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Quiksilver Pro (May 26-June 4) www.quiksilver.com
Round Two Postponed Due To Ferry Incident
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Day three of the Quiksilver Pro draws to a beautiful end.
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Thursday, May 27, 2004 (Tavarua and Namotu Islands, Fiji) The Quiksilver Pro was postponed today due to an unfortunate ferry incident. Round two of the Foster's men's World Championship Tour (WCT) was scheduled to commence this morning, with organizers and surfers gearing up for elimination heats, before the 'Island Express' ran aground and began taking on water. Necessary repairs are being done, and another decision will be made tomorrow morning.
Good 4ft (1.3m) surf was on offer at 'Cloudbreak'. The swell dropped slightly, but clean and hollow lefthanders are still racing along the shallow reef break. Contestants will now utilize the opportunity to free-surf all day, or enjoy other Island activities such as fishing, snorkeling, and even tennis if the heat subsides.
Six-time world champion and current ratings #2 Kelly Slater (FL, USA) is in the first heat when competition resumes, against local Fijian wildcard Isei Tokovou. The Floridian was waiting to surf this morning, when news reached the media center on Tavarua Island about the ferry's incident and consequent event postponement.
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Hot off his win in Tahiti CJ Hobgood will be hoping for a similair result in Fiji.
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"I was hoping to surf today," admitted Slater. "I'm planning on staying around even after the contest finishes, so the sooner guys lose, the less people we'll have (laughs). I have my lady here too, so I'm looking forward to relaxing with her."
Last night, most of the Australian contingent on Tavarua and Namotu Islands were up late listening to the 'State of Origin' Rugby League match on their computers. The TV feeds never reached the Islands, so enthusiasts made due.
Wildcard Luke Munro - who replaced fellow Gold Coaster Joel Parkinson in the Quiksilver Pro - was among the Queensland supporters walking around disappointed this morning, following the 9-8 loss to New South Wales. Munro faces 2001 world champion CJ Hobgood (FL, USA) in heat #5 of round two.
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Luke Munro.
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"Any name on the draw is going to be tough," said Munro. "Being a wildcard means extra weight is off our shoulders though, as we're not worried about re-qualifying or ratings points, and just want to mess things up. That's what I'm hoping to do. But today I'll be fishing (laughs)."
All round two heats are listed below.
Swell forecasts are available at http://www.swellnet.com.au/events/quiksilverfijiforecast.htm
Quiksilver Pro Round Two (1st>Rnd3; 2nd=33rd receives US$3,400)
H1: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Isei Tokovou (FIJI)
H2: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Tom Carroll (AUS)
H3: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
H4: Michael Lowe (AUS) vs. Shane Powell (AUS)
H5: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
H6: Mark Occhilupo (AUS) vs. Luke Hitchings (AUS)
H7: Luke Egan (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
H8: Jake Paterson (AUS) vs. Eric Rebiere (FRA)
H9: Guilherme Herdy (BRA) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
H10: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Nathan Webster (AUS)
H11: Paulo Moura (BRA) vs. Darren O'Rafferty (AUS)
H12: Pat O'Connell (USA) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)
H13: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Toby Martin (AUS)
H14: Lee Winkler (AUS) vs. Kalani Robb (HAW)
H15: Michael Campbell (AUS) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
H16: Sunny Garcia (HAW) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)
Further Information: www.quiksilver.com
Jesse Faen - ASP International Media Manager
jesse@aspworldtour.com
Onsite Mobile: +61-(0)-407-189-289
ASP Int'l office (Aus): +61-(0)-7-5599-1550
Kirk Willcox - Quiksilver International Media Manager kirk.willcox@quiksilver.com.au
Local number in Fiji: (679) 990 4129
For event photos log on to: www.aspworldtour.com; www.quiksilver.com; or contact ASP Digital Photographer Pierre Tostee: Tostee@aspworldtour.com
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