Surf donkeys wreaking havoc in san diego, kandui resort in the mentawai islands of indonesia and rincon puerto rico. We are surfing the waves of life and loving every minute of it.
Parkinson Leads ASP Top 45 into the Jaws of the Billabong Pro Tahiti
TEAHUPOO, Tahiti (Thursday, May 7, 2009) – The 2009 Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui is days away from commencing with the world’s best surfers descending upon the tiny town of Teahupoo at ‘the end of the road’ for Stop No. 3 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, running from May 9 – 20, 2009.
This year’s event will run the new format, seeding all competitors directly into man-on-man elimination heats, with the Top 16 seeded directly into Round 2 while the remaining surfers battle it out in Round 1.
Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, current ASP World No. 1, has been in devastating form this season, collecting two wins in two events with an eye on an inaugural ASP World Title. The phenomenal natural-footer has demonstrated incredible focus thus far and is the frontrunner heading into Tahiti.
“The difference this year has been my understanding of what it takes to get the best out of myself and then my desire to do what it takes,” Parkinson said. “Making sure that every day, I am better prepared than what I was the day before and that preparation is specific to each contest that I compete in.”
Parkinson’s recent results at the Billabong Pro Tahiti have been impressive, netting equal 3rd place finishes in 2007 and 2008, establishing himself as a legitimate contender at Teahupoo.
“I do feel like over the years I have become more familiar with the wave and whilst Teahupoo is never predictable, it is reassuring to know that I have done the work here before.” Parkinson said. “I am excited to go back there this year and build on my results from the last two years.”
Despite his excellent results this season and his solid track record at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, Parkinson is wary of the many challenges he’ll face as the world’s best surfers angle for a result in Teahupoo’s ledging lefthanders.
“I think everyone will be in the mix for a win,” Parkinson said. “Remember, it is only the third event so everyone is still keen to do well – myself included. But on an individual side of things, the wildcards will be sure to shake things up like they have the first two events. Andy Irons will be challenging for the title. And of course Mick (Fanning) will be a threat because he is the best surfer right now and probably the hungriest.”
Parkinson is seeded directly into Round 2, where he’ll meet one of the advancing surfers from Round 1.
Fred Patacchia (HAW), 27, current ASP World No. 3, has been in sizzling form this season, racking up a 9th and a 3rd in his first two events on the ASP World Tour before collecting an impressive win at the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Prime 6.0 Lowers Pro in Southern California over the weekend.
“I’ve been really focusing on my backhand surfing,” Patacchia said. “My first couple years on tour, I felt like my backhand attack wasn’t good enough. I’d go into a heat feeling negative and defeated. This year, I’m feeling confident and more prepared. I’ve made some slight changes with my boards and that’s made a big difference. No big plans for Tahiti, just pull in deep and come out. Not much to it.”
Patacchia came as close as runner-up in Tahiti in 2006, but the young Hawaiian is keen to improve his personal best at the infamous lefthander in hopes of maintaining a solid footing in the ASP World Tour ratings.
“I love getting shacked,” Patacchia said. “Tahiti is one event I’d love to win. I don’t necessarily feel comfortable, but I know for a fact I feel more comfortable than most of the Top 45. I’d love to break into single digits. I’m sick of getting second. I want to win an event.”
Patacchia is seeded directly into Round 2, where he’ll meet one of the advancing surfers from Round 1.
Bruno Santos (AUS), XX, defending event champion who surfed from the trials to the title in 2008, will join former three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons (HAW), 30, and Von Zipper Trials Winner Heiarii Williams (PYF) as wildcards in the 2009 Billabong Pro Tahiti.
Santos, Irons and Williams will face Kai Otton (AUS), 29, Jihad Khodr (BRA), 25, and Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, respectively in Round 1 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.
Surfline, official foreers for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are tracking a head-high Southwest swell for the upcoming weekend before a stronger tem moves into place early the following week.
The Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui boasts a waiting period from May 9 through May 20, 2009.
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA) Heat 2: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS) Heat 3: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA) Heat 4: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS) Heat 5: Drew Courtney (AUS) vs. Marlon Lipke (DEU) Heat 6: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) Heat 7: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) Heat 8: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Heiarii Williams (PYF) Heat 9: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Bruno Santos (BRA) Heat 10: Jihad Khodr (BRA) vs. Andy Irons (AUS) Heat 11: David Weare (ZAF) vs. Dustin Barca (HAW) Heat 12: Jay Thompson (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF) Heat 13: Tim Boal (FRA) vs. Nic Muscroft (AUS) Heat 14: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS) Heat 15: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF) Heat 16: Roy Powers (HAW) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA Heat 2: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. TBA Heat 3: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 5: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. TBA Heat 6: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 7: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. TBA Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 10: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. TBA Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. TBA Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. TBA Heat 13: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. TBA Heat 14: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA Heat 15: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 16: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. TBA
BELLS BEACH, Victoria (Tuesday, April 14, 2009) – Excellent surf in the six foot (2 metre) range is on offer this morning at Bells Beach and Round 2 of the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers will commence at 7:30am.
Event No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro saw the elimination of 16 of the world’s best surfers in Round 1 last week, and today’s action will see the top seeds hit the water for Round 2
“The surf has arrived and we’re seeing consistent sets in the six foot (2 metre) range and we’ll be commencing Round 2 at 7:30am at Bells Beach,” Damien Hardman, Rip Curl Pro Contest Director, said. “We are monitoring nearby Winkipop should conditions improve over there, but at present, Bells is pumping and the boys will start out there.”
Round 2 of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will see the top seeds of the ASP battle it out with dynamic match-ups such as former ASP World Champion and past Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner (2001) Mick Fanning (AUS), 27, against Tiago Pires (PRT), 29, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, taking on lethal wildcard Owen Wright (AUS), 19, and current ASP World No. 1 Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, up against 2009 Dream Tour rookie Michel Bourez (PYF), 23.
Swellnet, official foreers of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, are calling for surf to maintain throughout the day with swell on offer throughout the week.
Up first today will be former ASP World Champion C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, against Mick Campbell (AUS), 34, in the opening heat of Round 2, ning at 7:30am.
The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach pres. by Snickers will be web LIVE via www.live.ripcurl.com
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS) Heat 2: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA) Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS) Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF) Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT) Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Tim Boal (FRA) Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF) Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS) Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Adam Robertson (AUS) Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA) Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS) Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) Heat 13: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS) Heat 14: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS) Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS) Heat 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. David Weare (ZAF)
After several lay days and the completion of the women’s event, the men’s should hopefully be back underway soon. There are 5 days left in the waiting period, and 2 days of competition to get through. I have highlighted my picks for the best heats of round 2, the remaining heats don’t seem very exciting. I am starting to doubt the new format.
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS) Heat 2: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Tim Boal (FRA) Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF) Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Adam Robertson (AUS)
Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 13: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 14: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
Heat 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. David Weare (ZAF)
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: David Weare (ZAF) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA) Heat 2: Roy Powers (HAW) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF) Heat 3: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS) Heat 4: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)) Heat 5: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Marlon Lipke (DEU) Heat 6: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) Heat 7: Jihad Khodr (BRA) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) Heat 8: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS) Heat 9: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) Heat 10: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Adam Robertson (AUS) Heat 11: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS) Heat 12: Nic Muscroft (AUS) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS) Heat 13: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS) Heat 14: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS) Heat 15: Tim Boal (FRA) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA) Heat 16: Dustin Barca (HAW) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA Heat 2: Chris Ward (USA) vs. TBA Heat 3: Kai Otton (USA) vs. TBA Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. TBA Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. TBA Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. TBA Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. TBA Heat 13: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 14: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. TBA Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. TBA Heat 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. TBA
If you haven’t set up your Quik Pro team yet, you’re running out of time!Luckily, we’re here to let you know this is your last chance. The ASP just announced the first round match-ups, and there are some mouth-watering battles about to be fought, so get on it!
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Roy Powers (HAW), Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 2: Bobby Martinez (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS), Dustin Barca (HAW)
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Heitor Alves (BRA), Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Damien Hobgood (AUS), Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Taylor Knox (USA), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Dane Reynolds (USA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), Kieren Perrow (AUS), TBA
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS), TBA
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Mikael Picon (FRA), TBA
Heat 11: Luke Stedman (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Mick Campbell (AUS), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 13: Chris Ward (USA), Nathaniel Curran (USA), Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 14: Kai Otton (AUS), Chris Davidson (AUS), Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 15: Tim Reyes (USA), Michel Bourez (PYF), David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 16: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Gabe Kling (USA), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
With the ASP season opener, The Quiksilver Pro at snapper rocks just a little over 1 week away, I thought now would be a good time to remind everyone about Fantasy Surfer. It is like fantasy football, but it is based on ASP Dream tour surfing.
I have also created a fantasy league for the Donkey Patrol, so that we can compete against one another. Fantasy Surfer calls these leagues “Clubhouses”. The league is public and is called “Donkey Patrol 2009” the codeword for the league is “donkey”. You can join the league after you sign up for Fantasy Surfer. Donkeypatrol.com is offering $20 usd and year long bragging rights to the 2009 season winner. If we get a good size group to play, we can discuss a small league buy in to increase the pot.
Object
To build a team of 8 surfers that will accumulate the highest points for the entire 2009 WCT World Tour events.
Registration
To play The Fantasy Surfer Challenge, you must register. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER! Registration is FREE! Your registration will entitle you to become the owner of a fantasy surfing team. You can register at any time to play the game. The sooner you register the better your odds will be of winning.
Register and pick your team before 02/28/2009
to score points for the 2009 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast
How to play
Each owner will have $50,000,000 in fantasy money to draft his/her surfing team, buying surfers who are valued according to their current rankings and projected performance in the 2009 WCT surfing events.
Trading
PICKING YOUR 8 SURFERS – Each team owner can draft up to 8 surfers without exceeding their $50,000,000 salary cap. Before each event, a surfer values may increase or decrease, but the cost against your salary cap is the cost when you added your surfer.
Surfer values can change throughout the 2009 WCT schedule.
MAKING TRADES – After each event of the Challenge, each owner will be permitted to make trades before the next event starts. The owner can make as many changes as he/she wants before the next event provided that after each trade the following is true: the cumulative dollar value of the surfers at the time they were added does not exceed the $50,000,000 salary cap.
NO TRADING WINDOW – All trading will be closed at the start of the 1st heat and open again at the end of that event. In other words, trading is disabled when the actual event is being contested.
Point Scoring
Surfer points are based on the number of competitors they defeat and their finishing position in each of the actual WCT surfing events. All 48 competitors ( top 44, plus wild cards) will score between 0-150 points. Whenever one of your surfers scores points, your team scores points. Obviously, the more points your team scores for each event, the better. Each team will be awarded the cumulative total points for the 8 surfers selected for the current WCT event. Picking the top 8 finishers in order will yield a perfect score of 1,000 points.
Here’s the formula:
FINISH….POINTS
1…150
9….104
17….88
25…80
33….15
41….7
2….141
10….103
18….87
26….79
34….14
42….6
3….126
11….102
19….86
27….78
35….13
43…5
4….125
12….101
20….85
28….77
36….12
44….4
5….116
13….100
21….84
29….76
37….11
45….3
6….115
14….99
22….83
30….75
38….10
46….2
7….114
15….98
23….82
31….74
39….9
47….1
8….113
16….97
24….81
32….73
40….8
48….0
Only the top 47 positions yield points. 0 points are given for surfers not ranking in the top 47.
The Fantasysurfer scoring is set up so the surfers all finish the event with an individual placing. For example, if you have one of the 16 surfers on your team who lost in the second round but had the highest point total for that round he gets the points for 33rd place (15 points). The surfer who has the next highest total score from round two gets 34th place all the way down to 48th place.
TIES WILL BE BROKEN AFTER EACH EVENT by comparing each owner’s top scoring surfer for the event just completed. If the tie is still not broken, this process continues with the second top scoring surfer and so forth down the team until the tie is broken. If the two tied winners have the exact same scores for all 8 of their surfers then their total event-to-date points will be used to break the tie. If they are still tied after this, then the participant with the highest current balance in his/her cash account will win. After that, any prizes will be split.
YOUR TEAM’S OVERALL STANDING will be determined by adding up your team scores for each event. The overall winner of the Fantasy Surfing Challenge is the team that accumulates the highest fantasy points for the best eight events.
COOLANGATTA, Australia (Monday, October 27, 2008) – Following one of the most historic board meetings to date, the ASP has introduced the option for a new competition format to be implemented in ASP World Tour events in 2009.
While the traditional 48-man format will still be available, events can elect to implement an altered 48-man format consisting of the following: two opening elimination man-on-man rounds. Round 1 will consist of 32 surfers, those rated 17 – 27 on the ASP World Tour, three Tour/Injury wildcards, the Top 15–rated surfers on the ASP WQS and three event wildcards.
The seeding formula will remain the same as the traditional format, with the No. 17 seed up against the No. 32 seed in Heat 8, the No. 18 seed against the No. 31 seed in Heat 9, etc. After Round 1, all remaining competitors will be reseeded for Round 2.
The Top 16 on the ASP World Tour are seeded directly in Round 2 where they will meet the 16 victors from Round 1 in the re-seeded draw. The Top 10 from the previous year’s Dream Tour will be guaranteed a Round 2 seed all year long, while the next 6 seeds have to maintain their seeded position and can be replaced by better performing back 32 surfers after the third ASP World Tour event of the year. This means that the Top 16 seeds in 2009 will remain unchanged until after the Billabong Pro Teahupoo.
After Tahiti, only the Top 10 from the previous year will hold their spots (which is probably a good incentive to do Brazil and Pipeline this season), while the next 6 could be replaced if guys from the back 32 secure more seeding points. Seeding points going into Snapper will remain in effect.
The new format has already been adopted by the Billabong Pro Teahupoo, the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, the Billabong Pro Mundaka and the Billabong Pipeline Masters.
The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, the opening event of the 2009 ASP World Tour, has opted to run with the traditional format, and Rip Curl are undecided which format they will implement at their Bells Beach and Search events.
We recently sat down with Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew (AUS), 53, former ASP World Champion and current President of ASP International, Mick Fanning (AUS), 27, 2007 ASP World Champion, and C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, 2001 ASP World Champion, to discuss the new format:
1 – First off, what is (are) the reason(s) for the option to run an altered format next year? Wayne Bartholomew: As part of the monitoring process it was clear that we needed to develop a menu of formats to fit the needs of the tour. The current format requires four running days. This doesn’t sound overbearing in a 12-day window, but we still require two swell cycles to complete the event in quality waves and this proved a bridge too far. To fit into a three-day swell cycle we had to either reduce the field from 48 to 36 or peel it from a different angle. Mick Fanning: I think some people just think that we waste a day or so when we run the first round with three-man heats and sometimes we can’t finish the event with good waves. I think it will make it all a lot more exciting because it is straight cut throat from the first heat of competition. C.J. Hobgood: I think getting the best waves in the allotted waiting period is the primary reason for offering the alternative format.
2 – Who came up with the format? When and who voted on its implementation? Wayne Bartholomew: The ASP Technical Committee waded through a bunch of variations and opted to recommend to the Board a three-day format that still maintains a field of 48. As Chairman of the Technical Committee, I presented these findings and recommendations to the Mid-Year Board meeting in Huntington Beach this past July and we further tweaked it in the ensuing months.
3 – We can see that not all events will be running the new altered format – what is the reason that it was not mandatory for all events to implement? Wayne Bartholomew: Events in 2009 will have the choice of the current format or implementing the new one. Quiksilver have already confirmed they will run with the current format, based on the fact that Snapper is a reasonably consistent wave and it can accommodate a combined Men’s and Women’s event in the window. Rip Curl is undecided, but are leaning towards the new format. The Tech Comm is now working on how far out from the start of a waiting period an event has to notify ASP of their preferred option. Billabong have already given notice that Teahupoo, J-Bay, Mundaka and Pipe will run with the new format and events like Boost and Brazil are getting their heads around it. In 2009, it is optional with the view to either making it mandatory from 2010 or running with a format menu.
4 – What are the positives for the surfers, the events and the viewers to run the new format? Wayne Bartholomew: The surfers get man-on-man, no more three-man heats. There are built in seeding incentives based on performance over the season and there is a much better opportunity to pick the eyes out of the surf on offer. The events get to maximize swell cycles and build the event to a climactic conclusion in excellent surf. The chances of getting skunked are dramatically diminished and the opportunity to have Finals in great surf increases. The viewers get knockout competition. There are no meaningless rounds, it is on the line in every heat and they’ll see a lot less action in low quality waves. Mick Fanning: The positives are definitely the shorter period for the event. Most swells around the world only last three days, but our events take four to complete. Cutting out a round cuts that day out, keeps the performance level at high level because every heat counts, makes the Top 16 and Top 10 get an actual incentive for ranking that high instead of just the red singlet. C.J. Hobgood: I think the positives are better waves for surfers, less days needed to run for the events, better waves and surfing for viewers.
5 – What are the negatives (if any) for surfers, the events and the viewers to run the new format? Wayne Bartholomew: The only negative for the surfer is if one loses in the first round. You are out and it’s a long way to go to be bundled out. I surfed my entire career without a safety net but guys get used to the second chance. If the swell absolutely pumps then the event might want the extra day for the beach crowd, the media and the webcast. So loss of content could be seen as a negative, but the trade-off will be an excellent event held in epic waves. Also, that may be why we eventually perpetuate the optional format menu. For the viewer they can’t get enough, so the shorter event might be a negative, but again, the action will be an awesome spectacle. Mick Fanning: I think the Back 32 will be extremely close when it comes to being on the cusp of qualifying, but everyone has to start at the bottom. The audience won’t get to see your favorite surfers hit the water as many times, but it will be crucial each time they do.
6 – We see the Top 16 are seeded directly into Round 2. What happens to the rest? Wayne Bartholomew: The back 32, made up of the back 11 of the Top 27, the Top 15 from the WQS, the 3 tour/injury wildcards and 3 Event wilds, go man-on-man in Round 1. So nobody misses out, but the re-introduction of the Top 16 provides incentive to be at every event.
7 – Part of the reason for the new format is to work towards a one-world ranking. This is something that was mandated in the past, but changed to the two-tiered system. Why are we moving back towards it? What are the advantages? When will is possibly be implemented? Wayne Bartholomew: We hope to implement a one-world ranking system in 2010. The dynamic is totally different to pre-1992. There will still be 1-6 Stars, still be 6-Star Primes, and they will count towards the Top 45, who will still contest the ASP World Tour. There will most likely be a fluid transition whereby the bottom performing Top 45 will be replaced by high performing ASP WQS surfers in the same season. This will be much more marketable, better for media and more defining for the industry when it comes to sponsorships. Mick Fanning: I think in this day and age, we need a one-world ranking system. The way the format works at the moment, the general public can’t get their heads around it. I think it will help with how the ASP WQS is run also and make it easier for everyone to understand where they are. Also, if people get injured or have a bad year their ranking won’t dramatically and they won’t fall off tour. We have had a few of these cases over the years and hopefully that will cut that out. C.J. Hobgood: I’ve always been a huge fan of the one-world ranking system. I never understood why guys like Danny Fuller, Bruno Santos, Manoa Drollet and Jamie O’Brien would make Finals and Semis against the best surfers in the world and not have a world ranking. Like in Chile when the local wildcard made a heat, the people in Chile should be able to look at their guy and see how he ranks on the one-world ranking system. Even if he is 400th, it’s still a ranking. Also, the one-world rating system is easier to understand – I’m so sick of trying to explain to someone that knows very little about surfing our two-tier system.
Renato Hickel (BRA), ASP World Tour Manager, noted also that, “some adjustments may take place in the next Technical Committee meeting. It’s possible that we will reduce the number from Top 10 to Top 8, or even reseed everyone after Tahiti, but we will have to wait until Hawaii to ultimately determine.”
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
Guto Amorim of Brazil, one of our surf guides from Kandui Resort is the webcast announcer for the Hangloose Santa Catarina Pro, ASP stop #10 of the WCT. He gave a shout out to the donkey patrol during the webcast this morning, and as a return gesture… Here is a tribute to Guto.
Our trip to the mentawais would not have been the same without Guto and our ventures to Nokandui, Rifles, and Pistols aka “the last resort”.
Here is sick sequence of Guto at Nokandui.
I will upload the heat video with his shout out to DP later if it is available on the hangloose website.
Today is looking good for 8 time asp world champion Kelly Slater, today he will be going to 9 world championships and will be officially renamed sl9er. Donkey Patrol had a chance to speak with Kelly this morning prior to his round 3 title winning heat against wildcard Eneko Acero. This is what he had to say.
DP: So Kelly, how have you prepared for this moment here in Spain?
KS: Well, I have been training with the smythe on my paddling and this new condor move, so I feel pretty confident.
DP: And what about your strategy going up against a wild card in round 3? Wild cards seem to have your number don’t they?
KS: Surfing against wild cards is always a new challenge b/c in many cases I have never seen them surf before and they have nothing to loose going into a heat. I love being an underdog, so i envy their position.
KS: I have also been doing some paddle battle drills with the viper which could be good or bad, lets just say I hope I don’t get an interference call for paddle jockeying.
DP: Are the rumors true about the 10 million dollar bonus from quiksilver if you win 10 world titles?
KS: I cannot confirm or deny that, I can tell you that surfing has never been about money for me. I love this game.
DP: What about Florida? what do you think of it now that you have traveled the world and can live anywhere you want?
KS: Florida and New Jersey are the two armpits of our great nation. I hate Florida, its hot, humid, buggy, there’s no surf, the gene pool is missing chromosomes.. It would be great if I were a nascar driver or a professional hunter or wanted to advocate inbreeding but I am a surfer, so Florida blows.
Big.jpg "Parko Shacked")
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