Bacalso and Pires During Billabong Pro Mundaka Elimination Rd 1> en francais ci dessous
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 October, 2009 : - - Mundaka, Euskadi -- The Billabong Pro Mundaka, Event No. 8 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, completed the opening eight heats of Round 1 today in clean three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at the primary venue.
Opting to run the man-on-man elimination Round 1 format, the Billabong Pro Mundaka played witness to some incredible drama today, with surfers fighting for both requalification and solid footing on the ASP World Tour ratings.
Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 24, former ASP World Junior Champion (2005) and 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie, was the standout on Day 1 of competition, netting the high heat total of a 15.80 out of a possible 20 for a barrage of backhand turns, eliminating wildcard Hodei Collazo (EUK).
“Hodei (Collazo) is really dangerous,” Bacalso said. “I know the mindset of the wildcard, and when I used to be one, all I wanted to do was shatter dreams. This is his home spot and to be honest, I was really scared going into this heat. Hodei got the one at the start, then I got one, then I had to wait until the end to pick up my second score. Stoked I did though and avoided the go-home elimination Round 1.”
Currently ranked No. 19 on the ASP World Tour ratings, Bacalso currently leads the charge in the hunt for 2009 ASP World Tour Rookie of the Year, and will look to consolidate in the remaining three events this season.
“Michel (Bourez) and I are embroiled in a little Rookie of the Year race but it’s all in good fun,” Bacalso said. “I had a shocker in France, got a 33rd, and this event is all about redemption. I’m pretty happy with how this year is going, but I’m definitely looking to finish strong in these last few events.”
Tiago Pires (PRT), 29, current No. 23 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, also brought fireworks to today’s Billabong Pro Mundaka, eliminating tour veteran Phillip MacDonald (AUS), 30, in a hard-fought Round 1 heat. After nearly splitting his head open on an opening ride, Pires would rally, securing an 8.33 for solid backhand barrel before nailing the coffin shut with a 6.33 on the buzzer.
“At the start of my heat, the lip came down on me and my board hit me in the face,” Pires said. “Fortunately there is no blood, but it’s a good lump. There are definitely good waves on the bank, but they are a little inconsistent making things very stressful. I was able to dip into that little barrel for the 8.33 and I still needed another score. I just did my best to be patient and it paid off.”
Finishing 3rd at the previous ASP Dream Tour event in France, Pires moved up 10 spots on the ASP World Tour ratings prior to today’s debut at the Billabong Pro Mundaka, and the powerful natural-footer will look to improve even further as the European leg continues.
“The European leg is super important to me,” Pires said. “I feel very comfortable at all of the spots and it’s very important that I do well here. I had a good result in France and I’m trying to keep the momentum going through the rest of the season.” Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8am to assess conditions for a possible recommencement.
When competition resumes, up first will be ASP Dream Tour veteran Dean Morrison (AUS), 28, up against event wildcard Dean Bowen (AUS) in Heat 9 of Round 1. Highlights from today’s Billabong Pro Mundaka will be available via billabongpro.com/mundaka09. The Billabong Pro Mundaka will host the world’s best surfers from October 5 through 17, 2009. For more information, log onto aspworldtour.com.
REMMAINING BILLABONG PRO MUNDAKA ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS: Heat 9: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Dean Bowen (AUS) Heat 10: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Marcos San Segundo (EUK) Heat 11: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA) Heat 12: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Michael Picon (FRA) Heat 13: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Nic Muscroft (AUS) Heat 14: Dustin Barca (HAW) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) Heat 15: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS) Heat 16: Jay Thompson (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
BILLABONG PRO MUNDAKA ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS: Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA Heat 2: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. TBA Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. TBA Heat 4: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. TBA Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA Heat 7: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 10: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. TBA Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. TBA Heat 12: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. TBA Heat 13: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. TBA Heat 14: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 15: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. TBA
LA VAGUE DE MUNDAKA AU RENDEZ-VOUS POUR LE BILLABONG PRO 2009
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 October, 2009 : - - Mundaka, Euskadi -- C’est avec une course au Titre relancée en France que le top 45 des meilleurs sufeurs mondiaux a débuté le premier jour de compétition du Billabong Pro Mundaka 09.
La gauche magique qui déroule dans l’embouchure de la rivière Guernika a délivré son lot de tubes dans des vagues d’1mètre 50 et mis en scène le bas du tableau des compétiteurs aujourd’hui. En effet, les 16 têtes de séries ne commenceront la compétition qu’au deuxième tour, toujours en un contre un. Les 8 premières séries ont pu se jouer avant que la marée haute ne comble le banc de sable et que l’océan ne redevienne plat.
L’Hawaiien Kekoa Bacalso a obtenu le meilleur score de la journée, contre le local de l’étape Hodei Collazo, avec un total de 15,80. Malgré les encouragements de la foule, le Wildcard Collazo n’a pas pu faire grand chose contre le surf backside du puissant Hawaiien.
Côté Australien, Ben Dunn, Kai Otton et Drew Courtney se sont facilement qualifiés pour le deuxième tour. On notera particulièrement la série de Otton contre Reubyn Ash, seul représentant britannique, pour les conditions optimum du line up, mais aussi pour le surf très aérien du jeune Wildcard de Cornouailles qui a fait le show. Ce fut cepandant insuffisant pour contrer l’expérience de Kai Otton.
|Le Portugais Tiago Pires du Team Billabong a continué sur sa lancée surpersonique, en venant à bout du solide Australien Phil MacDonald. Après une troisième place sur le Quiksilver Pro France la semaine dernière, Pires en confiance, a attendu la dernière minute pour prendre une vague à 6,33, sortant ainsi MacDonald avec un total de 14,66 contre 13,17.
Toujours à l’honneur, l’Europe continue sur une forte représentation, avec le Tahitien Michel Bourez qui, facilement, s’est défait du Sud Africain Fahrenfort.
Désormais au 19ème rang mondial, Michel Bourez est le mieux placé pour remporter le tire du meilleur nouveau venu (Rookie Of The Year) de l’ASP World Tour. Les poids lourds de la compétition tels que Fanning, Slater, Parkinson, C.J. Hobgood, rentreront en scène dès le deuxième tour.
Tiago Pires (PRT), 29 ans, actuellement classé N°23 à l’ASP World Tour, est revenu dans la course à la toute dernière minute pour remporter sa série contre Phil MacDonald.
If you see a good surfing wave, just shoot a free panorama or a 360 to share it with other surfers. It is easy and fun with pixeet and its fisheye lens.
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