Over 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)

GrindTV news, Septemeber 14, 2009 - In a clash some ASP officials are calling the "best finals ever" young Aussie Owen Wright, 19, narrowly edged California's Pat Gudauskas, 23, by a score of 19.23 to 18.93 to take top honors at the coveted Sri Lankan Airlines Pro, the 6-Star Prime held at the legendary Pasta Point in the Maldives. With his victory, Wright also took over the top spot on the WQS rankings by jumping past countrymen Daniel Ross in the quarterfinals to start his day. The young Austrailan has already surpassed his goals that he set out to start the year, and is now reassessing. "At the start of the year, I was focusing on winning the ASP Pro Junior season in Australia and doing a few WQS events to get the experience, but now I'm definitely looking to win the WQS and qualify for the ASP World Tour," Wright said.

Wright certainly has the judges conviced that he belongs in the big leagues. After the final head judge Perry Hatchet said he considered the final one of the top five he's ever witnessed. While others in attendance claimed it was the best they'd ever seen. The two aerial aces went at each other with some of the most impressive stunt flying ever seen in competition. Wright struck first, landing two aerials on the same wave, and mixing in some serious hard carves, scoring a 9.83 out of a possible 10 points on his second ride of the final. Gudauskas responed with an 8.94 on his backhand, but fell at the end on what some beleive was going to be a 10-point ride.

When Wright struck again, earning a 9.40 via another aerial assault, Gadauskas suddenly found himself in the dreaded combination situation, which left him no other option but to swing for the fences. So that's what he did. Earlier in the event Gudauskas pulled the first ever rodeo flip in WQS competition. With nothing to lose he decided to go back to that well during the second half of the final. His first couple of attempts went haywire upon landing, adding serious tension for those watching. But then, in the final five minutes Guduaskas found the perfect ramp he was looking for...this time, after some speedy set up turns he lined up his takeoff perfectly and executed another stellar inverted twisting-flip. The move netted him a perfect 10 points out of 10, and put him right back into contention in the closing moments. Though Wright hung on to win, Gudauskas felt good about making Wright earn the win.

"You know, I feel like I've won the event even though I lost," Gudauskas said. For that incredible effort he catapulted all the way to number 7 in the WQS ratings, from number 27. California's Austin Ware also managed to jump 20 slots up the rankings, to 15 from the 35, after his impressive equal 3rd place finish. Ware had an solid run, defeating notables like Drew Courtney and Leigh Sedley before losing to an unstoppable Wright in the second semifinal.


Australia's Daniel Ross and Brazil's Jadson Andre finished 5th and 3rd respectively, but along with Owen Wright, have taken a very firm hold within the Top 5 of the ratings. Ross remains in second place, but has widened his lead over everyone nearby except for Andre, who's jumped up to the number 4 slot. California's Brett Simpson is still managing to cling in the Top 5, but with only two strong results, he's 1500 points behind the guys in front of him, which means he's on much shakier ground.


While the visibility of this event was low due to lack of a huge sponsor and the fact that it happend while most of North America was sleeping, the message conveyed by the progressive surfing was clear. Performances are heading to new heights, literally. Gudauskas summed it up best when he was asked about the standard of surfing afterward. "I think surfing's heading to exciting places with these moves." We think he's right.


Results of the $145,000 SriLankan Airlines Pro, 6-Star Prime WQS Event

1. Owen Wright (AUS)
2. Pat Gudauskas (USA)
= 3. Austin Ware (USA), Jadson Andre (BRA)
= 5. Dantas Wiggolly (BRA), Romain Cloitre (FRA), Daniel Ross (AUS), Leigh Sedley (AUS)


WQS Rankings After the SriLankan Airlines Pro

1. Owen Wright (AUS)
2. Daniel Ross (AUS)
3. Adam Melling (AUS)
4. Jadson Andre (BRA)
5. Brett Simpson (USA)
6. Joan Duru (FRA)
7. Pat Gudauskas (USA)
8. Travis Logie (ZAF)
9. Blake Thornton (AUS)
10. Marco Polo (BRA)

GrindTV News, Saturday June 13, - Conditions permitting, Australians Owen Wright and Daniel Ross will face off in the quarterfinals of the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro today in the Maldives. Like all 6-Star Prime events, the massive points on tap in the Maldives will have a dramatic effect on the overall rankings. Wright and Ross entered this event ranked 3rd and 2nd respectively, and with current tour leader Adam Melling long gone, both are looking to climb. The only other surfer in the entire top 20 of the WQS rankings to make it into the quarterfinals is Brazilian Jadson Andre. The dynamic goofyfooter entered ranked in the number 5 slot.


While Wright and Ross will be facing each other in the next round, Andre will be taking on France's latest star, Romain Cloitre, who is undoubtedly the biggest surprise. Cloitre entered this event ranked 58th, but he's been impressing everyone all week. Meanwhile, the Americans still have some hope resting in Pat Gudauskas and Austin Ware. Gudauskas got on the judges good side just two days ago, pulling the first-ever rodeo flip in competition during his Round of 48 heat. Both he and Ware will be climbing out of the ratings cellar after ho-hum starts to the season, but neither surfer, regardless of how well they do here, is likely to rest afterward. They both know there's a lot of season left on the schedule.


After defeating Cory Lopez to get into the Quarterfinals, Gudauskas now faces Brazilian Wiggolly Dantas. Should he win he'll face the winner of Jadson Andre and Romain Cloitre for a shot at the Finals. Ware's road, meanwhile, looks a little tougher, at least on paper. If he can get past Australia's Leigh Sedley in the quarters, he'll face the winner of the Wright vs. Ross clash for a shot at the final.