Stu Kennedy posted the highest single-wave score of 9.07 out of 10 on opening day of Mr Price Pro Ballito competition.
Ballito, South Africa (Tuesday July 2, 2013) – The ASP Prime Mr Price Pro Ballito set off to an exciting start with high scores and big upsets on the opening day of the event.
Event No. 3 of 8 on the ASP Prime Tour saw swell build from half to one-meter waves throughout the day, providing increased opportunity and scoring potential for the world’s best surfers.
Australian Stu Kennedy punctuated the morning’s competition, completing a forehand air rotation to earn one of the day’s top scores a 9.07 (out of a possible 10 points). Kennedy consolidated his lead with an impressive variety of maneuvers advancing into Round 2 in first place.
“I’ve been struggling a little bit in trying to figure out what board to ride since I got here so I was surprised to come away with the win,” Kennedy said. “The waves were really fast and I thought if you found the section you just had to go for it.”
Former World Junior Champion Maxime Huscenot of Reunion Island, produced controlled, critical surfing, winning his round one heat over ASP World No. 4 Jordy Smith and former WCT campaigner Nate Yeomans (USA).
“It was a tough heat because for me, Jordy is the best surfer at the moment,” Huscenot said. “Ballito is a powerful wave, and I enjoy doing big turns and throwing big airs but it was tricky to control the board with the bump. I knew with those surfers anything could happen, so I put the pressure on early.”
Smith, the highest ranked surfer in this year’s event and firm local favourite, looked set to take the win with his excellent 8.00-point opener but without a second high scoring ride, was forced to settle for second.
“There are some really fun waves and sections if you get them but Maxime was a wave magnet out there and I was just stoked to get some waves,” Smith said. “I guess for anyone who surfs at home it builds confidence and that is what this is for me. It’s a fun wave and a chance to relax halfway through the year.”
Hawaii’s Ezekial Lau overcame a tough heat against stylish Australian Mitch Coleborn. Lau built momentum after a shaky start, taking a narrow victory over Coleborn who advanced in second, the pair finishing neck and neck with 15.57 to 15.17 (both out of 20.00) scores.
“The whole heat I was having a rough one, I had to keep catching waves to find my own rhythm,” Lau said. “We have a lot of waves like this at home, its bumpy but I felt good and I’m glad I got through.”
Local surfer and the highest ranked non-WCT South African surfer in the event, ASP World No. 41 Beyrick De Vries (Umhlanga), secured the only heat win from the South African camp. De Vries produced a series of solid turns on two of the bigger set waves, proving a dangerous and unstoppable opponent as he advanced in first place.
“Ballito is just up the road from where I surf everyday, so I feel at home,” De Vries said. “Last year I got a wildcard into this event and it really helped me get into the Primes this year. I’m taking it heat by heat because you can’t win if you’re not in the final.”
ASP World No. 31 Brazilian Alejo Muniz overcame all odds surfing on borrowed equipment after breaking all of his boards at the previous event in Indonesia. Lifting his aerial game by besting a crucial last minute exchange over Matt Banting (AUS) and Evan Geiselman, Muniz earned his place into Round 2.
“It’s tough to surf against this new generation in these conditions because they go to the air so easily,” Muniz said. “The waves were really nice but I had a slow start and I don’t have my own boards so I haven’t had a lot of time to practice.”
The only other South African surfer to advance was Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffrey’s Bay) who put on an inspired performance against ASP World No. 11 Julian Wilson. Sitting neck and neck for the first half of the heat, it was the commitment and control from Wilson that earned him the win. Lightfoot advanced in second keeping South Africa’s hopes alive.
“Its pretty tricky and scrappy in the four man heats,” Wilson said. “There’s a lot of jockeying for position but that’s how it goes and you’ve got to learn to adjust quickly coming from man-on-man heat’s on the WCT.”
While Star Tour campaigners had no problems battling for position, it was the WCT surfers who took time to adjust with numerous big names eliminated in the early stages.
The day’s biggest upset saw South African World No. 21 Travis Logie (Dbn) narrowly edged out by Dave Cathels (AUS), tipping the South African from second down to third, in the dying minutes of the heat.
ASP World No. 19 Matt Wilkinson (AUS) simply struggled to find his position in the lineup and was eliminated in fourth place, while ASP World No. 27 Willian Cardoso (BRA) was ousted with only four point rides.
Eighteen heats of Round 1 were completed with the top two surfers advancing into Round 2. The next call will take place at 7:00am tomorrow morning for a possible 7:15am start.
The forecast looks promising for tomorrow with solid one to one-meter waves and offshore W- NW winds.
For more information log on to www.mrpricepro.com.
Round of 96 Results:
Heat 1: Jesse Mednes (BRA) 12.57; Gabriel Villaran (PER) 11.16; Matthew Bromley (ZAF) 8.64; Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 5.03 Heat 2: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 12.94; Granger Larsen (HAW) 11.66; Gavin Gillette (HAW) 10.26; Lincoln Taylor (AUS) 10.00 Heat 3: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 12.97; Garrett Parkes (AUS) 10.83; Flavio Nakagima (BRA) 10.73; Willian Cardoso (BRA) 8.74 Heat 4: Michael Dunphy (USA) 10.76; Miguel Pupo (BRA) 9.93; Ty Watson (AUS) 8.60; Heath Joske (AUS) 8.23 Heat 5: Bernado Miranda (BRA) 11.94; Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.63; Alain Riou (PYF) 10.34; Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 8.87 Heat 6: Stu Kennedy (AUS) 14.24; Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 13.94; Hodei Collazo (EUK) 9.52; Romain Cloitre (FRA) 4.43 Heat 7: Kiron Jabour (AUS) 14.33; Jay Thompson (AUS) 10.40; Cristobal De Col (PER) 9.43; Davey Brand (AUS) 8.63 Heat 8: Thomas Woods (AUS) 12.03; Davey Cathels (AUS) 11.67; Travis Logie (ZAF) 11.14; Chad Du Toit (ZAF) 6.07 Heat 9: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 14.47; Matt Banting (AUS) 12.37; Evan Geiselman (USA) 11.83; Luel Felipe (BRA) 9.80 Heat 10: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 15.57; Mitchel Coleborn (AUS) 15.17; David Van Zyl (ZAF) 10.37; Cory Arrambide (USA) 10.23 Heat 11: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 13.73; Marlon Lipke (PRT) 13.44; Torrey Meister (HAW) 12.77; Dale Staples (ZAF) 12.43 Heat 12: Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 15.40; Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.50; Nathan Yeomans (USA) 13.00; Slade Prestwich (ZAF) 8.80 Heat 13: Julian Wilson (AUS) 12.50; Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF) 10.46; Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 9.40; Gabe Kling (USA) 9.80 Heat 14: Messias Felix (BRA) 12.76; Chris Friend (AUS) 12.10; Keanu Asking (HAW) 9.57; Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 7.53 Heat 15: Joan Duru (FRA) 15.33; Dion Atkinson (AUS) 12.84; Michael February (ZAF) 11.93 Conner Coffin (USA) 8.26 Heat 16: David do Carmo (BRA) 13.40; Nathan Hedge (AUS) 9.97; Nathaniel Curran (USA) 8.80; Dusty Payne (HAW) 6.80 Heat 17: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.26; Billy Stairmand (NZL) 11.90; Jack Freestone (AUS) 11.90; Steven Sawyer (ZAF) 9.50 Heat 18: Jadson Andre (BRA) 16.50; Tom Whitakker (AUS) 12.33;Jano Belo (BRA) 9.67; Manuel Selman (CHL) 8.40
