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QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE (Sept 24th to Oct. 3rd) presented by SAMSUNG Hossegor-Seignosse-Capbreton-Saint-Jean de Luz www.quiksilver.com/profrance
Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) www.aspworldtour.com 2004 Foster's Men's World Championship Tour (WCT)
Hobgood Eliminated In Round Three Upset
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Kelly Slater (USA) will be up against Phil MacDonald (Aus) in round four.
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Saturday, October 2, 2004 (Hossegor, France) Current ratings runner-up CJ Hobgood (FL, USA) suffered a surprise defeat today in the Quiksilver Pro France. Round three of the Foster's men's ASP World Championship Tournament (WCT) was completed, but as the swell continued to rise this afternoon, further heats in the US$260,000 event were postponed until tomorrow's climatic finish. An incredible Foster's Expression Session also unfolded.
Competition commenced at 'Le Penon' this morning in clean righthanders, but as the tide drained out, 4-5 ft (1.5m) waves were utilized in front of the main site at 'La Guardians'. Messy 8ft+ (2.5m) closeouts sets washed through later on.
Hobgood - the 2001 world champion - has been a major threat for this year's crown since winning in Tahiti, and later the Quiksilver Pro in Japan last month. Against former world #2 Shane Beschen (CA, USA) today, the lead swung during their exchange, but requiring an average score in the final minutes, 'Besch' picked off a clean righthander and landed a crowd pleasing aerial for 6.6-points to advance. The current #44 missed three tournaments earlier this year due to a serious knee injury, but is out to regain his spot for next year's elite tour and prove he's still a serious contender himself.
"The waves were kind of tricky out there and it came down to my last wave," explained Beschen. "The lead kept going back and forth, and I needed a 5.34 at the end. I went for an air and stuck it, so stoked. I keep coming up against the gnarliest guys, and even the heats I've lost have been pretty close, and now I've finally taken one of them out. Definitely a confidence booster and just confirms what I've been feeling inside, that I'm capable of doing it. I've just got to make smart decisions and surf good."
Defending event and reigning two-time world champion Andy Irons (Kauai, HAW) continued his charge, accounting for Quiksilver Trials winner Jonathan Gonzales (CNY). The current ratings leader collected two high scores near the start for a commanding position his wildcard opponent never threatened. The Kauaian next faces Californian Tim Curran in round four.
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Defending event and reigning two-time world champion Andy Irons (Kauai, HAW) continued his charge,
accounting for Quiksilver Trials winner Jonathan Gonzales (CNY).
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"There were a few waves then, but it was hard to find the right ones," reasoned Irons. "I take everyone seriously, and I lose to wildcards all the time, so I figured I'd stay far away from Jonathan and do my own thing.
"Timmy's dangerous in beach breaks," he added, of his upcoming rival. "He's won events in Lacanau (FRA) and in Japan, against the best guys, so he's always going to be a threat. The way he boosts air whenever he needs a score. in these kinds of conditions it could be real sketchy."
Six-time world champ Kelly Slater (FL, USA) nailed his final lefthander with a big backhand re-entry and floating closeout maneuver for 8-points and the win over Armando Daltro (BRA). The lead changed throughout, but the 32-year-old Floridian took advantage in the latter half and then ensured his round four berth on the last ride. Following Hobgood's loss, Slater is again the closest contender to Iron's ratings lead. He faces Phil MacDonald (AUS) tomorrow in a rematch of their semifinal here last year, which the Australian won.
"Yeah, there wasn't much in it," acknowledged Slater. "I fell on my first good one, which threw me off a little bit, and I became a little impatient. I was playing defense for the last 10-minutes, and caught that last one basically just trying to stop him, but it turned out to be my best one."
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Kieren Perrow (Aus) finding some tube time during the Quiksilver Pro France.
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Bruce Irons (Kauai, HAW) secured his best result to date, reaching round four past Luke Egan (AUS). The Kauai gained revenge on the former world #2, after losing to him in California last WCT, with the heat's top single score of 7.83-points first ride. In difficult conditions, the current ratings #41 then managed to maintain a lead for the much-needed win.
"Finally, so yeah, it feels great," admitted Bruce. "The waves weren't that good, but I lucked out with that first open ride. Luke couldn't seem to find anything, so it went my way. Hopefully we get bigger surf and some barrels tomorrow. It'd be nice to surf some good waves."
Raoni Monteiro (BRA) was lucky to even contest his heat after running out of gas on the drive to work, but once onsite didn't let this fact get in the way of beating Danny Wills (AUS). The Brazilian created a narrow lead, and despite a couple of last-ditch efforts, Wills was unable to lock in the 5.38 score required. The 22-year-old credited the birth of his newborn daughter for inspiring his performances of late.
"I was little bit late for my heat as I had no gasoline in my car," explained Monteiro. "I'm very happy to make it. I was thinking about my daughter, telling myself I had to do something. I want to show her I'm a champion."
West Australian Taj Burrow dominated his match against good mate and fellow countryman Nathan Webster. The current ratings #12 wasted no time posting scores and created a strong lead, while Webster was unable to find anything of merit and required a combination of rides worth 14.98-points. Despite suffering the flu for two weeks, the 26-year-old overcame any visible ill effects.
"I still feel like crap and rundown, since I've had the flu since Trestles (last WCT in California), but stoked I got a couple of waves," explained Burrow. "He was obviously waiting for something better than the smaller ones that were coming through, as he didn't get anything."
Victor Ribas eliminated fellow Brazilian Guilherme Herdy to reach round four. The current ratings #33 opened with a tube ride and 7.83 score, and advanced to challenge world #4 Joel Parkinson (Gold Coast, AUS) tomorrow, after he knocked out France's sole representative on the WCT, Eric Rebiere.
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Committed surfing from Brazilian Raoni Monteiro sees him advance to round four of the Quiksilver Pro France.
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"Guilherme is a good friend of mine, but as soon as the heat starts you have to think about yourself," said Ribas. "This result will really help me on the ratings. Joel Parkinson is one of the biggest stars on the tour, and is very hard to beat. I have the experience to beat him, so I hope the conditions improve."
Other standouts today included Australians Kieren Perrow and Phil MacDonald, both posting 9.17 scores to advance.
The Foster's Expression Session took place this afternoon, as the swell began to peak with solid 8-10 ft (3m) waves exploding on the outside bank. Jet Skis were utilized to help tow surfers out through the constant whitewash, and even into some of the larger sets. Tim Curran again dominated the aerial section, landing a huge 'alley-oop' maneuver for US$2,000. Troy Brooks (AUS) was the standout however, dropping into a massive 10-foot lefthander and positioned himself perfectly through the deep backhand barrel for the best ride. Slater and Bruce Irons later scored some huge tubes of their own to create more entertainment for strong beach crowd.
"Ross (Clarke-Jones) was frothing out there on the Jet Ski and pulled me into that huge one," explained Brooks. "I dropped in and was only riding a 6'1", but it was a pretty big wave, like Pipeline (HAW). It threw out, and I thought I was going to get eaten, but it spat me out. I was actually having a few Foster's with the boys beforehand, and then they put us out there, so I kind of stumbled out and into the right wave (laughs)."
The Quiksilver Pro France will have 5 languages for its live Internet webcast including English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Japanese: www.quiksilver.com/profrance.
Quiksilver Pro France Round Three Heats (1st>Rnd4; 2nd=17th receives US$4,225)
H2: Sunny Garcia (HAW) 13.67 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 7.84
H3: Peterson Rosa (BRA) 14.5 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 10.23
H4: Shane Beschen (USA) 13.43 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.17
H5: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 10.9 def. Daniel Wills (AUS) 9.44
H6: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 16.17 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 9.16
H7: Tim Curran (USA) 13.17 def. Michael Campbell (AUS) 13.07
H8: Andy Irons (HAW) 15.83 def. Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 8.84
H9: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.67 def. Armando Daltro (BRA) 12.64
H10: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 16.24 def. Troy Brooks (AUS) 14.03
H11: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.97 def. Nathan Webster (AUS) 5.76
H12: Michael Lowe (AUS) 13.07 def. Marcelo Nunes (BRA) 9.67
H13: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.17 def. Eric Rebiere (FRA) 3.73
H14: Victor Ribas (BRA) 15.5 def. Guilherme Herdy (BRA) 7.43
H15: Bruce Irons (HAW) 11.66 def. Luke Egan (AUS) 4.73
H16: Neco Padaratz (BRA) 12.0 def. Lee Winkler (AUS) 8.27
Further information: www.quiksilver.com/profrance
Cathy ROURRE
Mob. 06 14 04 17 16
Mathias MONGE
Mob. 06 85 01 43 14
payerne@club-internet.fr
Forwarded by
Jesse Faen - ASP International Media Manager
jesse@aspworldtour.com
Mobile: +61-(0)-407-189-289
ASP Int'l office (Aus): +61-(0)-7-5599-1550
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