SURFERMAG.COM PRO TOUR UPDATES
Official Results of the Rip Curl Pro Quarterfinals (1st>Semifinals; 2nd finishes=5th, receives US$8,000)
- QF1: Mick Fanning (Aus) 16.33 def. Guilherme Herdy (Brz) 13.27
- QF2: Andy Irons (Haw) 16.83 def. Mark Occhilupo (Aus) 14.23
- QF3: Joel Parkinson (Aus) 15.73 def. Shea Lopez (USA) 13.33
- QF4: CJ Hobgood (USA) 17.24 def. Kieren Perrow (Aus) 9.57
Semifinalists Decided; Final To Climax Today
April 24, 2003 (Johanna, VIC, Australia) Semifinalists were today decided in the 2003 Rip Curl Pro at Johanna. The 31st anniversary US$250,000 World Championship Tournament (WCT) resumed with remaining round four heats, before completing all quarterfinals. Semifinals and the crowning of this year's champion will take place today.
Messy 4-6 ft (2m) right-handers were again on offer, with a strong rip current running through the lineup. Onshore winds created less than ideal conditions, though the world's best surfers still put on an amazing display for the strong beach crowd.
2001 Rip Curl Pro champion Mick Fanning (Aus) dominated the day's first quarterfinal over Guilherme Herdy (Brz). The Australian was quick to post a couple of high scores for his forehand carves and tail-sliding re-entries, while Herdy discovered the open-faced waves were difficult to find. Despite changing his surfboard midway through due to a busted tail, Fanning had already created a strong lead, as the Brazilian required another ride worth 9.33-points.
"I'm stoked, but it was a lot of hard work with that rip," said Fanning, after reaching his second consecutive WCT semifinal. "It's great to have another good result, so I'm rapt. I'm just going to try and get the best waves and surf the best I can. I've got a lot of friends and family down here, and with Rip Curl being my main sponsor, they always give me a lot of support. I'm feeling pretty good right now."
Finishing equal fifth, Herdy flew the Brazilian flag furthest in the 2003 Rip Curl Pro.
"I'm very happy to have this result," said Herdy. "Fifth place is good for points. I wish I had a better heat against Mick, but he got the better waves and surfed well."
Defending Rip Curl Pro and reigning world champion Andy Irons (Haw) was in devastating form as he accounted for both Neco Padaratz (Brz) and then 1999 world champion Mark Occhilupo (Aus) today. The Hawaiian opened with a 9-point ride against 'Occy' and then secured another 7.83, while the powerful goofy footer required a near-perfect 9.6 ride to catch up.
"I'm really happy as I knew Occy would be hard to beat," acknowledged Irons. "I knew if he got any of those big walls he'd gouge them, so it all worked out really well.
"It's going to be really fun as he's a good friend of mine," added the Hawaiian, of now meeting Fanning in the semis. "I've never surfed a man-on-man heat with him, so it should be exciting. The kid surfs so fast and whippy. I'll just try to do my thing and hopefully it works out."
World #2 Joel Parkinson (Aus) also accounted for two opponents en-route to tomorrow's semifinals. Against three-time Rip Curl Pro and 2000 world champion Sunny Garcia (Haw), the 21-year-old earned the highest combined tally of the tournament so far for 18.27-points. Garcia, meanwhile, left the water with 11-minutes remaining and a combined tally of only 4-points, following his struggle with the strong current. Nonetheless, the Hawaiian proved a true sportsman, thanking the crowd for their support as Parkinson continued to tear apart his waves.
Then against world #11 Shea Lopez (USA) the Australian continued his stunning form. Both 'Parko' and Lopez creased their boards during the tough match, but it was the 22-year-old's searing cutbacks and gliding floaters that saw him progress.
"I knew I wasn't going to have another heat like I did in the last one with Sunny," reasoned Parkinson. "It started to frustrate me that I kept falling off on the inside section. I told myself to calm down, and I'm stoked I made it. I owed Shea from Fiji last year."
2001 world champion CJ Hobgood (USA) posted the most convincing quarterfinal victory in the day's last match against world #7 Kieren Perrow (Aus). The goofy footer executed a number of gravity defying backhand re-entries, rewarded on his best with a near-perfect 9.57 score. Perrow, meanwhile, cut his ankle following his first long ride - later receiving a number of stitches - but still soldiered on in a valiant attempt to progress.
"I'm super stoked to make the semis, as I actually lost to Kieren last year the round before the quarterfinals," explained Hobgood. "It's good to get him back and move forward. We'll have to wake up tomorrow and see what the surf has to offer."
Six-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA) was definitely one of the in-form surfers during the Rip Curl Pro, but lost to Occhilupo in round four this morning. The 31-year-old lead for the majority of anticipated clash, but ultimately used up his allowed 15-waves while needing another 7.47 score. Having also hit a Kangaroo while driving to the beach this morning, the Floridian wasn't very impressed with his day.
"It was a good battle," admitted Slater of the heat. "Occy was getting sucked out the back at the beginning and I caught a few too many waves, ones I didn't need. I was just trying to keep on the inside and stay in sync. It didn't work for me though, as he ended up getting a couple with nice open faces. It was one of those days."
A decision will be made tomorrow morning at 7am (local time) for a probable start at Johanna soon after. Due to the remote location, live scores will not be available during the final day's action.
The Rip Curl Pro would not be possible without the combined efforts of the different groups involved in the event's staging - Surfing Victoria; The Victorian Government Department of Tourism, Sport & The Commonwealth Games; The Surf Coast Shire Council; and the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) - plus the supporting sponsorship of Lifesavers, Ansell, Coca-Cola, Vodka Cruiser, Falls Creek, Fudge & Tooheys Extra Dry.
Satellite and mobile communications from Johanna provided by Telstra Country Wide in Geelong.
Round Four Heats (1st>1/4 Finals; 2nd finishes=9th, receives US$5,000)
- H3: Mark Occhilupo (Aus) 15.23 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 14.7
- H4: Andy Irons (Haw) 17.74 def. Neco Padaratz (Brz) 13.66
- H5: Joel Parkinson (Aus) 18.27 def. Sunny Garcia (Haw) 4.0
- H6: Shea Lopez (USA) 14.73 def. Daniel Wills (Aus) 13.46
- H7: CJ Hobgood (USA) 14.5 def. Darren O'Rafferty (Aus) 12.6
- H8: Kieren Perrow (Aus) 10.66 def. Phil McDonald (Aus) 10.0
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