défaite de Slater, Fanning va certainement creuser à nouveau l’écart au classement du Championnat du Monde avant les deux dernières manches de la saison au Brésil et à Hawaii.

Après l’élimination prématurée de Slater, c’est une autre star du Tour qui quitte la compétition plus tôt que prévu. En effet, Andy Irons (Haw) s’est fait sortir par le rookie Luke Munro (Aus). Le triple Champion du Monde et triple vainqueur de l’épreuve s’est fait laminer par le jeune australien 10 ,83 points contre 4 pour l’hawaiien.

Phil MacDonald : photo Cestari/ASP Covered Images

La direction de la compétition a décidé de lancer, dans la foulée, le début du 4ème tour du Quiksilver Pro France, toujours à la Gravière à Hossegor. Joel Parkinson (Aus) est le premier à se qualifier pour les quarts de finale aux dépens de Phil McDonald (Aus). Enfin Taj Burrow (Aus) élimine le sud-africain Royden Bryson et passe au tour suivant. La suite du Round 4 est programmée demain à partir de 8h à la Gravière.

Les résultats du Round 3 :
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) bat. Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 10,33 pts vs 7,33 pts
Heat 2: Phillip Macdonald (AUS) at Cory Lopez (USA) 14,66 pts vs 9,77 pts
Heat 3: Royden Bryson (ZAF) bat Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12,33 pts vs 8,84 pts
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) bat Trent Munro (AUS) 10,17 pts vs 6,77 pts
Heat 5: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) bat Victor Ribas (BRA) 10,50 pts vs 6,10 pts
Heat 6: Greg Emslie (ZAF) bat Jérémy Florès (FRA) 12,17 pts vs 10,67 pts
Heat 7: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) bat Josh Kerr (AUS) 13,67 pts vs 7,16 pts
Heat 8: Michel Bourrez (PYF) bat Kelly Slater (USA) 12 pts vs 9,13 pts
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS) bat Mikael Picon (FRA) 13,06 pts vs 7,27 pts
Heat 10: Ricky Bassnett (ZAF) bat Leonardo Neves (BRA) 14,73 pts vs 12,50 pts
Heat 11: Neco Padaratz (BRA) bat Bobby Martinez (USA) 15,67 pts vs 6,80 pts
Heat 12: Bernardo Miranda (BRA) bat C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15,50 pts vs 11,67 pts
Heat 13: Luke Munro (AUS) bat Andy Irons (HAW) 10,83 pts vs 4 pts
Heat 14: Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) bat Luke Stedman (AUS) 12,16 pts vs 8 pts
Heat 15: Dayyan Neve (AUS) bat Dean Morrison (AUS) 13.17 pts vs 10.87 pts.
Heat 16 : Troy Brooks (AUS) bat Kai Otton (AUS) 11,50 pts vs 5,57 pts.

Les résultats du Round 4 :
Heat 1 : Joel Parkinson (AUS) bat Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 11,67 pts vs 8,23 pts
Heat 2 : Taj Burrow (AUS) bat Royden Bryson (ZAF) 14,17 pts vs 11,14 pts 

Previous reports:
# 1 : Quiksilver Pro France next Foster's ASP World Tour stop
# 2 : Quiksilver Pro France will kick out live SMS contest alerts
# 3 : Flores is set to lead Euro charge at Quiksilver Pro France
# 4 : Quiksilver Pro France schedule and updates for day #1 

# 5 : Quiksilver Pro France trials on today: no go for 'CT pros
# 6 : Quiksilver Pro France finishes 6 heats of round 1 Friday
# 7 : Quiksilver Pro off today, Hawaii wins Foster's Showdown
# 8 : Title contenders move to Quiksilver Pro France round #3 

# 9 : Quiksilver Pro France runs 1 heat Monday - calls day off 
# 10 : Quiksilver Pro France Round 2 wrapped up at Capbreton
# 11 : Quiksilver Pro off - Pancho Sullivan wins Fiat Expression

www.quiksilver.com
www.quiksilverlive.com
www.quiksilver-europe.com 
http://livealert.quiksilver-europe.com

 

 
Bonus discount and prize draw

New! B2B News ASBE-Surf   |  Receive News-Alerts

  Updated & Revised European Surforecasts
  More European surfing news available here

ASP International
Melissa Buckley
melissa@aspworldtour.com

Photography
Pierre Tostee
tosetee@coveredimages.com
Kelly Cestari
kelly@coveredimages.com

WCT Contests - Surfersvillage