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SURFERMAG.COM PRO TOUR UPDATES

April 19, 2003 (Bells Beach, VIC, Australia) Local wildcard Adam Robertson today caused a major upset in the 2003 Rip Curl Pro. Round two of the US$250,000 World Championship Tournament (WCT) commenced this afternoon, though only two heats were completed due to increasingly poor conditions. A Tooheys Extra Dry Expression Session kept the huge beach crowd entertained, however, with a handful of the world's best raising the performance bar even higher.

Slightly onshore 2-3 ft (1m) surf was on offer throughout the day. The Victorian Junior Challenge surfers contested their semifinals this morning, followed by the Rip Curl Search Sessions U/16 and then U/20 Finals around midday, prior to the two main event heats.

Robertson, who won the Surf Dive 'N' Ski Trials at the beginning of the week for his main event berth, continued the dream against world #6 and fellow Australian Michael Lowe this afternoon. The 20-year-old surfed confidently to gain a lead over his more experienced opponent before a hometown crowd, and despite an extremely inconsistent ocean, advanced into round three.

"It's amazing and I'm so stoked," began Robertson, after signing autographs for his newfound fans. "I can't believe it. You see 'Lowey' in videos and he just goes off. It was hard out there cause it just stopped out there for so long, but 'm just so happy (laughs).

"I knew I had to try and apply pressure even though I didn't have priority," he added of his tactics. "He took a way and I was stoked it didn't really allow much. Once I had priority, luckily nothing else really came through. I'll just take it one at a time, but I'll be trying my hardest."

West Australian Taj Burrow eliminated local wildcard Nic Muscroft in the round's first heat. The world #4 waited patiently while Muscroft opened his account with a series of good scores, but the light-footed Burrow sent spray flying as he busted his fins out the back of his best ride for a fantastic 8.17 score. He then collected another 6.83 to further his lead and secure a solid win.

"Definitely a tough heat surfing against Nic," reasoned Burrow. "I knew a local guy would be tough and he surfs really well. It was tricky finding the waves as it's a little inconsistent and I knew he knows where they would break, so I kind of followed him around a bit. I slipped up a few times and let him get a couple of good ones under me, so I was lucky to get some scores."

Heat three showcasing world #7 Kieren Perrow (Aus) and Hawaiian Rip Curl Pro wildcard Jamie O'Brien was then postponed, despite the pair sitting in the lineup for 15-minutes. No waves broke during the period, so organizers called them in and later sent out a bunch of the world's best for an exciting free-for-all, with Tooheys Extra Dry awarding a cash incentive for the most innovative approach.

Six-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA) lived up to his freakish reputation, landing two superb forehand aerials on his first wave of the Expression Session. The 31-year-old was scheduled to contest round two this afternoon, but even after it was postponed happily put on a show for the hordes that had come out to see him in action.

When the Rip Curl Pro resumes, Slater, as well as fellow Floridian and 2001 world champion CJ Hobgood will be among the early heats. Current ratings leader Dean Morison's clash with fellow Australian Chris Davidson is another highly anticipated match-up.

The 2003 Rip Curl Pro has a 12-day waiting period running through until April 26th, yet only requires four days of competition to decide this year's champion. While the natural amphitheatre at Bells Beach and the epic waves of the 'Bowl' and inside 'Rincon' sections will be the main site, the event is fully mobile. If there is no contestable surf at Bells, competition can be moved to the adjacent break at Winki Pop, or to the magical beach breaks of Johanna about two hours drive west of Bells, or the similarly renowned Gunnamatta beach breaks, on the Mornington peninsula, east of Bells.

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.

Official Rip Curl Pro Round Two Results (1st>Rnd 3; 2nd finishes=33rd, receives US$3,000)

• H1: Taj Burrow (Aus) 15.0 def. Nic Muscroft (Aus) 12.2
• H2: Adam Robertson (Aus) 10.54 def. Michael Lowe (Aus) 10.23

Upcoming Rip Curl Pro Round Two Heats (1st>Rnd 3; 2nd finishes=33rd, receives US$3,000)

• H3: Kieran Perrow (Aus) vs. Jamie O'Brien (Haw)
• H4: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Danilo Costa (Brz)
• H5: Shea Lopez (USA) vs. Tim Curran (USA)
• H6: Cory Lopez (USA) vs. Luke Stedman (Aus)
• H7: Kalani Robb (Haw) vs. Toby Martin (Aus)
• H8: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs. Tom Whitaker (Aus)
• H9: Dean Morrison (Aus) vs. Chris Davidson (Aus)
• H10: Pat O'Connell (USA) vs. Victor Ribas (Brz)
• H11: Jake Paterson (Aus) vs. Flavio Padaratz (Brz)
• H12: Michael Campbell (Aus) vs. Richie Lovett (Aus)
• H13: Peterson Rosa (Brz) vs. Nathan Hedge (Aus)
• H14: Shane Powell (Aus) vs. Lee Winkler (Aus)
• H15: Nathan Webster (Aus) vs. Phil MacDonald (Aus)
• H16: Trent Munro (Aus) vs. Paulo Moura (Brz)

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