SNAPPER ROCKS, Australia — The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile completed the remaining eight heats of Round 3 today in three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at Snapper Rocks, and ASP Dream Tour sophomores Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, and Dane Reynolds (USA), 23, dominated the day’s proceedings.
The opening event of the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast saw the ASP Top 45 light up the rippable banks of Snapper Rocks, and with reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, out of competition, the remaining surfers in the event took full advantage.
Smith, current ASP World No. 26, survived a hard-fought battle against veteran Taylor Knox (USA), 37, posting the day’s high heat total of a 16.47 out of a possible 20 for his progressive-yet-controlled surfing in Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro..
“Taylor (Knox) is such a great surfer,” Smith said. “If he gets any opportunity, just like we saw on his last wave, he can turn it into a good score. He always surfs really well at Snapper so I was trying to surf a smart heat and find some good waves.”
Smith will face current ASP World No. 2 Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, in Round 4 when competition resumes.
Reynolds, who scored the first perfect 10 of the 2009 ASP World Tour season in his Round 2 heat, maintained his command of the Snapper Rocks lineup today, putting in an explosive performance to eliminate Roy Powers (HAW), 28, from Quiksilver Pro competition.
“It’s an awesome wave here at Snapper Rocks,” Reynolds said. “I’m stoked to be able to get out there and let loose on a couple. I try to just go out there and surf as if I was surfing my favorite break at home.”
Reynolds continues to push the limits of high-performance surfing, effortlessly executing tail-drifts and aerial maneuvers to net the highest single-wave score of the day, a near-perfect 9.40 out of a possible 10.
“I try not to think about it until I am out there on a wave,” Reynolds said. ‘Then you get that killer instinct and you really want to tear it up and do whatever you can.”
The Californian will come up against iconic veteran Taj Burrow (AUS), 30, in Round 4 when competition resumes.
When the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast competition recommences, Round 4 will open up with former ASP World Champion C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, up against ASP Dream Tour sophomore Jihad Khodr (BRA), 25.
Highlights from today’s Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast will be available via www.quiksilverpro.com.au
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 2: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 4: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (FRA) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.50 def. Dustin Barca (HAW) 6.50
Heat 2: Jihad Khodr (BRA) 18.26 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 16.30
Heat 3: Chris Davidson (AUS) 13.67 def. Dayyan Neve (AUS) 8.27
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.50 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.50
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.10 def. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 14.50
Heat 6: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.83 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 11.07
Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (AUS) 14.34 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 9.00
Heat 8: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.33 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 13.84
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.34 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 12.70
Heat 10: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.47 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 14.17
Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.16 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 10.46
Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.70 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.00
Heat 13: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.74 def. Drew Courtney (AUS) 11.16
Heat 14: Dane Reynolds (USA) 15.23 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 13.87
Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.10 def. Tim Boal (FRA) 10.40
Heat 16: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 11.33 def. David Weare (ZAF) 11.16
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Mobile
Roxy Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Mobile
Stop No. 1 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour
Stop No. 1 of 8 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
February 28 – March 11, 2009
