Fantasy Surfer: 2004 Billabong Pro JBay

JBay beauty.

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa) The Von Zipper Trials kicked off surfing action this morning at Jeffreys Bay, with round one of the Billabong Pro main event then completed. The fifth of 12 events on the 2004 Foster’s men’s ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) commenced in solid conditions.

A new swell arrived overnight as predicted, with 6ft (2m) righthanders running the length of the long point break. Hollow barrels were on offer this morning, and while slight onshore winds increased throughout the day, amazing rides entertained viewers on site, as well as the masses watching live on www.billabongpro.com.

The Von Zipper Trials had three wildcard positions up for grabs, with 10 surfers vying for the chance to compete against the world’s best. South African giant killer Sean Holmes (Wilderness, ZAF) again displayed his commanding presence at J-Bay by winning the opening heat, while Ricky Basnett (Durban, ZAF) did likewise in the second. Billabong team rider Bede Durbidge (Gold Coast, Aus) also advanced with the highest second place points.

Reigning two-time world champion Andy Irons (Kauai, HAW) then broke the voodoo VZ Trialist Holmes had on him, winning their heat against Lee Winkler (Coffs Harbour, AUS). Following two consecutive 17th place losses to the wildcard at J-Bay, Irons flew to South Africa a week early this year and just a few days ago won the 6-Star World Qualifying Series (WQS) event at nearby Durban. With added confidence and always critical surfing, the Kauaian then posted the highest combined heat score of the day with 16.6-points.

“The curse is over,” began a confident Irons. “He was up two years in a row, and I think he’ll have a hard second round draw, so hopefully he doesn’t make it to the third round. I wasn’t relaxed at all then, and haven’t done anything different, but just had really bad luck the past couple of years. Stoked to be past the 17th round and hope to keep going.

“It’s always nice to win and when you do, you feel good,” he added, of his J-Bay preparation in Durban. “Maybe it added a bit of confidence, but the waves are very different from there to here. I think it was a good warm up, just to be surfing heats as we’d had a bit of a break.”

Six-time world champ and defending Billabong Pro winner Kelly Slater (FL, USA) announced his return to Jeffreys with a commanding performance over wildcard Ricky Basnett and Brazilian Victor Ribas. The 32-year-old generated incredible speed out of virtually every maneuver he executed, posting the day’s second best total.

Von Zipper admission ticket

“It feels good to be back here,” began Slater. “When you get the right section out there you want to tear the wave apart. I didn’t get great waves then and fell on my best one, so feel I had a lot more potential than what I scored. It was a good warm up. Last year here was really the pinnacle of my campaign, of competition surfing for me, so if I can keep that feeling… I think my equipment is even better this year, so we’ll see what happens.”

Joel Parkinson (Gold Coast, AUS) showed similar form to when he won the 1999 Billabong Pro tournament as a wildcard, beating Neco Padaratz (BRA) and local favorite Greg Emslie (RSA) this morning. The 23-year-old missed the previous two WCT events due to the impending birth of his first child – after winning the second tournament at Bells Beach, Australia - but with daughter Evie healthy at home with mother Monica, Joel is back to work and hungry to climb the ratings and give this year’s world title race a serious challenge.

“I was pretty much foaming at the mouth to compete and get out there this morning,” admitted Parkinson. “It was really cool to watch the last couple events on the Internet, and so good to see from an outside perspective. It looks like we’re in the best sport in the world and I couldn’t wait to get back (laughs). I’m so glad to be here and get my campaign back on track. I love this wave and it really suits the way I surf.”

Last year’s Billabong Pro runner-up Damien Hobgood (FL, USA), who won his maiden WCT event in Fiji last month, continued the winning run with a solid victory over Shane Beschen (USA) and Richie Lovett (Manly, AUS). Despite creasing a surfboard on his second ride, the goofy footer made the necessary equipment change and then came alive with a series of brilliant backhand re-entries to secure the best single score of 8.83 for a round three berth.

“I’ve never been so excited to come to an event,” said Hobgood. “I wanted the contest to start three weeks ago, so I could back up my last result. I love this place and the events’ been really good to me. Every heat I feel like I have something to prove, but the confidence is there now.”

1999 world champion Mark Occhilupo (Gold Coast, AUS), who won the inaugural J-Bay tournament a remarkable 20-years ago in 1984, continues to be one of the main threats even as the oldest competitor. Against Brazilians Armando Daltro and Peterson Rosa, the 38-year-old goofy footer carved his backhand tracks through the solid wave faces to move directly into round three.

“It’s great to be back at J-Bay for sure,” began Occhilupo. “We arrived right on time for swell. I haven’t done well here for so long, and it’s funny since I won it 20-years ago. It would be great to do good again.

“No different, whatsoever,” he reasoned, of how he feels all these years later at J-Bay. “The boards are better now, so I almost feel better. My balance is still there and everything feels the same, it’s great.”

Nathan Hedge (Narrabeen, AUS) was another major standout today, marking his return to competition - after a dislocated shoulder injury in Tahiti kept him out of the last tournament in Fiji - with a convincing win. The powerful goofy footer locked in an 8.5 to beat Trent Munro (Scott’s Head, AUS) and Bruce Irons (Kauai, HAW).

All the action from the Billabong Pro will be streamed live on www.billabongpro.com. These productions include three camera angles, live commentary in English, Spanish and Portuguese, up to the minute scoring, replays of rides, a fan club and email messages from around the planet broadcast over the event PA system and the web.

Billabong Pro Round One Heats (1st>Rnd3; 2nd, 3rd>Rnd2)

• H1: Michael Lowe (AUS) 12.17; Chris Davidson (AUS) 10.0; Michael Campbell (AUS) 7.4
• H2: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 13.0; Luke Egan (AUS) 8.33; Eric Rebiere (FRA) 7.9
• H3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.37; Neco Padaratz (BRA) 13.0; Greg Emslie (ZAF) 7.9
• H4: Luke Hitchings (AUS) 11.67; Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.67; Tim Curran (USA) 6.4
• H5: Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.16; Shane Beschen (USA) 11.0; Richard Lovett (AUS) 10.47
• H6: Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 12.67; Armando Daltro (BRA) 8.54; Peterson Rosa (BRA) 8.26
• H7: Shane Powell (AUS) 11.76; Sunny Garcia (HAW) 11.33; Taylor Knox (USA) 10.74
• H8: Andy Irons (HAW) 16.6; Lee Winkler (AUS) 9.2; Sean Holmes (ZAF) 8.6
• H9: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.33; Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 11.33; Victor Ribas (BRA) 8.5
• H10: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.67; Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.93; Pat O'Connell (USA) 10.34
• H11: Dean Morrison (AUS) 14.6; Tom Whitaker (AUS) 14.33; Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 12.5
• H12: Nathan Hedge (AUS) 15.67; Trent Munro (AUS) 8.6; Bruce Irons (HAW) 5.86
• H13: Nathan Webster (AUS) 11.53; Daniel Wills (AUS) 11.06; Marcelo Nunes (BRA) 8.03
• H14: Jake Paterson (AUS) 14.84; Cory Lopez (USA) 12.5; Darren O'Rafferty (AUS) 8.53
• H15: Troy Brooks (AUS) 14.1; Kalani Robb (HAW) 11.44; Guilherme Herdy (BRA) 11.0
• H16: Toby Martin (AUS) 12.24; Paulo Moura (BRA) 9.34; Beau Emerton (AUS) 4.67

Von Zipper Trials (1st & Highest 2nd>Billabong Pro)

• H1: Sean Holmes (ZAF) 15.66; Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.54; Norimasa Ohno (JPN) 10.4; Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF) 6.9; Warwick Wright (ZAF) 5.0
• H2: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 12.67; Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.33; Tiago Pires (PRT) 10.56; Ryan Payne (ZAF) 9.16; TJ Barron (HAW) 8.56