Slater Secures ASP World Title as Round 4 Completed at Rip Curl Pro Search
Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, launched a massive alley-oop to take the day’s highest score of 9.57 at the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco.
OCEAN BEACH, San Francisco/California (Sunday, November 6, 2011) – The Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco returned to Ocean Beach in peaky three-to-five foot (1.5 metre) waves after three consecutive lay days and saw Kelly Slater (USA), 39, officially claim his 11th ASP World Title while completing the non-elimination Round 4.
Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, stayed busy in the peaky conditions on offer at Ocean Beach and built momentum throughout his Round 3 bout, consistently launching impressive airs before throwing a one maneuver inverted grab-rail reverse to secure his position in Round 4.
“Even when it was pumping I couldn’t find good waves so I was just catching whatever is in front of me,” Kerr said. “Sometimes you can be patient and you can’t find anything, so for me it’s best to stay busy. The best ones form up in the middle of the bank and I had that one at the end and just did an upside-down grab-rail reverse.”
Kerr, current No. 8 on the ASP World Title Rankings, continued to assert his dominance in Round 4 when he launched a massive alley-oop, earning a near-perfect 9.57, out of 10, for the ride and the innovative Australian’s advancement through to the Quarterfinals comes as a relief after two early exits in the European events.
“Tiago (Pires) just came from a final in tiny waves, and he’s no slouch in the powerful ones so I knew he’d be tough,” Kerr said “Every win’s a good win. I’ve had a couple of bad results in Europe so it feels good to come back and be where I want to be.”
Kieren Perrow (AUS), 34, current No. 32 on the men’s ASP World Ranking, continued his dominance amidst the tricky Ocean Beach lineup to advance directly through to the Quarterfinals over fellow veteran Taylor Knox (USA), 40, and Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 23.
“I’m stoked, I needed a good result here and I’m looking forward to some good waves,” Perrow said. “It was looking like it was starting to improve. I didn’t expect to win a heat with two 5’s, but I’m wrapped and hoping to get some good waves. There are lots of waves breaking everywhere and I got my scores in the first few minutes. It’s a bummer when the conditions are like that, but fortunately no one loses in this round.”
Alejo Muniz (BRA), 21, got the best of a last-minute exchange to overtake Brett Simpson (USA), 26, to secure his Round 4 heat victory and a position in the Quarterfinals.
“It was tough out there, you can’t hear the announcer, so you never know what you need,” Muniz said. “Sometimes you don’t have to be the best, you just need two nice waves. I liked this heat and I’m stoked to get through to the quarters. I tried to surf in the pocket because I knew it was a set wave and, didn’t know Brett had the left. I knew I had a mid-range score and just tried to get a good score.”
Muniz, who has been a standout on his rookie year amongst the ASP Top 34, is in contention for the coveted ASP Rookie of the Year award, but knows it will be difficult to surpass current leader Julian Wilson (AUS), 22.
“It’s been great, I’m trying to learn as much as I can,” Muniz said. “It’s really hard to make heats and I’m trying to find confidence because everyone surfs so well. I’m just trying to enjoy myself. I know it’ll be hard to catch Jules (Julian Wilson). He’s been ripping, but I’m just trying to get another result.”
Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 26, went for broke in his Round 3 heat, eliminating powerful South African Jordy Smith (ZAF), 23, when he launched a massive Gorkin flip, earning an 8.73 for the single maneuver. Unfortunately for the young American, an awkward landing on his back ankle sent him to the beach early and the official diagnosis on the potentially serious injury has yet to be confirmed.
The Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco is Stop No. 10 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title Series and holds a waiting period from November 1-12. The 2011 Pro Search will be broadcast live on Fuel TV,
livestream.com and live.ripcurl.com
Surfline, official forecasters for the Rip Curl Pro Search, are expecting new NW groundswell will begin to rebuild the surf throughout the afternoon on Sunday and will be strongest Monday. Smaller, but very contestable, leftovers prevail Tuesday. Onshore flow will continue Sunday, with lighter and more favorable early next week, especially Tuesday. Unstable weather and wind prevails for the last few days of the waiting period with an area of low pressure directly off the coast.
UPCOMING RIP CURL PRO SEARCH SAN FRANCISCO ROUND 5 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 3: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
RIP CURL PRO SEARCH SAN FRANCISCO ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 10.67, Taylor Knox (USA) 9.94, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 9.43
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.17, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.33, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 14.83
Heat 3: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 14.60, Brett Simpson (USA) 12.83, Owen Wright (AUS) 9.36
Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.63, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.57, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 0.00
RIP CURL PRO SEARCH SAN FRANCISCO ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 11: Josh Kerr (AUS) 16.44 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 9.83
Heat 12: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.46 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 10.90
Source:
Slater Secures ASP World Title as Round 4 Completed at Rip Curl Pro Search
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Thema: [ASP News] Slater Secures ASP World Title as Round 4 Completed at Rip Curl Pro Search (Gelesen 3621 mal)
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