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Media and surfers lined the beach at Lower Trestles to watch the action on day 4 of the Boost Mobile Pro.
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Boost Mobile Pro of Surf presented by Quiksilver (September 10-21) www.boostmobilepro.com
Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) www.aspworldtour.com 2004 Foster's Men's World Championship Tour (WCT)
Slater Ends Wildcard Dream
Friday, September 17, 2004 (Lower Trestles, CA, USA) Six-time world champion Kelly Slater (FL, USA) today added fuel to his campaign by eliminating wildcard sensation Dane Reynolds (CA, USA) from the Boost Mobile Pro of Surf Presented by Quiksilver. Round three of the Foster's men's ASP World Championship Tournament (WCT) unfolded in ideal 4ft (1.3m) peak conditions.
Before a packed beach crowd and thousands of online viewers, Slater commenced the highly anticipated match-up with a flawless forehand reverse 360 maneuver. The Floridian then rode his wave to completion, posting an 8.5 and making any opponents prospects more daunting. Reynolds answered back with a series of big re-entries for his own 7.33, notifying all the heat was truly underway.
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Cory Lopez (USA) ripped in his heat against Lee Winkler, posting a 17.50 (out of 20) heat score to advance to round 4.
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Despite falling on a number of subsequent waves, the 18-year-old giant killer snagged one midway out and had the beach cheering as he landed a huge aerial reverse to score an 8.0. Moments later, however, the current ratings #3 paddled into a set wave and surfed it brilliantly - highlighted by an aerial and additional 360 reverse - to post 9.27-points and run away with the lead.
"I made sure I caught the first wave," began Slater. "Kind of the same tactics I told Dane to use against Andy (Irons) to put the pressure on. I got a pretty good score straight away and then sat with priority. Dane caught one on the inside and scored an eight, which shows how gnarly he is. I just made sure I was on the best waves and did some big moves.
"We're all excited about this chance we have now," he continued, in reference to world champ Irons' defeat yesterday. "Just like when I lost at Sunset (HAW) last year and got a 17th, Andy paddled past and said, 'you left the door open.' So hopefully he did too, and we can take advantage of that this week."
Slater is now pitted against Pat O'Connell, whom he is staying with here, after the local hero took out Hawaii's last hope in the Boost Mobile Pro, Kalani Robb.
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Dane Reynolds (CA, USA) proved his worth after he eliminated reigning world champ Andy Irons (Haw) yesterday,
and pulled out all the stops to beat Kelly Slater today. However he was left needing a near perfect 9.77 to advance.
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Brazilian Peterson Rosa created the day's biggest upset by eliminating defending event winner Richie Lovett (AUS). Despite missing a couple of great waves while needing a good score, Rosa managed to earn 7.87-points under his opponents priority, which proved enough combined with an earlier 8.33 ride.
"I waited a long time for the good waves, but then when they came I missed them," recalled a frustrated Rosa. "I couldn't believe it and was so angry, but then he gave me a chance when he had priority. I used it, got the score I needed, so was very stoked."
Rosa will meet either Joel Parkinson or fellow Australian Luke Hitchings in round four. The pair actually contested their heat today - with 'Parko' winning on points - but a priority system malfunction midway through effected matters, which ASP rules stipulate must result in arbitration between the contest director, head judge and a surfer rep. Given the circumstances that transpired, it was unanimously decided to re-surf their heat first thing tomorrow morning.
Australian Nathan Hedge posted the only perfect 10 of this year's Boost Mobile Pro. Against Brazilian Marcelo Nunes, 'Hog' attacked a long righthander without mercy, and even ran over the top of his opponent when he unwittingly became an obstacle. The current ratings #5 has shown incredible form all season, featuring in two WCT finals, and all indicators point towards another high finish at Lowers.
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After posting the highest heat score of the day yesterday, Mark Occhilupo (QLD, Aus) was a shock elimination in round 3. Occy was beaten by South African Greg Emslie and had to settle for equal 17th.
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"I think it's only the second 10 of my career, so pretty stoked," said Hedge. "You tend to see them in Tahiti and places like that a fair bit, but getting one at Trestles is really special. I actually didn't think it was that good, but it must have looked a bit better than what it felt. I'm not looking too far ahead or anything, just have my head down doing the job and hopefully I'll look up in the final."
South Africa's sole representative on the WCT, Greg Emslie, achieved a dream win over 1999 world champion Mark Occhilupo (Gold Coast, AUS) this morning. The current ratings #38, who is actually leading the World Qualifying Series (WQS), surfed a strong heat from start to finish and left his childhood hero in search of another wave worth 8.08-points. The 27-year-old faces another tough Australian in Danny Wills tomorrow.
"It's the first time I've ever beaten Occy, so I'm really stoked," said Emslie. "It's like a dream come true. When I first started surfing in '84, he pulled into J-Bay (South Africa) and did stuff that no one had ever seen before. I was a grommet watching, so it's pretty amazing to eventually surf against him and win. Hopefully I'll wake up on the right side of the bed again tomorrow."
2002 event winner Luke Egan put his knowledge of Lowers' lineup to good use against round one standout and fellow Australian Trent Munro. The current ratings #11 remained patient throughout the 30-minute heat, but came alive when it counted to score an 8.67.
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Danny Wills (Byron Bay, NSW, Aus) continued his fine form to advance to round 4. Wills eliminated Tim Curran (USA) from the event and will face South African Greg Emslie in his next heat.
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"I've got a line-up out here I treat like gold," explained Egan. "It's there every time and if you're not in that spot you don't get a wave."
Cory Lopez (FL, USA) executed an incredible forehand aerial reverse maneuver for a near-perfect 9.67. Combined with another 7.83, the current ratings # 32 overcame Lee Winkler's (AUS) lead and progressed to round four. Lopez will next meet Brazilian Raoni Monteiro, after he continued his great form by eliminating ratings #5 Damien Hobgood (FL, USA) for another upset.
"I needed a big score and somehow got lucky by pulling that maneuver," said Lopez. "It all came together and the wave lined up and allowed some more turns. I'm super stoked, as that could be a year changing heat right there."
The third annual Boost Mobile Pro of Surf Presented by Quiksilver is the only WCT event held in North America. For complete coverage: www.boostmobilepro.com.
Boost Mobile Pro Round Three Heats (1st>Rnd4; 2nd=17th receives US$4,225)
H1: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 16.4 def. Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 15.1
H2: Daniel Wills (AUS) 15.4 def. Tim Curran (USA) 13.17
H3: Cory Lopez (USA) 17.5 def. Lee Winkler (AUS) 15.73
H4: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 16.27 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 15.24
H5: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.77 def. Troy Brooks (AUS) 11.84
H6: Darren O'Rafferty (AUS) 13.77 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.83
H7: Pat O'Connell (USA) 14.94 def. Kalani Robb (HAW) 14.6
H8: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.77 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 15.33
H9: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.0 def. Armando Daltro (BRA) 12.33
H10: Paulo Moura (BRA) 15.0 def. Guilherme Herdy (BRA) 14.0
H11: Jake Paterson (AUS) 13.5 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.83
H12: Luke Egan (AUS) 16.17 def. Trent Munro (AUS) 14.33
H13: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Luke Hitchings (AUS) - Will be held tomorrow
H14: Peterson Rosa (BRA) 16.2 def. Richard Lovett (AUS) 15.17
H15: Nathan Hedge (AUS) 17.83 def. Marcelo Nunes (BRA) 12.73
H16: Taylor Knox (USA) 15.17 def. Michael Campbell (AUS) 10.43
For further information, please contact:
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
| Boost Mobile: | Quiksilver: |
| Andy Colley, 949.789.4822 | Kristin Barone, 714.889.4286 |
| Colley@BoostMobile.com | Kristin.Barone@Quiksilver.com |
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