Tricky barrels score high on opening day at Supertubos, World Title race resumes
SUPERTUBOS, Peniche/Portugal (Tuesday, October 14, 2014): The Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal got underway today in wind-affected 3-to-5 foot waves at the iconic Supertubos in Peniche, and completed the opening round of competition.
Stop No. 10 of 11 on the Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour, the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal, could see a World Champion crowned. With just seven surfers remaining in contention to clinch the coveted trophy, only Gabriel Medina has the chance to take the ASP World Title in Portugal.
In one of the most highly anticipated match-ups of the day, 11-time ASP World Champion and current World No. 2 Kelly Slater took on Matt Wilkinson and event wildcard Nic Von Rupp. Wilkinson found a deep barrel to launch his campaign and net a near-perfect 9.57. With the World Title race on the line Slater kept scouring the Supertubos lineup and eventually found his own radical late-drop to barrel for an even higher 9.67 and the heat win. Slater advances directly to Round 3 thanks to his two-wave heat total of 17.00, the highest of the day, while Wilkinson and Von Rupp will surf again in Round 2.
“It’s always tough in conditions like this and even more so when a guy starts out with almost a 10-point score,” said Slater. “I just wanted to get myself going, get some waves and start feeling the flow. Gabriel Medina is a real competitor. He wants to win the title more than anyone, and at his age I was the same exact way. You can see that he loves to surf, he loves to get better and improve what he is already doing and he’s got crazy skills.”
Jordy Smith opened his account with a solid 7.33 for a succession of powerful gauges on his forehand to take an early lead over Australians Mitch Crews and Adrian Buchan. Smith, who kept his momentum going after a fifth place in Cascais last week, followed his opener by launching into a massive aerial rotation and landing it right on the wave’s critical point to collect a 9.27 and the win.
“I had a good start, it’s pretty tricky out there, so you need to make sure you fit your turns in really sharp and really quick,” said Smith. “The wave picked up at the back and gave me a lot of speed, so I thought I’d try to get a big turn in. I threw caution to the wind and ended up sticking it. It came out a 9.20 so I was really pumped to hear that.”
Current rankings leader Gabriel Medina, bearing the yellow jersey in Peniche, displayed the full array of his talents in a tricky Supertubos lineup. Medina used his repertoire of barrels, turns and aerial maneuvers to defeat defending event champion Kai Otton and dangerous wildcard Jacob Willcox and earn a pass straight to Round 3.
“Its pretty difficult out there, you have to be in the right spot at the right time,” said Medina. “I got lucky in that one so I’m stoked that I made it through. The fans here are really passionate about surfing and the sport. I really like the support I’m getting, it doesn't put more pressure on me, it’s motivating me and I feel good.”
Jadson Andre was first to take to the water in Round 1 and found the clean barrels and big scores on offer at Supertubos. In a moving lineup, Andre was able to get one back on John John Florence, after their clash in the Quiksilver Pro France final. Fresh from victory at the ASP Qualification Series Prime event, the Cascais Billabong Pro, Andre used his momentum to take the win and will avoid elimination Round 2.
Sebastian Zietz took control of his heat in the opening minutes with a long beautiful barrel for an excellent 8.17. Backing it up quickly with yet another clean exit on a Supertubos drainer, Zietz pushed reigning three-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning and Raoni Monteiro against the ropes, eventually relegating them to Round 2.
“I was watching the waves and it just started cleaning up,” said Zietz. “I was hunting for the barrels, like I do at home everyday. Supertubos reminds me a little bit of my local beach break. Hopefully I can get a result here, so I don't have to do the Prime in Brazil and I can go home a little sooner.”
Owen Wright rounded up the day’s action with an impressive win over local favourite Tiago Pires and former event finalist Nat Young. Wright and Pires went head-to-head in a couple of exchanges, the Portuguese getting the best of it for the first half of the heat. Wright took things to the air and posted his first major score of 7.33, before following it up with an excellent 8.83 for a series of tail slides, laybacks and solid carves for the win.
“I felt great, the conditions are really tough but it felt great to be here again, I haven’t been in Peniche for two years,” Wright said. “It’s good to be back surfing in these waves, I love these conditions. Straight away Tiago started with a 7 and I needed to catch him. But these conditions allow it, and I came back with a 5 and 6 and eventually a 7 and an 8. There were barrels, and airs and turns, I just was ready for anything really.”
Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 1 Results (1st advances directly to Round 3, 2nd and 3rd to Round 2):
- Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.10, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 8.97, Travis Logie (ZAF) 7.37
- Heat 2: Jadson Andre (BRA) 15.93, Brett Simpson (USA) 12.60, John John Florence (HAW) 11.10
- Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.83, C.J Hobgood (USA) 9.24, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 8.47
- Heat 4: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 16.10, Mick Fanning (AUS) 10.66, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 4.83
- Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.00, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 16.07, Nic Von Rupp (PRT) 7.50
- Heat 6: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.27, Kai Otton (AUS) 12.83, Jacob Willcox (AUS) 8.43
- Heat 7: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.33, Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 8.73, Michel Bourez (PYF) 7.53
- Heat 8: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 12.83, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 10.60, Julian Wilson (AUS) 9.56
- Heat 9: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.60, Mitch Crews (AUS) 12.83, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 7.60
- Heat 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.60, Adam Melling (AUS) 10.50, Kolohe Andino (USA) 7.37
- Heat 11: Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.13, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.00, Dion Atkinson (AUS) 10.60
- Heat 12: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.16, Tiago Pires (PRT) 12.93, Nat Young (USA) 10.27
Comments
Was a bit surprised Slater got a 9.67 for his little barrel - thought Wilko's was better.
i think if they needed to get Wilko through the event to force the world title race to Pipe Kelly's score may have been a little different.
Sorry that theory doesn't hold true, The ASP wouldn't risk him or help him get closer to getting another world tittle just for a show down at pipe, if we are talking conspiracy theories id be more inclined to suggest in france Kelly was underscored to avoid the risk of him getting his 12th world tittle.
Why? Because if Kelly wins another world tittle he will most likely retire, if he doesn't win the competitive beast he is, means he may keep going, which is good for ASP, If Medina wins the tittle with how passionate Brazilians are about sport, it will be a huge plus for the ASP, viewers = sponsorship etc
I didn't see Wilkos wave but Kelly got the score because he pulled of the impossible take off under almost pulled through the lip and super deep then made it, on a rare gem amongst crappy closeouts.
Copy and paste of what I wrote from last nights JJ thread while watching the webcast-
'Total bullshit! Kelly gets a 7.33 for a late hit off the lip and a mediocre turn at the end.
Wilko smashes one off the top and pulls air reverse. 6.5.
Bollocks.'
I stand by it and what you two blokes mentioned above.
I would disagree on the barrels. Wilkos was a nice big open one but the judges give big scores for takeoffs like Kellys, and rightly so it was late as you can get
What about the difference between Kellys mistimed lipper and Wilkos vert backhand smash and clean air reverse? The barrels were close though.
just dug up the turns... Agree they should definitely have gone in Wilko's favour for sure. both of kellys turns weren't timed well and ended up looking average, low scoring wave. Wilko belted the shit out of that firs section and then finished cleanly. The judges don't seem to score the finishing air reverses high if they are on a little section like that. But combined with a hit like that surely its better than two late floaters.
Wilko for PM
I thought that lately Adriano's style had improved so much but yesterday it was back to that ugly arm waving ,squatting thing he used to do. I hope its only the waves .
And please somebody tell Jadson there is a thing called style. The guy rips the bag out of it but sometimes it is difficult to watch . They could both take style lessons from Pupo .
Looks like the rest of the waiting period is gonna be a write-off - heaps of swell but onshore. Anyone know if the backup venue of Belgas will handle the wind better or if they can move it to somewhere that does? Otherwise looks like a contest to miss....
I really do like watching some of the best guys in the world surfing but in waves like they have now its a real chore . Maybe the can move it to Wave Garden ! I am not serious .
Oh that got me laughing. MORE MORE!!
I totally agree with you indo-dreaming. Absolutely spot on.
And to all you Slater haters. BOO-HOO
Not a Slater-hater Evo, far from it. Kelly is probably one of my all time favs but just thought the judges, in the words of my Californian mate here, 'juiced' him in that heat.
Tricky barrels rated higher scores in this Portugal test match, but were seriously underscored in the French edition?
Ok fine, judges, we got it, you haven't a clue....
Or any semblance of consistency.
The mysteries of the judging tower will forever be.
Can anybody shed any light as to why this contest hasnt been moved ot the backup site which is offshore on the southerly (and has been pumping!)? Given that there are 8+ days of southerly forecast I thought this would be an obvious call... Cant seem to get any sense out of the ASP website...
Asked the same question a few days ago on this forum but no takers - so Belgas handles a southerly? If it does then I dont understand why it hasn't been moved there either - unless there has been too much swell?
Is Belgas where this footage is from? http://vimeo.com/108867044
I am pretty sure it is. On the ASP morning show yesterday Nic Von Rupp went to the 'backup site' and scored. Was definately that wave - they even posted a pic of a barrel of his there, but not the whole sesison. Looked really, really good. The only reasons I could figure for not moving were 1) cost of moving infrastructure was too much, 2) for some reason event organisers wanted it to be held at Peniche at the expense of better waves or 3) Belgas wouldnt handle the big swell we will see over the next two days...
But I still have not had a clear answer to what I thought was an obvious quesiton... Where's the commissioner when you need him!!
http://www.aspworldtour.com/#!state=%2Fposts%2F74789%2Fvon-rupps-curtain...
One would hope the answer would be 3) otherwise not much point having a backup venue.
Seems they missed the boat on the 13th tho!
Sick little vid, how fun do those waves look!!
http://www.foxsports.com.au/what-the-fox/kelly-slater-mick-fanning-taj-b...
I reckon this Vid sums up why the contest should have been moved.
Same footage as maddogs.
If it is in fact true, how can the ASP be taken seriously when this sort of shit happens. It's either mobile or it's not.
Eddie's not a happy camper....
http://stabmag.com/eddie-rothman-is-displeased-with-the-asp/
Which begs the question - why has Pipe allowed 8 wildcards and 4 man heats in the past? Also seems the only sport where you can represent Hawaii and not the US?
And it's off again for the day - still no Belgas. Surely they will run it there tomorrow with southerlies forecast! Saw a Nic Von Rupp edit that said Belgas faced NW.
South Park did a show on Rothman. The full episode is classic.
Here's a clip.
Another lay-day session...guess the event isn't mobile after all
http://www.coastalwatch.com/surfing/13566/gallery-john-john-surfs-big-pa...
I thought rothman was from Texas originally? Or somewhere like that. Correct me if I'm wrong but did not think he is Hawaiian.
Can't believe stalker got knocked out in Rd 3 straight after medinas rd 3 loss. You would have thought slater would have jumped at that opportunity!!!
Great result last night, Medina out, Kelly Out, tittle will be decided at pipe, i like that.
JJF into next round, hope he wins it, if he wins this and pipe can he be world champ?
Mick heat still to come.
Good result, and Medina in his cockiness thought he had the win so went in on the beach 2.5 min early.