Tom Whitaker : photo ASP Kirstin/Covered Images 

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Quarterfinalists Decided - Whitaker Beats Slater With Perfect 10   > Francaise ci-dessous

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 3 October, 2008 : - - Mundaka, Basque Country/Spain - - Tom Whitaker (AUS) received an early birthday present from Mother Nature today. The soon-to-be 29-year-old Australian (his birthday is tomorrow) scored a perfect 10 to beat newly crowned nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater in Round 4 of the Billabong Pro Mundaka.

Whitaker’s 10.00 – earned for deep barrel ride followed by an air-drop floater – was a hearty answer back to the 9.33 Slater posted early. Whitaker backed it up with an 8.00 to win the heat. “I guess I’ve got to thank Mother Ocean because she looked out for me there,” Whitaker said. “That wave was phenomenal. I didn’t really do anything, I just sat there and went down the line. It was a true Mundaka gem.”

Slater secured his ninth ASP World Title by making his Round 3 heat earlier in the day. He lost his Round 4 heat by sitting on a 3.10 back-up score. Whitaker was pleased to advance but excited at the opportunity to get a front-row seat to the Slater Show too. “What do you do, he’s the best in the world and he got a 9 on a wave I wouldn’t have even looked at,” Whitaker said. “It’s Kelly’s day, Kelly got his ninth here and it’s good to be out here with him.”

Kelly Slater : photo ASP Cestari/Covered Images

Whitaker’s quarterfinal berth is his best of the season and marks a much needed result for the current World No. 27. Finishing as high as World No. 8 in 2006, and finishing the season at 13th in 2007, a successful Billabong Mundaka campaign should see Whitaker move up to a more characteristic region on the ratings.

Current World No. 2 Taj Burrow (AUS) is still going strong in Mundaka. He beat Taylor Knox (USA) in Round 4 and with Slater out of contention for the Billabong Pro crown, will look to win his first event of the season.  “I knew it was going to happen here and good on him,” Burrow said of Slater’s ninth. “He had so many wins this season that I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner, but I’m glad he lost that last heat and I’m looking to take out the event.”

World No. 3 Bede Durbidge (AUS) is through to the quarters after beating Kieren Perrow (AUS) and World No. 4 Adriano de Souza (BRA) is still charging too. “It’s incredible for me to make the quarters in this event because for the past two years I got stopped in Round 4,” de Souza said. “This year I wanted to improve on that so I’m really excited to make the quarters.”

Joel Parkinson : photo ASP Kirstin/Covered Images

De Souza won a tight heat over Mick Campbell (AUS) to continue his dream run. He will join Durbidge and Burrow in the new race –  ASP World No. 2. “If I have the opportunity I’m going to try, but for me it’s still far away,” de Souza said. “Taj is ripping, Bede put in a solid performance today – the guy is ripping. I’m trying my best. I had a great heat with Mick. He was smashing me but I had an opportunity in the end to take the win.”

Luke Stedman (AUS) eliminated  the defending 2006 and 2007 Billabong Pro Mundaka champion, Bobby Martinez, today. “Someone had just told me that he’s never lost a heat in Spain,” Stedman said. “I had forgotten that he’s won the event twice and never lost a heat here.” Adrian Buchan (AUS), who beat Slater to win the last ASP World Tour event in France last week, is also through.

“Obviously after that win in France I have a bit of momentum and a bit of confidence and there’s a good vibe here in Mundaka,” Buchan said. “I’m really stoked to be in the quarters.” Billabong Pro Mundaka contest director Mike Parsons indicated that the event could wrap up tomorrow. An official call on competition at 9am tomorrow.

Kelly Slater : photo ASP Kirstin/Covered Images

Check the Live Coverage 

Round 4 Billabong Pro Mundaka Results:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 17.27 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 16.43
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.00 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.73
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.50 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 5.83
Heat 4: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 18.00 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 12.43
Heat 5: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.84 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 11.17
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.50 def. Mikael Picon (FRA) 9.50
Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.94 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 8.80
Heat 8: Luke Stedman (AUS) 15.00 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 8.63

Today’s Round 3 Billabong Pro Mundaka Results:
Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 17.93 def. Daniel Wills (AUS) 11.33
Heat 6: Tiago Pires (PRT) 10.77 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 8.56
Heat 7: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.60 def. Tim Reyes (USA) 6.23
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.96 def. Eneko Acero (EUK) 10.00
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) 10.00 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 8.27
Heat 10: Taylor Knox (USA) 13.27 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.93
Heat 11: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.77 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 8.44
Heat 12: Mikael Picon (FRA) 15.64 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 14.23
Heat 13: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.5 def. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 9.70
Heat 14: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.16 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 10.50
Heat 15: Bobby Martinez (USA) 13.50 def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 8.83
Heat 16: Luke Stedman (AUS) 10.84 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 10.10

Upcoming Billabong Pro Mundaka Quarterfinal Heat Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 4: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)

Ace Buchan : photo ASP Cestari/Covered Images

Francaise

KELLY SLATER VIENT DE REMPORTER SON 9e TITRE MONDIAL AUJOURD'HUI AU BILLABONG PRO MUNDAKA

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 3 October, 2008 : - - Mundaka, Basque Country/Spain -- L’Américain KELLY SLATER  (Floride,  USA) remporte son 9e titre Mondial en se qualifiant pour le  4e  Tour  du  Billabong Pro Mundaka, 9e des 11 étapes du Championnat du Monde. Les  pluies  torrentielles n'auront pas empêché le moment tellement attendu du  9e sacre de KELLY SLATER.

À 36 ans, Kelly dominait déjà le Tour 2008 en ayant  remporté  5 étapes sur 8. Le 9e couronnement de Slater arrive 16 ans après son premier titre de Champion du Monde de Surf ASP à l'âge de 20 ans. Il est aujourd’hui le plus vieux surfeur de l'histoire de l'ASP à remporter le Titre Mondial, après avoir été le plus jeune en 1992.

SLATER  n'a montré aucun signe de pression dans la série décisive qui lui a valu  son  titre. Tactique comme à son habitude, face au local ENEKO ACERO, KELLY vient encore une fois d’écrire une page dans l'Histoire du Sport. ACERO,  31 ans, a ouvert la série dans des vagues d’environ 1.50m avant que SLATER,  détendu  et  confiant, ne prenne le contrôle en milieu de série et décroche son 9e Titre en remportant le duel.

 Sur  le  Tour  ASP  depuis  14 ans, le surfeur le plus reconnu du milieu a connu  une  saison  2008 exceptionnelle, en empochant 5 victoires sur les 8 premières étapes du WCT.  SLATER avait gagné son premier Titre ASP en 1992, puis enchaîné cinq titresà la suite entre 1994 et 1998, avant de se retirer plus ou moins à l’âge de 26  ans,  lassé par la compétition.

Il fait finalement son grand retour sur le  Tour ASP en 2003, perdant la course au titre contre le surfeur Hawaiien du  Team  Billabong, ANDY IRONS. Il lui faudra alors attendre jusqu’en 2005 pour reconquérir son titre de Champion du Monde ASP.

Les qualifiés pour les 1/4 de finale se tiennent prêts et les organisateurs étudient  sérieusement  les  conditions  de surf pour prendre leur décision demain  matin,  de  peut être donner le coup d’envoi de la dernière journée du Billbong Pro Mundaka.  Prochain « Call » Samedi 3 Octobre 2008 à 9h00 à Mundaka.

Taj Burrow : photo ASP Kirstin/Covered Images

Records ASP de Kelly Slater:
Titres  Mondiaux ASP: Neuf (2008, 2006, 2005, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1992)
Nombre de victoires sur le Tour ASP: 39
Le plus vieux Champion du Monde ASP: 36 ans (2008)
Le plus jeune Champion du Monde ASP: 20 ans (1992)
Meilleure série jamais surfée: score de 2O/20 à Tahiti (2005)
Record d'étapes gagnées en une saison: Sept en 1996

Retrouvez la biographie et la carrière de Kelly Slater’s sur www.aspworldtour.com/kellyslater

Resultats du 3e Tour du Billabong Pro Mundaka
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14,00 def. Jihad Khodr (BRA) 11,33
Heat 2: Mick Campbell (AUS) 13,17 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 12,03
Heat 3: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13,60 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 12,34
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13,17 def. Daniel Ross (AUS) 9,60
Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 19,93 def. Daniel Wills (AUS) 11,33
Heat 6: Tiago Pires (PRT) 10,77 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 8,56
Heat 7: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10,60 def. Tim Reyes (USA) 6,23
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) 14,96 def. Eneko Acero (EUK) 10,00
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) 10,00 def. Nic Mushcroft (AUS) 8,27
Heat 10: Taylor Knox (USA) 13,27 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12,93
Heat 11: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13,77 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 8,44
Heat 12: Mikael Picon (FRA) 15,64 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 14,23
Heat 13: Bede Durbidge (AUS)14,50 def. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 9,70
Heat 14: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12,16 def. Benn Dunn (AUS) 10,50
Heat 15: Bobby Martinez (USA) 13,50 def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 8,83
Heat 16: Luke Stedman (AUS) 10,84 vs. Heitor Alves (BRA) 10,10

Résultats du 4e Tour du Billabong Pro Mundaka
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 17,27 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 16,43
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16,00 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13,73
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14,50 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 5,83
Heat 4: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 18,00 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 12,43
Heat 5: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13,84 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 11,17
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15,50 def. Mikael Picon (FRA) 9,50
Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14,94 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 8,80
Heat 8: Luke Stedman (AUS) 15,00 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 8,63

Concurrants pour les ¼ Finale du Billabong Pro Mundaka:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 4: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)

Congratulations Kelly Slater !

- -

Previous reports:
# 1 : No Billabong Pro Mundaka today: Tues. call at Sopelena
# 2 : Billabong Pro Mundaka off | Next call 8am Wednesday...
# 3 : Mundaka fires for Day 2 of competition at Billabong Pro
# 4 : Coming soon  

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