02/27/2008
Jeremy Flores (FRA) was the only one of the four Europeans surfing in Round 2 at Snapper Rocks to join Miky Picon (FRA) in Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by LG today. From Europe's five representatives who entered in the event, the two French are Europe's only remaining surfers after two days of competition, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) being forced to pull out from the event due to an ankle injury.
2007 ASP Rookie of the Year Jeremy Flores (FRA) defeated Quiksilver wildcard and 2006 ASP European Pro Surf Tour Champion Michel Bourez (PYF) in 4 ft (1 meter +) waves at Snapper Rocks. Scoring a low 10.83 pts total out of possible 20 to advance in a wave-starved heat, Flores had to use tactics to catch-up with Bourez's lead in the last five minutes, and take the win.
"It was not an easy heat for me", Flores said. "Surfing against one of your best friends is never easy but I was hoping for an exciting heat with good waves to be able to surf well and have fun". "I did a big mistake in the end giving Michel priority in the last minute of the heat and I was lucky he did not get the score he needed", Flores said. "Michel had nothing to lose, but I had a job to do and I did it, so I am happy to make Round 3 and join Miky (Picon)".
Bourez, who made a crucial mistake while he had priority letting Flores go on his winning wave, was disappointed with his result. "We both lacked waves and I am disappointed to lose because of a tactics mistake", Bourez said.
Aritz Aranburu (EUK), who injured himself during yesterday's MSF Expression Session when he landed an air reverse maneuver, pulled out fom the event. Giving Neco Padaratz (BRA) his Round 3 ticket, we hope Aranburu will have recovered when the 2008 ASP World Tour moves to its second stop next month, in Bell's Beach, Australia.
Aranburu, Pires and Bourez place equal 33rd in the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by LG. After finishing ahead of 3X ASP World Champion Andy Irons (HAW) in Round 1, Picon will meet last year's ASP World Tour runner-up Taj Burrow (AUS) when competition resumes.
Quicksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. By LG round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) 16.37 def. Tamaroa McComb (PYF) 5.90
Heat 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.00 def. Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 13.23
Heat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.83 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 8.00
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.16 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 12.00
Heat 5: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.33 def. Daniel Ross (AUS) 10.83
Heat 6: Roy Powers (HAW) 13.74 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 9.60
Heat 7: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 14.84 def. Michael Campbell (AUS) 12.66
Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 17.17 def. Jihad Khodr (BRA) 12.50
Heat 9: Ben Bourgeois (USA) 12.34 def. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 11.70
Heat 10: *Neco Padaratz (BRA) advances Aritz Aranburu (EUS) injured
Heat 11: Leonardo Neves (BRA) 13.67 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 7.33
Heat 12: * Jay Thompson (AUS) advances Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) injured
Heat 13: Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.20 def. Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 10.06
Heat 14: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.34 def. Daniel Wills (AUS) 11.50
Heat 15: Tim Reyes (USA) 16.16 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 5.97
Heat 16: Ben Dunn (AUS) 12.07 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 8.50
3rd round Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 2: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 3: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 5: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (AUS)
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 7: Neco Padaratz (BRA) vs. Leonardo Neves (BRA)
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 10: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Bruce Irons (HAW)
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (AUS) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 12: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 13: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 15: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Heat 16: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
Submit this story to:
Digg
Del.icio.us
Technorati