Doesn’t look like Slater’s going away anytime soon. Here’s the  bumpf about his latest triumph at Teahupo’o… now on to… NYC

On Tuesday he discovered his greatest ever rival Andy Irons had passed away aged 32, and on Saturday he became a 10-time world champion.

Speaking immediately after coming out of the water, Slater declared he would trade his titles just to have Irons back.

Unbelievable. Slater has now picked up his tenth world title. There really aren’t too many athletes of any description who’ve picked up 10 world titles, let alone someone in a sport as demanding as ours. It’s not like the tour is full of lighweights either. Quite incredible and not something were likely to ever see again.

Stories…

In a series of blistering performances today at the Rip Curl Pro Search in Puerto Rico Kelly Slater claimed both his tenth ASP World Title and his forty fifth world tour victory. Needless to say, he’s the most dominant surfer the sport has ever seen.

“I’m just really relieved right now,” said Slater immediately after clinching the title. “It’s not one maneuver or one wave, it’s a year long thing. I’m so tired of worrying about my boards, my food and everything. This comes as such a relief.” ESPN

Kelly Slater clinched an unprecedented 10th world surfing title with victory in his quarter-final heat at the Rip Curl Pro Search in Puerto Rico.

Thousands of fans crowded Middles Beach in the Aguadilla region of the island and were treated to a surfing exhibition as Slater destroyed Brazilian Adriano De Souza with a two-wave score of 18.87 points out of 20.

Slater described his week as a story of two extremes.
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On Tuesday he discovered his greatest ever rival Andy Irons had passed away aged 32, and on Saturday he became a 10-time world champion.

Speaking immediately after coming out of the water, Slater declared he would trade his titles just to have Irons back.

The 38-year-old began his career way back in 1991 and wasted little time achieving success, claiming his first championship in 1992.
AAP via SMH

Unless you’ve been under a rock, you’re probably across the news from Vicco that Kelly Slater has once again hoisted the Bell. A dodgy foot apparently couldn’t slow the champ down and he’s now back in the hunt for the title… Found a couple vid clips from TV coverage…

ABC News

Ch. 9

A very interesting article from 5ones.com. In a recent ESPN article, Kelly Slater listed somethings he would like to see changed as to the way the ASP runs and operates, including the introduction of wave pools. The author of this article agrees. Interesting to hear RealSurfers’ thought on the matter.

Click to read: Wave Pools: Good or Bad for the Sport of Surfing?

Shari

Aritz Aranburu (EUK), 23, current ASP World No. 39, caused the upset of the event this morning, eliminating reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, in Round 2.

TEAHUPOO, Tahiti (Monday, May 18, 2009, Tuesday in Australia) – Following four consecutive lay days, the Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui roared back to life this morning, with the world’s best surfers tackling the three-to-four foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves on offer at Teahupoo.

Stop No. 3 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti saw perennial favorites C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, Taj Burrow (AUS), 30, and Michael Campbell (AUS), 35, advance through to the Quarterfinals alongside Taylor Knox (USA), 38, current ASP World No. 14 and longest-serving competitor on the ASP Dream Tour, who eliminated current ASP World No. 1 Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, from competition this afternoon with a staggering 9.03 out of a possible 10 single-wave score in the final heat of the day.

“It was one of those heats where we were jockeying for position in the beginning,” Knox said. “I got a 6 and then it went flat. Joel (Parkinson) was tired of waiting and used his priority on a wave that didn’t offer much. Then that really good one came through and I was in position for it. I really thought there were going to be more waves in that heat and that I’d need more than a 6 in my score line, but that’s the way it worked out. I won my heat so I’m stoked and will go home happy now.”

While this afternoon’s four Round 3 heats laid the groundwork for some intense Quarterfinal match-ups, it was this morning’s completion of Round 2 that provided some of the day’s most dramatic upsets and exciting action.

Aritz Aranburu (EUK), 23, current ASP World No. 39, caused the upset of the event, eliminating reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, in Round 2 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti. For Aranburu, it would mark his first heat win of the 2009 ASP World Tour season; the young Basque surfer putting up an impressive 17.27 heat total to Slater’s 15.00.

“Kelly (Slater) is the best competitor and the best surfer in the world and I was just trying to stay focused out there so I could get my own waves,” Aranburu said. “Once I got that first score I almost felt more pressure because I was surfing against Kelly and I know what he can do with his priority. I just tried to put the pressure off and luckily I got a second good score and it worked out.”

The win was no easy feat as the pair locked in the highest-scoring heat of the event, but Aranburu’s near-perfect 9.77 out of a possible 10, for an extremely deep backhand barrel in the opening minutes of the bout, assisted the European in his landmark victory.

“I was lucky to get that first wave,” Aranburu said. “I paddled deep because I knew I was going to need a big score against Kelly (Slater) and when I was paddling into it, I thought I was going to fall, but I made it, so I’m happy.”

Aranburu will now face current ASP World No. 9 Damien Hobgood (USA), 29, in Round 3 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti when competition resumes.

For Slater, today’s disappointing result marks his third, consecutive equal 17^th place finish in 2009, leaving many to ponder the iconic Floridian’s state of mind in regards to his campaign for an unprecedented 10^th ASP World Title.

“That may have just given me an excuse for a big, long vacation,” Slater said. “I don’t know yet. It’s really decision time for me. With that many 17^ths, you’re really hard-pressed to win an ASP World Title. I’m not here to just make up the numbers, but I don’t want to fall off the map either – I guess I kind of have though. Numbers-wise, I’m still within the possibility of getting in late in the year, but I don’t know. I guess I have a lot on my mind.”

Slater has yet to confirm if he will attend Stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro in Brazil, from June 27 to July 5, 2009.

While Aranburu’s historic win provided the highlight for the day, Round 2 had plenty of dramatic action to offer.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 27, former ASP World Champion (2007) and current ASP World No. 2, pulled out a buzzer-beating heat win during his Round 2 bout with compatriot Ben Dunn (AUS), 23. Requiring an above-average score with time running out, Fanning got to his feet just prior to the heat-ending horn and proceeded to pig-dog his way to an excellent 9.17 out of a possible 10 to secure an exciting, come-from-behind victory.

“It’s pretty hard out there,” Fanning said. “We were fighting for 3’s until the end. I tried to get a few little ones at the beginning and tried to find the barrel – there just weren’t many out there. I was just praying one would come up, and one did and you just have to surf and hold on. I heard the ‘five’ on the countdown paddling in and I just hung on and got through.”

Fanning will face fellow Australian Tom Whitaker, 29, in Round 3 when the Billabong Pro Tahiti recommences.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, current ASP World No. 3, suffered an injury during the morning’s warm-up session when he landed on his hindquarters on the reef, but that didn’t stop the prodigious South African from posting the day’s second highest heat total (a 16.33 out of a possible 20) en route to his Round 2 victory over Heitor Alves (BRA), 27.

“I took a fall earlier while warming up and luckily it wasn’t anything serious,” Smith said. “It wasn’t affecting me in my heat luckily, but I saw that Heitor (Alves) got off to a good start and I didn’t watch it too much before I went out. I didn’t think there were many barrels out there, but I was able to find one. It’s tough out there. It’s not an epic day, but there are good waves and Luke (Egan) is doing a great job with the calls.”

Andy Irons (HAW), 30, former three-time ASP World Champion and past winner of the Billabong Pro Tahiti (2002), is currently on sabbatical from full-time competition, but accepted a wildcard to compete in the Billabong Pro Tahiti. The Hawaiian continued his sensational roll through Round 2 today, displaying his characteristic, preternatural backhand tube sense en route to victory.

“Competing again is a bit like riding a bike, but it’s a little scary,” Irons said. “I’m a little rusty, putting the jersey back on and getting a feel for things. If we had waves like this anywhere else, I’d be stoked, but when you think of Teahupoo, you think of eight-to-10-foot barrels. So it’s different, but there are still fun waves.”

Irons caused a major upset today in the elimination of 2008 ASP World Runner-Up Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, from Billabong Pro Tahiti competition during Round 2.

“Bede (Durbidge) is a tough draw,” Irons said. “He’s fit and strong and last year’s World No. 2 and he’s no slouch. He’s a cool guy and I have a lot of respect for him. He is having a bit of a bad run at the moment, but I’m sure he’ll turn that around. It’s unfortunate that there was a bit of a lull during that heat, but I was able to get a couple of waves and I’m stoked to get through. Thanks to Billabong for letting me surf in the event.”

Irons will tackle an in-form Bobby Martinez (USA), 26, in Round 3 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti in the opening heat of the day when action resumes.

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for the current short-period SW swell to maintain throughout tomorrow before being replaced by a long-period SW in the coming days.

Event organizers will reconvene at 6:30am tomorrow morning to assess conditions for a possible 7:30am start.

Highlights from today’s Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui will be available at www.billabongpro.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

REMAINING BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Heat 7: Taylor Knox (USA) 11.50 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 10.63

Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.26 def. Heiarii Williams (PYF) 9.67

Heat 9: Andy Irons (HAW) 13.16 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.00

Heat 10: Bobby Martinez (USA) 9.17 def. Dayyan Neve (AUS) 7.94

Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 11.67 def. Dustin Barca (HAW) 8.80

Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.33 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 14.34

Heat 13: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 17.27 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 15.00

Heat 14: Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.06 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 9.00

Heat 15: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.84 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 11.43

Heat 16: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 14.16 def. Tim Boal (FRA) 4.50

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.50 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 6.17

Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.04 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 9.40

Heat 3: Mick Campbell (AUS) 15.07 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 8.50

Heat 4: Taylor Knox (USA) 15.46 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5.57

REMAINING BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Bobby Martinez (USA)

Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

Heat 7: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)

Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)

UPCOMING BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:

QF 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS)

QF 2: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)

QF 3: TBA

QF 4: TBA

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, has claimed the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers, Stop No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour. Photo: ASP/ CI/ SCHOLTZ via GETTY IMAGES

BELLS BEACH, Victoria (Friday, April 17, 2009) – Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, has claimed the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers, defeating fellow Finalist Adam Robertson (AUS), 26, trials winner and event wildcard, in pumping six-foot (2 metre) conditions at Bells Beach.

The second stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach enjoyed pristine conditions for the business end of competition, with capacity crowds turning up to watch the current ASP World No. 1 battle the local Victorian in a historic Final.

Today’s victory marks the second time Parkinson has hoisted the bell (the first being in 2004), and the reputation and acclaim associated with the iconic event is something every surfer dreams of.

“Winning at home is probably the most special win you can have but this is the most special trophy you can have,” Parkinson said. “There is not another trophy in surfing that holds the prestige and honor list that this has. To be back on the trophy again and to hold it for a year is going to be amazing.”

Parkinson’s win today makes it two for two thus far on the 2009 ASP World Tour ratings, cementing the stylish natural-footer’s place atop the ratings in the hunt for the ASP World Title.

“I took confidence from home and now from here I’ll take more,” Parkinson said. “People can get caught up in the whole world title race, but I always said I wanted start the year with some results – I just never thought I would start this well. There are a lot of really hungry, angry surfers that are behind me and will come out so strong in the next events. I’m just showing up to the next event with my same game plan and taking things step by step. I’ve said since the Gold Coast that the World Title is a marathon, not a sprint. There are still eight events.”

While Robertson opened up strong, it was Parkinson’s forehand flair and precision that saw the Gold Coaster net an impressive 17.40 out of a possible 20 heat total for the win.

“Robbo (Adam Robertson) and I were having a great time out there,” Parkinson said. “We were talking about what it takes to win and having a wonderful Final. I have to really pay Robbo a huge compliment because of his effort out here. For a wildcard and coming through the trials, he surfed so many heats, (I think nine) and what’s he accomplished is just so admirable.”

Robertson’s effort at the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will go down in history, as the young natural-footer’s runner-up finish is the highest ever by a Victorian at the prestigious competition.

“I guess I just got on a roll in the heat against Bede (Durbidge) and the waves were really good and they suited me,” Robertson said. “I just had to roll with it and I am really happy with the result.”

Throughout the course of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Robertson went toe-to-toe with the world’s best surfers, eliminating Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, Tom Whitaker (AUS), 29, Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, among others in the process. Despite not having a major sponsor, Robertson’s nine-heat effort proved to all that he’s capable of world-class surfing

“It’s great, I feel good, I feel fit and I feel like I am surfing well,” Robertson said. “I just have to take that into the WQS (World Qualifying Series) now so that I can qualify for the ASP World Tour. The prize-money will help, but a little bit extra is always good, a bit of sponsorship. But that’s okay, it is really hard right now for a lot of people to get a sponsor, not just myself. My goal is just to go good and win prize money and keep going. I will just keep that mentality until someone comes along and if sponsorship doesn’t come along then I’ve just got to keep going good.”

Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 27, secured an equal 3^rd at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (his best finish to date) with no-nonsense power surfing on his backhand before going down to Robertson in the Semifinals. Despite failing to see a Finals berth, Patacchia’s stellar start to 2009 has him sitting No. 3 on the ASP World Tour ratings.

“I am totally stoked with my start to the year,” Patacchia said. “Being a backsider out here is difficult, but I have been watching guys like Occ (Mark Occhilupo) and Tom Carroll all my life and it just takes time to figure it out. It is tricky. It is one of those waves you can surf your whole life and still have a shocker.”

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, former ASP World Junior Champion and ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) No. 1, is into his second season on the ASP World Tour and today’s finish matched his best result. The powerful natural-footer went on a tear through today’s proceedings, eliminating former ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 27, in the Quarterfinals before falling to eventual winner Parkinson in the Semifinals.

“This is the best result of my career so far,” Smith said. “I think it is equal with what I got at J-Bay as a wildcard. I can’t complain. I’ll maybe have a little fun tonight, a little party and celebrate with the winner. It has been pretty much good waves all week so I have been stoked to be down here. Congratulations to Joel (Parkinson), he made the Final and he surfed really well. I think this year is his year, he is certainly a world title contender.“

Highlights from Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach pres. by Snickers will be available via www.live.ripcurl.com

The next stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour will be the Billabong Pro Teahupoo from May 9 – 20, 2009.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com  

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH FINAL RESULTS:

1 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.40

2 – Adam Robertson (AUS) 13.37

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH SEMIFINAL RESULTS:

SF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.33 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.24

SF 2: Adam Robertson (AUS) 13.87 def. Fred Patacchia (HAW) 12.73

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:

QF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.17 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.66

QF 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.50 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.16

QF 3: Adam Robertson (AUS) 14.26 def. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 12.33

QF 4: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.13 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.17

Owen Wright (AUS), 19, event wildcard, caused the upset of the day in eliminating reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and defending event winner Kelly Slater (USA), 37.

BELLS BEACH, Victoria – Pumping surf in the six-foot (2 metre) range and dramatic performances marked today’s action as the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers steamrolled through the first 12 heats of Round 2.

The second stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach saw excellent surf on offer throughout the day as the world’s best surfers narrowed the competitive field down to the final 20.

Owen Wright (AUS), 19, Rip Curl Pro wildcard, caused the upset of the event, eliminating reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and defending Rip Curl Pro winner Kelly Slater (USA), 37, during Round 2 of competition. The young Australian drove out to an early lead with his critical backhand attack, netting a 14.67 out of a possible 20, while Slater hunted barrels on his forehand.

“I am really happy,” Wright said. “It has been a long week waiting to surf against Kelly Slater. I have just been relishing it and waiting for it. Out there, I just stayed on my own game and really just concentrated on what I was doing. I just got the set waves and surfed them, then the ocean went flat at the end and I kept the win.”

Wright has been in sterling form in 2009, collecting three ASP Pro Junior event wins as well as a No. 8 spot on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS). Today’s win against the nine-time ASP World Champion was further evidence of the explosive goofy-footer’s world-class form, and a great boost to confidence for the remainder of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

“I’ll be taking a lot of confidence into my next heat,” Wright said. “I am just rapt with that heat and really happy to get one over Kelly Slater. There won’t be many chances like that one to come around.”

Slater displayed his patented mastery of the Bells bowl, sliding into barrels and smashing the lip on several occasions, but a failed exit on a double-barrel wave cost the Floridian the score needed.

“It was reminiscent of a heat I had out here against Sunny Garcia in 2000,” Slater said. “I needed to come out of a second barrel to get through the heat and fell. Sunny went on to win the event and the World Title. Which is pretty dooming I suppose. I didn’t see too much of Owen (Wright) surfing in the heat, but he did one big turn in front of me and I’ll have to watch the video later.”

The result marks the second equal 17^th finish for Slater in 2009, making his campaign for an unprecedented 10^th ASP World Title much more difficult.

“The magic hasn’t been there yet this season like it was last year,” Slater said. “However, I just have to remember that it’s early in the season and there’s a long way to go.”

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 21, current ASP World No. 1, dominated today’s conditions at Bells Beach, defeating 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Michel Bourez (PYF), 23, in Round 2. Parkinson unleashed a flurry of fluid carves and explosive lip maneuvers to secure the highest single-wave score of the day, a 9.23 out of a possible 10.

“There is nothing better than coming over the hill for Bells,” Parkinson said. “Especially when you know you have an early morning heat, a low tide, it’s offshore and it is 4-6 foot. It has probably only happened two to three times in my career so I will definitely remember this one for a while.”

Mick Fanning (AUS), 21, former ASP World Champion (2007) and past winner of the Rip Curl Pro (2001), was in sensational form as well this morning, securing the day’s high heat total of a 17.16 out of a possible 20 for his phenomenal forehand performance.

“The waves are pumping right now, it is so consistent,” Fanning said. “It was a bit nerve-wracking not surfing for a week as you normally have the Round 1 surf to work out how things are going.”

Following a brief relocation to nearby Winkipop for Heats 11 and 12, an onshore flow forced event organizers to call competition off for the day.

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach officials will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am for a possible 7:30am start.

When competition resumes, veteran ripper Taj Burrow (AUS), 30, will take on replacement seed Jay Thompson (AUS), 25, in Heat 13 of Round 2.

Highlights from today’s Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach pres. by Snickers will be available via www.live.ripcurl.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.00 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 11.00

Heat 2: Taylor Knox (USA) 16.93 def. Chris Ward (USA) 10.67

Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) 12.67 def. Dayyan Neve (AUS) 12.50

Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.76 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.66

Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.16 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 15.27

Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) 16.40 def. Tim Boal (FRA) 12.50

Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.00 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.17

Heat 8: Owen Wright (AUS) 14.67 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 13.83

Heat 9: Adam Robertson (AUS) 16.10 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.84

Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.57 def. Jihad Khodr (BRA) 9.67

Heat 11: Drew Courtney (AUS) 16.07 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.60

Heat 12: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 15.60 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.47

REMAINING RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 HEATS:

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 3 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)

Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)

Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Bobby Martinez (USA)

Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)

Heat 5: Adam Robertson (AUS) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)

Heat 6: Drew Courtney (AUS) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)

Heat 7: TBA

Heat 8: TBA

Julian Wilson (AUS), 20, caused the upset of the season, ousting reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, from Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast competition in Round 3.

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

SNAPPER ROCKS, Australia (Sunday, March 8, 2009) – The first eight heats of Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile were completed today in three-foot (1 metre) waves at Snapper Rocks, and wildcard Julian Wilson (AUS), 20, caused the upset of the season in eliminating reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, from competition.

The opening event of the 2009 ASP World Tour season, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast commenced Round 3 action this afternoon following the completion of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast this morning, won by reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21.

Wilson, who is surfing in his third Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast as a wildcard, wasted no time in taking it to Slater in the last heat of the day, racking up a 6.83 out of a possible 10 to open up before sealing the deal with an 8.50 out of a possible 10.

“I’m over the moon right now,” Wilson said. “I was so nervous before that heat just thinking about what I could do to beat Kelly [Slater]. For so long, he has been unstoppable. I started the heat on the inside and got the first wave, which is what I wanted to do. It feels so good to beat him.”

Slater, who was riding an unconventional board that was shorter and wider than his usual equipment, never found a rhythm in the tricky afternoon conditions, and despite some mind-blowing, singular maneuvers, was never able to link together a complete wave.

“The waves I got were bad,” Slater said. “I surfed alright on one wave and I am frustrated obviously, but I would have had the same result with the best board of my life so it definitely wasn’t the equipment thing. A lot people want to put it down on that, but I am excited about my boards and I have a lot more fun riding these boards.”

While Wilson certainly held the most dramatic heat of the day, fellow Australians and Coolangatta kids Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, and Mick Fanning (AUS), 27, shined at their home break, posting some of the highest scores of the season.

Parkinson, current ASP World No. 4 and former winner of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (2002), posted the highest heat total of the day, and 18.50 out of a possible 20, for his unparalleled command of the Snapper Rocks lineup.

“I had that really positive vibe,” Parkinson said. “It’s so good to be surfing back at Snapper. I like this wave so much more and I think it shows in my performance.”

The stylish natural-footer was in particularly lethal form in his Round 3 heat, given that he was up against dangerous ASP Dream Tour sophomore Tiago Pires (PRT), 28.

“I always think a new year resets itself and everything starts fresh again,” Parkinson said. “Tiago (Pires) was honestly one of the most under-rated surfers last year. Hopefully he can get some strides and get some momentum for the rest of the year.”

Fanning, former ASP World Champion and two-time past winner of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (2005, 2007), was another to decimate Snapper Rocks this afternoon, posting an excellent 18.10 out of a possible 20 to eliminate 2009 ASP World Tour rookie Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23.

When Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 3 action recommences, up first will be current ASP World No. 2 Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, against replacement surfer Jay Thompson (AUS), 25.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 6am for a possible 7am start.

Highlights from today’s Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast action are available via www.quiksilverpro.com.au

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

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

REMAINING QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)

Heat 10: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)

Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)

Heat 13: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)

Heat 14: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW0

Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)

Heat 16: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. David Weare (ZAF)

Taj Burrow (AUS), 30, current ASP World No. 3, will face Mikael Picon (FRA), 29, and one of the event wildcards in Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

COOLANGATTA, Aus — The world’s best surfers are gearing up for the opening event of the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile, at Snapper Rocks from February 28 through March 11, 2009.

Event No. 1 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast will see the return of reigning and nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 36, in his bid for an unprecedented tenth crown, but a swath of the world’s top talents will be standing in his way.

Taj Burrow (AUS), 30, current ASP World No. 3, is one of the few on a short list of favored athletes who could potentially usurp Slater, and Burrow’s reputation in righthand pointbreaks such as Snapper Rocks is unrivaled by most.

“The first couple of weeks I was having a hell time and enjoying the summer, but beginning in January, I’ve been training full on,” Burrow said. “I’ve been working with Johnny Gannon, and he’ll be traveling the season with me. We’ve been training harder than ever before and I’ve been working on my flexibility and fitness and I feel like I’m surfing better than ever before.”

With his progressive bag of tricks and his penchant for lightning-fast surfing, Burrow enters into Snapper Rocks as one of the favorites, and will look to kick off his 2009 ASP World Title campaign at the opening event.

“I think my surfing certainly suits warm water righthand pointbreaks and I’m always excited for the opening event of the season,” Burrow said. “To get to surf Snapper Rocks with only one or two guys out is really special and I hope we get waves. I don’t plan on changing too much in terms of my game plan this season. I felt like I was surfing really well last year and made few mistakes. Kelly (Slater) was just in really scary form last season so we’ll see what happens.”

Burrow will open up his 2009 season against Mikael Picon (FRA), 29, and one of the event wildcards in Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, current ASP World No. 4 and former Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast winner (2002), is excited to start off the 2009 season at home on the Gold Coast.

“I can’t wait,” Parkinson said. “I’m excited for another good year and hopefully we get really good waves. It’s such a bonus to start the season here at home where I’m familiar with everything and know the banks really well. I’m really excited.”

Parkinson has long been heralded as one of the leading contenders for the ASP World Title, but a career-high Runner-Up finish in 2002 and 2004 is as close as he has gotten.

“I’ve just been surfing a lot and training a lot,” Parkinson said. “Just trying to get everything sorted before the season starts. In regards to Kelly (Slater), I haven’t really figured that one out yet. You just have to be bigger, stronger, faster and more determined. I’m hungry this season though.”

Parkinson will battle Dane Reynolds (AUS), 23, and Aritz Aranburu (EUK), 23, in Round 1 of competition when the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast commences.

Jeremy Flores (FRA), 20, current ASP World No. 10, will enter into his third season on the ASP Dream Tour in 2009, and after two Top 10 finishes, the prodigious natural-footer is emerging as one of the dominant surfers of the new class.

“I don’t have any specific goals for this season,” Flores said. “I am very happy with the way my past two years have gone, finishing in the Top 10, and I’m only 20, so I’m just taking it in, gaining experience and training hard. Maybe in a couple of years I will go for the ASP World Title, but until then, I am just living the Dream.”

Flores will face Roy Powers (HAW), 28, and Tim Boal (FRA), 25, in the opening heat of competition when Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast competition commences.

The 2009 ASP Top 45 will kick off this season’s Dream Tour at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, which boasts a waiting period from February 28 – March 11, 2009.

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast is a mobile event, with Snapper Rocks serving as the primary venue, but utilizing nearby Duranbah Beach, Greenmount, Kirra, Burleigh Heads and as far north as Stradbroke Island should conditions call for it.

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Mobile will be webcast LIVE via www.quiksilverpro.com.au

The event will incorporate the Roxy Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Mobile, the opening event of the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com 

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)

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

Trials February 27, 2009

Nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 36, enters the 2009 ASP World Tour as the man to beat, with the opportunity to attain an unprecedented 10th ASP World Title.

Coolangatta, Aus — The 2009 ASP World Tour is set to commence in just over a month, and the ASP Top 45 is looking set and shaping up to be one of the most explosive the world has ever seen.

Nine-times ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 36, will be back to hunt down ASP World Title No. 10, but standing in his way will be the best of the best.

Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, and fellow top seeds Taj Burrow (AUS), 30, Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, and C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, will lead the rest of the ASP Top 45 in their respective bids to put a stop to the Slater juggernaut.

The official withdrawals of the Irons brothers and the acceptance of replacement surfers are in place, and the 2009 ASP Top 45 are finally locked in.

Roy Powers (HAW), 27, will be replacing Bruce Irons (HAW), 29, who finished No. 20 on last season’s ASP World Tour but will be retiring from full-time competition in 2009. Despite the withdrawal from the Dream Tour, Irons will pursue wildcard entries into select events.

Michael Campbell (AUS), 34, former ASP World No. 2, will replace former three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons (HAW), 30, on the 2009 ASP World Tour. Irons the elder will be taking 2009 to recuperate and has been awarded the ASP Wildcard for the 2010 ASP World Tour.

“Andy Irons requested and was granted an ASP Tour wildcard for 2010,” Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, ASP President, said. “Andy cited personal reasons for not participating in the full tour in 2009, however he may participate in certain pet events as an event wildcard. All stakeholders, being the surfers, the Events Council and ASP Management, were supportive of Andy’s request, and the ASP Board of Directors ratified this arrangement officially.”

“Andy will be sorely missed in 2009 and we look forward to him contending again from 2010,” Bartholomew said. “Each year, three tour wildcards are issued, they are for injury, they are sometimes granted to next in line WQS and they are also granted to former ASP World Champions or someone held in high esteem.”

This year’s ASP Top 45 will see the addition of eight new faces in rookies Nathaniel Curran (USA), 24, Michel Bourez (PYF), 23, Nic Muscroft (AUS), 26, Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, Tim Boal (FRA), 25, Dustin Barca (HAW), 26, Drew Courtney (AUS), 29, and Marlon Lipke (DEU), 24. Over 10 separate surfing nations will be represented in 2009, making this season’s ASP World Tour one of the most diverse on record

Replacements for the 2009 ASP World Tour will be Jay Thompson (AUS), 25, Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 23, Ben Bourgeois (USA), 28, and Yadin Nicol (AUS), 23, respectively.

Comprehensive athlete profiles for the ASP Top 45 are now available via www.aspworldtour.com

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast will kickstart the 2009 ASP World Tour at Snapper Rocks on Australia’s Gold Coast. The waiting period for the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast runs from February 28 through March 11, 2009.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

2009 ASP World Tour Schedule:

Stop No. 1: Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Feb. 28 – Mar. 11, 2009)

Stop No. 2: Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (Apr. 7 – 19, 2009)

Stop No. 3: Billabong Pro Teahupoo (May 9 – 20, 2009)

Stop No. 4: Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro (Jun. 27 – Jly. 5, 2009)

Stop No. 5: Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay (Jly. 9 – 19, 2009)

Stop No. 6: Hurley Pro Lower Trestles (Sept. 11 – 20, 2009)

Stop No. 7: Quiksilver Pro France (Sept. 23 – Oct. 4, 2009)

Stop No. 8: Billabong Pro Mundaka (Oct. 5 – 17, 2009)

Stop No. 9: Rip Curl Pro Search ‘Somewhere’ (Oct. 19 – 28, 2009)

Stop No. 10: Billabong Pipeline Masters (Dec. 8 – 20, 2009)