Surfs Up Alert » Dean Morrison

Top 45 surfers for the 2010 ASP World Tour have been decided

Editor at SurferToday.com — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:01:21 +0000

With the culmination of the 2009 ASP World Tour and ASP Women’s World Tour in Hawaii, the qualifiers for the 2010 ASP Dream Tour season have been decided.

Taking the Top 27 surfers from the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Top 15 from the 2009 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) and three ASP wildcards, the 2010 ASP Top 45 are as follows:

ASP Top 27 (ASP World Tour)
Mick Fanning (AUS)
Joel Parkinson (AUS)
Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Taj Burrow (AUS)
Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Kelly Slater (USA)
C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Bobby Martinez (USA)
Damien Hobgood (USA)
Dane Reynolds (USA)
Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Taylor Knox (USA)
Tom Whitaker (AUS)
Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Dean Morrison (AUS)
Kai Otton (AUS)
Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Mick Campbell (AUS)
Chris Davidson (AUS)
Michel Bourez (PYF)
Ben Dunn (AUS)
Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Tiago Pires (PRT)
Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Roy Powers (HAW)
Drew Courtney (AUS)

Billabong Pro Mundaka Called Off, Swell Forming for the Weekend

ProSurfing.com — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Pro Surfing: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 – Another lay day has been called for the Billabong Pro Mundaka with little swell on offer this morning and swamping high tides.

Event No. 8 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Mundaka completed the opening eight heats of Round 1, opting to run the man-on-man elimination format. While the past two days seen the event run, developing swell on the horizon is looking promising for a recommencement in the next couple of days.

“Obviously we’re off today with little-to-no surf today,” Mike Parsons, Billabong Pro Mundaka Contest Director, said. “We’re looking at a possible bump tomorrow afternoon, looking better on Friday. We’re also monitoring a better-looking swell set to arrive for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. We’ll be back tomorrow to have another look though.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 9am 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 past days’ Billabong Pro Mundaka will be available via http://www.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 www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG PRO MUNDAKA ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jihad Khodr (BRA) 13.60 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 11.10
Heat 2: David Weare (ZAF) 13.50 def. Tim Boal (FRA) 7.17
Heat 3: Drew Courtney (AUS) 11.67 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 10.17
Heat 4: Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.66 def. Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 13.17
Heat 5: Ben Dunn (AUS) 13.16 def. Marlon Lipke (DEU) 9.10
Heat 6: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 15.80 def. Hodei Collazo (EUK) 10.96
Heat 7: Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.34 def. Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF) 10.00
Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) 13.84 def. Reubyn Ash (GBR) 11.50

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

Pro SurfingBillabong Pro Mundaka

Lay Day Called For Billabong Pro Mundaka

ProSurfing.com — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Pro Surfing: (Tuesday, October 6, 2009) – A lay day has been called for the Billabong Pro Mundaka, with only small one-to-two foot (0.5 metre) waves and high tide conditions on offer this morning.

Event No. 8 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Mundaka commenced competition yesterday at the primary venue, running the first eight heats of the man-on-man elimination Round 1.

“The surf we enjoyed yesterday has dropped substantially since then and we’ve called competition off for the day,” Mike Parsons, Billabong Pro Mundaka Contest Director, said. “We’re tracking some models for the end of the week that look promising, but we’ll be back tomorrow to make another call.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 9am 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 yesterday’s Billabong Pro Mundaka will be available via http://www.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 www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG PRO MUNDAKA ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jihad Khodr (BRA) 13.60 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 11.10
Heat 2: David Weare (ZAF) 13.50 def. Tim Boal (FRA) 7.17
Heat 3: Drew Courtney (AUS) 11.67 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 10.17
Heat 4: Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.66 def. Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 13.17
Heat 5: Ben Dunn (AUS) 13.16 def. Marlon Lipke (DEU) 9.10
Heat 6: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 15.80 def. Hodei Collazo (EUK) 10.96
Heat 7: Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.34 def. Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF) 10.00
Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) 13.84 def. Reubyn Ash (GBR) 11.50

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

Pro Surfing

Kekoa Bacalso and Tiago Pires Turn It On During Billabong Pro Mundaka Elimination Round 1

ProSurfing.com — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:29:27 +0000

Pro Surfing: Monday, October 5, 2009) – 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 http://www.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 www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG PRO MUNDAKA ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jihad Khodr (BRA) 13.60 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 11.10
Heat 2: David Weare (ZAF) 13.50 def. Tim Boal (FRA) 7.17
Heat 3: Drew Courtney (AUS) 11.67 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 10.17
Heat 4: Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.66 def. Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 13.17
Heat 5: Ben Dunn (AUS) 13.16 def. Marlon Lipke (DEU) 9.10
Heat 6: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 15.80 def. Hodei Collazo (EUK) 10.96
Heat 7: Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.34 def. Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF) 10.00
Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) 13.84 def. Reubyn Ash (GBR) 11.50

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

Mick Fanning Claims Back-to-Back ASP Dream Tour Events, Takes Quik Pro France

Quiksilver Pro France — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:30:00 +0000

Pro Surfing: Sunday, September 27, 2009 – Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, has just claimed his second consecutive ASP Dream Tour event, taking out the 2009 Quiksilver Pro France presented by Orange over fellow Finalist Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, in punchy one-to-three foot (0.5 – 1 metre) waves at Les Bourdaines.

Event No. 7 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro France opted to utilize today’s swell to complete the event given the dismal surf forecast for the remainder of the waiting period. Despite today’s challenging conditions, the world’s best surfers executed well, blending their rapid-fire approach with progressive fin-free and aerial surfing.

Fanning continued to build momentum through the final day of competition before erupting in the Final with a flurry of excellent scoring rides, a 7.83, an 8.83 and a 7.33 in the opening half of the competition.

“I was really fortunate to get those couple of good ones at the start because I really ran out of gas there at the end,” Fanning said. “It’s two back-to-back events where I have had to surf four heats on the final day to get the win and it takes a lot out of you. The conditions were deteriorating and I was fortunate to get those scores on the board early on.”

Today’s victory marks the second in a row for Fanning, having proven victorious in Southern California last week. The win further cements Fanning in second position on the 2009 ASP World Tour ratings, cutting the distance between himself and frontrunner Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, from 936 points (pre-France) to a scant 146 points heading into Spain.

“It’s back on,” Fanning said. “Everyone though Joel Parkinson was going to run away with it and it’s unfortunate for him that he fell out early, but I’ve put in a lot of work to get these last two wins and I’m just psyched on heading into the rest of the season.”

Durbidge was in excellent form throughout the final day of competition, eliminating a rampaging Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, compatriot Ben Dunn (AUS), 23, and lethal local Patrick Beven (FRA), 31, en route to the Final. Although surfing well, the big Australian couldn’t overcome Fanning’s speed in the trying conditions.

"I felt good and fit as but I was trying to push my turns too hard on a couple of waves and I was caught in the bump a lot so I guess that's the difference from the other heats today,” Durbidge said. “The conditions were a bit bumpier and I couldn't get any clean sections out there. It feels good to be in the Final though, it's the best I’ve done this year and coming from a 3rd at Trestles, it is petty good.""

Durbidge’s Runner-Up finish rockets him from 7th to 4th on the 2009 ASP World Tour ratings, placing him in solid position heading into the remainder of the year.

"That's good news (ratings jump) but my goal is just to finish the year off good and be in a good position to start next year,” Durbidge said. “I would like to finish the year inside the Top 5 for sure so I hope to keep things rolling."

Tiago Pires (PRT), 29, ASP Dream Tour sophomore, halted what many considered to be the juggernaut of the event when he eliminated reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, in the Quarterfinals of the Quiksilver Pro France.

“I’m over the moon right now,” Pires said. “Kelly (Slater) is my favorite surfer and I have so much respect for him. I knew I had to wait for the bigger waves to get the scores to beat him. I’ve had a really tough year, but have been training very hard for this and I’m so happy to get through.”

While the Floridian opened up with some fluid-yet-explosive surfing on his backhand to amass a daunting 17.43 out of a possible 20 heat total, it was Pires who would answer back with a 9.57 followed by a 8.13 to take the heat.

“After I put up that first big score, I was still needing another really big one so I knew I had to wait,” Pires said. “Kelly (Slater) likes to stay busy and he keeps getting scores all the time, but I still had to wait for a good one. I had been watching all day and I knew there would be sets so when it came, I just put everything I had into it.

Although Pires would eventually go down to Fanning in the Semifinals, his Equal 3rd place finish sees him bolt from 33rd to 23rd on the ASP World Tour ratings.

“I couldn’t have asked to a better start to these next events in France,” Pires said. “I’ve worked very hard and I am hoping to turn things around during the European leg. I feel comfortable here – it feels like home and I believe I can put up some very good results.”

Patrick Beven (FRA), 31, who gained entry into the event through the Moskova Trials, had a banner run at the Quiksilver Pro France, eliminating current ASP World No. 1, Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, as well as ASP Dream Tour stalwarts Dean Morrison (AUS), 28, and Bobby Martinez (USA), 27, before falling to Durbidge in the Semifinals.

“Bede Durbidge is a great surfer and he pushed me in a couple of average waves,” Beven said. “I was feeling really tired in that heat, I didn’t eat today and focused so hard on each of my heats. I was a bit confused out in the line-up and I didn’t catch the good ones. I was a little stressed halfway the heat and I didn’t surf as good as in my previous heats.”

Supported by thousands of spectators throughout the final day of competition, the giant-killer Beven put on a show using smart heat tactics and razor-sharp backhand turns to prove a standout in the Les Bourdaines beach beaks.

“The crowds pushed big time in that event,” Beven said. “They were behind me and it felt so good when the crowds cheered after my waves. It is a big part of my result today and I hope I can keep that confidence for the next events on the ASP WQS. I am stoked to get the chance to show my surf and beat some of the world’s best surfers. That run today is pretty unbelievable.”

The hunt for the 2009 ASP World Title has become even more interesting with the early elimination of frontrunner Parkinson and the win from Fanning. They’ll battle other top seeds C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, Durbidge and Slater as the ASP Dream Tour continues the European leg.

Highlights from the Quiksilver Pro France will be available at www.quiksilverlive.com

Next stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour will be the Billabong Pro Mundaka from October 5 – 17, 2009.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.66
2 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.87

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.76 def. Patrick Beven (FRA) 12.90
SF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.43 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 12.33

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.70 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 13.60
QF 2: Patrick Beven (FRA) 14.86 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 14.00
QF 3: Tiago Pires (PRT) 17.70 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 17.43
QF 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.00 Taj Burrow def. (AUS) 12.33

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.33 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 12.40
Heat 2: Ben Dunn (AUS) 13.83 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.37
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) 11.43 vs. Taylor Knox (USA) 10.30
Heat 4: Patrick Beven (FRA) 14.10 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.67
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.23 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 8.33
Heat 6: Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.83 def. Tim Boal (FRA) 9.36
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.40 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.00
Heat 8: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.74 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 10.40

CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10 (After Quiksilver Pro France):
1 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5896 points
2 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 5750 points
3 – C.J. Hobgood (USA) 4872 points
4 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 4792 points
5 – Kelly Slater (USA) 4638 points
6 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 4573 points
7 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 4417 points
8 – Damien Hobgood (USA) 4384 points
9 – Bobby Martinez (USA) 4314 points
10 – Taylor Knox (USA) 4216 points

Pro Surfing

Quiksilver Pro France Round 1 ON at Les Bourdaines

Quiksilver Pro France — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:17:07 +0000

Pro Surfing: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 – The Quiksilver Pro France, Stop No. 7 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, in ON this morning with Round 1 of competition heading out in clean three-to-four foot (1 .5 metre) waves at Les Bourdaines.

“We have some very clean three-to-four foot waves this morning at the main site of Les Bourdaines and we’ll be getting underway at 8am,” Rod Brooks, Quiksilver Pro France Contest Director, said. “

Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, has been clawing his way back into contention over the last three events, following an uncharacteristically slow start. With four events left on the 2009 ASP Dream Tour, the Floridian admits that France is critical to his bid for an unprecedented 10th ASP World Title.

“This is probably my last shot to get back in this thing,” Slater said. “The idea is to just focus on one heat at a time and one event at a time, but I definitely need to make up some ground in these next events.”

Slater will face veteran Mick Campbell (AUS), 35, and trials winner Alain Riou (PYF), 26, in Round 1 today.

Michel Bourez (PYF), 23, 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie and current ASP World No. 21, is into his first Quiksilver Pro France as a full-fledged member of the ASP Top 45, but the powerful natural-footer did some damage at last season’s event as a wildcard.

"Good to be back in France and catch-up with all former team mates and people I’ve known for years now,” Bourez said. “It’s great to come back to the event, I’ve had good results in the past here and I am coming with the same relaxed state of mind as when I was a wildcard last year and got 5th.”

Bourez is looking to gain some ground on fellow rookie and current ASP World No. 15 Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 24, in the race for 2009 ASP Rookie of the Year, and the Tahitian’s results in the past two events are building an impressive momentum for him.

“It’s been going good for me in the last couple of events and I think I’ve found a good rhythm,” Bourez said. “The turning point for me was when we went to the Mentawaiis for the Red Bull trip. That surf trip gave me a lot of time to focus on my boards, my surfing and see the others push their limits, which motivated me so strong. Then I went back there with Nike 6.0 and that was another crucial training. I have great boards that really suit my style and I am enjoying competing right now. That event at Trestles was good and I am super happy to be getting closer to the Top 20 right now. It was my goal when the year started and to see things go my way is really satisfying. I’ve worked hard and I am looking forward to keeping that good roll going."

Bourez takes on current ASP World No. 3 Adriano de Souza (BRA), 22, and fellow 2009 ASP World Tour rookie Marlon Lipke (DEU), 25, in the opening round of Quiksilver Pro France competition today.

Up first this morning will be Taylor Knox (USA), 38, Chris Ward (USA), 30, and David Weare (ZAF), 29, in Round 1 of competition.

The Quiksilver Pro France will host the world’s best surfers from September 23 to October 4, 2009.

The event be webcast LIVE in French, English and Portuguese at www.quiksilverprofrance.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Taylor Knox (USA), Chris Ward (USA), David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 2: Bobby Martinez (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS), Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA), Timmy Reyes (USA), Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA), Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Michel Bourez (PYF), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Kiron Jabour (HAW)
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA), Mick Campbell (AUS), Alain Riou (PYF)
Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Patrick Beven (FRA)
Heat 11: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Roy Powers (HAW), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 12: Kieren Perrow (AUS), Chris Davidson (AUS), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 13: Dane Reynolds (USA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 14: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Tim Boal (FRA), Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 15: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 16: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Dustin Barca (HAW), Greg Emslie (ZAF)

Pro Surfing

Hurley Pro Trestles ON at Lowers for Completion of Round 3

Hurley Pro Trestles — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:11:45 +0000

Pro Surfing: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 – Clean three-to-four foot surf groomed by light offshore winds greeted event organizers this morning, prompting the call for the completion of Round 3 of the Hurley Pro Trestles to begin at 8am.

“We still have some pretty fun surf on offer this morning so we’ll be getting underway at 8am,” Pat O’Connell, Hurley Pro Trestles Contest Director, said. “The idea is to complete Round 3 so we’ll have one full day remaining, and we can cherry pick the last day we want to finish on. We’ll be completing Round 3 before running the expression session today.”

Some of the most highly-anticipated match-ups of the event are on today including current ASP World No. 1 Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, up against event wildcard Rob Machado (USA), 36, and reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, battling another wildcard in Brett Simpson (USA), 24.

Surfline, official forecaster of the Hurley Pro Trestles, is calling for today’s combination swell to dissipate throughout the next couple of days before tracking some southwest energy later in the week.

First up this morning will be California wunderkind Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, against Ben Dunn (AUS), 23, in Heat 7 of Round 3.

The Hurley Pro Trestles will be webcast LIVE at www.hurley.com/hurleypro/

A LIVE HD showing of the Hurley Pro Trestles will be available via www.fuel.tv

Downloadable media is available at www.hurley.com/downloads/hurleypro

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 7: Dane Reynolds (USA0 vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Rob Machado (USA)
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 13: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 14: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 15: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)

Pro Surfing

Josh Kerr Wows As Hurley Pro Trestles Moves Into Elimination Rounds

Hurley Pro Trestles — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:30:00 +0000

Pro Surfing: Monday, September 14, 2009 – The Hurley Pro Trestles re-ignited today with the elimination rounds of competition running in pulsing three-to-four foot (1 metre) surf at Lower Trestles.

Stop No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hurley Pro Trestles awoke to cleaner conditions today, but inconsistency would create a minefield of challenges for the world’s best surfers. Despite the difficulties, the ASP Top 45 put on an incredible show, posting some of the highest scores of the event.

Josh Kerr (AUS), 25, current ASP World No. 25, stunned spectators today with his diverse repertoire of progressive surfing, blending rotation aerials with power hacks to net the highest heat total of the day, a 17.17 out of a possible 20, to defeat an in-form Dayyan Neve (AUS), 31, in Round 2 of competition.

“I'd been here the last couple of hours and in the heat before I saw that there were a few nice rights shaping up,” Kerr said. “There seemed to be a few in our heat. Dayyan (Neve) got a couple as well. That one wave wasn't the biggest wave, but it looked like it was going to connect down the line and that's exactly what it did. I raced down the line and popped a little air, came around, up and down, and it stayed wally for me and I gave it a little bang off of the end.”

Inverse to the high-flying action of the Round 2 heat, Kerr’s afternoon bout against compatriot Adrian Buchan (AUS), 26, was a wave-starved affair. Sitting quiet for the majority of the heat, Kerr would only advance in the dying moments, ending Buchan’s Hurley Pro Trestles run and advancing through to Round 4.

“I guess they’re both exciting because both heats came down to the wire, just in different ways,” Kerr said. “I had a good day though. I had a good heat earlier and got to sit around and get cold in the second one, but I still came through with the win. This year has been a bit slow for me so far, so it'd be good to get a good result here at Trestles. I'd like to get on a bit of a roll with this big leg we have coming up.”

Kerr will face current ASP World No. 3 Adriano de Souza (BRA), 22, in Round 4 of the Hurley Pro Trestles.

Kai Otton (AUS), 29, current ASP World No. 19, enjoyed a career first in yesterday’s Round 1, besting ASP ratings’ leader Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, and continued the momentum through today’s Round 3. In one of the more exciting heats of the afternoon, Otton flared electric on his backhand this afternoon, netting solid scores to take down a rampaging Jay Thompson (AUS), 25.

“I was actually a little bit shaky at the start of that heat,” Otton said. “I don’t really think I felt nervous, I just felt a bit tired. I had to calm myself down and luckily I picked off two good ones. I’m coming off of a good result in Jeffreys Bay, and if I can get through a few more heats here I’ll be feeling really good.”

Otton will take on former event winner Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, in Round 4 when competition resumes.

Day 2 of the Hurley Pro Trestles was not without upsets though. Highly-touted favorites Bobby Martinez (USA), 27, Jordy Smith (AUS), 21, and Chris Ward (USA), 30, were all bundled out in Round 2 of competition, garnering equal 33rds and shifting their attention to the European leg.

Surfline, official forecaster of the Hurley Pro Trestles, is calling for today’s fetch of Northwest swell to drop slightly today and are still tracking a south swell for later in the week.

When competition resumes, first up will be California wunderkind Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, against Ben Dunn (AUS), 23, in Heat 7 of Round 3.

Highlights from today’s Hurley Pro Trestles will be available via www.hurley.com/hurleypro/

Downloadable media is available at www.hurley.com/downloads/hurleypro

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.16 def. Kai Barger (HAW) 9.93
Heat 2: Rob Machado (USA) 15.16 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.00
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.84 def. Marlon Lipke (DEU) 11.33
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.40 def. Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 8.53
Heat 5: Luke Stedman (AUS) 12.70 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 11.00
Heat 6: Nic Muscroft (AUS) 13.24 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.16
Heat 7: Taylor Knox (USA) 12.93 def. Drew Courtney (AUS) 12.83
Heat 8: Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.50 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF)13.24
Heat 9: Greg Emslie (ZAF) WIN, Mick Campbell (AUS) Injured
Heat 10: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 11.56 def. Jihad Khodr (AUS) 8.90
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.50 def. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 11.60
Heat 12: Dean Morrison (AUS) 10.50 def. Nathaniel Curran (USA) 8.93
Heat 13: Roy Powers (HAW) 12.13 def. Tim Reyes (USA) 11.57
Heat 14: Jay Thompson (AUS) 16.26 def. Chris Ward (USA) 11.26
Heat 15: Josh Kerr (AUS) 17.17 def. Dayyan Neve (AUS) 15.23
Heat 16: Ben Dunn (AUS) 8.23 def Dustin Barca (HAW) 7.67

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.33 def. David Weare (ZAF) 12.83
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS) 16.67 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 13.50
Heat 3 Josh Kerr (AUS) 8.23 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 7.76
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.07 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 12.26
Heat 5: Taylor Knox (USA) 13.17 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 9.77
Heat 6: Roy Powers (HAW) 13.06 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 12.00

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 7: Dane Reynolds (USA0 vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Rob Machado (USA)
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 13: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 14: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 15: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)

Pro Surfing

Hurley Pro Trestles ON As World’s Best Battle Through Round 1

Hurley Pro Trestles — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:20:20 +0000

Pro Surfing: Sunday, September 13, 2009 – Round 1 of the Hurley Pro Trestles is on this morning with the world’s best surfers tackling the two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves on offer this morning at Lower Trestles.
Event No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hurley Pro Trestles will be running the tradition format, with all 48 competitors contesting Round 1 today.

“We’ve got some two-to-four foot waves today and plan on running as many heats as we can,” Pat O’Connell, Hurley Pro Trestles Contest Director, said. “Although we have some south-wind and the swell is out of the northwest, we’re really lucky to have waves since there is not much activity in the South Pacific. Today’s conditions are really consistent and there will be plenty of opportunity for surfers to get several waves in there heats.”

Surfline, official forecasters of the Hurley Pro Trestles, is calling for a small fetch of Northwest swell in the next couple of days before a possible south swell later in the week.

The Hurley Pro Trestles is hosting the ASP 45 from September 13 – 19, 2009.

Up first this morning will be Tom Whitaker (AUS), 29, Ben Dunn (AUS), 23, and Michael Picon (FRA), 30, in Heat 1 Round 1 of the Hurley Pro Trestles.

The event will be webcast LIVE via www.hurley.com/hurleypro/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Ben Dunn (AUS), Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA), Dustin Barca (HAW), Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Dayyan Neve (AUS), David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS), Chris Ward (USA), Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Tim Reyes (USA), Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Dane Reynolds (USA), Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Kai Barger (HAW)
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Rob Machado (USA)
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 11: Taylor Knox (USA), Chris Davidson (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Michel Bourez (PYF), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 13: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Josh Kerr (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 14: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 15: Mick Campbell (AUS), Tim Boal (FRA), Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA), Roy Powers (HAW)

Pro Surfing