Mr. Price Pro

ASP 6 Star WQS Men's Event #19
ASP 5 Star WQS Womens Event #7
North Beach Durban South Africa
29 June - 26 July 2008

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Chris Davidson Trumps Tavis Logie to Win Mr. Price Pro

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 6 July, 2008 : - -  Durban -- Australian surfer Chris Davidson (AUS) crushed South Africa’s hopes of a second ever South African winner at the Mr. Price Pro, defeating ASP World No. 41 Travis Logie (Durban) before a patriotic crowd on New Pier beach in Durban today.

Competing in crumbling one-to-two foot (0.5 metre) onshore surf, arguably more suited to the Australian’s natural-footed stance, Davidson’s powerful front-side surfing saw him out-position his local rival to win the heat with a 16.10 heat total to Logie’s 12.90, jumping to 7th on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) ratings.

“I’m stoked I made the final and beat the local boy,” Davidson said. “It was tough for Travis surfing little right-handers on his backside (right foot forward stance) so it definitely favoured me. I’ve got tens here in the past, but I was the underdog out there today, so it felt good to come home with the win.”

A former competitor on the prestigious ASP World Tour, Davidson drew first blood opening with a respectable 6.67 (out of a possible 10) ride and followed up with a near perfect 9.43 putting his South African rival in a combination situation.

Jordy Smith : photo Debiky/Mr Price

At the five minute mark, so confident of his win was Davidson that he began surfing with his board upside down and exited the water with three minutes still remaining on the clock. “That was just a bit of fun and no disrespect to Travis,” Davidson said. “He’s an incredible competitor but I knew I had the heat won.” The Australian took home 2500 ratings points towards his 2009 qualification campaign for the ASP World Tour.

Despite finishing as the highest placed South African in the event, Logie was visibly disappointed that first place had eluded him for the second time in his career, after reaching the final here in 2000. “I’ve always wanted to win this event because I grew up surfing here and I live five minutes up the road,” Logie said. “The final was very tough and Chris definitely got the two best waves, I just couldn’t get the right ones today.”

One of just three South African surfers to advance into the final day of competition today, Logie disposed of fellow countryman Greg Emslie (East London) in the Round of 16 before dismissing ASP World No. 19 Jordy Smith (Durban) in the Quarterfinals, eventually defeating Patrick Gudauskas (USA) in the Semifinals.

“I was stoked with second, it’s better than third and I will be back again next year, though, trying to win it,” Logie said.  While the runner-up finish will have no impact on Logie’s ASP World Tour ratings points, Greg Emslie’s 9th has seen him jump to No. 19 on the ASP WQS ratings while David Weare (Durban) who was eliminated on Saturday with an equal 25th, has jumped to an incredible No. 2 on the ASP WQS ratings.

Jeremy Flores : photo Debiky/Mr Price

Finishing equal third at the Mr. Price Pro today were Patrick Gudauskas (USA) and 2003 Mr. Price Pro Champion Neco Padaratz (Bra) who were defeated by Logie and Davidson respectively. Gudauskas’ result saw him jump back into the lead on the ASP WQS ratings ahead of Weare, while the ratings leader coming into the event, Hizunome Bettero (BRA), has ped down to third.

“I’ve never done well in Durban so to get a third today is a great result for me,” Gudauskas said. “I’m really excited to be back at No. 1, it’s a very long season so I just want to continue bettering my results.” 

RESULTS

Final:
Chris Davidson (AUS) 16.10; Travis Logie (ZAF) 12.90

Mens Semifinals:
Heat 1: Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.10; Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 12.64
Heat 2: Chris Davidson (AUS) 13.33; Neco Padaratz (BRA) 8.23 

Mens Quarterfinals:
Heat 1: Patrick Gudauskas (USA 14.34; Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.76
Heat 2: Travis Logie (ZAF) 15.16; Jordy Smith (ZAF) 9.60                   
Heat 3:  Neco Padaratz (BRA) 15.17; Nathan Yeomans (USA) 10.50                  
Heat 4:  Chris Davidson (AUS) 11.83; Drew Courtney (AUS) 4.16 

Mens Round of 16:
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.16; Corey Ziems (AUS) 9.83
Heat 2: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 16.27; Pedro Henrique (BRA) 16.00
Heat 3: Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.24; Greg Emslie (ZAF) 12.60
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.17; Odirlei Coutinho (BRA) 11.00
Heat 5: Neco Padaratz (BRA) 11.50; Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 6: Nathan Yeomans (USA) 16.00; Abdel El Harim (MAR) 8.53
Heat 7: Chris Davidson (AUS) 18.10; Josh Kerr (AUS) 14.10
Heat 8: Drew Courtney (AUS) 12.77; Kirk Flintoff (AUS) 10.33

Check the Full Results

Chris Davidson : photo Debiky/Mr Price

WQS ratings after event #19 The Mr Price Pro

Gudauskas,Patrick	USA	1
Weare,David	ZAF	2
Bettero,Hizunome	BRA	3
Curran,Nathaniel	USA	4
Monteiro,Raoni	BRA	5
Courtney,Drew	AUS	6
Davidson,Chris	AUS	7
Garcia,Sunny	HAW	8
Yeomans,Nathan	USA	9
Ware,Austin	USA	10
Henrique,Pedro	BRA	11
Paulino,Pablo	BRA	12
Bacalso,Kekoa	HAW	13
Melling,Adam	AUS	14
Simpson,Brett	USA	15
Cansdell,Shaun	AUS	16
Gossmann,Shaun	AUS	17
Robertson,Adam (Vic)	AUS	18
Emslie,Greg	ZAF	19
Khodr,Jihad	BRA	20
Flintoff,Kirk	AUS	21
Romao,Simao	BRA	22
Muscroft,Nic	AUS	23
Bombaci,Rhys	AUS	24
Nicol,Yadin	AUS	25
Hedge,Nathan	AUS	26
Sodre,Yuri	BRA	27
Bourez,Michel	PYF	28
Barca,Dustin	HAW	29
Wilkinson,Matt	AUS	30
Wright,Warwick	ZAF	31
Coutinho,Odirlei	BRA	32
Dornelles,Rodrigo	BRA	32
Thompson,Jay	AUS	34
Kerr,Josh	AUS	35
Sedley,Leigh	AUS	36
Barron,T.J	HAW	37
Miranda,Bernardo	BRA	38
Zubizarreta,Gony	ESP	39
Boal,Tim	FRA	40
Silva,Jean da	BRA	41
Ward,Shaun	USA	41
Souza,Adriano de	BRA	43
Atkinson,Dion	AUS	44
Cuizon,Dustin	HAW	45
Pires,Tiago	PRT	46
Lipke,Marlon	DEU	47
Silva,Andre	BRA	48
Ziems,Corey	AUS	49
Gudauskas,Dane	USA	50
Galvao,Renato	BRA	51
Savalli,Hugo	REU	52
Centeio,Joel	HAW	53
Bastos,Leandro	BRA	54
Riou,Alain	PYF	55
Fahrenfort,Damien	ZAF	56
Hall,Glenn	IRE	57
Wilson,Blake	AUS	58
Rothman,Makuakai	HAW	59
Beven,Patrick	FRA	60
Gonzalez,Jonathan	CNY	61
Losness,Mike	USA	62
Howse,Jarrad	AUS	63
Laulhe,Romain	FRA	64
Gudauskas,Tanner	USA	65
Collazo,Hodei	ESP	66
Spencer,Sterling	USA	67
Toth,Brian	PRI	68
Bortoletto,Antonio	ZAF	69
Neves,Leonardo	BRA	70
Kling,Gabe	USA	71
El Harim,Abdel	MAR	72
Andre,Jadson	BRA	73
Gillette,Gavin	HAW	74
MacDonald,Phillip	AUS	74
Coleborn,Mitchel	AUS	76
Duru,Joan	FRA	76
O'Rafferty,Darren	AUS	78
Palmboom,Rudy (jnr)	ZAF	79
Thornton,Blake	AUS	80
Fisher,Paul	AUS	81
Cabrera,Jose Maria	CNY	82
Estienne,Jean Sebastien	BLM	83
Pilurzu,Federico	CRI	84
Sullivan,Kevin	HAW	85
Rebiere,Eric	FRA	86
Santos,Robson	BRA	87
Petruso,Anthony	USA	88
Alves,Heitor	BRA	89
Flores,Jeremy	FRA	90
Campbell,Ryan	AUS	91
Novak,Flynn	HAW	92
Logie,Travis	ZAF	93
Page,Sam	AUS	93
Gaskell,Hank	HAW	95
Perry,Jack	AUS	96
Geiselman,Eric	USA	97
Cardoso,Willian	BRA	98
Quinn,Jay	NZL	98
Felix,Messias	BRA	100

Check the Full Ratings

Previous reports:
# 1 : Durban's Mr Price Pro preps for action, celebrates year 40
# 2 : Mr. Price Pro welcoming Shaun Tomson back to Durban..
# 3 : Juniors to kick off South Africa's 6-Star WQS Mr Price Pro

# 4 : David Weare favoured South African for the Mr. Price Pro 
# 5 : ASP 6 star Mr. Price Pro WQS event goes live at New Pier 
# 6 : Women to compete on international stage at Mr Price Pro 

# 7 : Mr Price Pro Junior to kick off in punchy one-metre waves
# 8 : Joubert & Buitendag take top honours at Mr Price Pro Jnr
# 9 : Wildcards poised for battle at South Africa's Mr Price Pro

# 10 : Sally Fitzgibbons on fire at the Mr Price Pro South Africa
# 11 : Australia, Brazil lead international charge at Mr Price Pro
# 12 : Saffa girls go big at Mr Price Pro: Brazil strong in men's

# 13 : Local surfers shine on Day 4 at Mr Price Pro South Africa
# 14 : South Africans march into final weekend of Mr. Price Pro
# 15 : Silvana Lima defeats Pauline Ado to claim Mr Price Pro..

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