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The most dominat surfer in the contest today, Kelly Slater displays his stylish form at Backdoor Pipeline.
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Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters - December 8-20
www.ripcurl.com
Banzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii
Slater Dominates Opening Round
Tuesday, December 14, 2004 (Pipeline, Hawaii) Six-time world champion Kelly Slater (FL, USA) today dominated round one of the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters. After four days wait, this year's final Foster's ASP World Championship Tournament (WCT) resumed and all 16 non-elimination heats were completed in ideal conditions.
Perfect 6-8 ft (2-2.5m) surf was on offer throughout the day. Massive waves are expected to arrive overnight however, probably forcing another lay-day at Pipeline.
Slater, a five-time Pipeline Master, opened his 2004 campaign with a brilliant 9.33-barrel against local Rip Curl wildcard Pancho Sullivan and Paulo Moura (BRA). The 32-year-old then sealed his commanding victory with a near-perfect 9.77, posting a combined tally of 19.1-points out of 20. With this year's world title already decided, Slater admitted he's able to relax and simply enjoy surfing Pipeline.
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Lee Winkler charged through his round one heat, posting an outstanding 8.90 opening ride.
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"It's funny because most years I need a result at Pipeline, and have had world titles come down to this contest, like last year's pressure," began Slater. "But today was fun. I'm out of the race and it's over, so I went out there without any pressure and just loosened up. It's one of those perfect sized days. I was amping before my heat, and it kind of felt like a free-surf then. I'm just trying to have fun here and read what's going on in the water. If I do that things usually seem to go my way."
Reigning three-time world champion Andy Irons (Kauai, HAW) overcame Cory Lopez (FL, USA) and Rip Curl Code STL Trials winner Mikey Bruneau (HAW). The defending two-times Pipeline Master suffered a slow start, but snuck into an average score to advance directly to round three. Having been invited to contest the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, which may take place tomorrow at nearby Waimea Bay, the Kauaian admitted he's not expecting much sleep tonight.
"That was a tough heat, but good to get some momentum going in the event," said Irons. "This year has been amazing, especially since I sowed up the title early and came into Hawaii without all the pressure. I've been surfing Pipe everyday and just having fun being here.
"Totally shaken to the core and freaked out about it," he added, of the 'Eddie' possibilities. "I've been invited three years but never had to go out yet. I'm excited, but it should be a little hard to sleep tonight. It'll be a dream come true to sit out at Waimea with only a handful of other guys though."
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It's all eyes on the action at Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters, with contestable 6-8 ft surf, all of round one was completed.
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Reigning two-time World Qualifying Series (WQS) winner Neco Padaratz posted a solid win over fellow Brazilian Armando Daltro and Australian Danny Wills. Despite being 28th on the WCT ratings, his position for 2005 is already secure and he acknowledged being determined to improve upon past Pipeline performances, with a final 8.77 ride definitely hinting towards this. Meanwhile, third place-getter Wills posted the best single score of the day with a near-perfect 9.87, but failed to support this with another good ride.
"So happy to be back here in Hawaii," began Padaratz. "I had a lot of support going for the (WQS) title, so it helped take some of the pressure off. I was really stoked to win it again. Now I'm just trying to learn from Kelly and Andy, all those guys here at Pipeline. I'm focused to try and get my level up there also. Everyone dreams about winning the Pipe Masters."
2000 world champion and current Vans Triple Crown of Surfing leader Sunny Garcia (HAW) furthered his cause over Joel Parkinson (AUS) and Trials runner-up Bruno Santos (BRA). The Hawaiian was instrumental in having the tournament postponed yesterday due to dangerous conditions, and benefited directly with a direct berth into round three today.
"Yesterday was really big and I was surprised they were going to run the contest," recalled Garcia. "The surfers didn't want to compete since it was very dangerous, and I've spent enough time in the hospital here from surfing Pipeline, so we made a decision and pulled the plug. Now we have perfect surf, so it doesn't get any better. This is the last event of the year, so it's real important to have good conditions.
"It's exciting for me to be part of the chase for this year's Triple Crown title," he added. "I don't remember a time when it was this close at the last event. We'll see what happens, but I'll be trying my hardest. If I don't get it, I hope another Hawaiian does."
2001 world champion CJ Hobgood (FL, USA) had his wedding ring ripped from his finger following a bad wipeout. Undisturbed, the Floridian answered back with a series of great barrels in the latter half of the heat to defeat Richie Lovett (AUS) and Eric Rebiere (FRA). Lovett also posted a brilliant 9.1 backdoor tube towards the end, but still required another 7.16 score.
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Darren O'Rafferty slots into perfect Pipe.
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"My hand must have scraped the reef and it slipped off," explained Hobgood. "It's OK though, as my wife got me a cheap one for that reason (laughs). Luckily I managed to get into rhythm the last half of the heat and find some good waves."
Current ratings #7 Nathan Hedge (AUS) was forced to withdraw from the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters after dislocating his shoulder during a free-surf session this morning. Determined as always, he urged organizers to re-schedule his match against Tim Curran (USA) and fellow Australian Beau Emerton to allow more recovery time, but was eventually replaced by Hawaiian Trialist Shane Dorian when it became apparent he could not compete. Curran later claimed the heat, having opened with a near-perfect 9.7 score.
Kalani Robb out-scored Australians Luke Egan and Luke Hitchings. The Hawaiian emerged from a deep Backdoor Barrel to post a 9.33, and combined with another 8.17, shot ahead of both opponents. Currently sitting in 23rd position on the ratings, the Rip Curl Pipeline Masters will prove a crucial event for Robb, as well as others on the cusp of re-qualifying for 2005.
"I had a good heat and am stoked," reasoned Robb. "I've definitely been losing sleep about the ratings, I won't lie about that. But I want to qualify and I've been in this spot before with a broken wrist, so it's not as hard as that right now. I think I'll do well."
Brazilian Raoni Monteiro experienced the highs and lows of Pipeline today. Against fellow countryman Peterson Rosa and South African Greg Emslie, he attempted an extremely late drop and ended up free-falling 6ft+ before being smashed by the wave. Trailing his opponents with less than a minute remaining, Monteiro then reversed his fortune with a perfect Backdoor barrel and 8.83-points required.
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Brazilian Raoni Monterio, one of the hottest young surfers to emerge from Brazil charges Backdoor in the glassy 6ft conditions.
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"I paddled like crazy for that wave, but fell and wiped out," explained Monteiro. "My first fall at Pipeline, but I really enjoyed surfing out there with only two other guys. When that last wave came, I pulled in and raced through the barrel. It was like a dream."
Australians Dean Morrison and Mark Occhilupo were another couple of standouts, posting nine plus scores with some incredible barrels. Earlier, fellow Australian Toby Martin won the opening main event heat of the 34th annual Pipeline Masters.
The Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters is part of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. Contest action can be viewed by LIVE webcast on www.ripcurl.com & www.aspworldtour.com or at www.triplecrownofsurfing.com from December 8 through 20.
The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing is made possible through the support of a partnership of the world's leading brands and media companies including: Ford Trucks, G-Shock, O'Neill, Rip Curl, Surfing Magazine, Surfline, Oahu's Turtle Bay Resort, The Honolulu Advertiser and Fox Sports Net.
Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters Round One (1st>Rnd3; 2nd, 3rd>Rnd2)
H2: Toby Martin (AUS) 15.17; Darren O'Rafferty (AUS) 14.03; Michael Lowe (AUS) 10.16
H1: Pat O'Connell (USA) 10.46; Jake Paterson (AUS) 9.9; Shane Beschen (USA) 7.84
H3: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 14.46; Peterson Rosa (BRA) 12.5; Greg Emslie (ZAF) 12.34
H5: Kalani Robb (HAW) 17.5; Luke Egan (AUS) 12.9; Luke Hitchings (AUS) 11.4
H6: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.26; Richard Lovett (AUS) 14.6; Eric Rebiere (FRA) 8.57
H7: Lee Winkler (AUS) 15.83; Jamie O'Brien (HAW) 13.7; Taj Burrow (AUS) 8.67
H8: Andy Irons (HAW) 12.83; Mikey Bruneau (HAW) 11.5; Cory Lopez (USA) 10.67
H9: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.1; Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 15.6; Paulo Moura (BRA) 9.4
H10: Sunny Garcia (HAW) 14.5; Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.33; Bruno Santos (BRA) 12.44
H11: Neco Padaratz (BRA) 16.1; Armando Daltro (BRA) 12.5; Daniel Wills (AUS) 12.2
H12: Nathan Webster (AUS) 12.6; Victor Ribas (BRA) 10.23; Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 5.57
H13: Dean Morrison (AUS) 18.96; Guilherme Herdy (BRA) 16.16; Chris Davidson (AUS) 8.83
H14: Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 15.33; Trent Munro (AUS) 13.26; Marcelo Nunes (BRA) 7.6
H15: Troy Brooks (AUS) 10.57; Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.33; Bruce Irons (HAW) 1.07
H16: Taylor Knox (USA) 12.83; Michael Campbell (AUS) 4.16; Kieren Perrow (AUS) 3.83
H4: Tim Curran (USA) 16.2; Shane Dorian (HAW) 11.4; Beau Emerton (AUS) 4.3
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