Competition continued today at the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by BOQ with an action packed day at Snapper Rocks. Silky smooth 3 to 4 foot (1.5 meter) waves rolled into Rainbow Bay, providing the perfect canvas for the world’s best to battle for a chance to compete on finals day.
The first stop on the 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast bore witness to the world’s best surfing once again today as major results and huge upsets unfolded in front of thousands on the beach and millions watching around the world.
The opening Quarterfinal match-up saw a battle between Tyler Wright (AUS) and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), six-time World Champion and five-time event winner. Gilmore and Wright fought hard for the lead after tying their first wave scores. Wright came out on top by earning a 6.50 point ride to eliminate Gilmore by 1.27 points.
“This year I feel different,” said Wright. “I’ve come into this year different with a coach, and I’m ready to take on Steph and Carissa and girls like that. I asked Micro [Glen Hall] to come on and help me. In the past I was definitely not open to a coach, and it took me a long time to realize that I could actually learn more. It has been an easy transition, because with Micro it is a balance between having fun and going out there and doing what you are best at.” Carissa Moore (HAW), reigning WSL World Champion and last year’s event winner, defeat compatriot Malia Manuel (HAW) in the Heat 2 of the Quarterfinals. Moore came out with an early lead, creating a 2.93 gap that Manuel was unable to close.
“I was actually really nervous going into that heat because I knew the high tide was coming and I knew it was slowing down,” Moore said. “I feel comfortable when there are lots of waves and we just get to surf, but when it comes down to wave selection, I think that is my biggest weakness and Malia really thrives on that. I was just trying to be patient and wait for the good ones that had the wall, but also stay busy.”
Courtney Conlogue (USA) went up against Sage Erickson (USA) in the Quarterfinal match-up, and with a semifinal spot on the line, both competitors gave their all to advance. Conlogue showcased her power game and took an early lead to hold off the fellow Californian with 15.17 points. Erickson put up a 10.00 two-wave combined score, but could not find the waves to defeat Conlogue.
“I just thinking ‘come on, you can get into the semis’ and I think it was just a matter of getting on the right waves and getting on the opportunities that allowed me to let loose,” Conlogue said after her heat. “These conditions are incredible with the low tide pushing out and it is so fun being out there. I am just trying to get through so I can surf more.”
Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), 2015 WSL Rookie of the Year, took on Johanne Defay (FRA) in the last heat of the Quarterfinals. Defay pulled off a major technical maneuver in the heat to lock in a 7.17 point ride. Weston-Webb struggled to fight off Defay’s 12.50 two-wave combined score and close the 2.96 gap needed to advance to the next round.
“I am trying to go big with innovation and I just felt like I had nothing else to do on this wave, so I just tried and it went well,” said Defay. “I am very happy and there’s not a lot of times where I am innovating in the heat, so it was good timing.”
Adriano De Souza (BRA), reigning WSL World Title holder, defeated 2016 WSL Rookie, Conner Coffin (USA), in Round 5 Heat 2. Coffin opened the heat with a solid 8.00 ride, surfing sharp and clean, but was unable to find a second score to match-up. Coffin held priority for 85% of the heat, but De Souza worked away at the inside to gain a 0.99 point lead over the rookie.
“I needed to fight so hard in order to come back in this heat,” De Souza said after advancing to the Quarterfinals. “Conner is a super talented kid and he started the heat pretty well with that 8. I realized that when I have the opportunity I have to push as hard as I can every single turn.”
Injury replacements Stuart Kennedy (AUS) and Sebastian Zietz (HAW) faced off in the last heat of Round 5. Both surfers caused massive upsets earlier in the event, and the showdown between the two did not disappoint. Throughout the heat Kennedy kept increasing wave scores forcing Zietz to chase his lead. Kennedy eliminated Zietz with a 17.67 combined two-wave score.
“It is good to finally let loose on that one,” Kennedy said. “I felt a lot more comfortable and glad the waves turned on in that heat.”
Joel Parkinson (AUS), hometown hero and 2012 WSL World Title winner, defeat 2016 WSL Rookie, Caio Ibelli (BRA), in a close match-up. Ibelli surfed with lots of variety, notably completing a huge layback hack, but it was Parkinson who answered back with two solid 8 point rides.
“We both got an opportunity or two,” Parkinson said. “Caio’s waves probably did not have the length. He ripped on them and had good starts on them, but they just didn’t have the legs the rest of the way. I hadn’t had a heat where I had two 8s, but I wanted to really put a heat together with a big total.”
Adrian Buchan (AUS) set a tough pace against 18 year old rookie, Kanoa Igarashi (AUS). Buchan earned a towering 16.04 two-wave combined score to defeat Igarashi. Igarashi tried to deliver aggressive moves, but could not find a rhythm to advance.
“I give him [Kanoa Igarashi] a lot of respect.” Buchan said. “I didn’t give him an inch and I just wanted to use all of my experience in that heat. I knew it was going to be slow, but I knew there would be good waves if I was patient and I managed to pick two good ones.”
Keely Andrew (AUS), 2016 WSL Rookie, and Bronte Macaulay (AUS), who gained entry into the competition as an injury replacement, were knocked out of the competition in Round 4 by Sage Erickson (USA) and Malia Manuel (HAW) respectively.
The WSL Commissioner’s Office will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 7am start.
Highlights from the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast will be webcast LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Remaining Round 4 Results:
Heat 3: Kolohe Andino (USA) 16.10, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.74, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 15.33 Heat 4: John John Florence (HAW) 11.90, Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 11.43, Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 4.74
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 5 Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.07 def. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 12.66 Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.76 def. Conner Coffin (USA) 12.77 Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 16.04 def. Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 9.87 Heat 4: Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 17.67 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 10.77
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Quarterfinal Match-Ups:
QF 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS) QF 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA) QF 3: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS) QF 4: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Stuart Kennedy (AUS)
If, like us, you like a Fantasy Surfer then, like pretty much everyone you’ve already written off the Quik Pro as a counting event come year end. Those infernal rookies and wildcards have slayed giants. Which is great for them and their careers, not so good for our FS teams, as most folk would’ve had Slater, Fanning, Medina, Wilson, Smith etc… Ah well. The Brazilian storm is still raging also did you see Filipe’s heat?!
WSL PRESS RELEASE
High drama and excellent scores continued today as the world’s best surfers did battle in clean three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves at Snapper Rocks, completing Rounds 2, 3 and the opening two heats of Round 4 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. By BOQ.
The opening stop on the 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast bore witness to the world’s best surfing once again today as major results and huge upsets unfolded in front of thousands on the beach and millions watching around the world.
Filipe Toledo (BRA), defending Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast champion, bookended the day’s affairs with incendiary surfing, first dispatching of lethal rookie Ryan Callinan (AUS) in Round 3 and then posting a near-perfect 19.20 out of a possible 20 in Round 4 to advance directly through to the Quarterfinals.
“I am still shaking watching these waves because it is so perfect,” said Toledo. “I am just super excited and cannot wait to get back into the water again. I want to keep going with good scores and doing well in heats. The board feels amazing, so I am feeling confident and having more fun in each heat.”
Sebastian Zietz (HAW), who gained entry into the event as an injury replacement, caused a major upset by knocking out local favorite and three-time World Champion, Mick Fanning (AUS) in Heat 7. Zietz opened the heat with a massive layback snap, showcasing the same all-out approach he used to advance out of Round 2. A snapped board forced Fanning to switch out his equipment and leave the line-up with six minutes to go on the clock. Zietz was able to pull out a second high scoring ride in the dying minutes of the heat, to take the win and advance to Round 4.
“I think being more relaxed translates into catching better waves,” said Zietz. “When you are relaxed it all just comes to, and I have a really good board and a good team. I’m bummed for Mick. I thought he was surfing the best out of anybody so I better go far for him.”
Stuart Kennedy (AUS), injury replacement, continued the day’s upsets in the last heat of Round 3 as he eliminated 2014 WSL World Champion and 2014 event winner, Gabriel Medina (BRA). Kennedy unleashed multiple risky maneuvers to earn a 0.27 lead over the Brazilian heavyweight.
“I love surfing against the best guys. It pushes my surfing to the next level after grinding it out on the Qualifying Series for so long,” said Kennedy. “I just knew I could get on some good waves and let my surfing do the talking. It has been a grind to get to this level, but I’m so stoked to have the opportunity to be the replacement, but hopefully I can keep getting more opportunities throughout the year. To beat those two guys, Kelly and Gabriel, it’s like a dream come true for sure.”
Adriano de Souza (BRA), reigning WSL World Champion, continued to showcase his power surfing as he defeated event wildcard Mikey Wright (AUS) in Round 3 Heat 6. In an all out battle, Wright and De Souza went wave for wave, but it was the Brazilian who took the lead with a two-wave combined score of 16.17.
“Mikey is such a great talent and surfer, and such a nice young gentleman, but I am so happy to make it through this heat,” De Souza said. “Round 3 is that round that does not make a lot of points, so I was nervous out there. I am happy to make this heat, but I also want to have fun too, and I definitely felt that on that wave.”
John John Florence (HAW) pulled out all the stops against Michel Bourez (PYF), most notably with his massive double-grab air that put 9.23 points on the board. Florence’s flair paid off, as he created a 4.06 point gap that Bourez was unable to close.
“The waves are really fun right now, you just have to pretty much enjoy it,” said Florence after his heat. “Michel is a scary guy to surf against for sure so I had a little bit of nerves, but I was thinking about myself and trying to have fun out here, and it ended up working out.”
2016 WSL Rookies also dealt out big upsets in Round 3 today, showcasing the depth of talent in this year’s rookie class. Conner Coffin (USA), Caio Ibelli (BRA) and Kanoa Igarashi (USA) excelled in their match-ups to take down Italo Ferreira (BRA), Josh Kerr (AUS) and Jeremy Flores (FRA) respectively.
Coffin came charging into Heat 3 defeating Italo Ferreira (BRA), the 2015 WSL Rookie of the year in the last thirty seconds of the heat. Coffins’ buzzer-beater score over-took Ferreira’s lead by only 0.21 points to securing Coffin in Round 4.
“I used to surf against Italo in World Juniors and he used to be this air-maniac doing crazy air-reverses and last year it looked like he took the whole year to work on his power surfing,” said Coffin. “Showing up at Snapper I was super impressed. I knew it was going to be a hard heat and to get a big score you had to catch a wave with a lot of wall and not sit forever. I was so stoked that last wave came.”
The WSL Commissioner’s Office will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am to assess conditions for a possible 7:35am start.
Highlights from the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast will be webcast LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.
The 2016 Samsung Galaxy World Surf League Championship Tour officially kicked off yesterday as the world’s best surfers hit the waves at Snapper Rocks for the first round of competition at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by BOQ.
With building three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves pulsing through the primary venue of Snapper Rocks, the world’s best surfers commenced the 2016 season in fine fashion.
Italo Ferreira (BRA), 2015 Rookie of the Year, came out of the gates strong in Heat 1 againstRyan Callinan (AUS) and rookie Keanu Asing (HAW). Ferreira’s backhand was tack sharp and proved the Brazilian has only improved since his rookie season, setting his sights firmly on a WSL Title contention.
“Last year was the most amazing year of my life,” Ferreira said. “I surfed with my heroes and had a good year. I’m really excited to be back this season and hope I can do better. Very happy to win the first heat of the year.”
Michel Bourez (PYF) showcased his power surfing in Round 1 Heat 2 with a 7.00 point ride, the highest in his heat. Bourez will advance straight to Round 3 after edging out Adam Melling (AUS)and Julian Wilson (AUS).
“It is pretty hard to have the best strategy there,” said Bourez. “It is breaking all over the place and you have to be super lucky to be at the right place at the right time. That wave came out of nowhere and I was pretty lucky to be there.”
Filipe Toledo (BRA), defending Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast winner, led Round 1 Heat 3 against CT veteran Jadson Andre (BRA) and injury replacement Stuart Kennedy (AUS). The three battled wave for a wave, but Toledo pulled out a 7.83 to secure his position. Toledo will advance to Round 3, and Andre and Kennedy will battle in elimination Round 2.
“Coming here again to defend my title with really good boards and with the wind in the first round makes me more comfortable and excited for the next round,” said Toledo after the heat. “I am now trying to push harder in ways that I really need to improve. Last year I had a good feeling fighting for the title so this year I feel more comfortable. I know I have the potential to be there, too.”
Sebastian Zietz (HAW) seized his opportunity to score big with a risky layback maneuver, earning him an 8.67, but Gabriel Medina (BRA) answered back with a massive score in his last wave giving him a combined score of 16.17. Zietz fought hard to defeat Media and was just 1.37 points shy of the win. Zietz and rookie Caio Ibelli (BRA) will compete in Round 2.
“I wasn’t waiting for that one, I was just hoping for a good wave,” Medina said. “That was a tricky heat. I did not know where to sit. I was kind of lost and I am just stoked to make it through that heat.”
Mick Fanning (AUS), three-time WSL Champion, quickly put up a solid score in Heat 5, but it was trials winner Wade Carmichael (AUS) who put the pressure on by returning with an 8.93 ride. The all-Australian match-up continued to heat up as both Fanning and Carmichael exchanged high scoring rides, but it was Fanning who came out on top at his home break.
“I wasn’t tense, I was laughing and relaxed. Even paddling out in the heat I wanted to surf and get a couple of good waves and it was fun,” said Fanning winning after his heat. “I always just want to go surfing. I’m not as freaked out to be the first one in the water anymore it is more about just surfing when I want to surf and being in love with it.”
Heat 6 saw a heated battle unfold between reigning World Champion Adriano de Souza (BRA), Kolohe Andino (USA) and event wildcard Michael Wright (AUS). Andino quickly set the pace with a big 9.10 ride, but Wright and De Souza continued to fight for the lead against Andino. This heat saw a big upset with wildcard Wright edging out De Souza and the yellow jersey by 0.04 points.
“I was pretty stoked for Quiksilver to give me the wildcard this year,” said Wright. “It was a little dusty at the start, but that last one was a pretty fun and I was stoked to get a couple of good waves.”
CT veteran Jeremy Flores (FRA) battled rookie Davey Cathels (AUS) in Heat 7. Cathels put up strong scores, but it was not enough to defeat Flores’ two-wave score of 15.90. Cathels came close with 15.00, but will head to Round 2 with fellow Australian, Adrian Buchan who had a combined score of 10.74.
“It is just another day, another year in the office,” said Flores following his heat. “We are lucky to have such an incredible job, but we have to take it seriously. It is my tenth year and I feel like I still have a lot to show.”
We saw an exciting match-up in Heat 8 between eleven-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), Matt Wilkinson (AUS) and Conner Coffin (USA). Slater had a great start with a 7.67, but fell into third priority for a majority of the heat. The three exchanged solid rides, but it was Wilkinson who progressed through with a two-wave combined score of 17.00, beating Slater by 3.73 points and Coffin by 4.83 points.
“It started off a little bit slow and I put down a fairly good score and then I had priority,” Wilkinson said. “With Kelly and Conner out there I knew I had to use my priority ride. That one came and Kelly was paddling and I took off. I ended up with a really good one, so I was stoked.”
Wiggoly Dantas (BRA) snagged the top two scores in the heat, giving him a total of 17.26 points against Jordy Smith (ZAF), who garnered 13.43 points, and Miguel Pupo (BRA) who scored 12.47 points. Dantas expressed his confidence after the heat. “I learned a lot last year,” said Dantas. “I have been here for ten days already so I have been surfing with a lot of boards and finding the magic board.”
The last heat of Round 1 had no shortage of excitement with the battle between Australian veteran Joel Parkinson, rookie compatriot Jack Freestone (AUS), and Hawaiian John John Florence (HAW). The early high scores challenged each surfer to push their performance throughout the heat. Florence and Freestone put up a solid two-wave score, but it was not enough to beat the local CT veteran’s 8.60 opening ride.
“I definitely had a little bit of local knowledge in that one,” Parkinson said. “I felt that Jack was pretty tense in that heat. The first time on the big league and the big stage really does play a role in your head, but I was really impressed with how much he relaxed. I know in my first ever CT heat I was so much more nervous than probably what he was.”
Surfline, official forecasters for the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast, are calling for:
Steady trade windswell/swell to produce plenty of rideable and even fun zone surf first several days of the waiting period. Bump up in size for Sunday/Monday. Lingering swell Tuesday into Wednesday. Fading E swell late next week as steep angled short period SSE windswell mixes in.
The WSL Commissioner’s Office will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am to assess conditions for a possible 7:35am start.
When Quiksilver Pro competition resumes, up first will be reigning WSL Champion Adriano de Souza (BRA) up against Trials winner Wade Carmichael (AUS) in Heat 1 of the elimination Round 1.
Highlights from the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast will be webcast LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.00, Ryan Callinan (AUS) 11.10, Keanu Asing (HAW) 8.80 Heat 2: Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.50, Adam Melling (AUS) 10.37, Julian Wilson (AUS) 6.06 Heat 3: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.36, Jadson Andre (BRA) 13.30, Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 10.67 Heat 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.17, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 14.80, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 8.10 Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.24, Wade Carmichael (AUS) 16.00, Matt Banting (AUS) 9.90 Heat 6: Michael Wright (AUS) 13.74, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.70, Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.10 Heat 7: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.90, Davey Cathels (AUS) 15.00, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.74 Heat 8: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 17.00, Kelly Slater (USA) 13.27, Conner Coffin (USA) 12.17 Heat 9: Nat Young (USA) 12.87, Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 12.14, Kai Otton (AUS) 11.50 Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.40, Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.26, Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 11.40 Heat 11: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 17.26, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.43, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.47 Heat 12: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.10, John John Florence (HAW) 13.56, Jack Freestone (AUS) 13.44
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Upcoming Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Wade Carmichael (AUS) Heat 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Stuart Kennedy (AUS) Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS) Heat 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS) Heat 6: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Davey Cathels (AUS) Heat 7: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Conner Coffin (USA) Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Alex Ribeiro (BRA) Heat 9: Keanu Asing (HAW) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (USA) Heat 10: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA) Heat 11: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS) Heat 12: Matt Banting (AUS) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
On March 10, Hurley’s elite athletes will debut the latest product innovations at the start of the 2016 World Surf League World Championship Tour in Australia. JJF, Toledo, Julian Wilson, Kohele, Pupo, and Connor Coffin will all be rocking Hurley Phantom Hyperweave and Hurley Phantom Compression – Hurley’s lightest boardshorts yet and Hurley’s first-ever compression line made specifically for water. www.hurley.com
Hurley’s goal has always been to provide water-based design solutions, with innovation that adapts and progresses as quickly as surfing’s top athletes do.
“Our athletes are ushering in a new era for the sport of surfing. It is our opportunity to enable them to reach their full potential. By creating a system of performance that can be personalised for any style, performance, or condition, we are evolving individual performance benefits with each piece of the system, said Ryan Hurley, Creative Director for Hurley. “From skin like compression, to the lightest, most dynamic boardshort, every details is obsessed to excel independently, and integrate exceptionally” he added.
The PHANTOM HYPERWEAVE
Dynamically comfortable. Impossibly light. Geared towards technical conditions, these boardshorts are constructed to move with you as you generate speed while surfing.
The Hyperweave waistband is comprised of a single woven layer taken directly off a loom as a complete piece. Free-floating magwires are placed throughout the waistband, reacting as you move for an adaptive fit and comfort in any position. Inspired by Nike Flyknit’s singular construction, Hyperweave brings woven patterning to the water for the first time. This revolutionary, single-layer construction has replaced the traditional boardshort fly closure for 50% less bulk and maximum comfort when lying on your board. Featured details such as a scalloped hem and lightweight, stretch fabric allow for an enhanced range of motion and maximum performance.
PHANTOM COMPRESSION
Compression garments are a regular fixture in gyms and on tracks across the globe, compression continues to deliver added support and confidence for the athletes of today. Phantom Compression brings compression to the best in-water athletes on the planet.
Designed as the next evolution in warm-water performance, Hurley Phantom Compression combines the benefits of locked-in support with technical fabric made for water. The collection consists quarter length and three-quarter length surf shorts, a short-sleeve surf shirt and long-sleeve surf shirt.
Depending on the conditions and needs of the surfer, a different combination of Phantom Compression can be selected to optimise fit and performance.
Engineered with a 50-gauge knit, tightly compacted yarns absorb minimally, providing a slick, fast feeling as you move through the water.
A 100+UPF (Ultra-violet Protection Factor) completely blocks out the sun, while performance patterning promotes ergonomic movement in and out of the water.
When worn together, these designs offer more than a disruptive aesthetic. They represent the ability to create your own system of performance.
As one of the world’s best performance surf brands, Hurley will now be available in Europe and complements existing Nike offerings on Nike.com providing a fuller product assortment for consumers, particularly when it comes to water sports. And Nike’s significant digital reach has the power to introduce Hurley, in a premium way, to a larger audience.
All Hurley categories will be represented and available for purchase on Nike.com with an emphasis on in-water performance product.
If competitive surfing floats your boat you’ll be glad to know the WSL kicks back in to gear tomorrow. The trials for the Quik/Roxy Pro start on March 9 and the main event ‘Quiks’ off on the tenth (so, so sorry about that).
The hangovers from the annual WSL awards should just about have abated and the Brazilians must be rubbing their hands together in gleeful anticipation looking forward to defending their position as kings of the castle. The Brazilian storm took home the silverware for Men’s World Champ/ Rookie of the Year/ Breakthrough Performer / Junior Champ / Move of the Year (guys and gals) which if isn’t domination I don’t what is.
•So will Kelly make this the last hurrah? One more year to show the young bucks he’s still got it before retiring into an Outer Known world of wave pool perfection and picking chia seeds out of his perfect teeth.
•Can anyone stop the momentum of Gabriel Medina, Filipe, Adriano and the new Brazilian generation?
•Is Adriano well bummed with Slater totally pissing on his title bonfire with the drop of his pool?
•Is this the year John Florence finally gets his head round a title campaign now he’s finished making very expensive films?
•Can Jordy, Julian, Taj and other assorted ‘should have a world title supposedly’ sorts get it together?
•Can we make a law banning the use of the words ‘knifing’ and ‘spicy’ by the commentary team?
•Will any sea life try and steal the show again, perhaps a giant squid attack at Supertubes for a bit of variety?
•Will the WSL make it to the end of the year before it runs out of money? Will pay per view ever be a thing and would you pay?
So many questions…
One thing’s for sure it’ll be entertaining. That after all is the whole point. We live in an era of unparalleled access and the webcasts are hitting sublime levels of production. Let’s just hope Mama Nature comes to the party and gives us some banging conditions for the guys and girls to show their best.
ps: If you’re a Fantasy Surfer head get your team sorted asap and the get involved with the Carve Surf League clubhouse.
WSL AWARDS
Heat of the Year: Mick Fanning (AUS)/John John Florence (HAW)/Kelly Slater (USA) at Banzai Pipeline & Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)/Carissa Moore (HAW) at Honolulu Bay Move of the Year: Gabriel Medina (BRA) and Silvana Lima (BRA) Wave of the Year: Owen Wright (AUS) and Carissa Moore (HAW) WSL Junior Champions: Lucas Silver (BRA) and Isabella Nichols (AUS) WSL Longboard Champions: Piccolo Clemente (PER) and Rachel Tilly (USA) WSL Big Wave Tour Champion: Greg Long (USA) CT Breakthrough Performers: Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Courtney Conlogue (USA) CT Rookies of the Year: Italo Ferreira (BRA) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) WSL Women’s Champion: Carissa Moore (HAW) WSL Men’s Champion: Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Keanu Asing (HAW), Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Heat 2: Julian Wilson (AUS), Michel Bourez (PYF), Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 3: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Jadson Andre (BRA), Stuart Kennedy (AUS)
Heat 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Caio Ibelli (BRA), Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS), Matt Banting (AUS), TBD (One of these is Mikey Wright, other’s trials winner)
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Kolohe Andino (USA), TBD
Heat 7: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Davey Cathels (AUS)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Conner Coffin (USA)
Heat 9: Nat Young (USA), Kai Otton (AUS), Alex Ribeiro (BRA)
Heat 10: Josh Kerr (AUS), Taj Burrow (AUS), Kanoa Igarashi (USA)
Heat 11: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Wiggly Dantas (BRA), Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 12: Joel Parkinson (AUS), John John Florence (HAW), Jack Freestone (AUS)
Roxy Pro Gold Coast Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Tyler Wright (AUS), Johanne Defay (FRA), Alessa Quizon (HAW)
Heat 2: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Coco Ho (HAW)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Chelsea Tuach (BRB), TBD
Heat 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Sage Erickson (USA), Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Malia Manuel (HAW), Laura Enever (AUS)
Heat 6: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), Keely Andrew (AUS)
So. Eddie went. For the first time since 2009 the most famous big wave event in the world finally went down at the renowned Waimea Bay.
Pe’ahi has stolen the spotlight in recent years as the bay slumbered. Was the Eddie still relevant now paddle performance was hitting new heights on the neighbouring island of Maui and around the world? In a word: yes.
Waimea’s boil ridden ledge is a unique challenge and the waves from the #Brockswell, named in honour of recently departed legend Brock Little, were the perfect answer. Maxing Waimea, frequent close out sets. Best in 40-years according Eddie’s little bro Clyde who still donned a rashie at 66. It was riveting viewing. Waimea in fugly mood with the world’s best big wave riders keen to honour Eddie and Brock meant for some heroic moments and a good few wipeouts that had to be watched through the fingers. The highlights reel isn’t ready yet but there’s plenty on the WSL YouTube channel.
The early money was on Dorian with a side bet on John Florence and Kelly. But it was the old guard of Ross Clark Jones, still killing it at fifty something, that got an early start. In the end John, from just down the Kam Highway, took the honour. Kind of fitting, he is the new Hawaiian royalty. So the dust settles and we wait for next season. Or maybe another six years before the Eddie goes again…
Official WSL Press Release
John John Florence (HAW) brought a new style and a new generation to big wave surfing today by winning the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, a World Surf League Specialty Event, in waves of up to 60-feet. Florence won $75,000 – the biggest purse in Big Wave riding, with a 4-wave total of 301 out of 400 points.
“I was excited just to be part of the event,” said Florence. “I was so nervous, I thought, oh gosh, I just gotta get through this day and hopefully get a couple of waves!
“I was riding my bike down here this-morning in the dark and just the energy of how many people were parked all the way down the street. I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve never seen it like that. Walking down the beach, like Uncle Clyde was saying, people just screaming, and the energy was so crazy. I’ve never been a part of an event like this. It’s definitely the highlight of my life for sure.
“Biggest of all, I want to say thanks to the Aikau family and Quiksilver for putting on this amazing event. I’ve only seen it run a couple of times in my life so to be a part of it, to be surfing in it, and to actually win it is such a dream come true…against all these legends. These guys are my heroes since I’ve been growing up. And thanks to my mom and my family and all my good friends who are here.”
Florence, 23, edged out previous event winner Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS) with a late charge in his second round heat, posting his top two rides of the day during a flurry of gigantic waves. Better known for his year-round pursuits on the WSL Championship Tour, Florence is fast forging himself a place at the head of the big wave riding movement that is regarded a discipline all its own.
Third place today was Shane Dorian (HAW); fourth went to Jamie Mitchell (AUS); fifth was Kelly Slater (USA); and sixth was Makuakai Rothman (HAW).
A capacity crowd of 25,000 lined the headland-to-headland arena of Waimea Bay, witnessing eight hours of uninterrupted, mind-blowing entertainment. They roared and gasped as the 28-man field offered up fearless rides and more than a few horrific wipeouts from sun up to sun down.
Today’s conditions were the most epic ever for an “Eddie” and will surely go down as the greatest one-day Big Wave event in history. The emotions and energy were on overload with what surfers were calling “Brock’s Swell,” in honor of long-time Eddie invitee and Hawaii Big Wave rider Brock Little, who lost his battle with cancer just last week.
Those who rode today were nothing short of gladiators, armed with surfboards of up to 11-feet in length that were still dwarfed by the ocean’s tonnage. They pitted world-class skills along with their lives against the adrenaline-inducing display of Mother Nature.
The undeniable crowd favorite, drawing a standing ovation wave as he walked from Waimea Bay Beach Park to the shoreline, was 66-year-old Clyde Aikau – Eddie Aikau’s younger brother, who has contested all nine Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational events through 31 years, declaring this to be his last.
In all, 141 dramatic rides were logged today, including gutsy charges by Eddie Aikau rookies Koa Rothman (HAW) and Mason Ho (HAW); last minute Alternate starters Danilo Couto (BRZ) and Ben Wilkinson (AUS); and emotionally charged, seasoned rides by Slater and Dorian, in memory of close friend Brock Little.
The world famous Hawaiian Water Patrol were the bedrock of today’s event, without whose support the organizers would never have been able to call the day “on.” Their safety support and assistance in harrowing moments will see every surfer return home safe tonight.
At times it was as if there were two spectacular events going on at the same time as surfers dropped down feathering walls, and a fleet of rescue jet-skis gunned to outrun avalanches of water as they bolted towards beach or horizon.
Along with the Water Patrol support was the added layer of confidence athletes had with the Quiksilver x Aqua Lung Inflatable Vest – a technology that didn’t exist when The Eddie was last held in December of 2009. Only three of the 28 athletes today competed without a vest.
“It was actually nice to have it, to have the option,” said Ross Clarke-Jones. “Because if I don’t wear it, then I’m going to get hammered. I chose to wear it and I didn’t need it till the last wave. It was the last wave and I thought I’ll pull it anyway because I got pounded and it just came out like a breeze. It’s an incredible piece of equipment.”
Each surfer contested two rounds of 1-hour, 7-man heats, with their top four scoring rides at the end of the day producing their final event score. Each ride was scored out of a total of 100 points, with size of wave, critical nature of the take-off, and successful completion of a ride all factors.
Oahu’s Aaron Gold was awarded today with the The Quiksilver GO Challenge for a massive wave ridden at Pe’ahi a month ago that has been estimated at more than 70 feet. The special award was offered up to all Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Invitees and Alternates for the biggest, most critical wave ridden in the Hawaiian Islands during the holding period of this event up to today. Gold won $10,000 for his efforts.
The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is the original one-day, Big Wave surfing event, started in memory of Hawaiian waterman, Waimea Bay lifeguard and Big Wave pioneer Eddie Aikau. What started 31 years ago to pay tribute to Aikau, has grown to become an almost mythic event whose elusiveness has only fueled its global appeal. The Eddie only runs when wave face heights reach a minimum of 40 feet at Waimea Bay… a day so rare it has only happened nine times in 31 years. Today was one of those days.
Highlights from the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau are available at WorldSurfLeague.com
The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Final Results:
1 – John John Florence (HAW) 301
2 – Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS) 278
3 – Jamie Mitchell (AUS) 249
4 – Kelly Slater (USA) 238
5 – Dave Wassel (HAW) 230
