It's goodnight Wilko as John John and Gabs squeak through Round 2 in Portugal

unnamed_5_0.jpgSUPERTUBOS, Peniche/Portugal (Thursday, October 20, 2016) - The Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal, the final European stop of the 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour, ran through the opening five heats of Round 2 before being called off in inconsistent surf. It was a day of high-stakes match-ups with the top three surfers on the Jeep Leaderboard all battling to avoid early elimination and remain in the hunt for the elite surfing crown.
 
The day opened with a low-scoring affair, which saw Jeep Leaderboard frontrunner John John Florence (HAW), 24, keep his Portuguese campaign alive by defeating young wildcard Miguel Blanco (PRT). Florence managed to lock in two average scores for a clean backhand tube ride and a couple of turns on a medium sized righthander. His win keeps the WSL title race interesting as he advances into Round 3. Blanco leaves his first CT event with a 25th place finish.
 
“It was a super important heat getting pushed to the second round, it was a bit nerve wrecking sitting around for a couple of days just trying to get in that mindset to surf a heat and then wait for the next call,” Florence reflected. “I’m glad we waited until today, but conditions are still really hard. Hopefully it’ll be fun this afternoon.”
 
World No. 2 Gabriel Medina (BRA), 22, had an extremely close encounter with rookieRyan Callinan (AUS) and narrowly edged out the Australian to follow Florence into Round 3 and keep his title hopes alive. The former WSL Champion tried to take it to the air but repeatedly missed his landings on a couple of major maneuver attempts, resorting to tight turns on the hollow faces of Supertubos to advance.
 
“It was really hard, I got two pretty bad waves but fortunately it was enough to make it through,” Medina said. “I’m stoked to be in Round 3. Everyone is good, can do airs, get barreled and do big turns so I’m just trying to get my own waves and do my best.”
 
As waves turned on Jeremy Flores (FRA), 28, blasted through the opening minutes of his battle against current World No. 3 Matt Wilkinson (AUS), to put the Australian in a 17.00 point combination situation early in the heat. The Frenchman navigated a lengthy forehand barrel and punctuated the ride with a committed floater for an excellent 9.00 point ride, and quickly backed it up with a similar barrel on his backside this time to clinch an excellent 8.00 and build the highest heat total of the day. Flores’ victory at Supertubos puts a stop to Wilkinson’s WSL Title bid in 2016.
 
“I just got lucky, I got all the waves for once!” Flores stated. “I paddled left the waves came to me, I paddled right the waves came to me so there was a lot of luck involved, I’m sure if Wilko (Matt Wilkinson) got those waves he would have done great too. It’s amazing, I feel like I haven’t won a CT heat in so long and it’s good to surf against the top guys, I really have no pressure against them, all I want to do is not finish last on the rankings.”
 
Wilkinson’s early exit in Peniche marks the end of an amazing run for a maiden WSL Title with a third 25th place result this season. The talented goofy-foot had a dreamy start with back-to-back wins on the Gold Coast and at Bells Beach, a runner-up spot in Fiji, before his season was completely turned around with repeated second and third round exits in the previous four events.
 
“That heat was very disappointing, but I’ve had a great year and it’s been so much fun being in this position,” Wilkinson admitted. “There’s still one event remaining so hopefully I can put another massive result on the board and I’d love to do well at Pipe. I’ve had the best year of my career by far and I’m excited to keep it going the next few years and hopefully find myself a World Title in the next few years.”

Just before competition was put on hold through the low tide and eventually called off for the day, Filipe Toledo (BRA), 21, easily dispatched Adam Melling (AUS), finding excellent rides to post an impressive 15.17 heat total for his place in Round 3. The defending event champion lofted a clean aerial rotation on a medium-sized right for one of his best two scores and found a long backhand tube for his second.
 
“It was a really intense day yesterday trying to get the best updates from my family,” Toledo said. “It was perfect because I watched everything on FaceTime. It was the best feeling in the world. She’s so healthy and 100% perfect -- the prettiest baby I’ve ever seen. A lot of emotions when I was paddling out today. I was just thinking about my family and I feel so blessed. I feel relaxed and happy now and I can’t wait for the next round.”
 
2012 event winner Julian Wilson (AUS) will also advance through to Round 3 after defeating Alex Ribeiro (BRA) in Heat 4.
 
Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: John John Florence (HAW) 10.54 def. Miguel Blanco (PRT) 8.60
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 9.84 def. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 9.43
Heat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 17.00 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.00
Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 8.33 def. Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 6.73
Heat 5: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.17 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 4.90
 
Upcoming Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 6: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Matt Banting (AUS)
Heat 7: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 8: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 9: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Davey Cathels (AUS)
Heat 10: Stuart Kennedy (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 11: Nat Young (USA) vs. Conner Coffin (USA)
Heat 12: Keanu Asing (HAW) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (USA

Comments

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Friday, 21 Oct 2016 at 10:01am

Just rubbish.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Friday, 21 Oct 2016 at 11:31am

Few complaints about the Gabs vs Ryan heat, but....sheesh, Ryan fell on a keeper. Makes it hard to question the outcome.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Friday, 21 Oct 2016 at 11:46am

I agree.

My limit has been 3 heats....after that I have to switch off.

It's almost comically bizarre seeing these "12" webisodes by JJF and seeing what he is capable of on a surfboard and comparing that to what the WSL is getting out of him in terms of performance by sending him in out in shitty close-outs.

mick-free's picture
mick-free's picture
mick-free Friday, 21 Oct 2016 at 12:05pm

Ryan Callinan was underscored I reckon.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Friday, 21 Oct 2016 at 12:28pm

Conceded, Ryan fell off on the first wave costing him the heat no doubt, but back to back the second wave compared to Gabs 5.67, he got the score.

I'm feeling for Adam Melling too, that guy is so underated and to make him just sit in that crap for the score he got, more or less closed the door on him for next year.

indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming Friday, 21 Oct 2016 at 12:44pm

At the very least the scores should have been a lot closer.

memlasurf's picture
memlasurf's picture
memlasurf Friday, 21 Oct 2016 at 12:46pm

Rubbish turned in on then turned if off immediately. Best surfers, best waves........yeah sure.

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Friday, 21 Oct 2016 at 12:47pm

Ryan's 5.11 score for that 3 snap wave was underscored. 

First turn was so critical and way better than Medina's check turns and sloppy air reverse ending.

Channel bottoms's picture
Channel bottoms's picture
Channel bottoms Friday, 21 Oct 2016 at 12:55pm

The Wilko heat was strange. Watching one guy get crazy barrels and the other guy finding nothing was just like watching some of my surfs where I paddle around and get nothing.

Channel bottoms's picture
Channel bottoms's picture
Channel bottoms Friday, 21 Oct 2016 at 12:56pm

From a tour perspective, broadcasting heats like the round 2 yesterday does nothing for potential sponsors. Watched a bit of the Medina v Callinan heat and turned it off, crap waves and limited potential.

simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Friday, 21 Oct 2016 at 1:39pm

Really embarrassing stuff........they would be better off with fewer contests if thats the crap there trying to sell.There must be good waves else where in Portugal.......Not only do they get to surf shit waves they have to deal with a hidden agenda in the scoring.Pretty obvious they wanted to get the final at pipe and seeing as how Tyler won the womens surfing for RipCurl poor ol Wilco was never going to be a choice so JJ for the win.Jeez when you think back poor Mick was rammed up the arse at pipe by judges favouring Medina last year.I wonder how it works in the judges area,they must discuss who they want to favour in a close heat before it starts.....rigged.

nogo's picture
nogo's picture
nogo Friday, 21 Oct 2016 at 2:22pm

If it goes to pipe JJF should take it out!!

Wharfjunkie's picture
Wharfjunkie's picture
Wharfjunkie Friday, 21 Oct 2016 at 7:40pm

Ace had a bit to say.