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[Jens]

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers

Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford New Fiesta

Stop No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour

Stop No. 2 of 8 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour
Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
April 7 – 18, 2009

 

Smith Sizzles as Owen Upsets on Dramatic Day at Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach



Pictured: Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, 2009 ASP Dream Tour sophomore, set the standard in Round 1 of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach pres. by Snickers today, securing an excellent 18.70 out of a possible 20.

Credit: © ASP/ CI/ SCHOLTZ via GETTY IMAGES

 

BELLS BEACH, Victoria (Tuesday, April 7, 2009) – Round 1 of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers was completed today in three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves in the Bells Bowl, and the implementation of the new format, rendering the opening round an elimination man-on-man affair, saw surfers lifting their competitive game to survive a dramatic day of action.

 

Event No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach is a pivotal point in the season and today’s action saw 16 of the world’s best surfers sent packing after just one heat. Despite the criticalness of the format, some incredible performances were logged at the historic venue.

 

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, stamped his authority on today’s proceedings, eliminating highly-touted event wildcard Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 20, from Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach competition. The intercontinental clash was reminiscent of the two’s famed battles during their junior careers.

 

“I am really good friends with Matt (Wilkinson) and it felt like an old times junior heat out here,” Smith said. “I surfed my first overseas contest out here and it was against him. I was lucky the tide was a bit lower and it was walling up nice on the inside today.”

 

Smith’s mastery of the Bells Bowl today saw the young natural-footer attain the day’s highest heat total of an 18.70 out of a possible 20, securing two excellent-scoring rides for a blistering and fluid series of forehand maneuvers.

 

“My normal shortboard is 6'2 ½” and Bells is kind of a sloppier and longer face so I brought my 6'3 ½” and it tends to get through the flat spots a bit better,” Smith said. I surfed earlier this morning on the higher tide and struggled a bit so I was thankful for the low tide out there this afternoon.”

 

Smith will take on Damien Hobgood (USA), 29, in Round 2 when competition continues.

 

Owen Wright (AUS), 19, wildcard at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, caused the upset of the day, defeating incendiary American Dane Reynolds, 23, in Round 1 of competition.

 

“I am really happy,” Wright said. “I went out there knowing that I needed to get a wave under my belt straight up and put the pressure on him. I did that and got the wave, surfed it all the way through and managed to get a little back up.”

 

Wright’s tenacity and solid game plan provided him with the win over his marquee opponent and the young goofy-footer will need to employ the same tact as he continues here at Bells Beach.

 

“Dane (Reynolds) is an excellent surfer,” Wright said. “I let him have what I thought was average wave and he got a 6.8. He is definitely a solid competitor and I am just stoked to get through the heat. I had been watching a lot of heats and I thought that those guys that get the bigger score early are the one going through. I really focused on getting that first wave and ended up getting it.”

 

Wright will face reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and defending Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, in Round 2 when competition resumes.

 

Dayyan Neve (AUS), 31, into his third full season on the ASP Dream Tour, survived a hard-fought Round 1 heat against 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Marlon Lipke (DEU), 24. With the new event format in full swing, Neve was vocal about the heightened drama associated with the elimination man-on-man Round 1 format.

 

“I was stoked to make it through that heat,” Neve said. “I have been nervous for weeks. I am not a big fan of the new system. For the sport, I think it would be better to have the extra round to get all the top seeds down like Kelly (Slater), Mick (Fanning) and Joel (Parkinson). Get all the crowd watching the top seeds as much as possible is good for the sport I think. So yes, I am not a big fan of it and I hope they change it soon.”

 

Neve will taken on fellow Sydney-sider Kai Otton (AUS), 29, in Round 2 when competition continues.

 

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

 

The Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford New Fiesta begins its waiting period tomorrow and both events will be on call for a possible start.

 

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach pres. by Snickers will be webcast LIVE via www.live.ripcurl.com

 

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

 

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 RESULTS:

Heat 1: David Weare (ZAF) 13.00 def. Nathaniel Curran (USA) 11.16

Heat 2: Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.33 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 6.26

Heat 3: Jay Thompson (AUS) 14.66 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 6.60

Heat 4: Taylor Knox (USA) 15.84 def. Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 10.16

Heat 5: Dayyan Neve (AUS) 14.00 def. Marlon Lipke (DEU) 7.60

Heat 6: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.50 def. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 12.23

Heat 7: Jihad Khodr (BRA) 10.83 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 8.50

Heat 8: Owen Wright (AUS) 13.50 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 10.50

Heat 9: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 18.70 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 11.66

Heat 10: Adam Robertson (AUS) 9.56 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 9.00

Heat 11: Mick Campbell (AUS) 13.83 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 9.84

Heat 12: Dean Morrison (AUS) 13.10 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 10.17

Heat 13: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 12.83 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 11.77

Heat 14: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 14.42 def. Drew Courtney (AUS) 11.83

Heat 15: Tim Boal (FRA) 14.50 def. Mikael Picon (FRA) 11.46

Heat 16: Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.50 def. Dustin Barca (HAW) 11.17

 

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)

[Jens]

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford New Fiesta

Stop No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour

Stop No. 2 of 8 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour
Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
April 7 – 18, 2009


 
Wright Eliminates Slater in Pumping Bells Beach for Rip Curl Pro Round 2

 

 

Pictured: 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, from Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach competition.

Credit: © ASP/ CI/ SCHOLTZ via GETTY IMAGES

 

BELLS BEACH, Victoria (Tuesday, April 14, 2009) – 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 17th finish for Slater in 2009, making his campaign for an unprecedented 10th 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

[Jens]

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford New Fiesta

Stop No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour

Stop No. 2 of 8 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour
Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
April 7 – 18, 2009

 
Heavy Rain and Wind Force Lay Day for Rip Curl Pro, Improving Tomorrow

 

 

Pictured: Taylor Knox (USA), 37, was one of the form surfers of Round 2. The hard-carving Californian will take on former ASP World Champion C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, in Round 3 when competition recommences.

Credit: © ASP/ CI/ SCHOLTZ via GETTY IMAGES

BELLS BEACH, Victoria (Wednesday, April 15, 2009) – Following yesterday’s near perfection of light offshore wind and solid swell, event organizers were greeted this morning with heavy wind and rain prompting a call for a lay day at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers.

 

Event No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach has completed Round 1 as well as the opening 12 heats of Round 2, and with improving weather and waves forecast for the next two days, event organizers are confident in finishing in excellent conditions.

 

“We monitored conditions this morning for a couple of hours and the forecasts indicate that the next two days will provide us with the ideal situation for finishing,” Damien Hardman, Rip Curl Pro Contest Director, said. “We’ll be back at 7am tomorrow to make a call for a possible 7:30am start.”

 

Swellnet, official forecasters of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, are calling for winds to improve and the swell to build over the next two days.

 

Yesterday saw the surprise elimination of reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and defending event winner Kelly Slater (USA), 37, as well as last year’s ASP World Runner-Up Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, and current ASP World No. 2 Adriano de Souza (BRA), 22.

 

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

[Jens]

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford New Fiesta

Stop No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour

Stop No. 2 of 8 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour
Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
April 7 – 18, 2009

 
Quarterfinalists Determined in Classic Conditions at Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

 

 

Pictured: Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, current ASP World No. 1, netted an excellent 9.00 out of a possible 10 to defeat Kai Otton (AUS), 29, and advance through to the Quarterfinals where he’ll face former ASP World Champion C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29.

Credit: © ASP/ CI/ SCHOLTZ via GETTY IMAGES

 

BELLS BEACH, Victoria (Thursday, April 16, 2009) – Classic conditions with stiff offshore winds and solid surf in the four-to-six foot (1.5 – 2 metre) range once again graced Bells Beach today as the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers determined the Quarterfinalists, setting up a potential all-time finish for tomorrow.

 

Event No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach completed the final four heats of Round 2 this morning as well as the first three heats of Round 3 in excellent conditions at Bells Beach before relocating to nearby Winkipop to accommodate the increase in swell.

 

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, current ASP World No. 1 and past winner of the Rip Curl Pro (2004), continued this season’s devastating form, eliminating Kai Otton (AUS), 29, in Round 3 with an excellent-scoring 9.00 out of a possible 10 for a deep barrel followed by a series of rail-carves.

 

“That was a tough heat,” Parkinson said. “Probably one of the toughest I have surfed this year because of the elements. That wind was hard. I had one wave that blew me off the back but there are some good waves out there. My 9.00 was more just a little barrel, it was a really hard wave to surf. You are almost just holding on for dear life because of the wind. I guess I live to fight another day."

 

With reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, out of the event as well as perennial ASP World Title challengers Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, and Taj Burrow (AUS), 30, Parkinson’s bid for an inaugural crown is looking solid, but the talented natural-footer is wary of the season ahead.

 

“Everyone has talked it up with the hype of Kelly (Slater), Bede (Durbidge) and Taj (Burrow) being knocked out,” Parkinson said. “This isn’t a sprint, it is a marathon so there is no point getting caught up in it. We are still eight events to go and still eight months to go so there is no point in worrying what is happening at this event. Those guys are going to come out more hungry next time.”

 

Parkinson will face former ASP World Champion C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, in Quarterfinal 1 when competition resumes.

 

As the swell increased, event organizers moved competition to nearby Winkipop where competitors reveled in the steeper, walling righthanders on offer.

 

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, took down giant-killing wildcard Owen Wright (AUS), 19, in one of the most exciting encounters of the day. Wright, who defeated defending event champion Slater in Round 2 of competition, looked in-form once again, but Smith’s forehand mastery proved too much for the young Australian.

 

“That’s probably the biggest heat I have had nerves-wise this whole event,” Smith said. “I keep getting the wildcards and they are the best guys as they have nothing lose. I’m stoked to get that out of my way. Owen (Wright) is a great surfer. I kind of just got lucky and had the first wave and that allowed me to control the heat from there."

 

Smith will take on former ASP World Champion and past Rip Curl Pro winner Mick Fanning (AUS), 27, in Quarterfinal 2.

 

Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie, continued the afternoon onslaught, netting an excellent  total of a 17.34. The stocky natural-footer’s frame synched harmoniously with the Winkipop walls as he bashed his way past fellow rookie Drew Courtney (AUS), 29.

 

"Super stoked that the contest director moved the event down here,” Bacalso said. “The waves are cranking. I just found the number and dialed it in. What do you know, four bomb waves or something."

 

Bacalso will battle trials winner and last Victorian standing Adam Robertson (AUS), 26, in Quarterfinal 3 when competition resumes. Robertson’s performance at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach has been nothing short of sensational, with the sponsorless natural-footer taking down massive names en route to the best Victorian finish in decades.

 

Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 27, continued the afternoon Hawaiian onslaught, posting the day’s highest heat total of a 17.57 out of a possible 20 for a series of critical backhand blasts.

 

“The waves just started getting better and better and I just got a few perfect ones, it was just a lot of fun,” Patacchia said. “Kekoa has been ripping. Actually, he has been really showing me up so I had to step it up in my heat. Damien Hardman has been making some amazing calls with this event. I know it is tough because it can be so fickle with the tides but I think so far so good, well for my heats anyway. Fifth is always nice, especially out here at Bells as a backhand guy. I’m happy with that. So, just hoping to take it one heat at a time and hoping to make the Final, who knows?”

 

Pattachia will take on ASP Dream Tour veteran Kieren Perrow (AUS), XX, in Quarterfinal 4 when competition resumes.

 

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8am for a possible 8:30am start with forecasts indicating that the conditions will provide a forum for completion.

 

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

 

REMAINING RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Heat 13: Jay Thompson (AUS) 15.84 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.83

Heat 14: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 16.56 def. Tim Reyes (USA) 10.84

Heat 15: Dean Morrison (AUS) 13.50 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 6.13

Heat 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.50 def. David Weare (ZAF) 10.50

 

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.17 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 13.00

Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.57 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 9.63

Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.26 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 3.43

Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.84 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 13.67

Heat 5: Adam Robertson (AUS)  15.50 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 13.13

Heat 6: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 17.34 def. Drew Courtney (AUS) 11.17

Heat 7: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.50 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 9.00

Heat 8: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 17.57 def. Dean Morrison (AUS)

 

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:

QF 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)

QF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

QF 3: Adam Robertson (AUS) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)

QF 4: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)

 

[Jens]

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford New Fiesta

Stop No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour

Stop No. 2 of 8 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour
Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
April 7 – 18, 2009

 
Parkinson Defeats Victorian Wildcard Robertson to Claim Rip Curl Pro

 

 

Pictured: 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.

Credit: © 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 3rd 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

[Wuschel]

Mein Tipp: Parko gewinnt dieses Jahr! Aber hallo!  Und nächstes Jahr ist wieder Kelly dran, aber wirklich auch erst nächstes Jahr...

[Jens]

Ist auch mein Eindruck, Parko ist hot und wittert seine Chance.

Kelly nimmt das Jahr um entspannt rumzudaddeln und ein paar Boards zu testen und wird irgendwann als 70-jähriger Titel No. 20 holen

Und Kekoa Bacalso wird Rookie of the Year. Der Typ geht auch gut ab obwohl ich vorher noch nicht viel von dem gehört hatte.

Alles auch nochmal hier nachzulesen:
http://nordsurf-syndikat.de/news/contest/parko-gewinnt-bells