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Jordy Smith survives giant Hawaiian surf to reach last 32 in O’Neill World Cup |
| MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION Tuesday 4 December 2007 O'NEILL WORLD CUP of SURFING 6 Star Prime ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) Event Sunset Beach, Oahu-Hawaii November 25 – 6 December 2007 Jordy Smith survives giant Hawaiian surf to reach last 32 in O’Neill World Cup South Africa’s Jordy Smith survived one of the most challenging days in the history of competition at Sunset Beach in Hawaii yesterday to reach the last 32 in the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing, the 47th and final stop on the 2007 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS). Smith, 19, who holds an unassailable lead at the top of the WQS standings, placed second behind big wave charger Tiago Pires (POR) and ahead of Hawaiian standout Marcus Hickman and former ASP World Junior Champion Pedro Henrique (BRA) to advance to the next round in the 6 Star Prime rated R875 000 event. As wave face heights reached their Sunset maximum of 25 feet, competitors were set adrift in an undefined lineup with the majority of waves ridden caught in the deep water channel - an area usually devoid of waves and reserved for paddling back out. While waiting for surf is a common theme at world class surfing events these days, it is only in Hawaii that you find an event waiting for waves to drop. And the brunt of the swell was only expected to peak around midnight (12 noon Tuesday, SA time). Only the final eight heats of the round of 64 were completed before competition was halted at midday as the USA National Weather Service advised all beachfront residents to secure their properties and be prepared for invading surf. When competition shut down for the day, the beach was sealed off - entry to the ocean officially prohibited by the lifeguards. Smith is the sole South African remaining in the event and joins 15 Australians, six Hawaii surfers, three Brazilians, three Californians, one Floridian, one Portuguese surfer, one Spaniard and one Frenchman in the chase for the US $15 000 winner’s payout. The Durbanite and reigning ASP World Junior Champion, who announced his presence in Hawaii by finishing runner-up in this event last year, next faces Leonardo Neves (BRA), Australian big wave expert Kieren Perrow and fellow teenage prodigy Jeremy Flores (FRA) who won last year’s WQS to become the youngest ever qualifier for the elite Foster’s ASP World Tour. The top two in the heat progress to the quarterfinals. Australian Daniel Ross has been the standout performer in the event, which is the second jewel in the prestigious Van’s Triple Crown of Surfing. Competing in the ideal two to three metre surf that graced the earlier rounds at Sunset, Ross posted consecutive heats of more than 18 points from a possible 20 while Basque surfer Hodei Collazo has recorded the only perfect 10 point ride of the tournament. The rest of the South African contingent were eliminated early in the event with World Tour veteran Greg Emslie (East London) the lone heat winner, progressing from the Round of 96 before being bundled out in his next heat. Damien Fahrenfort (Cape Town) placed second in his opening encounter to advance to the Round of 96 while Warwick Wright, David Weare, Ricky Basnett (all from Durban) and Royden Bryson (East London) all placed 3rd or 4th the first time they competed. The waiting period for the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing ends this Thursday and official surf forecaster Surfline.com is calling for slightly smaller, yet still solid surf, as well as the possibility of adverse winds. All of the action of this year's Vans Triple Crown of Surfing can be experienced live via the internet at www.triplecrownofsurfing.com starting at 8pm South African time. Additionally, surfline.com will be offering original daily content, and Surfing Magazine will provide a daily blog. O’Neill World Cup of Surfing: Sunset Beach, Oahu-Hawaii Results Round of 64 (Surfers listed 1st through 4th place. Top 2 advance) H1: D. Atkinson (Aus), M. Rothman (HI), J. Howse (Aus), M. Wilkinson (Aus) H2: N. Muscroft (Aus), F. Novak (HI), J. Khodr (Brz), F. Patacchia (HI) H3: C. Lopez (USA), D. Reynolds (USA), V. Ribas (Brz), E. Acero (Spn) H4: B. Durbidge (Aus), C. Ward (USA), M. Picon (Fra), G. Emslie (SAfr) H5: C. Ziems (Aus), A. Melling (Aus), R. Powers (HI), D. Morrison (Aus) H6: A. Buchan (Aus), J. Kerr (Aus), CJ Hobgood (USA), L. Munro (Aus) H7: R. Dornelles (Brz), J. Thompson (Au), D. Barca (HI), W. Cardoso (Brz) H8: I. Walsh (HI), M. Fanning (Aus), K. Otton (Aus), B. Hansen (NZ) H9: T. Burrow (Aus), L. Neves (Brz), J. Centeio (HI), S. Cansdell (Aus) H10: T. Pires (Prt), J. Smith (SAfr), M. Hickman (HI), P. Henrique (Brz) H11: K. Perrow (Aus), H. Collazo (Spn), S. Moody (HI), T. Knox (CA) H12: J. Flores (Fra), B. Irons (HI), S. Gossmann (Aus), R. Monteiro (Brz) H13: T. Whitaker (Aus), Y. Sodre (Brz), M. Quinn (NZ), H. Alves (Brz) H14: S. Garcia (HI), P. MacDonald (Aus), A. Aranburu (Euk), M. Trekinho (Brz) H15: D. Ross (Aus), T. Reyes (CA), B. Bourgeois (Fl), K. Flintoff (Aus) H16: TJ Barron (HI), D. Neve (Aus), J. Parkinson (Aus), R. Winter (UK) /Ends Issued on behalf of: ASP Africa Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager Tel: 021 534 5738 Email: aspafrica@mweb.co.za Edited & Issued by: Life's a Beach Communications PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965 Fax: +27 (0) 86 684 6250 Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964 Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world's best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America. These regions manage all their respective domestic affairs under the guidance of ASP International, which is located on the Gold Coast of Australia. |
| Date: 4 Dec 07 |