Quiksilver Pro Durban 

Men's 6 Star WQS Prime
New Pier Durban South Africa
13 -  20 April 2008

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Josh Kerr Flies and Jordy Smith Bows Out At Quiksilver Pro Durban.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 18 April, 2008 : - - Durban – Some big airs and bigger upsets were the order of the day at the Quiksilver Pro Durban, as New Pier produced funnelling little high-performance waves for day 8 of Durban’s Six-Star Prime WQS event.

The conditions, while perfect in shape and conditions, were a little bit small, but good to excellent rides punctuated the day’s performances and there were plenty of excellent scores being inked by the judges. But first up, the upsets.

Travis Logie was eliminated in the round of 48 in a heat that suffered from a bit of a wave drought, and it was Masatoshi Ohno from Japan and Leigh Sedley from Australia who advanced. Despite Travis catching a last good-looking wave on the final horn and smacking it for all it was worth, he fell just short of the required score and was eliminated, along with fellow South African Damien Fahrenfort.

Sunny Garcia was eliminated in heat 11 of the round of 48, despite a strong and powerful performance. He was out-pointed by an on-form Bettero Hizunome from Brazil and Yadin Nicol from Australia.

Yadin Nicol : photo Quiksilver/Ewing

Local surfer Warwick Wright dominated his heat in the round of 48, winning his 4-man heat, but was eliminated in the round of 24 in the high tide conditions. In another shock upset, local hope Jordy Smith was also eliminated in the same round by Phil MacDonald and Marlon Lipke.

Josk Kerr found his rhythm in his early heat and made some big airs in conditions that he really liked. “The waves in my heat was so suited to airs,” said Kerr. “With the waves being a bit soft with this little onshore lip, it’s easy to launch into the air. Then with the waves being so smooth and glassy it’s also easy to land them. I pulled off a few in my heat so I’m stoked.”

Marlon Lipke, the powerful German goofy-foot surfer, was instrumental in the elimination of Jordy Smith in their round of 24 encounter. Heat winner Phil MacDonald sat wide of the two, and Lipke and Smith engaged in a paddle battle or two and a little bit of good old hussling, with the German coming out on top between the two.

“It was quite a tight heat, but I got that one good wave in the middle of the heat, and didn’t want to give any away,” said Lipke. “My boards feel really good in these conditions and my best waves were on my backhand, so it was a good heat for me. Durban is my favourite location in the world, and coming back here is definitely the highlight of my year on tour.”

Davey Weare : photo Quiksilver/Tuck

Another New Pier local in Davey Weare surfed a blistering heat in what had become somewhat tricky conditions, and scored an 8.67 (out of a possible ten) and a 8.27 right off the bat to put himself in a commanding lead at the start of the heat, and he never let go of the lead. Dustin Barca from Hawaii surfed a solid heat to come in behind the South African and advance, and eliminated from the event was Leandro Bastos from Brazil.

“Very stoked to get through, but I want to get further in the event. I’m looking forward to get going in the round of sixteen,” said Weare. “My boards are going well as well, so hopefully this is a good event for me.”

Tomorrow sees the event go into the round of 16. The event organisers have called for an early morning start at Ansteys at The Bluff, with predictions looking good for that side. To find out the contest venue for tomorrow please log onto the event website - www.quikprodurban.com – for the daily update.

For people not able to get down to the beach or not able to get computer access, the contest can be viewed live from your mobile phone. Just look for www.quikpro.mobi on your mobile phone browser to access live video and live scores.

Check the Live Action

- Images from Day 8 -

- More photos from Day 8 -

To watch the event live log onto the event mini-site on quikprodurban.com and follow the webcasting link. The web commentator team comprises former world champion Martin Potter, and former long-time WCT competitor Jake Paterson, as well as mix of competitors and Quiksilver South Africa team members. Check the Live Action

Previous reports:
# 1 : Quiksilver Pro Durban highest rated WQS in South Africa
# 2 : Quiksilver Pro Durban 6-Star Prime set to run at New Pier
# 3 : Quiksilver Pro Durban hosts Komunity Project Future Stars
# 4 : Science Fiction technology airs with Quiksilver Pro Durban 

# 5 : Quiksilver Pro Durban attracting world's top WQS surfers
# 6 : ASP grade 2 Quiksilver Pro Junior contestants gearing up
# 7 : Bo Shabalala wins Kommunity Project Future Stars event
# 8 : Quiksilver Pro Junior scores small perfection at New Pier

# 9 : Virgin Mobile Trials run in small surf at Quik Pro Durban
# 10 : Missing surfers & boards cause a Quiksilver Pro lay day
# 11 : Chris Davidson gets perfect ten at Quiksilver Pro Durban
# 12 : Locals go big in firing New Pier at Quiksilver Pro Durban

www.quiksilver.com
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www.quikprodurban.com
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www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

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Quiksilver South Africa
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