2003 Nova Schin Festival
October 27, 2003 (Joaquina, Florianopolis, Brasil)
Official Waiting Period Commences
The Nova Schin Festival WCT Brasil entered its official waiting period this morning. Round one of the US$250,000 ASP World Championship Tournament (WCT) was today postponed due to stormy conditions, allowing competitors and officials an added day's recovery following their long journeys from the previous event in Spain Just days ago.
Strong onshore south winds and mushy 3-4 ft (1.3m) waves are currently on offer at the main site of Joaquina, with most of the surrounding area suffering a similar fate.
The Nova Schin Festival WCT Brasil marks the return of WCT competition to the beautiful Florianopolis area, since events were contested here until the late 1980's. A distinct difference with the 2003 tournament is the mobility factor however, with the entire Santa Catarina coastline available for use, ensuring the best available surf will be utilized during the coming 10-days.
Adding further appeal to the Nova Schiin Festival WCT Brasil are the musical acts being incorporated into the festive atmosphere. US bands Concrete Blonde and Big Mountain will headline the international acts, while national talent including Gabriel Pensador, Rappa, as well as local band Surf Explicito - featuring world #27 Flavio "Teco" Padaratz on drums. The live performances will take place this coming Friday and Saturday nights, on the north side of Florianopolis Island, roughly 30-minutes drive from Joaquina.
Then of course there's the anticipation surrounding this year's world title race, with six-time world champ Kelly Slater (FL, USA) leading the charge (7,428-points) after clinching his third event title in Spain last week. Immediately behind him is reigning world champ Andy Irons (Kauai, Haw) on 7,248 points, and current #3 Taj Burrow (West Aus) equally dangerous on 7,020.
The Nova Schin Festival WCT Brasil will also showcase a host of local surfing talent, following the withdrawal of many top surfers due to illness and injury. 2000 world champion Sunny Garcia (Haw) has missed most of the season due to knee surgery, while 2001 world champ CJ Hobgood (FL, USA) and Nathan Webster (Narrabeen, Aus) both suffered broken bones recently. Pat O'Connell (CA, USA) tore ligaments in his knee during the last WCT in Spain, and fellow Californian Tim Curran was forced to withdraw due to illness only days ago.
Replacing them in the draw, together with event wildcards are Brazilians Rodrigo Dornelles, Marcelo Nunes and Renan Rocha (all former WCT surfer), Odirlei Coutinho, Tanio Barreto, local surfers Fabricio Machado and Diego Rosa, as well as two-time Brazilian national champion Leonardo Neves.
A dinner/press conference will take place tonight at the State Governor's (Luiz Henrique Da Silveira) Palace at 9pm, with all competitors and officials invited.
Each morning a decision will be made around 8am (local time) at Joaquina, with details posted soon after.
Nova Schin Festival WCT Brasil Round One (1st>Rnd3; 2nd&3rd>Rnd2)
H1: Dean Morrison (Aus); Peterson Rosa (Brz); Toby Martin (Aus)
H2: Luke Egan (Aus); Michael Campbell (Aus); Tom Whittaker (Aus)
H3: Taylor Knox (USA); Guilherme Herdy (Brz); Rodrigo Dornelles (Brz)
H4: Michael Lowe (Aus); Trent Munro (Aus); Marcelo Nunes (Brz)
H5: Kieren Perrow (Aus); Victor Ribas (Brz); Renan Rocha (Brz)
H6: Mick Fanning (Aus); Kalani Robb (Haw); Odirlei Coutinho (Brz)
H7: Joel Parkinson (Aus); Paulo Moura (Brz); Tanio Barreto (Brz)
H8: Andy Irons (Haw); Jake Paterson (Aus); Fabricio Machado (Brz)
H9: Kelly Slater (USA); Nathan Hedge (Aus); Diego Rosa (Brz)
H10: Taj Burrow (Aus); Richard Lovett (Aus); Leonardo Neves (Brz)
H11: Daniel Wills (Aus); Neco Padaratz (Brz); Fabio Gouveia (Brz)
H12: Cory Lopez (Brz); Flavio Padaratz (Brz); Danilo Costa (Brz)
H13: Shea Lopez (Brz); Shane Powell (Aus); Luke Stedman (Aus)
H14: Damien Hobgood (USA); Armando Daltro (Brz); Luke Hitchings (Aus)
H15: Mark Occhilupo (Aus); Chris Davidson (Aus); Darren O'Rafferty (Aus)
H16: Phil MacDonald (Aus); Lee Winkler (Aus); Beau Emerton (Aus)
Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) www.aspworldtour.com 2003 World Championship Tour (WCT)
www.waves.com.br
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