2003 BILLABONG PRO JBAY: Slaters Slays 'Em

Despite flashes, AI goes down.

Sunday July 20, 2003 (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa) South African wildcard Sean Holmes created another sensation today by eliminating reigning world champ Andy Irons (Kauai, Haw) from the Billabong Pro. The US$250,000 World Championship Tournament (WCT) kicked off this morning with remaining round two heats, then progressed straight into the third with upsets and excitement throughout.

Solid 8ft (2.5m) surf was on offer all day. Clean conditions persisted until onshore winds arrived around noon, but great waves continued nonetheless.

Holmes - the sole South African remaining in the contest - cemented his giant killing reputation by eliminating Irons as he did last year in round three. The 25-year-old again proved worthy of his replacement spot in this year's tournament by creating a lead midway through the highly anticipated rematch. He then bettered his position by posting a second 7.33 score before the ocean went uncharacteristically flat for almost 8-minutes. The world champ caught another smaller ride at the end, but wasn't able to improve his position.

"I'm pretty stoked as Andy is really difficult to beat," said Holmes. "It could have gone either way with conditions like this, so there was no reason why I couldn't win. Everyone knows he's the kind of surfer that could come up with a perfect 10 in the last 30-seconds of heat, so luckily for me it didn't happen for him today.

"There were such high expectations, but I'm just going out there to surf," he continued. "It's such a pleasure for me to be able to surf against all these guys, and to beat them like last year is great. Makes me feel if I was surfing the contests all around the world I could be doing pretty good."

Irons - winner of three from five WCT's this season, including the past two - posted the heat's best single score for an 8.5 at the start, but then fell on a crucial wave midway through. He required a 6.16 for the final 9-minutes and sat out the back nervously waiting. As the final minute approached he milked his last wave for all its worth, but only collected a 4.83 score and was forced to accept his second consecutive defeat at J-Bay to Holmes.

"I had a bad heat, he beat me, and it's over," said a somber Irons afterward. "I don't know... everyone was cursing me, wanting me to lose, and it happened. J-Bay is a great wave, but I don't do well here and it's never given me any luck.

"He's real nice and I couldn't think of a better guy to beat me, but it's really sour in my mouth right now," he added. "I don't really like losing, but hopefully he goes on to win the contest and takes everyone else out, so the (ratings) points won't move around too much. I'm really bummed right now and just want to get on the first flight home."

WCT 'Rookie' Tom Whitaker (Bronte, Aus) later caused another major upset by eliminating defending Billabong Pro champ and current ratings #2 Mick Fanning (Gold Coast, Aus). The powerful natural footer earned an 8.0 early on, and despite falling on another great wave, locked in a 7.33 for a lead he never lost. Fanning posted the best single score with an amazing series of floaters and a critical snap for 9.33-points, but was unable to better his lowest score of 5.17 during the final 6-minutes to advance.

"Every wave was pretty much rippable out there, and I knew Mick... he's such an electric surfer he could get a nine easily," said Whitaker. "I was pretty lucky to hold on at the end, but I'll take it. I haven't got through a heat all year, so I feel like I'm on a bit of a roll now. If the waves come my way I think I can take down some of the guys. It's a pretty good feeling."

Six-time world champion Kelly Slater (FL, USA) put on an amazing performance this morning. The Floridian sat further inside than opponent Lee Winkler (Aus) - who picked off a great outside wave and found a tube, before carving his way down the line for a 9.0. Not to be outdone, Slater answered back with a couple of huge gouges and somehow landed the most critical of floaters, free-falling approximately six feet to receive a 9.5. He then kept the pressure on with two more strong waves, before paddling into a wedging inside bowl. The 31-year-old immediately disappeared behind the barreling section for a good five-seconds and then found another tube and executed a big snap for the first perfect 10 of the Billabong Pro and combined total of 19.5 out of a possible 20-points.

"Lee was way out the back, but I'd surfed J-Bay a few years ago in the Billabong Challenge (specialty event) when the conditions were similar, so I stayed wide," began Slater. "'Wink' ended up getting a really long one with a barrel, but I think it got scored a little high. I didn't think my next wave was worth a 9.5, but they had to give me that to fit their scale. Then towards the end I got this wave that was just perfect (laughs). I saw it lining up and doubling up, so I just paddled my heart out to catch it and it was an epic wave."

1999 world champ Mark Occhilupo (Gold Coast, Aus) then put on a flawless display of backhand surfing against fellow Australian Trent Munro (Scotts Head). The 1984 event winner remains a favorite for the 2003 tournament, and after collecting an 8.67 and then a 9.0, he will now face Slater in round four's most anticipated match-up.

"I felt really good," said Occhilupo afterwards. "My scores got progressively better, and then on my last 9.0 I felt as good as I could almost get. I had a ball out there. A lot of guys are riding longer boards, but I'm staying on my normal board. I think I have the weight to keep it in and I just like that little disc feeling. I'll kind of let my body do the surfing more than the board."

Perhaps the greatest appraisal of Occhilupo's form came from Slater himself.

"Occy's the toughest draw at Jeffreys Bay. Put him on a wave out here and he's pretty unbeatable."

World #2 and 1999 Billabong Pro winner Joel Parkinson (Gold Coast) eliminated fellow Australian Luke Stedman (Whale Beach). The current rating's #4 was especially pleased since his match followed the elimination of Irons.

"It was a tough as the waves were really hard to surf," said Parkinson. "It was the longest paddle back out, so you don't want to waste any time and really pick your waves. I got a couple of sevens and it paid off. I don't think 'Steds' really found his form, as he surfed so well in his first heat and I was nervous going up against him.

"I was going, 'come on Sean'," he laughed, as the ratings race opened up. "As much as I like Andy, I've got to barrack for Sean."

World #4 Taj Burrow (West Australia) opened his account against Victor Ribas (Brz) with a commanding 9.33 score. The always unpredictable and exciting natural footer then locked in another 7.5 to progress into round four.

"It was a dream of a start," acknowledged Burrow. "I felt great after that and then got another pretty good score. This is one of my favorite events, so it would most definitely be one of my favorites to win, or make the final at least (laughs)."

Taylor Knox (CA, USA) gained revenge on two-time consecutive (2000 & '01) Billabong Pro winner Jake Paterson (West Australia). In a rematch of their 2001 final at 'Supers', Knox was able to post a couple of higher scores with his powerful forehand turns, despite a slow heat for good waves. He will now face Holmes, in another anticipated round four clash.

"It's always better to get your revenge in a final, since Jake beat me here a couple of years ago to win," said Knox. "He's such a tough competitor and obviously he's good out here since he's won here twice. It was good to get that win under my belt, even though the conditions went strange during our heat. I was expecting better surf, but that happens, so I'm lucky I caught what I did."

Guilherme Herdy (Brz) caused an upset by eliminating last year's Billabong Pro runner-up Michael Lowe (Aus). The Brazilian trailed for the majority, bu t answered back with a 6.5 toward the end for a slender lead. Lowe managed to catch another two rides, but neither offered the potential he required for a 5.84 score.

"I'm so stoked as there was only five minutes left when I took the wave," recalled Herdy. "I made some maneuvers and knew I got the points. There was still time left, but I couldn't paddle back out. I had some luck as Mick is such a good surfer, but he didn't catch another good wave."

Billabong Pro Round Three Heats (1st>Rnd4; 2nd=17th receives US$4,000)

• H1: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.5 def. Lee Winkler (Aus) 14.67
• H2: Mark Occhilupo (Aus) 17.67 def. Trent Munro (Aus) 9.33
• H3: Danny Wills (Aus) 16.33 def. Phil MacDonald (Aus) 9.83
• H4: Kieren Perrow (Aus) 17.5 def. Beau Emerton (Aus) 13.83
• H5: CJ Hobgood (USA) 15.34 def. Flavio Padaratz (Brz) 12.1
• H6: Luke Egan (Aus) 14.07 def. Richie Lovett (Aus) 12.1
• H7: Taylor Knox (USA) 11.5 def. Jake Paterson (Aus) 9.84
• H8: Sean Holmes (SAfr) 14.66 def. Andy Irons (Haw) 13.5
• H9: Joel Parkinson (Aus) 14.4 def. Luke Stedman (Aus) 11.1
• H10: Shea Lopez (USA) 12.27 def. Neco Padaratz (Brz) 11.74
• H11: Taj Burrow (Aus) 16.83 def. Victor Ribas (Brz) 12.5
• H12: Guilherme Herdy (Brz) 11.33 def. Michael Lowe (Aus) 9.5
• H13: Tom Whitaker (Aus) 15.33 def. Mick Fanning (Aus) 14.5
• H14: Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.77 def. Shane Powell (Aus) 10.77