Quiksilver Pro powers through Round 2 of competition
COOLANGATTA, Queensland/Australia (Wednesday, March 11, 2015) - Competition at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by BOQ recommenced today after 11 consecutive lay days and ran through Round 2 at Snapper Rocks. The world’s best surfers battled through tough conditions to avoid elimination and earn a place in Round 3.
Kolohe Andino and Jeremy Flores delivered one of the most exciting bouts of the day in Round 2 Heat 7. Both surfers got to work quickly, posting several scores each in the opening ten minutes, with Flores taking a slight edge, unleashing on the Snapper Walls. A thrilling battle unfolded between the pair and an exciting exchange played out, with the lead going back and forth. Andino, fresh from victory at the Australian Open, was able cement a narrow win over the Frenchman with an excellent 8.73, and moves through to Round 3.
“I was planning on surfing my own heat and not worrying about him, but then I had to because he was surfing so good,” said Andino. “Even if I didn’t win that heat I would have felt like I surfed my best but I’m stoked. I haven’t been using a leash in about a week so I was a bit nervous to throw one on so I chose not to today.”
“I felt good and did the best with the waves I got,” said Flores. “I’m really angry but that’s how it goes. Next time hopefully it goes my way.”
For a full gallery of photos from Day 2 click here.
The much-anticipated opening heat of Round 2 saw three-time World Champion Mick Fanning take on wildcard Dane Reynolds. Fanning looked smooth and clean in the marginal conditions, using dynamic turns and wrapping cutbacks to earn an excellent 15.50 two-wave heat total, leaving Reynolds in a combination situation with ten minutes gone. After a solid start from the Australian, Reynolds struggled to find high-scoring potential. The wildcard posted a 6.93 to put himself back in contention, but was left searching for a 8.57. Fanning takes the win and moves through to Round 3, while Reynolds becomes the first surfer to be eliminated from the competition.
“It's our job to be ready every day,” Fanning said. “Being in the first heat kept me focused through all those lay days. You never really know what you‘re going to get with Dane. I didn’t really have a game plan, I just wanted to get up and get busy.”
“I’ve been checking the forecast constantly over the lay days just hoping it’s going to look good, but unfortunately there wasn’t much,” said Reynolds. “I hope there’s a possibility of surfing in other events this season, but I’m not sure after that performance!”
11-time World Champion Kelly Slater faced trials winner Jack Freestone in Heat 2 of Round 2. Slater posted two solid scores with his opening rides and the young Australian was left with just a 3.03 on the board, searching for opportunities. An attempt in the final minute by Freestone fell short and he leaves the competition in 25th place, while Slater takes the win and moves on Round 3.
“During the lay days I surfed a bit, golfed a lot, ate and had massages,” Slater said. “I got the start in that heat so Jack had to wait and there weren’t many options for him. We were a little deep so we missed a few waves at the beginning. I’m waiting for the swell that’s forecast but any moment I hope it will pick up. There will be fun waves and I hope it will be a nice size for the finish.”
Owen Wright and Keanu Asing faced off in Heat 8 of Round 2. Wright opened his account with an excellent 8.93, putting pressure on the rookie form the start, and continued to build a solid heat total (the highest of the day). Despite a strong showing by Asing, he wasn’t able to find the near-perfect 9.77 required to overcome an impressive looking Wright, who moves through to Round 3.
“It’s really tricky out there in terms of waves,” said Wright. “I think I caught about ten waves out there and just kept trying. It’s really hard to find the waves but when they hit the bank and stand up and they’re alright.”
Filipe Toledo looked on top form throughout his Round 2 bout against Adrian Buchan. Toldeo was electric, dominating the lineup and taking to the air for an excellent 8.27 and 7.80 for an early lead. The Brazilian improved his position with a last minute 8.20 and secured the win. Melling’s 13.10 heat total wasn’t enough to stop the in-from Toledo, who moves onto Round 3.
“I feel really excited,” said Toledo. “I had a couple of mistakes in my first Round so this time I tried to relax, breathe and calm down. After I got that first 8 it was all good. I hope to be in the top 5 this year and surfing against Gabriel, Kelly or Mick for the title. It’s going to be a good year.”
Italo Ferreira caused the upset of the day in his heat against Adrian Buchan. The Brazilian was quick to work, attacking the wave and posting three scores before Buchan had got to his feet. The rookie continued to look calm and comfortable, maintaining his early lead through the heat with speed and flair. Buchan, who had posted only small scores, made a final showing but it wasn’t enough, and he is eliminated from competition in equal 25th while Ferreira moves onto Round 3.
“Last year was the best year of my life because of my qualification to the tour,” said Ferreira. This is my dream and I’m so stoked to make my first heat and I’m feeling confident. Gabriel is an amazing surfer and is my inspiration in the water. Today the conditions were hard but it was fun.”
Fellow Brazilian rookie Wiggolly Dantas also caused an upset in his Round 2 heat, eliminating Kai Otton and coming from behind to take a narrow victory over the Australian.
“I just relaxed and I’m so confident because I’ve been surfing the last ten days in these waves,” said Wiggolly. “I was feeling good and I just wanted to get out there. I’m stoked.”
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 2 Results (1st to R3, 2nd = 25th):
- Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.50 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 9.43
- Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.33 def. Jack Freestone (AUS) 10.63
- Heat 3: Glenn Hall (IRL) 12.77 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.67
- Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.83 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.00
- Heat 5: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.17 def. Ricardo Christie (NZL) 9.84
- Heat 6: Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.74 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 10.40
- Heat 7: Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.83 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.53
- Heat 8: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.60 def. Keanu Asing (HAW) 12.33
- Heat 9: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 11.67 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.10
- Heat 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 16.47 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 13.10
- Heat 11: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 14.16 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 13.93
- Heat 12: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 14.10 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 10.00
Comments
Slater changing up with a Firewire Tomo. Pete Mel reckons about 5'8" with deep belly concave.
With a DK (dakine) tail pad? Doesn't he own OAM?
Didn't catch a wave on it! Knocked out by Italo Ferreira.
Have I missed something? Is the "live" feed available direct via youtube?
I can't seem to find it, or, the "concurrent viewers" on the live feed ...
Has the public data been removed?
Yeah Wingnut, the WSL has changed over from YouTube to a propietary system called Neulion. Concurrent viewer data is no longer available. No idea why they'd do that...
Was Belly concave a pun Stu?
With Stephen Bell standing by.
If it is Pete Mel takes the credit. 'Twas a direct quote from him.
Toughest job in sports commentary. Today at Snapper. I watched a heat and a half and I didn't want to kill Pottz or Joe. Good effort. It's going to be a long day in the commentary booth.
Slater, Joel, Kerr, Medina all out!!
This is a weird comp....
Whoa!! Gab's Medina just unloads in a live interview. Spicy stuff. Had to be cut off by Pete Mel.
Any chance of posting a link to that interview Stu? Or not possible?
Trying to now Rabs. Testing my tech knowledge though.
"Where's the any key?"
after glen hall unloaded on medina with a "fuck you" according to medina! those irish....
Classic!! Go Glen Hall :-)
Gabs was saying polite nothings, but Peter Mel kept pushing with the 'but how do you feel' questions. Eventually Gabs told him how he felt. No harm done.
That's what happens when you are live broadcasting and trying to create some filler on a very slow day.
Hopefully you get fined for your swear word you spoilt little Brazzo......as if the world needed to hear that - Live.......from the World Champ.
Rabbs ,click start over then fast forward to 6 mins.
Desouza on fire....... Freddie P......frustration ! Whoa.
C'mon Udo .... and everyone else thinking about making a big deal about this ..... does it really f***ken matter? Haven;t we got more important things in the world to talk about? I personally thought it was hilarious and a welcome break from sanitised, stage-managed, generic, american dribble. Someone told me there is positive correlation between people that swear and people that tell the truth.
Fucken oath. You do realise you censored yourself, hey boater?
Fuck, I've been brainwashed. Good to see SW are onto it .... to make the point again - "Does it really fucken matter"?
Swearing is fucken disgusting. :)
Boater re your swearing claim maybe you haven't seen this link below posted by Zen the other day :-)
Not me, Indo was responsible for that one.
I rarely swear by jingos.
Apologies Zen. Thanks for clarifying that :-)
What about freddie focusing his board onto a rock! That was gnarly too!
Maybe Gabs read Braithy's article on the freeride site.
What's the verdict here on the interference? I agree with Gabby that he didn't touch him and I think micro milked it as well, but it would've been an interference any way in my opinion. Pretty sore losing from Gab, shoulda straightened out.
Definitely an interference. Gabs' issue was that Glenn didn't want the wave to score on but to simply block him. At the end of last year the WSL changed the rules so surfers couldn't do that.
However, the way the heat was going Micro needed a good score, that wave apparently offered it, and Gabs interfered. You don't have to touch to interfere; Gabs had every opportunity to straighten out, go left, whatever, but he pushed the issue by going under Micro's board.
Kolohe surfing without a leg rope by the looks.
Did the same yesterday. Apparently surfed every layday without one and felt "comfortable".
Here's Gabs interview in full:
Whats going on? Video not playing due to copyright claim by WSL?
Bad form blaming the commish for poor waves - granted not a lot coming thru but when they do they are alright. Seen a lot worse in some of the contests in Brazil....
But it's still on YouTube here:-
#t=13
Nah, that one's been blocked as well now.
Wow - censoring the internet!
Not only that, on Heat Analyzer every heat is available EXCEPT Heat 8 when interview took place:
Not sure how long it will last but it's available here....for now.
https://www.theinertia.com/surf/glen-hall-dove-to-victory-over-gabriel-m…
So the viewer numbers are down this year then?
Pretty dumb to pull it. A lot of articles out there already and everyone is talking about it.
I can't see how medina can say he doesn't know about the rule when it was basically created because of his actions during his heat with bede durbidge at bells last year
Watch from 27mins onwards and see medina sit miles down the line with priority waiting to block bede if he gets a wave.
Comparing that footage with his comments today is pretty funny. What a goose; the tactic, to the fade and then the hands up to the judges. Needs to be played back to him if he ever wants to keep arguing his case.
Freddie P pumping his board onto a rock - ha ha - he looks pissed.
FF to around the 7 minute mark
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/104191/quiksilver-pro-round3-heat9…
Haha!
Classic. The "oh oh: from Ronnie, and the "don't do it" from the other guy. Then the laughter in the background. Who said today wouldn't be entertaining?
Gold!
Ross and Ronnie just had a disagreement! Ronnie didn't like a Brazzo tail flick and Ross "begged to differ"!
Wow. It was amazingly unsterilized commentary.
Fire them both.
Medina and charlie in tears on their way back to the hotel, and meanwhile d-bah pretty damn good this am!!!!!
Reckon there's a chance Medina will get suspended for Bells for calling out the commish and swearing live on air?
Jeremy Flores get suspended last year for roasting the judges at J Bay...
Yep, if precedent stands for anything he'll go. And Bells is, of course, presented by his main sponsor.
Wow - not the start to his title defence he was hoping for....
Question I guess is, is he the golden child and will therefore get away with it? Jeremy was possibly carrying some baggage from the Burleigh Brekka Pro.
I can see the WSL throwing the book at him. Making an example for the "new franchise" that un-professionalism wont be tolerated.
You can't abuse your commissioner, drop F bombs towards a fellow competitor on live air, especially as the poster boy and reining world champ..... Flores only got mad at the judges... Medina caught way more people in his spray.
I reckon he will be out of bells and margs. A 2 month ban would cover waiting periods for both events.
Then he will be back for Rio, title hopes shattered.
Do you mind if I ask why you took down the article stu?
We copped a Copyright Takedown Notice from YouTube, delivered on behalf of the WSL for using their content. I think many other sites did too.
It was just a link with a video that has been taken down by WSL. No article.
https://www.news.com.au/sport/more-sports/world-surfing-champ-gabriel-me…
Jeremy Flores got into physical argy bargy with an official after storming the judges tower.
Medina answered an interviewer's question, politely mostly. He did say Fk once while asking Micro not to swear at him.
Big difference I reckon.
Waves may not be literally perfect but such a sweet sun drenched day at snapper.
With only three out I can actually imagine surfing the joint and enjoying it.
Anyone else think Freddie was underscored for this? Only got 0.63, personally i thought it was worth way more than that.
That one of Freddie is a pisser. If he was a tennis player he would have copped a penalty. Wonder if it will ever end up that anal. I thought Medina's spray was great it is what we need bit of spice. Can't see why they can't say what they feel end up like footy soon - one match at a time...robot speak.
Me too, love the emotion shown by Medina, better than the media trained robots that they interview.
Bring on the heat and emotion, they are only human!
Yes & no. Showing emotion is all good & natural but blaming others for losing is pretty ordinary I reckon. But it has spiced up the comp I suppose......
hahahahahahaha necessary?
Funny how on Heat Analyser , Heat 8 is conveniently missing! Which just so happens to be the heat that Medina was interviewed on!
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2015/mct/1207/quiksilver-pro-gold…
Why the censorship ???
Stabmag facebook still got Medinas rant up.
fashion police alert ..strider top button on a polo!!
Do you think he is really there or is he a hand puppet? Maybe the girl next to him hand her hand up his back making him work? Never know could be a ace ventriloquist.
Later, Gabs unleashed on the webcast, which you can read right up top there. Which brings us to WSL Commissioner Kieren Perrow’s response to Gabriel’s outburst:
“This is professional surfing’s biggest stage, the stakes are high and there is no shortage of passion. Gabriel’s post-heat interview was not worthy conduct of an athlete at this level and the league has engaged in discussions with him and will take further action if necessary.”
Word is, the League will deal with this once competition is wrapped for the day. Gabs might not be in for the best evening.
https://stabmag.com/wsl-commissioner-kieren-perrow-responds-to-gabriel-m…
hahahaha you don't get it do you?
stop posting competitors website content you fool!
Stab aren't competitors to Swellnet....they don't do swell forecasting or have forums like this. Stab don't have surf cams or a shop.
Would be different if I was posting Coastalwatch content but I'm not.
And next time you says ‘Fool’ to me, I’ll teach you some–
:)
Did I see the Medina video/story on SN front page and then taken down a little later??Why do you think that would be?
I give up. Why??
Oh well may as well read Mimi's piece on Medina as well - ASL
Cool reading through all these posts after work. Looks like I didn't miss much except a lot.
Freddy P gets my vote. That was very well done. Gabs is just a sook considering his track record.
For such a boring shit contest its turning into the most interesting to date.
Bit like wrestling. They are developing a story line of hate and vengeance almost
like a serial but the females are not the bad ass and toughest. Refreshing really.
WSL needs to look at a world cup and run heats at comps through the year, add a bit of team vibe and rivalry and another trophy and presso at years end. Would also give the comps a bit more than man on man, send them out two men two women, no priority, or some other format that is a bit more exciting than man on man. Then a final at Pipe during the comp, country v country. just an idea.