BACKDOOR BALLITO BARRELS [07.07.2011]Surfers

Kolohe Andino (USA) slots in to a solid set. photo: Mr Price Pro/ASP
 

BACKDOOR BALLITO BARRELS

MR PRICE PRO: DAY 3

BALLITO, Kwa-Zulu Natal / South Africa - Hawaiian comparisons were running rife today with powerful two-and-a-half to three metre waves greeting competitors at the contest site for Day three of the Mr Price Pro.

All 12 heats of the round of 48 were run today, with the crisp offshore conditions early giving way to unpredictable wind effected lumps in the afternoon courtesy of a strong cross-shore breeze.

Patrick Gudauskas (USA) happily took advantage of the unexpectedly good early morning conditions advancing in to the round of 24 with some impressive barrel riding.

“We went to bed thinking it was going to be a wash day because the wind was meant to come up,” Gudauskas said. “We woke up and it was calm and I actually thought it was going to be smaller but it seems bigger than it was yesterday, maybe even bigger than the first day.”

Pat Gudauskas looking right at home. photo: Mr Price Pro/ASP

In one of the highlight heats of the day, John John Florence (HAW) and World Tour surfers Tiago Pires (PRT) and Kai Otton (AUS) traded blows in a seesaw battle for first and second place that saw Otton advancing alongside Florence despite some impressive surfing by Tiago.

With commentators comparing waves at the event site to Backdoor, it was no surprise that Pipe specialist John John was able to fit right in to the conditions, putting on an impressive display of surfing.
 
“I found a couple of good ones,” Florence said. “The power’s definitely there, I felt like I was at home when I was getting worked.”

Brazilian Pablo Paulino looked unstoppable in his round two match up, navigating a throaty tube and executing some critical backside blasts, posting the highest heat score of the day for his efforts with a 16.86.

“The waves were really heavy out there today,” Paulino said. “I tried to stay in tune with what conditions were doing and I was lucky to find that barrel.”

Fellow Brazilian Junior Faria stole the show in his heat with a combination of critical hacks and smart tube riding, advancing along with South African Brendon Jackson and causing the upset elimination of Kolohe Andino (USA).

“It got a little bigger today and it’s just a matter of finding a good set to maybe get a barrel and do a couple of turns,” Faria said.

Josh Kerr clocking up some more barrel time. photo: Mr Price Pro/ASP

Julian Wilson (AUS) didn’t waste any time in his heat, posting his two scoring rides early whilst the other competitors scrambled to find any quality waves before the siren.

“Right before my heat I saw there was a lot of deep one’s and I went out pretty early before my heat started to make sure I could paddle all that way to the inside and it worked out,” said Julian. “I got a good score to start and then got a big wide one to back it up.”

Gabrielle Medina (BRA) maintained his scintillating form in the rapidly deteriorating conditions, posting a solid 16-point heat total.

“Its kind of tricky out there, so windy,” Medina said. “I’m just stoked to get through again and hope I can do good in the next round.”

Defending Mr Price Pro champion Jordy Smith (ZAF) kept his campaign alive, manhandling the tricky conditions with some powerful surfing to advance through to the round of 24.

“I was looking to get kind of a quick start but I guess I just wanted to wait for one of those really good one’s,” Smith said. “Either you’re going to wait along time and get one or you’re going to wait a long time and not get one so it’s kind of a little bit of a gamble.”

Kieren Perrow (AUS) revelled in the heavier conditions, putting it all on the line with some huge committed turns and a well-timed barrel to move on along with Brazilian Jesse Mendez. “Its great fun when it’s like this,” Perrow said. “It’s not huge, but it’s powerful and good for turns. You can get the odd tube ride so you can’t ask for much more.”

Aritz Aranburu (EUK) maintained his buzzer beating form, once again snavelling a wave in the dying minutes of the heat to advancing through with Reunion Island surfer Adrien Toyon.

“The conditions are really tough there and in any moment you can get a nice wave,” Aritz said. “Luckily in the last minute I was able to catch that last one and got a five point something and jumped to first. Tough heat.”

With some large swell and favorable winds on the way, the action looks set to continue tomorrow.

Tune in to mesurf.com as we showcase all the action as it unfolds.

You can watch the event live at www.mrpriceopro.com

- Reece Crabtree


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Mr Price Pro, South Africa, ASP world tour

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