BILLABONG RIO PRO 2011 - FINALS [21.05.2011]Surfers

Adriano de Souza celebrates his Billabong Rio Pro victory with the home crowd. Image: ASP/Cestari

 

ADRIANO NO.1 IN RIO
Billabong Rio Pro 2011 - Finals

BARRA DA TIJUCA, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Friday, May 20, 2011) – Brazilian Adriano de Souza has taken out stop No. 3 on the ASP World Tour, the Billabong Rio Pro, defeating Taj Burrow (AUS) in the final 15.63 to 12.17 and sparking wild celebrations from the enormous home crowd. De Souza now moves to No.1 in the ASP World Title race.

The final, which took place in two-to-four foot predominately lefthand waves at the primary site of Barra da Tijuca, started with Burrow drawing first blood at the 3min mark, executing a pair of tight backhand snaps earning a 7-point ride. 

Despite Adriano floundering in the opening stages of the heat and handing priority back to Burrow, the Brazilian managed to steal a pair of inside waves from underneath the Australian to first score an 8 after linking three electric turns and then backing this up with a 7.63 to ignite deafening cheers from the thousands of his fans on the beach.

Adriano swooping up for a money turn in the final. Image: ASP/Cestari

As time ticked away in the 35min heat, Burrow was forced to chase De Souza’s efforts. However, to the delight of the home crowd the Australian repeatedly fell as he attempted the critical catch-up turns. 

With De Souza then holding a solid score and priority he was able shadow Burrow, holding him off several attempts to snare a winning wave.

As the final hooter sounded De Souza was overcome with emotion, sobbing with joy as he made his way up the beach to the competitor’s area. Security had a very difficult time holding back the delirious Brazilian crowd as they attempted to mob their victorious hero. 

“There are no words to express how I feel right now,” De Souza said. “Thanks to my manger for pushing me every day, I couldn’t have done this without him. Thanks so much to my fans, who have been on the beach supporting me from the beginning to the end and to my sponsors. I’m happy to keep the title in Brazil one more time.”


Adriano's tears of joy. Image: ASP/Cestari

Earlier in the day, Australian Joel Parkinson was eliminated in the Quarter Finals via in-form Frenchman Jeremy Flores, who did everything right to hold off the Queenslander.

“Against someone like Joel (Parkinson) you can’t make any mistakes,” said Flores.

Burrow would go on to avenge Parkinson’s loss, defeating Flores in the Semi Finals, but not before Burrow got revenge of his own against American Bobby Martinez, who had eliminated him in the previous World tour stop at Bells Beach, Australia.

“I tried not to get too emotional in that heat because I was pretty pissed off I lost to him (Martinez) at Bells,” said Burrow.

Burrow scored a 9.33 ride at the 10min mark of the heat, making use of the fast and precise backhand moves that had served him so well throughout the event.

Taj Burrow had been on song all event. Image: ASP/Cestari

Along with Burrow, De Souza had been arguably the form surfer of the event, but the Brazilian’s passage to the final was not without controversy.

In his Quarter Final against Australian Owen Wright, De Souza was holding on to the lead as time ticked away in the heat. However with just one minute remaining Wright, who needed a 6.74 ride to steal victory, managed to jag a nice lefthander that allowed the goofyfooter to perform a vertical snap, then a tail-releasing turn and finish with a clinical Slob grab aerial.

This varied display of progressive manoeuvres is ordinarily a recipe for a solid score from the judges. Not on this day in Brazil. Much to the delight of the vast and boisterous crowd, Wright came up just short and the Brazilian advanced onwards.

Not a 6.74?: Wright's slob aerial. Image: ASP/Cestari

“Not many guys have been able to do airs and turns (on one wave)," said a perplexed Wright. “I feel like I was underdone on the judging. I know the crowd plays a part but at the end of the day surfing’s surfing and it doesn’t matter what the crowd does.”

Despite the suspect Quarter Final decision, there is no questioning De Souza’s impressive performance in the Final against Burrow.
 
De Souza, who is now the frontrunner on the ASP World Title Rankings, stayed humble when questioned of his World title chances.

“It’s still very early days and next event will be J Bay so I’m going to be pushing myself,” De Souza said. “Kelly (Slater) and all of these guys are such amazing surfers and have been on tour for such a long time, but I’m going to try my best.”

The ASP World Tour now heads to South Africa in July for the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay.

Billabong Rio Pro Final:
1 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.63
2 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.17

Billabong Rio Pro Semifinals Results:
SF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.27 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.50
SF 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.00 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 8.40

Billabong Rio Pro Quarterfinals Results:
QF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.26 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 14.43
QF 2: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.60 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.17
QF 3: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 16.03 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 6.27
QF 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.23 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 14.10

Billabong Rio Pro Round 5 Results:
Heat 1: Bobby Martinez (USA) 14.60 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.63
Heat 2: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.60 def. Dan Ross (AUS) 11.63
Heat 3: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.43 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 12.67
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.73 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 7.90

Top 10 on the ASP World Title Series After the Billabong Rio Pro:
1. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 20,500
2. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 19,200
3. Kelly Slater (USA) 16,950
4.Taj Burrow (AUS) 16,500
5. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14,750
6. Owen Wright (AUS) 12,150
7. Michel Bourez (PYF) 12,000
8. Mick Fanning (AUS) 11,500
9.Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11,000
9.Tiago Pires (PRT) 11,000


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Finals, Billabong Rio Pro 2011, Brazil, Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson, Jeremy Flores, Adriano de Souza, Bede Durbidge, Josh Kerr, surfing

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