Huge upsets as final 12 decided at Drug Aware Margaret River Pro
MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia (Sunday, April 6, 2014): After a thrilling showdown in the Women’s Final earlier in the day, Men’s Round 3 saw 12 surfers leave the competition. There were major upsets with a re-surf of Heat 1 and the elimination of top seeds Taj Burrow, Mick Fanning and Julian Wilson, as well as standout performances from Yadin Nicol and Gabriel Medina.
Following an unfortunate incident where Taj Burrow (AUS) became entangled in Bede Durbidge's (AUS) leash while paddling with priority for a potentially heat-changing wave, event officials organized a re-surf of Round 3 Heat 1. The re-surf saw Burrow come out of the gates firing in an attempt to secure his place in Round 4, detonating a 7.33 and 7.60 with his signature forehand flare. Durbidge had a 6.60 in his scoreline, and was in need of an excellent score in the final minutes of the affair to ensure victory. Durbidge delivered, detonating an incredible 8.60 for a series of powerful forehang gouges, surpassing Burrow for the lead and taking his place in Round 4 where will face Josh Kerr and Jordy Smith.
“It was definitely not the way I saw today going,” said Bede Durbidge. “It was really hard on me and hard on Taj (Burrow). It was a very unfortunate thing that happened. I just had to dig deep because I didn’t want to surf or go back out there. I put my head down, dusted myself off and got back to surfing. It was pretty draining and I’m going to sleep well tonight. I wasn’t going to lose that Heat, I felt that I deserved to get through and I didn’t do anything wrong this morning. I wanted to be in Round 4 and I’m glad I’m there.”
Yadin Nicol (AUS) delivered a mind-blowing performance in Round 3 Heat 6, upsetting reigning three-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS). Nicol posted the day's high scores by launching a huge, full rotation aerial on his first maneuver followed by a series of frontside bashes for a near-perfect 9.77. The score left Fanning in search of a combination of scores and was unable to deliver. Nicol sails through to Round 4 where he will face Miguel Pupo and Gabriel Medina.
“I was scared the whole Heat and I’m really happy to win,” said Yadin Nicol. “Mick (Fanning) and I had a good battle at Pipe and and he’s such a good competitor. I feel less pressure now and I can surf a little freer. I grew up here and I feel so comfortable at Margaret River. I know which waves to go for and that helps.”
“I surf here at Margaret River lot and I’ve been here many times,” said Mick Fanning. “I know it’s a tricky wave and I just got beaten here on the day. It will be good to go home for a while before Bells Beach. The next stop is always a good event for me and it’s like a second home so I’m looking forward to it. I hope we get some good waves and all the best to Yadin (Nicol) for the rest of the event.”
Heat 9 was battle between progressive regular footers Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Julian Wilson (AUS) with one standout wave from each competitor combined with a series of small backups. Wilson was first to strike, delivering a series of precise forehand blows, establishing a lead via a 7.17. The young Brazilian was able to answer, however, unloading a massive forehand gouge followed by a full rotation air for an 8.00, overtaking Wilson for the Heat win and a place in Round 4.
“I woke up in the morning and my shoulder was hurting really badly,” said Filipe Toledo. “I didn’t surf for two days. I’m feeling a lot of pain but I tried to do some airs and it worked so I’m pleased. I was really confident for this contest and this is a good start for me. I’m really excited to be here with all the Brazilians.”
A next-generation battle unfolded in Heat 5, with current ASP WCT No. 1 Gabriel Medina (BRA) up against prodigious Hawaiian John John Florence on the rights at Main Break. Medina gave one of the standout performances of the day and was first to strike in the Heat with a series of backhand blasts for a 7.67. He quickly found a 5-point backup ride to solidify an early lead. Florence answered with a series of turns and big forehand air for an 8.50 but Medina was able to reclaim his lead with a backhand snap to air-reverse combo for an 8.77. Medina secured victory over Florence and a place Round 4.
“I was nervous when I found out I was going to surf against John John (Florence),” said Gabriel Medina. “It’s always hard to face him because he’s an amazing surfing. We’ve had a lot of matchups against each other and we’re really competitive. I just try and focus on my own game and do the best I can. It’s great to surf against someone like John John because we push each other and it’s always exciting”.
11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) also moves through to Round 4 after a relatively low-scoring affair against Jadson Andre (BRA). Slater was first to score with his venomous forehand attack, locking in a 5 and 6. Andre answered back with a five of his own and found a wave in the dying seconds but fell shy of the 7 he needed to win. Slater will face Michel Bourez and Filipe Toledo in the next Round while Andre leaves in equal 13th place.
“I felt like I surfed okay on what I had but the sections weren’t coming together on the right angles for me,” said Kelly Slater. “This wave is so tricky, it’s really difficult. I keep coming too hard off the bottom and you really can’t do a deep bottom turn because there’s no lip up there. You really have to wait for those steep sections. I cna see it from the beach but being out there is a different story”.
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Round 3 Results:
Heat 1 Re-Surf: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.20 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.90
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.23 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 6.23
Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.10 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 9.67
Heat 4: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 11.34 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.67
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.44 def. John John Florence (HAW) 13.00
Heat 6 : Yadin Nicol (AUS) 16.94 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 9.83
Heat 7: Kelly Slater (USA) 12.56 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 10.47
Heat 8: Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.87 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 9.70
Heat 9: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 12.57 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 12.00
Heat 10: Nat Young (USA) 12.26 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 11.03
Heat 11: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 12.50 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 11.40
Heat 12: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.50 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 5.23
Comments
Has Drug Aware or the WA government or whoever sponsors the comp signed a multi-year deal? Anyone know? Because Margs is a really boring wave to watch unless its 8ft+. I hope it's just a one off contest.
ttbb it wouldn't be boring if held at The Box or Northies, like every place just need to get the conditions. I recall Bells being pretty boring to watch when small and onshore Rincon which has been the case a few times recently. Give the comp a chance, it's good to see something on the west coast for a change.
They were interviewing some bloke from the Drug Aware program yesterday and he said that they (insinuating WA Health, or an equivalent governmental department) have been associated with the event for 20 years or thereabouts. So, I doubt its a one-off.
I meant a one off as a WCT contest. Does anyone know if this is a multi-year deal or not?
I heard WA Govt signed a 3 year deal
Agree top to bottom, not the most captivating spectator wave when small. I'm calling it is even worse live, the action is so far away it's like watching a flea circus.
But if WA must have a comp I'm glad it's there
I also wonder how much return the gov is getting on its Drug Aware advertising. Can just imagine all the bongs being binned cape to Cape .
It is unfortunate that the swell has been a little inconsistent and winds unfavorable at times, but I have enjoyed watching the contest and the power surfing both online and on Fuel TV. I hope they have signed a 3 year deal for the WCT, just to be able to hopefully see the guys out at The Box!
Hopefully Yadon can continue on now Taj is out!
Actually Blowin, it's interesting you ask "how much return the gov is getting on its Drug Aware advertising".
One of the things about these kinds of international events is that naming rights sponsors are really suited to global brands, because the international reach of each competition. Which makes a lot of the localised advertising (HIF, for example) kind of pointless when its being broadcast to thousands of people in Brazil and the USA.
So, even if the WA Government were able to ascertain just how effective their campaign was (originating from the Margs event), would they be able to break it down to WA audiences? Because I presume that's what their KPIs would be derived from. Anything other benefits of the 'Drug Aware' message extending to regions outside of WA would be gratuitous.
Hey, guys, i don´t know if protesting brings solutions, but at least i do my part:
http://realsurfing.blogspot.com.br/2014/04/asp-judging-problems-its-on.html
I´m pissed!
The irony of you criticising biased commentary and judging while your bias shines through is stark.
Agreed lostdoggy.
If I remember correctly the commentators both stated "The judges may get the scores wrong, but they get the heat winners right"
If there is two things JamesB hates it's rascism and non Brazilians
You couldn't be more correct there. Playing favourites is fucked unless its for Gabby!!! just ask old mate on his blog
Just let me know when its over and who won, i have dutch blood so im saving my bandwidth on this one.
Underwhelming contest all round unfortunately. Must be killing the organisers. Unless it is dropping out of the sky, Margaret's is really average to watch (max 2 turns, 3 if really lucky). Bells often gets a pasting however it is in another hemisphere compared to Margaret's. It and winky leave Margs for dead. The box would be good but soooooo inconsistent, fall asleep waiting for a set, which seems to be the case for the area in general (the lulls are killing it, I don't think they have had one consistent day). It is still better than Trestles though, that is the bottom of the barrel, never big enough and too soft for these guys.
Let me guess you live on the east coast. What is it with the west coast bashing, firstly sharks and now Margs is copping it. Feel free to bash away, we know what we have.
From Victoria actually, and don't worry we get abused all the time from our northern brethren: too cold. changeable weather, I love it, bring it on. Not bashing WA just margs as a venue for this type of event. WA has great waves think Margaret River is one of them. Some of you guys from WA seem very sensitive to any constructive criticism. Bells has copped a hammering of abuse over the years much of it warranted, however for the last 5 years it has delivered the goods. It is doable on small waves, Margaret river isn't in my opinion. And I forgot trestles isn't the worst, Brazil by a country mile.
No not sensitive just disagree with the comments (not only from yourself) that Margs is not a good venue, I hope you watched round 5 (granted it was held at The Box) and the final day, it was pumping and if you listened to any of the surfers most of them enjoyed surfing Margs (not sure Pupo enjoyed The Box, he got worked). BTW I'm not sure your comments were constructive but hey. You know what it comes down to, timing, we just had a macking swell hit yesterday with prime conditions so if the comp had been 5 days later then the pros would have been running for cover...it probably would have been moved to Nth Point where you would have seen some solid caves coming through and everyone would have been raving. Margs is the only place DS WA where you can host an event due to it's reliability and accessibility. Both Bells and Margs deserve comps for their own reasons. And you are right, Brazil is the worst stop by a country mile!!!
I'm not sure that regular Nth Point punters would be stoked with the ASP taking over there .....
They should be able to get over it for a day, they have the rest of the winter to score it.
and how often does it break , without a screaming SE - SSE wind on it ... I reckon light E winds and solid swell is rare , especially SW swell .