QUIKSILVER PRO PORTUGAL 2011 - DAY 3
[17.06.2011]Surfers
Leaving nothing to chance: Julian Wilson. Image: Quiksilver/Bravo
WILSON COMES ALIVE
RIBEIRA D’ILHAS/ERICEIRA, Portugal (Thursday, June 16, 2011) – Australian World Tour rookie Julian Wilson made a massive statement in his first showing at the Quiksilver Pro Portugal, searing his first two waves inside the opening 5 minutes of his Round 1 heat to score the highest heat total of the event thus far (17.60 out of 20). He backed this up in the following round by advancing through on the back of a 9.23 ride. He’s now on to the Round of 24 and looking very dangerous as he attempts to turn around his slow start to the year.
The ASP PRIME Quiksilver Pro Portugal offers massive points and has attracted a selection of the world’s finest competitors looking to qualify or maintain their position on the ASP World Tour, currently ranked just inside the Top 32, Wilson is one such surfer seeking to take advantage of this.
“I have strong results from the end of the year but I am trying to find some results at the start of the year. It is hard coming onto the Tour as a rookie because you are thrown straight into the deep end but that is the way it has to be if you want to beat those guys. I have done all I can to get some momentum going and try and stick it to those guys.”
“I actually started third in line on the point,” explained Wilson of his first heat. “I saw that set coming and the guys were deep so I paddled them out as far as I could and turned around to get the first one and that got the ball rolling. Then I lucked into that 9 which I got out in time for. It is really fun out there now because this morning it was about knee high and now it has really pumped.”
Wilson really let loose in his first two heats. Image: Quiksilver/Bravo
Round 2 of competition was completed in building 3-4 foot right-handers at the reef point-break of Ribera D'Ilhas.
It was a day of upsets for the majority of World Tour surfers competing in this event with Brazilians Raoni Monteiro, Jadson Andre and Heitor Alves all bowing out, as well American Gabe Kling and Hawaiian Fred Patacchia - who both could’ve really used the ratings points to help avoid being cut from the World Tour come the halfway point of the season.
But the most heartbreaking upset for local fans was the Round 2 elimination of the Portuguese Tiger, Tiago Pires, particularly after he had surfed so well in the opening round of the competition. At least he won't have to drag his surfboards too far home, unlike his other fallen World Tour colleagues.
Current World Ranked No.11, Jeremy Flores (FRA), 23, had little problems in his heat, displaying fast and flowing surfing in the wind affected afternoon conditions to advance to the man-on-man Round of 24.
“Man-on-man is going to be fun and it is definitely what we are used to on the World Tour as we surf like that all the time. So it is going to be interesting and we are going to be on the best waves. There is going to be some high scoring because now we are going into the final days and all the best surfers are ripping so it is really interesting."
Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17, relied on his mix of speed and innovative surfing to secure a comfortable win into the next round. High tide chop and stronger afternoon winds made conditions tougher than those experienced during the morning session of competition.
“It was hard to get the clean turns but I got one good one with an 8 and a 7 so I am stoked to get through and I hope we have some good waves tomorrow too. I feel good and confident and I am trying to stay calm and enjoy the competition which is what I am doing. My board is good and I got it 3 days ago so it is all perfect.”
Showman: Gabriel Medina getting it done with style and flare. Image: Aquashot/ASPEUROPE
Also advancing in Medina’s heat was American journeyman Cory Lopez who edged through in second place. Lopez, along with countrymen and in form brothers, Tanner and Pat Gudauskas, now all move through to the Round of 24, which will also include Hawaiian young gun John Florence, who put on a solid display to take out his Round 2 heat.
The Quiksilver Pro Portugal will make a first call tomorrow at 07h30 local time for heat No.1 of Round 3 which will see Richard Christie (NZL) up against Cory Lopez (USA).
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Upcoming Quiksilver Pro Portugal Round Three Matchups
Heat 1: Richard Christie (NZL) Vs Cory Lopez (USA)
Heat 2: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) Vs Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Heat 3: Junior Faria (BRA) Vs Heath Joske (AUS)
Heat 4: Travis Logie (ZAF) Vs Pat Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 5: John John Florence (HAW) Vs Brandon Jackson (ZAF)
Heat 6: Andre Silva (BRA) Vs Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 7: Miguel Pupo (BRA) Vs Jesse Mendes (BRA)
Heat 8: Caio Ibelli (BRA) Vs Alain Riou (PYF)
Heat 9: Tanner Gadauskas (USA) Vs Davey Cathels (AUS)
Heat 10: Hodei Collazo (EUK) Vs Jay Quinn (NZL)
Heat 11: Hizunome Bettero (BRA) Vs Dion Atkinson (AUS)
Heat 12: Julian Wilson (AUS) Vs Joan Duru (FRA)
Quiksilver Pro Portugal Round Two Results
Heat 1: Richard Christie (NZL) 15.73, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 15.27, Austin Ware (USA) 9.36, Jihad Khodr (BRA) 9.18
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.66, Cory Lopez (USA) 11.50, Dimitri Ouvre (BRB) 7.47, Ben Dunn (AUS) 6.26
Heat 3: Junior Faria (BRA) 12.43, Travis Logie (ZAF) 11.47, Tiago Camarao (BRA) 11.23, Jadson Andre (BRA) 11.06
Heat 4: Pat Gudauskas (USA) 11.57, Heath Joske (AUS) 11.40, Nat Young (USA) 10.67, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 10.00
Heat 5: John John Florence (HAW) 13.73, Andre Silva (BRA) 11.97, Leonardo Neves (BRA) 11.83, Granger Larsen (HAW) 10.10
Heat 6: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.76, Brandon Jackson (ZAF) 13.66, Billy Stairmand (NZL) 9.97, Jeronimo Vargas (BRA) 8.33
Heat 7: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 15.64, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 11.13, Tim Boal (FRA) 8.93, Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 8.30
Heat 8: Alain Riou (PYF) 14.47, Jesse Mendes (BRA) 12.87, Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 12.67, Ruda Carvalho (BRA) 10.66
Heat 9: Tanner Gadauskas (USA) 14.17, Hodei Collazo (EUK) 12.97, Charles Martin (GLP) 12.30, Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 12.26
Heat 10: Jay Quinn (NZL) 16.30, Davey Cathels (AUS) 13.27, Heitor Alves (BRA) 10.26, Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 9.67
Heat 11: Hizunome Bettero (BRA) 17.50, Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.23, Nic Muscroft (AUS) 14.87, Royden Bryson (ZAF) 7.67
Heat 12: Joan Duru (FRA) 15.04, Dion Atkinson (AUS) 12.87, Tiago Pires (PRT) 10.67, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.33
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Quiksilver Pro Portugal 2011, Julian Wilson, ASP World Title rankings, mid-year cut-off 2011, surfing, ASP World Tour, surfers
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