SURFERMAG.COM PRO TOUR UPDATES

Tuesday, September 28, 2004 (Seignosse, France) The Quiksilver Pro continued today in France, with many top seeds eliminated. All 16 heats of round two in the Foster’s men’s ASP World Championship Tournament (WCT) were completed.

Hollow 4ft (1.3m) waves were breaking this morning just south of ‘La Guardians’ site, at ‘Les Culs Nus’ (Hossegor’s nude beach). As the higher tide filled in, organizers were again forced to relocate further north to ‘Le Penon’.

World #4 Joel Parkinson (Gold Coast, AUS) won the day’s opening, eagerly awaited showdown against three-time world champion and Quiksilver Pro wildcard Tom Curren (CA, USA). With long, hollow righthanders on offer, it appeared the perfect stage for both stylish surfers to perform. Unfortunately, almost half the 30-minute heat elapsed prior to any good waves being ridden. ‘Parko’ took the lead following a 6.83 score, and then surged ahead with a 9.17 ride – highlighted by a big forehand carve, clean tube and a couple of snaps. Curren also surfed great on what he caught, but ultimately required anther score worth 9.17-points himself.

“It was definitely a big heat for me,” acknowledged Parkinson. “Tom Curren was one of my heroes as a kid, and my favorite surf movie is ‘Searching For Tom Curren’. I was pretty nervous, especially after seeing the few warm-up waves he caught beforehand, as he was ripping. I was lucky enough to get that real good one, and he wasn’t able to find ones like that. Thankfully I’m through, and now I have something to tell the grandchildren (laughs).”

France’s sole representative on the WCT, Eric Rebiere, gave the strong beach crowd something to cheer about this morning. Against West Australian Jake Paterson in what proved another slow heat for waves, the Brazilian-born French resident utilized priority towards heats’ end to post a 5.2 and take control. Despite catching another good righthander, ‘Jake the Snake’ was unable to better his position and suffered a second 33rd finish this season. For Rebiere, who’s currently rated 45th, the win equals his best result to date.

“I’m pretty stoked cause I haven’t been making many heats, and its great to be at home,” said Rebiere. “My friends support me a lot here, so it is really special. We didn’t have many waves in that heat, and in the end I only needed a three, so when priority changed I was able to get a little righthander and the score. I thought Jake was going to make a big score on the next set wave, but he didn’t, so I was lucky. Many heats this year I’ve lost by small amounts, so finally things went my way. I hope good waves continue for the rest of the contest.”

Brazilian Armando Daltro created another upset, eliminating ratings #6 Damien Hobgood (FL, USA). The current ratings #46 is another yet to progress past round three this year, and will have to beat six-time world champion Kelly Slater (FL, USA) next to do so in France.

“I’m very happy to make it,” began Daltro. “It’s always hard to beat the top guys on the ratings, but I try to do my best and focus on my own surfing. I was lucky to get a good wave at the start of that heat with Damien, so I could relax and wait for another. I’ll have Kelly next, so it’s going to be hard for sure.”

Current ratings #5 Nathan Hedge (Narrabeen, AUS) overcame the other local French wildcard and Trials runner-up Frederic Robin this morning. The Australian studied conditions and was able to pick off a couple of rare lefthanders for an early lead he capitalized on. He next faces fellow Australian Luke Hitchings, after the current ratings #40 accounted for 1999 world champion Mark Occhilupo in another upset.

“Conditions in France change every half-an-hour, so you’ve got to be flexible and have plan A and plan B ready to go,” reasoned Hedge. “I’d class Fred Robin as one of the better French surfers there is, and as a wildcard he had nothing to lose. That was the first time I’ve really encountered that kind of scenario, since I’m up on the ratings, and it definitely put the pressure on. Sort of good for you as well, as it makes you step it up a bit.”

Other big winners today included Australian Danny Wills and Brazilian Raoni Monteiro, who are now pitted against each other in round three. Former Quiksilver Pro winner Neco Padaratz (BRA) secured a third round berth, edging out Cory Lopez (FL, USA); while Luke Egan (AUS) also progressed to face Bruce Irons (HAW) next. 2000 world champion Sunny Garcia (HAW) also displayed top form, posting a 9.17 ride en-route to defeating Trent Munro (AUS).

The Quiksilver Pro France will have 5 languages for its live Internet webcast including English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Japanese: www.quiksilver.com/profrance.

Swell forecasts at: http://www.swellnet.com.au/events/quiksilverfranceforecast.htm

Quiksilver Pro France Round Two Heats (1st>Rnd3; 2nd=33rd receives US$3,400)

• H1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.0 def. Tom Curren (USA) 13.16
• H2: Nathan Hedge (AUS) 14.5 def. Frederic Robin (FRA) 10.0
• H3: Armando Daltro (BRA) 13.6 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 9.67
• H4: Eric Rebiere (FRA) 10.03 def. Jake Paterson (AUS) 9.33
• H5: Luke Hitchings (AUS) 12.5 def. Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 9.76
• H6: Luke Egan (AUS) 15.57 def. Beau Emerton (AUS) 11.83
• H7: Daniel Wills (AUS) 17.1 def. Toby Martin (AUS) 12.76
• H8: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 12.84 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 12.43
• H9: Lee Winkler (AUS) 13.67 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 11.54
• H10: Marcelo Nunes (BRA) 13.83 def. Paulo Moura (BRA) 9.06
• H11: Neco Padaratz (BRA) 15.6 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 14.44
• H12: Victor Ribas (BRA) 11.5 def. Pat O'Connell (USA) 8.17
• H13: Troy Brooks (AUS) 13.93 def. Richard Lovett (AUS) 13.5
• H14: Sunny Garcia (HAW) 16.17 def. Trent Munro (AUS) 12.67
• H15: Michael Campbell (AUS) 14.07 def. Kalani Robb (HAW) 14.07 (on best three-wave countback)
• H16: Tim Curran (USA) 13.83 def. Darren O'Rafferty (AUS) 11.44