BILLABONG RIO PRO 2011 - ROUND 2 [19.05.2011]Surfers

Joel Parkinson rediscovered form in Round 2. Image: ASP/Cestari

PARKO ALIVE AND RIPPING
Billabong Rio Pro 2011 - Round 2

ARPOADOR, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Wednesday, May 18, 2011) - Following a sedated performance in Round 1, Australian World Title contender Joel Parkinson came to life in Round 2, picking up a 9-point ride on his opening wave to eliminate countryman Kai Otton and advance through to Round 3 of the Billabong Rio Pro.

With losing surfers from Round 1 fighting to keep their Rio Pro campaigns alive today, Round 2 saw some amazing individual performances as competition resumed at the lefthand pointbreak of Arpoador in two-to-four foot (1 metre) conditions.

Joel Parkinson (AUS) looked completely lost in yesterday’s resounding Round 1 loss, but in true champion style, the Queenslander bounced back in resounding fashion today, charging out of the gates in his Round 2 clash with Kai Otton, scoring a blistering 9-point ride inside the opening 2mins of the heat through a barrage of seamless vertical manoeuvres.

“It’s a funny beach break this one. It’s hard to pick which ones are the right ones,” said Parkinson.

Parko was all business in Round 2. Image: ASP/Kirstin

In the heat prior, local favourite Adriano de Souza (BRA) put on the best performance of the event thus far. Scoring a commanding 16.43 out of a possible 20 to see off Brazilian Wildcard Richard Santos.

Beyond the high score, it was the relentless nature of De Souza’s display that had the Rio crowd in raptures.

De Souza went on an uncanny role as he unleashed a powerful and near-flawless backhand attack. Incredibly, behind the Brazilian’s top two scoring waves, he had unused throwaway scores as high as 7.73, 7.9 and 7.33 when there was still 15mins remaining in the heat. It was a remarkable showing.

“I’m really proud to see all my fans on the beach, that’s what’s important to me,” said De Souza.

In a fascinating encounter, Heat 8 saw the old school power surfing of tour veteran Chris Davidson, come up against the progressive aerial prowess of the younger, Josh Kerr. Both Australians, both with distinctly different styles, Davidson and Kerr are also friends and Rio roommates. This heat was always going to be one to watch.

Davidson drew first blood and looked to be in control as he utilised a solid array of backhand snaps. However in the dying stages of the heat, Kerr launched and landing a lofty backhand aerial to score a 7.57 – enough to take the lead and steal victory from his friend.

The ever-colourful Davidson was less than impressed with the result, storming up the beach and angrily tossing his surfboard into the competitor’s area. Kerr joked afterwards that it would be a long drive back to the hotel.

Power vs Progression: Kerr's tact came out on top this time. Image: ASP/Kirstin

In Heat 10, American CJ Hobgood eclipsed De Souza’s earlier heat total, scoring 16.50 out of 20 to be the top-performing surfer on paper in Round 2. But it was the manner in which his opponent Julian Wilson (AUS) would go down swinging that had commentators and the crowd in awe.

Inside the final 5mins of the heat, down on the scoreboard and needing a miracle, Wilson dug into his deep bag of tricks, first pulling out an insane backhand tail-drifting turn that defied the limits of ordinary competitive surfing. It was a one-move wave but such was the difficult nature of the turn the judges awarded a 7.77 out of 10.

Not done there, Wilson gave Hobgood a fright when he backed this up with another wave in the final seconds of the heat that saw the progressive 22-year-old stomp a huge shove-it aerial, landing switch-foot, readjusting the unorthodox stance, and riding out cleanly.

In what was seemingly a one-siding affair, Wilson ended up totalling 14.70 out of 20, finishing just off Hobgood’s 16.50.

“That’s what makes those heats fun to surf and it’s exciting to watch,” Hobgood said. “I have so much respect for Julian (Wilson) because these kids can come back so easily no matter what scores they need. I had a good start and had to be comfortable with my performance win or lose. It was exciting and I’m stoked to make it, I have so much fun surfing against these guys.”

The Billabong Rio Pro will return to Barra da Tijuca tomorrow morning for a 7am call for a potential 7:30am start for Round 3.

Billabong Rio Pro Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.67 def. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 7.10
Heat 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.60 def. Igor Morais (BRA) 10.17
Heat 3: Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.50 def. Simao Romao (BRA) 12.10
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 16.43 def. Ricardo Santos (BRA) 12.66
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.33 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 11.77
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) 12.77 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 11.07
Heat 7: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 11.50 def. Gabe Kling (USA) 11.40
Heat 8: Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.74 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 12.17
Heat 9: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 12.53 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 9.40
Heat 10: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.50 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.70
Heat 11: Heitor Alves (BRA) 12.44 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 10.40
Heat 12: Adam Melling (AUS) 15.00 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 9.27

Upcoming Billabong Rio Pro Round 3 Match Ups:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Cory Lopez (USA)
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Dan Ross (AUS)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Bobby Martinez (USA)
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 10: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)

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Round 2, Billabong Rio Pro 2011, Brazil, Adriano De Souza, Jordy Smith, Julian Wilson, Joel Parkinson, surfing, Arpoador, Rio de Janeiro

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