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SURFERMAG.COM PROTOUR UPDATE

• Rip Curl Cup (Nov 24 - Dec 7)
• www.triplecrownofsurfing.com
• Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) www.aspworldtour.com
• 2002 World Championship Tour (WCT)

Sunday, December 1 (Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii) Current ratings leader Andy Irons (Haw) today moved closer to his maiden world title with a commanding performance in the Rip Curl Cup. The US$250,000 World Championship Tournament (WCT) marks the second leg of the 20th Anniversary Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and will very likely host the crowning of the 2002 ASP world champion. After being postponed for the past six days due to unfavorable conditions, round one was completed in good surf. Clean 6-8 ft (2-2.6m) waves were on offer at Sunset beach this morning.

The massive surf of recent days subsided, and while sets were at times inconsistent, plenty of great barrels were found through the inside 'Bowl' section. Round two almost got underway this afternoon, but it was ultimately decided to wait until tomorrow morning, when another new swell is expected.

Irons, who paddled out for his first heat against Rip Curl Cup Trials winner Pancho Sullivan (Haw) and Peterson Rosa (Brz), posted a near-perfect 9.75 score with a long tube, followed by a carving cutback. Together with his earlier 7-point ride, he left both opponents requiring a combination of rides and advanced directly into round three with the best single wave and combined total of the day.

"I felt really shaky at the start of that heat," said Irons afterward. "I saw Pancho get a really good wave, so it was pretty nerve-racking out there. "I was mainly trying to hold Pancho off the wave," said Irons of his 9.75 ride. "I thought it was going to close out, but I didn't want him to get it. As I was dropping in I saw the thing start to barrel, so I just went for it and the backwash kept it open, so I was lucky. "I'm trying not to pay attention to the ratings and just surf heat to heat," he added of the title pressure and his rivals. "I don't want to listen to all that's going on. Hopefully my scores shook them up a bit, but those guys are cold as ice, so they don't really flinch on much."

Defending Rip Curl Cup winner Myles Padaca (Haw), a wildcard in this year's tournament, then defeated current ratings runner-up Luke Egan and fellow Australian Michael Campbell. The Hawaiian showed his knowledge of the break, finding a couple of tubes as he pushed the Aussies into the 'losers' elimination round. After breaking his leg doing some tow-surfing earlier this year, the win represents even more satisfaction for him. "I'm feeling excellent at the moment being able to go out there and get barreled in a heat," said Padaca. "It's pretty special to be surfing here at Sunset with just two other guys, as there's normally 40-60 people out. My leg's 100 percent now and I'm really excited to be surfing the Triple Crown again and represent Hawaii. "I'm really good friends with Andy Irons and anything I can do to help him win the world title.... being from Hawaii I'm all for a Hawaiian to win," he added, of beating Egan. "I've nothing against Luke as he's a great guy, but I'd like to see Andy win the world title."

Neco Padaratz (Brz) emerged from a great Sunset tube toward the end of his clash to defeat Rip Curl Cup Trials runner-up Bruce Irons (Haw) and current #3 Taj Burrow (Aus). The Brazilian trailed Irons' lead for most the match, but his final 7.25 score pushed him through. Padaratz's older brother Flavio also won his match today, outscoring Kalani Robb (Haw) and Greg Emslie (SAfr). "Conditions are good, but the waves were splitting a lot from the 'Point' and 'Bowl' sections," explained Neco. "It's hard to know which ones will lineup. I couldn't hear any scores, but when I made that barrel I felt good."

Current ratings #4 Michael Lowe (Aus), who is still mathematically in contention for this year's world title, lost the first heat of the day. Fellow countryman Richie Lovett got the better of him and Marcelo Nunes (Brz), adding to the drama of tomorrows' round two, since if the three Australian contenders were to lose then, Irons would automatically clinch the crown.

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