Adam Melling wins O’Neill Cold Water Classic.....

The first event of the 2011 O’Neill Cold Water Classic at Gisborne, New Zealand was clinched by Aussie surfer Adam Melling today, claiming the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) six-star event over Brazilian surfer Willian Cardoso.

The Pines on Wainui Beach was the set stage for the final in clean 1.5m waves. Despite a horrid forecast of gale force onshore winds for today, a miraculous turn around in weather had the beach crowded with spectators, witnessing and absorbing the action that unfolded in the last seven heats.

Melling pulled off a 15.20 out of a possible 20 points to secure the win, and it made the win even more special given he was celebrating his 26th birthday. “I am 26 today and I won the final… I am stoked” said Melling.

“Pretty fun out there, it turned on for the final.  Even though the tide come up there were still sets.  It was a little slow at the start but came on in the end, last 90 seconds anyway” added Melling of his last minute victory after scoring an 8.03 point ride for two huge forehand turns with only seconds to spare.”

“At the start of the heat there, I was looking back in at the beach and I was thinking wow I don’t have any waves.  I missed one at the start and I was freaking out a bit and Willian was down the beach but I knew I was in a good spot and if a ‘sucky’ one came in I knew I could bang out the turns and get the score.”

Melling received $20,000 USD for the win and moves up one place on the ASP One World Rankings to 23rd and hopes to be able to attend more O’Neill Cold Water Classic events in a bid to win the Series and claim the $50,000 USD prize money for the Series win.

Despite placing second scoring 13.67 points after holding the lead for more than 29 minutes, Cardoso was still happy with his result today. “I am so stoked, it was a really really fun day.”

  “I did my best in the final and I take an 8.5 on my first wave and only need a backup and I got 5.0 on my second wave.  Adam is a great surfer and on the world tour.  The last second he changed the result but I am stoked to get a great start to the year” said Cardoso who has been travelling in motor homes with eleven of his Brazilian friends enjoying waking up at the beach each day and enjoying the New Zealand coastline.

In third place were Australians Tom Whitaker and Stu Kennedy. By way of his third place, Whitaker jumped one place on the ratings to 32nd pushing Bobby Martinez (USA) to 33rd.

Final results from the O’Neill Cold Water Classic – Gisborne completed today (Tuesday 29th March).

Quarterfinals

Heat 1 - Adam Melling, AUS defeated Gony Zubizarreta, ESP

Heat 2 - Tom Whitaker, AUS defeated Joan Duru, FRA

Heat 3 - Willian Cardoso, BRA defeated Thiago Camarao, BRA

Heat 4 - Stu Kennedy, AUS defeated Miguel Pupo, BRA

Semifinals

Heat 1 - Adam Melling, AUS defeated Tom Whitaker, AUS

Heat 2 - Willian Cardoso, BRA defeated Stu Kennedy, AUS

Final

Adam Melling, AUS defeated Willian Cardoso, BRA

Sion Milosky, Big Wave Surfers Dies...

Late Wednesday evening, professional big-wave surfer died after the colossal wall of water at Mavericks plunged him deep into the ocean and would not let him go.


35 year old big wave surfer from Hawaii apparently pummeled by a set wave in the waning daylight. Conditions were sloppy and not really large by Mavrick's standards with 20 to 30 feet faces. He was really deep and apparently was caught in a two-wave-hold-down of the coast, south of San Fransisco.
 "He was really deep and he makes the drop, and the end section comes and just explodes behind him as he straightens out," said Chris Killen. "I'm looking over just devastated. His head's flopping, and I could tell he was blue from far away."

Big-wave surfer, Ken Collins, who witnessed the accident said that the wave that killed Milosky was atleast 50 feet tall. Despite the tragedy surfers were back in the water, back in the towering barrels. And on the beach, written in the sand "WE LOVE YOU DADDY" by his kids.

RIP Sion Milosky....

Kelly Slater opens Season with Quik Pro win

Ten-time defending ASP World Champion started his campaigne winning the Quicksilver Pro 2011 at Snapper Rocks Gold Coast today. He became the first surfer to win three Quik Pro titles. Kelly pulled off his 46th career ASP World Tour victory by beating defending Quick Pro Champion, Taj Burrow. "i still don't know what is possible." said Slater earlier in the event.
Slater earned 10,000 rating points and $75,000 as well as world no. 1 ranking going into the next event of the ASP World Tour season, which kicks off at Bells Beach in Victoria on April 19, The Rip Curl Pro.
Tiago Pires finished equal third place falling to Slater and South African Jordy Smith-who finished runner-up to Burrow last year was the other third place finisher.

Quarter Finals Set at Snapper

Rounds 4 and 5 of the Quick Pro 2011 was completed today.  With electrifying suring conditions and clean two-to-three foot waves at the Snapper Rocks, Gold Coast.    


Defending Quick Pro champion Taj Burrow again showed that he was the man to beat with the highest heat total of the event, a 19.06 out of a possible 20 to elimiate Adriano de Souza in round 5.  This was a blow by blow contest and probably the most electrifying nailbiting heat of the day.  "I just wanted to get back in that heat,"  Burrow said.  "Adriano (de Souza)  raised it by getting that 9 at the start and it made me hungry.  It's awesome when you dig deep and it goes your way at the end,"  Burrow said.  


The highflying South African Jordy Smith surfed a sensational heat coming from behind to eliminate local stand-out Joel Parkinson in round 5.  Jordy needed a big score in the dying moments pulling off a 7.50 out of a possible 10 to secure the win and to show why he was 2010 ASP World Runner Up. "I'm really stoked right now," Smith said.  "Finally something good came.  I had a bummer of a morning and I was kind of down after losing my first heat.  He (Parkinson)  always beats me and I've looked up to him forever.  I don't know what to say, I'm rattled right now."  


Matt Wilkinson posted a career-best this morning beating ten time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater and Michel Bourez to advance directly to the quarter finals. 


Slater, although relegated to the elimination round 5, recovered well to take down an in form Adrian Buchan (AUS), 28, to advance through to the quarter finals.  "I feel a little better,"  Slater said.  "I just felt a little weak and off of my game today.  I didn't sleep great and ate late last night."


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

When competition resumes, up first will be Dusty Payne (HAW), 22, up against Kelly Slater (USA), 39, in the first Quarterfinal.
Highlights from the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast will be available via this website.

The event will also be broadcast LIVE free-to-air on One HD.


QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Dusty Payne (HAW) 14.07, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.83, Tiago Pires (PRT) 11.80
Heat 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.53, Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.14, Kelly Slater (USA) 11.06
Heat 3: Brett Simpson (USA) 16.60, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.63, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.87
Heat 4: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 15.23, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.76, Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.56

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.80 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.60
Heat 2: Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.27 def. Michel Bouez (PYF) 12.94
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 19.06 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 18.94
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.67 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.17

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Dusty Payne (HAW) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
QF 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
QF 3: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS)
QF 4: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

Quick Pro Round 2

ASP’s Worlds best surfers fighting it out at the tested Snapper Rocks for Round 2..
After a week’s worth of lay days, The ASP World Title season has recommenced on the 6th March with Round 2 eliminations. Top surfers battling it out at the tested two-to-three foot waves at Snapper Rocks Gold Coast, home to the opening ASP 2011 event, The Quicksilver Pro.

Although conditions were not favouring surfers with strong currents and unfavourable swell direction, they still however pulled off an electrifying session and provided a good show for the capacity crowded coast.
Top honours for the day, collecting 16.73 out of a possible 20 eliminating Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 25, was Brett Simpson (USA), 26. “I’m definitely happy with my performance; I started with that fall on my first wave but was able to get those smaller ones and I knew i just had to push it,” Simpson said. Simpson will take on Frederick Patacchia (HAW), 29, in Round 3 in The Quicksilver Pro 2011.

Adrian Buchan (AUS), 28, bagged 14.17 out of a possible 20 and opened with a convincing win over wildcard Mitch Crews (AUS), 20. “ I knew Crews is capable of getting big scores and that the last wave was the best that came through in that heat,” Buchan said. “I got that six for one turn and it looked like he had three or four on that wave, so who knows.” Buchan will battle Gold Coast fly boy Josh Kerr (AUS), 26, in Round 3 of competition.

Matt Banting (AUS), 16, produced a blistering show in minimal conditions, causing the biggest upset of the day. He eliminated ASP World Title contender Bede Durbidge (AUS), 28, in the opening heat of the day. “I knew when he (Durbidge) fell on that last barrel that I had it, “ Banting said. “Istarted getting the shakes, it’s everything I ever dreamed of to surf in World Tour events and now I have Kelly in Round 3.
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 06:30.

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1:Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Matt Banting (AUS)
Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Mitch Crews (AUS)
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Marc Lacomare (FRA)
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 5: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Cory Lopez (USA)
Heat 6: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 8: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 9: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 10: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 11: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 12: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Bobby Martinez (USA)



QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Heat 1:Matt Banting (AUS) 9.43 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 4.00
Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.17 def. Mitch Crews (AUS) 13.10
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.83 def. Marc Lacomare (FRA) 8.66
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.40 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 4.80
Heat 5: Cory Lopez (USA) 7.83 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 4.77
Heat 6: Jadson Andre (BRA) 10.17 def. Gabe Kling (USA) 9.00
Heat 7: Dusty Payne (HAW) 12.33 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 10.83
Heat 8: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.60 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 11.27
Heat 9: Kai Otton (AUS) 13.73 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 7.06
Heat 10: Brett Simpson (USA) 16.73 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 9.90
Heat 11: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.50 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 10.50
Heat 12: Heitor Alves (BRA) 14.50 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 12.83

Five days and still no Surf

Lay Day Five...

It's been five days now and still no action at the 2011 ASP Quicksilver Pro in The Gold Coast.

“We've called a lay day for competition today with no real swell on offer,” Rich Porta, ASP Head Judge, said. “We're monitoring the swell forecast to hit in the next days and it's shaping up to be something really good. We'll check back in the morning, but it's more than likely we won't recommence until the weekend.”

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

When competition resumes, up first will be Bede Durbidge (AUS), 28, up against wildcard Matt Banting (AUS), 16, in the opening men's heat of Round 2 and Rebecca Woods (AUS), 26, battling Courtney Conlogue (AUS), 18, in the opening women's heat of Round 2.

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Matt Banting (AUS)
Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Mitch Crews (AUS)
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Marc Lacomare (FRA)
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 5: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Cory Lopez (USA)
Heat 6: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 8: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 9: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 10: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 11: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 12: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Bobby Martinez (USA)

Support a kid at Heal the Hoods "Learn to Surf Day 2"

“Heal the Hood Project www.healthehood.org.za started doing alternative outings from the usual Hip Hop activities that the youth are use to. We first did "Up the Rock", which was a walk up Table Mountain to expose youth to a new experience and then we decided to expose them to surfing. Our "Learn to Surf Day" was inspired by my knowledge of Cass Collier and people like Errol Bong who worked at Surfers Corner, when I grew up in Grassy Park and exposed me to both Surfing and Skateboarding. Sports and lifestyles not associated with so-called coloured kids during apartheid. I wanted these youths from the Cape Flats to experience something different, as I did as a kid. Both events were so inspiring that we will have a second Surf Day and have spent a night on Table Mountain with the youth. We hope that they will join the surf club and come surf regularly,” says Emile Lester Jansen

The event will take place on Saturday, April 9 · 10:00am - 4:00pm. For more info visit Heal the Hoods "Learn to Surf Day 2"

Heal the Hood is initiating these new opportunities for the youth to expand their perception of what they can do. These kids from Delft, Mitchells Plain, Grassy Park and Lavender Hill, seldom get opportunities like these and we are arranging transport, food and paying for the teacher, World Surf and Big Wave Champion, Cass Collier, to teach them for the day. We are hosting more hip hop events this year to assist in raising funds to supply our youth with more opportunities.

 Calling all saffas, grab your stick, pull on your wetsuit, butter up em cheeks SPF 50 style and have some fun in the sun. Support a kid, think of it as an investment, you're investing and sowing a good seed into these kids' lives or just pitch up and chill out with them. Who knows, they could be your next Kelly Slaters or Jordy Smiths.

Thumbs up Emile!!!!!