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Trials for the Trials – Sunshine Coast’s Blake Wilson and Gold Coast’s Shaun Gossman are IN

 

 

Sunshine Coast’s Blake Wilson on his way to winning the Quiksilver Pro Trials for the Trials at Duranbah.  Photo: Steve Robertson.
Sunshine Coast’s Blake Wilson on his way to winning the Quiksilver Pro Trials for the Trials at Duranbah. Photo: Steve Robertson.

 

 

Blake Wilson (Maroochydore) and Shaun Gossman (Burleigh Heads) have secured a start in the official Quiksilver Pro trials next February by placing 1st and 2nd respectively in today’s Trials for the Trials in excellent 1.5m surf at Duranbah Beach on the Gold Coast.

“Now I’m in the main trials with just 12 other surfer I really can’t wait for the day in late February  – it’s generally always great surf at that time of year and with only a few surfers in the water at Snapper Rocks it’s exciting” said Wilson after today’s impressive win.

“I don’t know who to expect in the field but I know it will be a red hot line up of up and coming national and international surfers and surfing against the best is what I’m aiming for – bring it on!” added Wilson who lead throughout today’s final after catching an 8 point ride in the opening minute.

For Gossman, the trials is familiar territory having surfed in them three times and also having won them twice which has seen him go into the main event of the Quiksilver Pro.

After his 2nd place today Gossman said “It’s every surfers aim to surf against the best in the world particularly at Snapper Rocks and while I really appreciate the fact I’ve achieved that twice I think that makes me only more hungry to get there a third time and after that heat, I’m focused immediately on the trials – It’s an opportunity that doesn’t present itself too often and it’s worth winning.”

Gossman posted the finals highest scoring ride at the midway point with an excellent 8.33 but with an average required second scoring ride of 5.2 only just managed to hang on to his second placing ahead of Clint Kimmins.

Final scores were Wilson on 15.33, Gossman 13.53, Clint Kimmins (Coolangatta) 12.8 and Dru Adler (Palm Beach) on 9.5.

Waves for today’s event were excellent with a strong southerly wind delivering a rapidly rising and clean swell which were ideal for big scores through all five rounds of competition.

Burleigh Heads surfer Jay Thompson might have been today’s unluckiest surfer. Thompson was in scintillating form in the early rounds and looked like the surfer to beat but couldn’t find the right waves in his semi final and was eliminated.

Thompson has just completed a year on the elite ASP World Tour but finished outside the required top 27 in the ratings and next year will be forced to try and requalify on the ASP World Qualifying Circuit.

The other surfers eliminated in today’s semi finals were Clancey Dawson (Tweed Heads), Ryan Campbell (Noosa) and Lincoln Taylor (Stradbroke Island).

Next years Quiksilver Pro presented by LG runs from February 28th through to March 11th, based at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast and the defending champion and number one seed will be current ASP World Champion Kelly Slater.

The trials will run on February 27th and the trials winner from a field of 12 is granted a wildcard into the main event of the US$320,000 Quiksilver Pro presented by LG. Plus – best of all – the chance to surf in front of thousands of fans against the biggest seeds in the game; surfers like Kelly Slater and hometown hero Mick Fanning.