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Boardfolio.com >> ASP World Tour News >> Round One Commences After Von Zipper Wildcards Selected

Powerhouse Taylor Knox (USA) blitzed his way to round three of the Billabong Pro. Billabong Pro (July 15-25 July 2003) www.billabongpro.com Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) www.aspworldtour.com World Championship Tour (WCT) Press Release Round One Commences After Von Zipper Wildcards Selected Tuesday July 15, 2003 (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa) The Billabong Pro entered its official waiting period this morning and commenced with two Von Zipper Trials heats. Five hopefuls advanced to earn coveted wildcard positions in the US$25,000 World Championship Tournament (WCT), with 10 heats of round one then completed as beautiful conditions greeted Jeffreys Bay. Great 4ft (1.3m) surf was on offer at Supertubes throughout the day, with some fantastic waves running down the long righthand point break. Two-time consecutive (2000 & '01) Billabong Pro winner Jake Paterson (West Australia) posted the most significant win today by defeating reigning world champ and ratings leader Andy Irons (Kauai, Haw), as well as ISA World Junior Champ and VZ Trialist Warwick Wright (Durban, SAfr). Paterson holds an awesome track record at the famed venue and surfed a patient heat, being rewarded a couple of bigger waves he attacked with trademark forehand snaps and extremely long floaters. Irons, who has already won three of five WCT's this season, remained within striking distance after a huge double rail grab aerial midway through the heat, but needing an 8.6 on his final ride, was only able to lock in a 7.5 score. He'll now contest the 'losers' second round against wildcard Wright. "This is one of my favorite places to come for sure," began Paterson. "Obviously cause of my past results... but beating Andy is a good start to my campaign this year, for sure. He's the form surfer on tour at the moment, so it's a solid win. I knew I had to be really patient, so I played the game and surfed good enough to take the win. "We were playing gentleman rules, so even though I couldn't have paddled him up the point and made sure he didn't catch another wave, I figured if he was good enough to get the score he deserved to win," he added, referring to Irons' last wave effort. "I saw him do the big air at the end and just thought, 'oh, I've lost it.' He needed to do something really big, which he did, but obviously it wasn't enough (laughs)." Fellow West Australian and world #4 Taj Burrow also put on an amazing first round performance against Tim Curran (CA, USA) and Nathan Hedge (Narrabeen, Aus). The 25-year-old let loose on his forehand with fast snaps and one critical aerial maneuver he launched through the lip and spun 180 degrees around, before landing in control for a near-perfect 9.57 score. His other 8.5 ride ensured the highest combined tally of the event so far with 18.07-points and left both opponents requiring a combination of waves to bridge the gap. "I was lucky enough to get a couple of sets," began Burrow. "They had such good walls and were so rippable. I was really happy to get some big scores early on, and it allowed me to get a little looser and treat it like a free-surf. My best one had a really nice face to work with, so I just did as many turns as I could. I knew I had a semi-decent score already, and the last section popped up and I just threw myself into it. I ended up making the air, so was stoked." 2001 world champ CJ Hobgood (FL, USA) dominated his match over Australians Toby Martin and Shane Powell. The Floridian racked up a 9.0 and then another 8.0 on his backhand for another commanding total and easily advanced into round three. "I felt confident coming from Durban," began Hobgood, who reached the final of the World Qualifying Series (WQS) completed only days ago. "I just wanted to catch the waves that ran a bit slower and let me do some turns. The other guys' waves seem to out run them. It's such a perfect wave, but if you don't get the good ones it's still hard." Defending Billabong Pro champion and current ratings #2 Mick Fanning (Gold Coast, Aus) set a commanding pace against Paulo Moura (Brz) and VZ Trials wildcard Tiago Pires (Portugal). The Australian opened with an 8.33 ride; following exceptionally fast turns and his rubber-like ability to make the most difficult of maneuvers look easy. While Moura and Pires both locked in a couple good waves, Fanning's lead remained throughout. "I was stoked to get that first good wave," said Fanning. "I was a bit wobbly for the rest of the heat, but I had an OK second score, so I'm happy to get through. There was a couple of times I should have waited for better waves instead of the ones I caught, but lucky for me the other guys didn't get the scores they needed. "I've been psyched all year to try and catch up to Andy and peg him back a bit," he added, of the rating's race. "I've just got to surf every heat as I normally do. You've got to make each heat to reach finals, so I'm just looking forward to surfing out here and having a lot of fun with only one other guy out." 1999 Billabong Pro winner Joel Parkinson (Gold Coast, Aus) also posted a win today, defeating fellow Australian and VZ wildcard Bede Durbidge (Gold Coast), as well as Pat O'Connell (CA, USA). The 22-year-old, who finished runner-up in the previous WCT to Irons, again proved one of the most fluid surfers at Jeffreys and collected a 9.0 en-route to victory. "I haven't been winning my first heats all year, so it's great to make one," explained Parkinson. "I was lucky to start off early with a high score. I fell off on a few, but thankfully did enough on my good wave. I don't want to lose any heats here, as I want to be out there as much as I can. To surf J-Bay with only one other guy is a dream. Stoked to be doing it." Durbidge won the first VZ Trials heat for his second consecutive Billabong Pro wildcard and again surfed well against his more experienced opponents, but ultimately required another score worth 8.68-points. "So stoked to get through and have another chance against the top 44," said Durbidge. "It's an awesome experience. I've been out of the water for about seven weeks (leg injury) and only just got back into it. I'm feeling stiff in the cold water, but it's getting better all the time." Californian Taylor Knox (USA) carved his way past ratings #3 Kieren Perrow (Byron Bay, Aus) and former WCT campaigner and VZ Trials heat winner Greg Emslie (East London, SAfr). Knox has placed runner-up twice at Jeffreys previously, as his powerful style is well suited to the long righthanders on offer. "Kieren makes you surf better and be on your competitive game more," reasoned Knox. "He's a really good surfer so I knew I had to play it smart, and same with Greg. He grew up in South Africa and knows this wave really well, but I also feel like I know this wave. I've done well here before. I've been surfing OK all year, but just haven't put together many heats. I have a good board here though, so I'm stoked. J-Bay is such a special place." Emslie fell off the WCT ranks last year, but remains a standout at Jeffreys and secured his main event spot with superb surfing this morning. Against Knox and Perrow he was again impressive, but still required another score of 9.23 to advance. "I've been looking forward to this event all year," said Emslie after the VZ Trials. "It's one of my favorite waves and to get a spot into the main event is great. I've had my best results at J-Bay, with two quarterfinal finishes, so I feel confident out here and hopefully I go well." WCT 'rookie' Tom Whittaker (Bronte, Aus) overcame current ratings #5 Cory Lopez (FL, USA) and replacement surfer Adrian 'Ace' Buchan (Avoca, Aus) - who filled the spot of injured surfer Michael Campbell (Port Macquarie, Aus) for the fifth wildcard. Whittaker surfed confidently to earn his first round one win of the year, making use of the empty lineup to select superior rides. "I'm very excited to be here," said Whittaker. "The waves on the WCT are twice as good as anywhere else, and J-Bay is probably the best. I haven't gotten through a heat all year, so I was pretty nervous and wanted to get the monkey off my back. I just tried to wait for the best waves and thankfully I got them. It was amazing being out there without anyone in the lineup. I was just telling myself how lucky I was to be out there then." Six-time world champion Kelly Slater's (Fl, USA) opening heat against Neco Padaratz (Florianopolis, Brz) and Luke Stedman (Whale Beach, Aus) was postponed to the final match of round one. Slater missed a connecting flight out of New York due to increased airport security and lengthy delays, so organizers accommodated the 1996 event champ accordingly. Following in the footsteps of the Billabong Pro Teahupoo in Tahiti, the Jeffreys Bay tournament will once again be a three-camera webcast with live streaming footage, live scores and commentary available on www.billabongpro.com or www.aspworldtour.com. Another decision will be made tomorrow morning at 7am (local time) as to the day's schedule.

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