A D V E R T I S E M E N T My Info
| FInal 16 Set To Surf IN Sri LankaOver on that beautiful island south of India, Sri Lanka, the final 16 surfers to compete in the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro have been decided. It's been a stellar contest thus far, due to the fact it is being held at a releativley new wave, the freshly dicovered Arugram Bay Sri Lanka. Here's the official info of what has taken place thus far courtesy of the ASP:  Arugam Bay Sri Lanka: Yet another splendid day of surfing in sweltering heat on Sri Lanka's lush south east coastline with the round of 24 completed and now just 16 surfers remain in the Association of Surfing Professionals 6-star rated Sri Lankan Airlines Pro. Indonesia's Dede Suryana was again in outstanding form and the 24 year-old west Javanese surfer is enthusiastic about his chances here. "It is such a great wave and I'm getting more and more to know how the wave breaks and I really feel confident out there" said Suryana after his impressive heat win defeating South Africa's Ricky Basnett. Wild card surfer Julian Wilson was also extremely impressive today again posting the days highest heat score with 15.60 (out of a possible 20) defeating and eliminating New Zealand's Richard Christie. Others to impress today included Dion Atkinson (AUS), Davey Cathels (AUS), Jayke Sharpe (AUS), Nat Young (USA) and Austin Ware (USA) while the number one and two seeds in Dan Ross and Drew Courtney are professionally destroying their opponents and look fully focused as we head into the final 16 It really is the business end of the contest with 3 man heats surfed today and tomorrow it's down to surfing's purest competitive format with surfers paired off into man-on-man heats. Australia's Adam Robertson is no stranger to the man-on-man format with noteworthy results at Bells Beach over the years and he's delighted to be through to the final 16. "This wave will be really suited to the man-on-man heats " said Robertson. "The run around after you complete a wave has seen the inside position out here totally compromised in four-man heats but that's gone and I actually think you'll see performances rise significantly from here on in as each surfer chases and positions himself for the very best waves in each heat --- they are calling for bigger and cleaner swells tomorrow and that's exciting, not just for me but for all of us" added Robertson. Robertson faces a block buster heat against Julian Wilson tomorrow and with swells expected to be significantly larger it's a much anticipated clash of two very precise and power driven surfers. Hawaii's flamboyant Mason Ho is also through and he'll no doubt delight in the larger waves forecast. Two day's remain and organizers are looking to nurture this event through an epic finish aiming to run all remaining heats through the pristine morning conditions. Round of 16 Heats: 1. Daniel Ross (AUS) V Hodie Collazo (SPAIN) 2. Chris Friend (AUS) V Nat Young (USA) 3. Austin Ware (USA) V Ricky Basnett (STH AFRICA) 4. Jayke Sharpe (AUS) V Dede Suryana (INDONESIA) 5. Julian Wilson (AUS) V Adam Robertson (AUS) 6. Rhys Bombacci (AUS) V Dion Atkinson (AUS) 7. Drew Courtney (AUS) V Romain Cloitre (FRANCE) 8. Mason Ho (HAWAII) V Davey Cathels (AUS) Channels: Surf Fantasy Update: Wild about the Wild Cards at the Rip Curl ProAdam Robertson went on a tear last year at Bells. He'd love nothing more than to repeat that performance again this year at the Rip Curl Pro. And while it will be harder for Robertson to sneak up on everyone unnoticed this time around, that doesn't mean he's any easier to stop.  Robertson (right) won the Victorian trials again Sunday, earning another shot at dismantling the ASP's best surfers as the waiting period begins today. Given his performance last year, Robertson should be a favorite pick among Fantasy Action Sports players. As any skilled player will tell you it never hurts to wait until the Round One heats are finalized. The best bargains out there right now are undoubtedly the three wild card entries. Robertson has nothing left to prove after his effort last year. But he's hardly alone. At Bells he will be joined by Gabriel Medina and Stu Kennedy. All three are coming in red hot. Medina (below) has been wreaking havoc in the competitive ranks, though he's still somebody who lives under the radar to the average U.S. surfing fan. Trust me...the 16-year-old goofy-footer from Brazil has a bright red  "can't miss" tag on him after winning a 6-Star WQS in Brazil, the ISA World Junior Games, and the Quiksilver King of the Groms event in France. He's got a bright future ahead of him, and it's one that could start as early as this week. The final wild card to consider is Stu Kennedy, who is coming to Bells hot off his win at the O'Neill Cold Water Classic in Tasmania. I suggest you take a look at the video highlights of that contest and decide for yourself how his style will translate to the walls at Bells. Kennedy (below right) is from Lennox Head, which -- like Bells -- is a right point break that sits in the middle of what can be (at times) a vicious wind tunnel. Surfing well in a stiff breeze is hardly easy, but Kennedy made it look that way in Tasmania. Victoria will feel like familiar turf. Of course, the wild cards will have their hands full with the likes of Mick, Joel, Kelly and crew. But they're more likely to have an edge if conditions are marginal, which, as of Tuesday morning at Bells, they are. The forecast is calling for  small surf through the week. And rumor is the Rip Curl crew has too much invested in their Bells venue (with music and movie festivals) to move things up or down the coast in a hurry. My theory is Wild Cards don't need as much motivation when the conditions are spotty. Fair warning: my random walk theories didn't hold up at Snapper. That said. Bells has traditionally been a place where upsets occur so often they're hardly considered upsets. I think one of these horses is going to make a run. The beauty is they're priced where you can hold all three. Happy trading. Channels: Surf Parko Makes It Two In A Row Joel Parkinson has won the first two stops of the ASP World Tour after defeating event wildcard, Adam Robertson, in the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers. The waves were six feet and pumping, the sun was out, and the crowd was on the beach. A classic final day went down yesterday in Victoria, Australia. Trials winner and local-boy, Robertson, surfed great all event taking out the likes of: Bede Durbidge, Freddy P and Tom Whitaker, but in the end Parkinson was just too much, ending the fairy tale. Thus giving Parko a commanding lead in the overall standings of the ASP World Tour.  Adam Robertson looking like a regular-footed Occy on this early round wave. Photo: ASP One wave in particular during the final put it out of reach for Robertson. Parkinson surfed the wave perfectly, pushing each turn to the most critical of points, and recovering with that signature Parko style. Then to cap it off he did a perfect carving reverse on the tricky inside section, that Mick Fanning says, "Can make the best surfers in the world look like kooks." The judges gave the wave a 9.57, and Robertson was in the dreaded combo land. The celebration in the Parkinson camp began, not that Robertson has nothing to celebrate. The kid is a sponsor-less wilcard who won 9 heats in a row beginning in the trials and ending in the Final of the main event, he better of had a couple coldies after that performance. I know we're in a recession and everything, but would someone sponsor this guy.  Parko being Parko. Photo: ASP Another surfer who really impressed me in this contest was Jordy Smith. He surfed great all event and was just edged out by Parko in the Semifinals. He is really making it clear that all the hype is deserved, and that he is going to be a force on tour for years to come. I mean come on, he took out Mick Fanning, a World Champ, in the Quarterfinals, in Australia, in front of a packed beach of drunk, super patriotic Aussies. That's composure. Oh, just in case you've been in a coma for a decade, Fanning is Australian. Another stop on the Dream Tour, another win for Parkinson. He's starting to run away with it, but the title is not out of reach for a single surfer on tour, everyone gets two throw-away contests. Next stop Teahupoo in Tahiti, I place Parkinson is not really thought of in terms of who on tour surfs the wave the best. When I think of that wave, I think of: Slater, The Hobgoods, Wardo and whoever the wildcard is: Jamie O'Brien, Monoa Drollet and if we're lucky, maybe Andy Irons himself. We'll see. RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH FINAL RESULTS: SF 1. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.33 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.24 QF 1. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.17 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.66 Channels: Surf |
