A thrilling Finals day at the J-Bay Open, stop No. 6 of 11 on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), saw Mick Fanning (AUS) crowned event champion in epic conditions at Supertubes. The reigning three-time ASP World Champion faced fellow Australian Joel Parkinson in an historic and hard-fought Final in flawless conditions. Super Saturday at Jeffreys Bay saw the world’s best surfers take to the water in pumping six-to-ten foot surf and thousands of fans gathered to watch the final 12 surfers battle the waves and each other. Surfing legends Tom Curren (USA) and Mark Occhilupo (AUS) also took on the classic walls of J-Bay as part of the ASP Heritage Series. Mick Fanning (AUS) took his second WCT win of the season after defeating fellow Australian and childhood friend Joel Parkinson in the Final of the J-Bay Open. The victory is his third win at Jeffreys Bay (his previous wins were in 2006 and 2002) and moves Fanning to No. 3 in the ASP WCT rankings. Fanning’s first wave of the heat earned him an excellent 9.00 for a double-barrel and powerful carves. He went on to use his polished skills to bank a second solid score and a two-wave heat total of 17.00 (out of a possible 20). Parkinson, the 2012 ASP World Champion, fought his way back into contention with rides of 7.43 and 6.17 but was still looking for 9.57 points when time ran out. Fanning previously dispatched Owen Wright (AUS), Alejo Muniz (BRA) and Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) on route to the Final. “I never dreamed that I would get to surf a J-Bay final with Joel (Parkinson),” said Mick Fanning. “I’m so tired but it’s a dream-come-true kind of day. Joel is one of my favourite surfers and my best friend, we’ve known each other since we were kids. I’m so stoked, it was such an incredible day of waves and I’m just so thankful that I got to surf it. A big thanks to the ASP and everyone involved in bringing the event back to the Tour.” Joel Parkinson (AUS) posted his second runner-up finish of the year and the result sees him move to No. 2 on the ASP WCT rankings. Parkinson, two-time winner at Jeffreys Bay (1999, 2009), topped Matt Wilkinson (AUS) and Adriano de Souza (BRA) before facing Fanning in the Final. Despite a valiant effort Parkinson was unable to find the near-perfect score needed to surpass Fanning for the win. “It was an amazing heat and Mick (Fanning) is such a great surfer,” said Joel Parkinson. “I made a couple of bad decisions and I just didn’t get the right waves. It would’ve been nice to get a win but that was a brilliant day of surfing with amazing waves and it was so wonderful to be part of it” Matt Wilkinson (AUS) was defeated by Joel Parkinson (AUS) in the first Semifinal of the J-Bay Open. Fresh from his runner-up finish at the ASP Qualification Series Prime event, the Mr Price Pro Ballito, the Semifinal berth moves him to No. 21 on the rankings. The thrilling clash saw Parkinson post a solid two-wave total to put him in the lead, leaving Wilkinson in need of a 9.66 to close the gap. With just seven minutes left on the clock Parkinson use his priority, getting tubed twice for a Perfect 10. Wilkinson was undeterred and fired back with a 9.77, but it wasn’t enough for the win. He takes home an equal third-place finish, his best result of the 2014 season. Wilkinson previously dispatched 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) in Round 3 and 2007 J-Bay winner Taj Burrow (AUS) in the Quarterfinals. “I’m so stoked to have made it to the Semifinals,” said Matt Wilkinson. “I came into this competition with almost no results so far this year, but I feel that I’ve improved in every heat. It feels really great to have so much support, especially for the goofy footers who have done so well at this event.” Owen Wright (AUS) faced eventual event winner Mick Fanning (AUS) in the second Semifinal, securing a third-place finish and moving to No. 11 on the rankings. The goofy footer, who defeated ASP World No. 1 Gabriel Medina (BRA) in the Quarterfinals, took an early lead with a series of whipping backside snaps. However, Wright was unable to hold onto it for long with Fanning earning a 7.17 and 8.00 to put him in a combination situation. Wright answered quickly with a series of vertical snaps for a 7.23 but Fanning replied with an excellent 9.00 and took the win. “I chose a couple of wrong waves at the start of the heat and that really set me back,” said Owen Wright. “Mick (Fanning) was just clinical in his approach to the heat. I feel so privileged just to be here, competing at J-Bay. It has by far been the best event for me, I’m loving it. All year I’ve been trying to stay focused and trying to put in the time and I think it’s paying off.” Legendary surfers Tom Curren (USA) and Mark Occhilupo (AUS) took to the water in front of an enthralled crowd at Jeffreys Bay for the first installment of the ASP Heritage Series. The series is designed to celebrate and honor the foundational contributors to the sport of surfing by showcasing rematches between iconic surfers. Curren, three-time ASP World Champion (1985, 1986, 1990) and Occhilupo, 1999 ASP World Champion, battled in flawless J-Bay conditions. Curren’s effortless forehand approach was up against Occhilupo’s historic backhand attack. The American posted a Perfect 10 for three huge carves and a deep barrel putting the Australian in a combination situation. Occhilupo, winner of the first ASP event in J-Bay in 1984, took a final long ride down the point but was unable to post the excellent scores needed to take back the win. “I love J-Bay, the waves are brilliant and the people are wonderful,” said Tom Curren. “It’s so great to watch all the guys compete here in such fantastic conditions. I got a little carried away during that ten-point ride, the waves were so good. It’s Sonny Miller’s birthday today so I just want to dedicate this to him.” “That was sensational,” said Mark Occhilupo. “It was all about surfing J-Bay in all its perfection and putting on a great show for the crowd. Tom (Curren) ripped but it was also great fun and I had a blast out there. I think the ASP Heritage Series will really grow legs and I look forward to seeing other legends match up.” J-Bay Open Final Result: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.00 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.60 J-Bay Open Semifinal Results: Semifinal 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.83 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.54 Semifinal 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.00 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 12.50 J-Bay Open Quarterfinal Results: Quarterfinal 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.50 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.33 Quarterfinal 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 17.83 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.44 Quarterfinal 3: Owen Wright (AUS) 17.40 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.07 Quarterfinal 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.66 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 9.67 J-Bay Open Round 5 Results: Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.33 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 9.04 Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.83 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.34 Heat 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11.17 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.10 Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.67 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 8.13 J-Bay Open Heritage Series Results: Tom Curren (USA) 18.83 def. Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 12.16
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Official Surfline forecast Wed night 16 July
BRIEF OVERVIEW: Small scale surf prevails Thursday, with building surf on Friday. A very solid SSW swell is looking more and more likely to peak on Saturday, with favorable wind, before fading Sun/Mon. THURSDAY 17th: Minor SSW swell leftovers SURF: Dropping mainly to waist high and below. WIND: Trending toward offshore W, especially through the late morning/afternoon. Variable and breezy at times. FRIDAY 18th: New pulse of SW swell building; storm dependent, stay tuned SURF: Building to 4-6’+ faces and possibly up to a couple/few feet overhead by the evening. This is dependent on storm formation/behavior in the next 48+ hours so stay tuned. WIND: Breezy WNW/NW wind in the morning shifting to the W/WSW through the afternoon SATURDAY 19th: Very solid new SSW groundswell fills in; storm dependent, stay tuned SURF: Good potential for well overhead to double overhead+ surf and even larger. This is highly dependent on storm development/behavior in the next couple days. Stay tuned. WIND: Strong offshore W wind. SUNDAY 20th: Strong SSW groundswell easing through the day; storm dependent, stay tuned SURF: Good potential for surf to remain solidly overhead, but easing from Saturday. Stay tuned. WIND: Decreasing much lighter offshore W shifting SW wind. Stay tuned. MONDAY 21st: SSW groundswell fading SURF: Down further from Sunday, but still potential for overhead waves in the morning. WIND: Light/variable to light offshore flow in the morning, trending light to moderate onshore/E in the afternoon. Long Range Surf Outlook Small SSW swell leftovers prevail Thursday. Confidence continues to grow that we’ll see a significant SSW swell move in and peak on Saturday before easing Sunday. This swell will be from a good looking low pressure/high pressure combo now developing about 2000 miles south-southwest of J-Bay that is forecast to take a favorable track toward South Africa in the next 48 hours. Assuming the storm behaves as forecast we will see a building trend through the day on Friday, with overhead sets pushing in for the afternoon and especially evening. Saturday will see the peak of the swell with well overhead to double overhead+ surf at J-Bay and good potential for even larger waves. Sunday will see easing, but still very strong surf. By Monday surf will be down further- although still overhead on the sets- with onshore wind developing for the afternoon. Stay tuned, we’ll continue to refine this forecast over the next couple days as we watch this storm develop and we’re able to gather data on it. Local Wind and Weather Offshore westerly wind will return over Thursday afternoon. For Friday we’ll see more of a NW/WNW tilt to the wind in the morning (as our swell producing storm approaches the region), before shifting to the W over the afternoon and strong/breezy levels. Strong offshore/W wind prevails Saturday before backing down Sunday. At this point wind for Monday will start off light/variable or weakly offshore, before moderate onshore/E wind builds for the afternoon. JBay WinterFest press release: Lower Point is arguably one of the most user-friendly and consistent waves in the Eastern Cape. Competent surfers may refer to it as ‘an easy wave,’ don’t be fooled though, while often overshadowed by it’s more famous neighbour, Supertubes (where the world’s best are currently battling it out for the JBay Open title), it can produce some serious power. Depending on the sand build-up in the reef (it breaks over a combination of sand and rock) it offers long right-hand walls punctuated by steep, carve-able sections and, on just the right tide, barrels too. Two days after a spring tide, the 12 competitors at the Oakley X-Over were greeted with a draining tide, light offshore south-westerly winds and beautiful two to three foot waves. Classic J-Bay conditions, really. “There are a bunch of really good waves out there,” commented World Tour competitor Jordy Smith. “It’s a perfect day for everyone to come down and have a go at surfing.” Not everyone was as excited with a few nervous faces visible as some bigger set waves rolled down the point. There was a very experienced driver on a jet ski to help the riders get out to the back line and assist them should anything go wrong though, so everyone was in safe hands. The format saw three four-man heats, with the top two from each advancing to the final. Top two waves counting as per normal, but in terms of drop-ins and interference calls it was all pretty much fair game. “I want to know if that can count as the first ten minutes of my 30-minute heat,” commented John Smit after squeezing his front-row frame into a wetsuit for the first time in more than a decade. “I’m terrified,” Smit joked. “It’s been 14-years since I last surfed. Board has dust on it in my garage… I went to Durban when I was 18 and the first thing any oke from Gauteng does it try to learn how to surf. First time you get up, you think, ‘cool I’m a surfer now’. Kevin Evans – one of the athletes more than a bit concerned with the size – scored two long rides in his heat before calling it quits eight minutes before the end citing exhaustion in his arms. This left the door open for Bobby Skinstad who pounced, scoring a long running wave all the way to the inside to advance through to the final along with Greg Minnaar who impressed with his wave-riding prowess.
Raynard Tissink also surfed a consummate heat to advance to the final. “Hedgie (Ryan Sandes) is the dark horse, we all know Butch can surf and Bob has shown his talent out there. I’d be happy with a place here, bit out of my league.” Ruan de Smidt who had never been close to a surfboard before managed to find a wave and actually stand up. Beaming afterwards he said: “No ways! Unreal… Too much fun!” Ryan Sandes made use of his practice round earlier in the week and surfed well to finish second behind a very competitive Butch James. “Ryan Sandes has amazing technique – you can see his trail running style translate into his surfing,” said Jordy Smith. “I was hoping to,” commented Ryan Sandes on making the final. “Back in the day I used to surf a little bit, but I went for a surf two days ago and got more urchins in my feet than waves ridden, so was a little bit nervous. For me though this has definitely been the most fun event so far.” The results for the surfing event: 1. Jordy Smith, 2. Greg Minnaar, 3. Bob Skinstad, 4. Butch James, 5.Raynard Tissink, 6. Ryan Sandes. The results for the Oakley x-Over Challenge Consisted of 21k mountain bike ride, round of golf and the surf comp. 1. Butch James 2. Raynard Tissink 3. Greg Minnaar 4. Kevin Evans 5. Bob Skinstad 6. David Miller 7. Ryan Sandes/Ruan De Smidt (tied) 9. Jordy Smith/John Smit (tied) 11. Ryan O’Connor 12. Garreth ‘Soldier Boy’ McLellan More WinterFest news here Ag no man. Both my favourite surfers are outta the event. Bleak. Having a bit of a sulk that Kelly got bundled out by Wilko. Kelly fans are all calling for an over-score on Wilko's 8.6, but everyone else that isn't biased says it was a fair deal. Either way, Wilko surfed better than Kelly irrespective of that first score, so deserves his win. Best he go all the way now and win the damn title. Jordy lost out to CJ because of a rather cautious approach - it took him nearly half the heat before he had a proper wave on the scorecard. Then he locked in a good 8...but just couldn't find the back-up wave for the win. Other surprise exits from Rd 3 were John John and Michel Bourez. Doors wide open. Who've you penned in for the win? Confident in your choice? Enter the ML Fantasy Surfer comp and stand a chance at winning a kiff R1600 Billabong hamper. http://www.millerslocal.co.za/ml-fantasy-surfer.html Official ASP Press release The J-Bay Open, stop No. 6 of 11 on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour, ran through Rounds 3 and 4 today and surfers were faced with challenging conditions at Supertubes. The world’s best took to the water in three-to-five foot (1 - 1.5 metre) surf and there were upsets as several top seeds were knocked out of the competition. Two-time J-Bay Open winner Joel Parkinson (AUS) battled 2010 J-Bay Open runner-up and fellow Australian, Adam Melling, in the first heat of the day. Parkinson took a more selective approach through the heat, surfing only four waves to Melling’s eight. The current ASP world no. 5 looked dominant from the start, posting a 7.00 on his first ride. A flurry of action at the 25-minute mark saw Parkinson solidify his lead, posting a 7.83 that left Melling in need of an excellent score for the win. The pair have previously faced each other nine times in WCT history and today’s match-up sees Parkinson take six wins to Melling’s four. Parkinson went on to claim victory once again in Round 4 against compatriots Josh Kerr and Taj Burrow. His 18th WCT heat win of the 2014 season earns him a pass directly to the Quarterfinals of the J-Bay Open. “J-Bay has a special place in my heart, I love it,” said Joel Parkinson. “I felt like it was all starting to come together in that heat. My goal is always just to make the last day and hopefully Mother Nature brings us some great waves.” Goofy-footer Matt Wilkinson (AUS), fresh from a second-place finish at the ASP Qualification Series Prime event, the Mr Price Pro Ballito, caused the first big upset of the day. The Australian took an early lead against 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) and held his position through the first half of the heat. The current ASP world no. 3 managed to tighten the points gap but at the halfway point he still needed a 6.34 to surpass Wilkinson. A set came through and both surfers worked to take advantage but it was the Australian that came out on top, securing a score of 9.33 to put Slater in a combination situation. With the clock ticking down, Slater went for a crowd-pleasing alley-oop but Wilkinson took the next set wave for another series of clean snaps. The final waves before the buzzer saw Slater slipping off his board while Wilkinson’s rhythm continued, earning him another nine-point ride and the win. Slater leaves the competition in equal 13th place while Wilkinson went on to win his Round 4 heat against Adriano de Souza (BRA) and Kolohe Andino (USA) and earn a place in the Quarterfinals. “No-one really looks forward to a heat against Kelly (Slater), but my backhand and my boards are feeling really solid,” said Matt Wilkinson. “It’s so hard to beat anyone out here at J-Bay. I knew I needed to catch good waves against Kelly and I’m stoked to make it through.” “I was rattled from the first exchange,” said Kelly Slater. “From Matt’s first wave it seemed like he was totally in sync. Every set he seemed to have the better waves. I should have just been a bit more relaxed, maybe waited out a set. I really just blew it. My results thus far have been consistent but not very good, so we’ll have to see how the rest of the year shapes up after this.” Jeffreys Bay claimed its second huge upset in Round 3 Heat 11 after C.J. Hobgood (USA) went head-to-head against local favorite and defending event winner Jordy Smith (ZAF). The American went on the attack immediately, notching a mid-range score just after the horn and an early two-wave total of a 9.50. Smith, whose Round 1 heroics still stand as the highest two-wave heat total of the competition so far, had a surprisingly shaky start. After a kick-out throwaway, he looked to be regaining his rhythm but an over-extended layback left the ride incomplete. Hobgood improved his bottom score to a 7.00 but Smith continued to fight his way back. He overtook Hobgood with an excellent 8-point ride but was unable to find the backup score to keep the lead. A final crucial exchange followed and it was the American who came out on top. The two-time J-Bay Open winner was left a mid-range score short of the win and was eliminated from the competition in equal 13th place. Hobgood faced Mick Fanning (AUS) and Alejo Muniz (BRA) in Round 4 but will have to surf again in Round 5 against Gabriel Medina (BRA) to fight for a place in the Quarterfinals. “I realize that I’m so blessed to surf against the best surfers in the world at their home spots,” C.J. Hobgood said. “I get excited and I know the best surfing is going to come out of me. I was in disbelief out there. Jordy (Smith) takes off on a wave and the whole beach erupts, and I was just trying to keep myself motivated. I’m stoked.” The final heat of Round 3 saw Alejo Muniz (BRA) start with aggressive style, looking to get a jump on his higher ranked opponent. Current ASP world no. 2 Michel Bourez (PYF) uncharacteristically fell on his first two rides, but made amends on his third, posting a 5.33 to move into the lead. The pair traded scores in the three-to-five point range but both surfers failing to capitalize on their opportunities. With four minutes on the clock Muniz dropped the biggest score, throwing fins and wafts on one of the better waves of the heat. With 20 seconds on the clock and no waves on the horizon Bourez splashed the water in frustration as he bowed out of the J-Bay Open with a 13th place finish. Muniz went on to face reigning three-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) and C.J. Hobgood (USA) in Round 4 and his win earned him his first Quarterfinal berth of the season. “It’s always hard to surf against Michel (Bourez) because he is a really good friend of mine,” said Alejo Muniz. “I think him and Gabriel (Medina) are the best two surfers of the year. I knew it was going to be tough, especially in these conditions. I’m really glad I made it and I’m so happy I can surf one more heat at J-Bay.” “I wasn’t really feeling it today,” said Michel Bourez. “I was just out there trying to get waves, but perhaps I should have been more patient. I’m really despondent about the results but life goes on and the next competition is coming soon. I’ll just go home and try to refocus for the next event.” J-Bay Open Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.83 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 8.50 Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.73 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.77 Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.74 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.33 Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.04 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 14.37 Heat 5: Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.30 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.10 Heat 6: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 18.36 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 15.37 Heat 7: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.46 def. Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 15.17 Heat 8: Owen Wright (AUS) 13.40 def. John John Florence (HAW) 8.00 Heat 9: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.60 def. Nat Young (USA) 5.44 Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.33 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 10.27 Heat 11: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.00 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.87 Heat 12: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.50 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 10.60 J-Bay Open Round 4 Results: Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.44, Josh Kerr (AUS) 8.47, Taj Burrow (AUS) 8.40 Heat 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.34, Kolohe Andino (USA) 12.17, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.37 Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS) 15.60, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.76, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.70 Heat 4: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.57, Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.40, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 10.50 J-Bay Open Round 5 Match-Ups: Heat 1: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA) Heat 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS) Heat 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA) Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) Stan Blumberg made the trip out to JBay to watch Rd 2 of the JBay Open, and got some lekker shots. Check em out here. Gotto say when I saw this shot of Adriano de Souza it reminded me of the late great Andy Irons - he used to throw buckets like this....
The J-Bay Open, stop No. 6 of 11 on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour, ran through the remainder of Round 2 in three-to-five foot (1 metre) surf at Supertubes. Eight surfers were eliminated in a thrilling day of competition as the field of 36 was narrowed down to 24. Hawaii’s Fredrick Patacchia was the top performer and was awarded both the day’s highest single-wave score (9.93 out of a possible 10) and two-wave total of 17.93 (out of a possible 20). In an all-Australian affair, Bede Durbidge took an early lead over his compatriot but it was Matt Wilkinson who set a slower pace to take advantage of the extended 35-minute heat by remaining selective throughout. 15 minutes into the heat Wilkinson managed six clean turns and a smooth drift for a 7.00 and the lead. After a five-minute lull, a quick exchange saw both surfers improve their situations. Durbidge worked his forehand maneuvers for a 7.50, but then Wilkinson rode the better wave of the set for an 8.50, leaving his opponent in need of an excellent score. With fewer than two minutes on the clock Durbidge found the opportunity he was looking for but the score came in just shy of what was needed. Wilkinson survives elimination and Durbidge leaves the competition in equal 25th place. “Bede (Durbridge) never falls, he makes every section and throws so much power. I knew it was going to be a tough heat,” said Matt Wilkinson. “It’s good to get a heat win under my belt and to be into the third Round. I’m sure there’ll be more tough heats but I’m excited.” Both surfers got to work quickly in Round 2 Heat 8. C.J. Hobgood (USA) on his backhand worked high vertical snaps while Tiago Pires (PRT) used a high line with a variety of maneuvers to gain a slight edge over the American. The latter half of the heat was a seesawing affair. Pires was able to capitalize on the pointbreak and produce bottom-to-top carves with fins-out vertical snaps for an excellent 8.17. Hobgood answered with huge carves and a tight tube ride on the first wave of the next set. An awkward fall at the ride's end kept the score out of the excellent range but the 7.67 was still enough to put him ahead of Pires and escape elimination with his first WCT heat win since the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. “Sometimes you have to win heats to get your confidence up and it's been a good two months since I’ve had a heat win," said C.J. Hobgood. “I had Tiago (Pires) in Fiji and he smoked me. I saw the other guys catching waves to get into rhythm so I just tried to catch as many as possible. Tiago was ripping so it feels really great to make a heat and I’m stoked to be able to surf here in Jeffreys Bay.” The second all-Brazilian match-up of the day saw Jadson Andre face Miguel Pupo in Round 2 Heat 9. With 15 minutes gone, the pair launched their respective barrel games. Pupo was able to secure a lead over his fellow countryman and, with renewed confidence, followed up with a long run down a clean wave for an 8.50 putting Andre in a combination situation. Despite replacing one of his low scores with an excellent 8.40 Andre was unable to better Pupo, who continued to build on his momentum, and was left needing a big ride with five minutes to go. Like Hobgood, Pupo takes his first heat win since Bells Beach and secures his place in Round 3. “It’s my first time in J-Bay and I’ve already fallen in love with the place,” saidMiguel Pupo. “It’s a special place for all the surfers because of the history over here. Hopefully I can come here every year. Monday’s conditions look pretty good, so hopefully we get barreled and put on a good show for the South Africans.” Freddy Patacchia (HAW) kicked off Heat 11, the battle of the backsiders, with an early score on the board, followed closely by Travis Logie (ZAF) who pulled into a tube, but couldn't find an exit. Patacchia then pounced on a perfect Supertubes runner, unloaded three huge under-the-lip hacks, pulled into a long, dredging tube and came flying out to earn the highest single-wave score of the day, a 9.93. Logie was left searching for two scores but used his trademark speed and power to muscle his way out of the combination, clocking a 7.17. Patacchia found another bomb and tore it apart to clock an 8.00 and put Logie back in a combination situation. Patacchia's 17.93 is the second highest two-wave heat total of the J-Bay Open, second only to event favorite Jordy Smith, and sees Logie leave the competition in equal 25th place. “My 9.93 point wave was really special,” said Fredrick Patacchia. “I could see it was going to be a gem and I kept telling myself ‘don’t screw this up, Freddie’. Travis (Logie) and I are Quiksilver team mates and we’re staying together here in J-Bay. You’re always going to end up surfing against your friends, but I think I have bragging rights now.” J-Bay Open Round 2 Results: Heat 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.90 def. Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF) 11.27 Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.43 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 10.43 Heat 3: Nat Young (USA) 16.10 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 8.63 Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.33 def. Glenn Hall (IRL) 4.80 Heat 5: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.93 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.70 Heat 6: Owen Wright (AUS) 12.07 def. Dion Atkinson (AUS) 6.87 Heat 7: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 10.83 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 7.93 Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.17 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.90 Heat 9: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 16.37 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 12.93 Heat 10: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 13.67 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.53 Heat 11: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 17.93 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 10.67 Heat 12: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.60 def. Mitch Crews (AUS) 10.67 J-Bay Open Round 3 Match-Ups: Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS) Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA) Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS) Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) Heat 5: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS) Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) Heat 7: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Aritz Aranburu (ESP) Heat 8: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Owen Wright (AUS) Heat 9: Nat Young (USA) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Kai Otton (AUS) Heat 11: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA) Heat 12: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA) All images ASP
Welcome back Jbay Open - we've missed ya! Even the waves were stoked and showed up for Day 1 of the competition. Bit of wind on it first thing, then it cleaned up for the rest of the morning. Some onshore ruffle again early arvo and things were called off for the day. But yoh, the surfing! World bloody class. Kelly arrives on a plane at midnight last night, and has to head out and surf his heat. No worries for him, just switches on the Jbay memory bank and he's dialed in straight away. JBay local, Dylan Lightfoot, surfed against the King in Rd 1 - and really stepped up his game. Looked totally competitive out there, and had another set come through before the buzzer he could well have won the heat. Unfortunately he lost to Medina in his Rd 2 match-up, but again looked really good out there. So proud of this lightie for surfing so well against two of the best surfers in the world. Looked like most of PE was there for the day, ou's so amped to see world class action. And the drive was worthwhile for sure. Jordy absolutely killed his heat, getting a perfect 10 and a total heat score of 19.80. Ouch - beat that if you can! Here's hoping he keeps his rhythm throughout the comp. Saffa for the win!! Some jobs have better perks than others....like Billabong's Josh Enslin who gets to be board caddy for Parko. Pretty schweet. Hope he gets to keep a stick or two after the comp. Local lighties Kyle & Adam Rubin were stoked to have grabbed a surf with Jeremy Flores. Pretty amazing to be in the water surfing with the top guys, it's even more impressive than watching them from dry land. Did you recognise Occy on the webcast?! He shed his famous dreads for charity. During the Fuel TV Preview Show for the ASP Fiji Pro, Occy said that if Kelly didn't win the event, he'd cut off all his hair. It was fairly safe bet: Not only had Slater won the Fiji Pro's four years running, but the 11-time ASP World Champ was so far winless for the 2014 season. He was looking likely to win one sooner or later. Michel Bourez had other idea's though. So Occy shaved his pip, and raised some money for Surfaid. OFFICIAL ASP PRESS RELEASE The J-Bay Open, stop No. 6 of 11 on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour, got off to an action-packed start today in some of the best conditions on Tour so far this year. The event ran through Round 1 and the first four heats of Round 2 in excellent five-to-seven foot (1.5 - 2.1 metre) surf at Supertubes. Defending event winner Jordy Smith (ZAF) made the most of the outstanding conditions and was the standout performer of the day. The South African secured the first perfect 10 of the competition as well as the highest two-wave heat total of the 2014 season (19.80 out of a possible 20) to keep the local crowds enthralled. The first heat of the competition saw a regular-foot battle, with Mick Fanning (AUS), Sebastian Zietz (HAW) and Dion Atkinson (AUS) each finding a wave quickly after the horn. The Hawaiian got the best of the opening exchange with a 6.00. The reigning three-time ASP World Champion and two-time J-Bay Open winner stayed busy throughout the heat, eventually posting a 7.00 and 6.43 compliments of his signature forehand attack. Fanning continued to strengthen his lead over his younger competitors, posting the first excellent ride of J-Bay Open competition with an 8.00. Fanning's 7.00 and 8.00 saw the two-time event winner snag a convincing Round 1 win. “Winning a heat here is a very special thing,” said Mick Fanning. “Growing up, it's one of those waves that you always want to come and surf. Having a heat here is one of those things that you always remember. I had a bit of a slow start but then I found my rhythm and got two good waves. Jordy (Smith) has a stranglehold on this event for the last couple of years, so he's the guy to beat.” Joel Parkinson (AUS), two-time J-Bay Open winner, kicked off Round 1 heat 3 with his classic precision. Goofy-footers Kai Otton (AUS) and wildcard Glenn Hall (IRL) made the most of the following sets but it was Otton who emerged as the in-form athlete of the heat, committing to each turn with power. In the final moments, the two Australians went wave-for-wave, each pulling into barrels with expert finesse. Otton tucked into a tight tube, while Parkinson rode triumphant from a bigger barrel that broke behind him. Both surfers scored nine-point-range rides but Otton's bottom score carried him to the end as the heat winner. Parkinson, current ASP World No. 5, went on to surf again in Round 2 where he got the better of Brett Simpson (USA) to avoid elimination and move through to Round 3. “Luckily the heat just had so many waves, I could go from the top to the bottom five times without rest,” said Kai Otton. “On the last exchange I managed to see the big, wide set coming. That wave was all about the barrel and mine was one of the best I've had out there.” “The conditions changed in Round 2 with the wind coming up so I was struggling a bit,” said Joel Parkinson. “I had dreams of those big walls like Jordy (Smith) had in his heat. Unfortunately for me the wave face was really flat and the lips were quite short. It’s still fun J-Bay but and I just have to keep it simple and do my best.” Round 1 Heat 6 saw 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) take on Tour rookie Mitch Crews (AUS) and local surfer and event wildcard Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF). Crews opened with a solid wave, but Slater quickly followed suit, taking on Supertubes with ease. He tucked into tubes and executed sweeping frontside hacks. About 20 minutes in, the 19-year-old wildcard dropped into his first wave, unleashing powerful turns armed with local knowledge to take second place. Crews was left trailing and, with just over five minutes left, saw an end to his Round 1 effort when he broke his board on the lip of a smaller wave. Slater took the win and advanced straight to Round 3. “I’m stoked to be back in J-Bay,” said Kelly Slater. “I love this place and I’ve had some really special moments out here at Supertubes. It’s a magical wave and is legendary around the world. It’s also a tough wave, you have pick your speed up and pick your sections. You really have to get ahead of the wave.” Backsiders Nat Young (USA) and Miguel Pupo (BRA) took on Aritz Aranburu (ESP) on his forehand in Round 1 Heat 7. Supertubes is traditionally a tricky wave for the backhand surfers and Fiji Pro runner-up Young was put to the test today as he made some uncharacteristic falls. Aranburu struck first clocking two keeper scores early on in the heat, unloading a series of power gouges and carves before pulling into a deep tube and being rewarded with an excellent 9.03. Young and Pupo were both left searching for near-perfect scores to turn the heat and fell short leaving Aranburu to claim his second Round 1 win of 2014. “This is my second first-round heat win of the season, and rhythm is pretty important,” said Aritz Aranburu. “The level of surfing is incredibly high and you have to be strong to win your heat. I came early to Jeffreys Bay to try my board out and it really worked well. I’m going to try to take this event heat by heat, try to focus and stay positive.” Round 1 Heat 10 had barely begun when local favorite and two-time J-Bay Open winner Jordy Smith (ZAF) racked up 19.30 points on back-to-back waves. Smith boasted a deadly combination of local knowledge, the athleticism to take on Supertubes' fast, steep waves, and the pressure to bring in a good score after an early season of mixed results. Australia's Owen Wright answered back, scoring a combined 17.03 and yet by the midway point he and Jadson Andre (BRA) still needed nine-pointers to close the gap. With fewer than 10 minutes on the clock Smith was awarded the first Perfect 10-point ride of the event for seamless carves, a massive floater and a final tube ride. Smith takes a convincing win and confirms his prowess on home turf. “To have the contest back in Jeffreys Bay is a brilliant feeling,” said Jordy Smith. “Not only for the surfers but also for the local people. All the kids get to see their idols surf this wave. This is one of the best righthand points in the world and it’s an incredible thing that they’ve brought this event back. I’ve been coming here since I was seven years old and I have a real connection with the wave and all the people in the town of J-Bay. I’m really fortunate and happy to be here and thanks to the ASP for putting it back on.” Jeremy Flores (FRA) opened Round 1 Heat 11 with a couple of minor scores, followed down the point quickly by John John Florence (HAW) and Bede Durbidge (AUS). Florence finished his ride with the aerial of the day, a massive fin throw reverse while Durbidge powered his way down the line with searing carves and turns to take an early advantage. Florence backed up his opener with a fast and furious barrage of carves and lip bashes that saw him leapfrog Durbidge for the lead and a pass directly to Round 3. Durbidge and Flores will surf again in Round 2 where they will face Matt Wilkinson (AUS) and Sebastian Zeitz (HAW) respectively. “I got pretty amped up watching Jordy (Smith) in the previous heat,” said John John Florence. “I’ve been coming to South Africa since I was 12 years old and it’s such an amazing place. The first time I came here was with Sonny Miller who sadly passed away last night so J-Bay is a really special place for me.” Local wildcard Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF) started strong in the opening heat of Round 2, keeping busy to take an early lead over current ASP World No. 1, Gabriel Medina (BRA). Both of the young phenoms were working with smaller waves but were able to take advantage of the crumbly surf. Medina pulled a flawless air reverse, which Lightfoot followed up with a seemingly effortless air. In the final minutes, Lightfoot looked to regain the lead, but needed an excellent score. Medina's efforts were rewarded and he edged out the up-and-comer, advancing to Round 3 while Lightfoot leaves the competition in equal 25th place. “I knew that the heat against Dylan Lightfoot was going to be a tough one, local guys at every event are always hard to beat,” said Gabriel Medina. “I tried to be smart and get the big waves. This board goes well so I was able to do some big turns. I’m so grateful for the support of my family who are all here. I don’t want to think too much about being the top seed on Tour at the moment. I just want to surf, have fun and try to do my best.” “Gabriel Medina is a crazy surfer, he was shredding out there, and Kelly (Slater) too in the heat before,” said Dylan Lightfoot. “It’s been a big day for me, I’ll definitely sleep well tonight. What an amazing experience for me to go out there and surf against these guys. I’ll definitely take a lot from this going in to my next few ASP Qualification Series events.” The world's best surfers have converged in South Africa from around the globe to contest for the ASP World Title at the J-Bay Open. Stop No. 6 of 11 on the Men's ASP World Championship Tour gets underway tomorrow and holds a waiting period of Thursday, July 10, to Monday, July 21, 2014. Glenn Hall (IRL) will join Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF), winner of the JBU Supertrials, as the event wildcards and both will compete alongside the ASP Top 34 and complete the field for the J-Bay Open. A selection of ASP World Tour standouts gathered today for a press conference in advance of the start of competition. “It’s so great back here; both for the surfers and for Jeffreys Bay,” said Jordy Smith. “It’s great for African surfing to have a WCT competition here on home turf. This is such a good event and I’d love to get my first win of the season here.” “This is my first time here in J-Bay and it feels good,” said Gabriel Medina. “I’ve brought all my family here and everyone is having a lot of fun. I’ve had some good surfs and I’m going to try and do better than the Brazilian soccer team!” “This has been a great year for me,” said Michel Bourez. “I’m really happy to be here, especially with these guys. If the waves are good the top surfers will do some amazing things and I hope to do as well as them. I’m so excited to be here.” “This place is really special to me,” said Taj Burrow. “We were all so excited when we heard the news that the WCT was coming back to J-Bay. I love it here - when the wind roars and the swell pumps it’s amazing. I’m so happy to be back.” “This is an event that I’ve always looked forward to,” said Mick Fanning. “I love right-hand pointbreaks and J-Bay is so iconic. I’m so lucky to get the chance to be out there with just one other guy and I’ve got my fingers crossed for some good waves”. J-Bay Open Round 1 Match-Ups: Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Dion Atkinson (AUS) Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Matt Wilkinson (AUS) Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Glenn Hall (IRL) Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Raoni Monteiro (BRA) Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Adam Melling (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA) Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA), Mitch Crews (AUS), Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF) Heat 7: Nat Young (USA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Aritz Aranburu (ESP) Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Alejo Muniz (BRA) Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Tiago Pires (PRT) Heat 10: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Owen Wright (AUS), Jadson Andre (BRA) Heat 11: John John Florence (HAW), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA) Heat 12: Kolohe Andino (USA), Julian Wilson (AUS), Travis Logie (ZAF) The sixth stop on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour, the J-Bay Open, is webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.com. The 2014 version of the JBay Winterfest is set to kick off tomorrow 10 July, and the town is abuzz with excitement. The best surfers in the world are in town, the JBay Open ASP Surfing Event is ready to go, and the rest of the Winterfest events are set to run over the next ten action-packed days.
Apart from the surfing, this weekend sees a start to the Music Festival, with A King and Van Coke Cartel opening on Friday night 11th July at the Jolly Dolphin, along with DJ Naaldekoker. They will be followed by PHFAT and Jack Parow on Saturday night 12th July. The Downhil Sokkie Jol skate event is all set for a Saturday 12th 08h00 start, with prizes for Highest Jump, Best Disco Dress, Downhill Race Winner, Worst Wipe Out and Longest Slide. There is over R5000 in cash prize money and plenty of giveaways. See you there! The 32nd annual Volkswagen Rally will take place on the Friday 11 and Saturday 12 July in Jeffreys Bay. The event promises to bring high-speed adrenalin action to JBay on Friday afternoon and evening in the main street of town. Spectating is free – so bring your family and friends. The Funduro is another event that will take place on the 12 July. The route is an easy-medium 15 km single-track loop. The course is an excellent ride for beginners with some obstacles for more experienced riders, including the infamous Slake Pit obstacle course. The Sector9 Poker Run will take place on the 11th, and competitors are invited to meet at the Savoy Hotel on Da Gama road at 4:30 pm for a 5pm start. The JBay Skins fishing contest will take place on Saturday 12th July. This event will take place from the rocks left of the main beach, to The Gap at Kabeljous surf. Colourful flags will demarcate boundaries and weigh marshal points along the area. The event is set to run from 7:30 am – 2:30pm. The JBay Winterfest Cold Water Swim Classic will take place on 12 July. This year the event offers two distances, a testing 7.5km or a 2.5km open water swim. The event will begin at the Infood Blu Restaurant and coincides with the restaurant’s opening day. The National Kite Festival with take place on the 12 and 13th July at Kabeljous beach. The skies above JBay will become a canvass of colour when all manner of kites take to the skies. From power kites and stunt kites, to sophisticated 4-liner revolution kites and the masquerade of massive show kites piloted by the South African Kite Masters. 2014 sees the return of the Photo Comp – capture a moment during the JBay WInter Fest 2014, share your photo on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and tag with #jbaywinterfest to stand a chance to win daily prizes and a grand prize of R7500 cash. Keep up to date on our Instagram account @JBayWinterFest. For more information on the JBay Winterfest events and entries check out the festival events page and follow the JBay Winterfest Facebook Fan Page and @JBayWinterFest Twitter account. The hashtag is #JBayWinterFest The J-Bay Open, Stop No. 6 of 11 on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), begins on Thursday, July 10, and the world’s best surfers are returning to Jeffreys Bay with swell on the horizon.
Universally-regarded as one of the best right-hand pointbreaks on the planet, Jeffreys Bay rejoins the WCT in 2014 after a two-year hiatus from elite competition. The venue has existed as a favorite tour stop for the world’s best surfers since its inception and it adds a welcome element to this season’s hotly-contested ASP World Title race. J-Bay was last on the WCT schedule in 2011, when South African Jordy Smith claimed his home-field advantage and won the event for the second year in a row. The event ran as an ASP 6-Star Qualification Series (QS) event in 2012 when Brazilian Adriano de Souza claimed victory. “When I won the QS event here in 2012, I recognized the difficulties and differences that proved unique to that event as opposed to when it was a WCT event,” De Souza said. “The QS has a lot of upcoming talents and they’re all hungry to take elite scalps and show the world they deserve to qualify – I know because that was me at that level. Besides this factor, the 2012 event still had guys like John John (Florence), Jordy (Smith), Alejo (Muniz), Brett Simpson and others.” “For sure, it was a special event for me and I’m very proud to have won it,” De Souza said. “However, it was two years ago and winning a QS event there is much different to winning a WCT – they’re just not the same thing. I’m very excited it’s back on the schedule and I hope the waves pump because the level of talent on tour this season has been scary good. I really hope to do well again in J-Bay this year.” 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) has won at Jeffreys Bay three times (1996, 2003 and 2005), reigning three-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning was victorious here in 2002 and 2006 and Jordy Smith (ZAF) took back-to-back wins in 2010 and 2011 and is the defending event winner. “When I got the news that Jeffreys was returning to the schedule this season, I basically ran around my house screaming for 30 minutes,” Smith said. “It’s a special wave. It’s a special wave for me personally and has been intertwined with my career since I can remember. The level of surfing on tour this season has been ridiculous. If there are waves, we’re going to see some crazy stuff go down.” Surfline, official forecasters for the J-Bay Open, are calling for: Medium-size SW swell will prevail for the first day of the contest waiting period (Thursday the 10th), with a fading trend into the weekend. Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF), the winner of the JBU Supertrials held on the June 5, 2014, has received one of two event wildcards with the other to be announced in the coming days. The wildcards will compete alongside ASP Top 34 and complete the field for the J-Bay Open. The J-Bay Open will be held from Thursday, July 10, to Monday, July 21, 2014 and will be webcast LIVE via aspworldtour.com J-Bay Open Round 1 Match-Ups: Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Dion Atkinson (AUS) Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Matt Wilkinson (AUS) Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Raoni Monteiro (BRA) Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA) Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Adam Melling (AUS), TBD Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA), Mitch Crews (AUS), TBD Heat 7: Nat Young (USA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Aritz Aranburu (ESP) Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Alejo Muniz (BRA) Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Tiago Pires (PRT) Heat 10: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Owen Wright (AUS), Jadson Andre (BRA) Heat 11: John John Florence (HAW), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA) Heat 12: Kolohe Andino (USA), Julian Wilson (AUS), Travis Logie (ZAF) |
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