surf contest > Francia
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE 2005
ANDY IRONS WINS HIS THIRD QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, Hossegor, France, Friday 30 September; -- Showing the form of a true champion and with his fists punching the air, Andy Irons kept his Foster's ASP Men's World Tour crown hopes alive by claiming victory in the Quiksilver Pro France presented by Samsung.
Taking place in two to 2.5 metre (six to eight foot) conditions at La Graviere, and with the early elimination of Kelly Slater (USA) in the quarter finals, Irons put the pedal to metal to defeat Damien Hobgood (USA) in the 35 minute battle royale, defeating him 17.00 out of 20 to 12.83.
Irons went straight to work from the onset of the final, notching up small scores but really drove it home after 12 minutes, scoring a 7.67 on a strong left breaking wave. Hobgood meanwhile had yet to catch a wave. Irons then paddled straight back into the lineup and launched into a huge backhand attack hitting the lip numerous times to notch up a 9.33. Hobgood was still yet to score and was well and truly behind the eight ball.
Sweet victory for Andy Irons at Hossegor today : photo ASP/Tostee
Hobgood tried to peg Irons back with a 7.50 for a deep tube with 19 minutes remaining but it was too late as the Irons stagecoach had run away. "I love this event!" shouted Irons who danced on the podium while tipping Foster's all over the huge crowd gathered in front. "I can't believe that I've won here again. I want to move here! I love the people I love the food and I love the waves! I'm just so stoked and Kelly is going to have to wait to pop the champagne cork for a little longer."
Irons paid tribute to the thousands of fans who lined the beach and cheered him every step of the way and was pleased with the tactic he used to defeat Hobgood who he knew would be looking for the tube.
"The French are such diehard fans," he said. "They were on the beach when it was raining. It was such a unique vibe and it really pumps you up to get a really good score. I saw it was a little crumbly out there and I knew that Damien would be looking for the barrel and luckily he only got that one. On my waves I just did as many turns as I could and it paid off. Bring on Brazil!"
Hobgood, who was the form surfer going into the final was obviously disappointed with his finals performance and was unavailable for comment. It was a tremendous day of surfing all round as conditions early morning were nothing short of perfect at La Nord, located 500 hundred metres south of the finals stage at La Graviere, with organisers opting to move to La Graviere after round four.
In his earlier round four heat, Irons defeated Mark Occhilupo (AUS) in what was a truly memorable showdown. With both scoring deep tube after deep tube, Irons claimed that he will remember that heat as his favourite of all time. Occhilupo even invited Irons to catch a wave with him after the heat and they "high-fived" as they rode to the shore.
Although hanging on by his fingertips, Irons is still in the running for his fourth Foster's ASP Men's World Tour Crown and another situation like today in the next event will see Irons breathing down Slater's neck come the grand finale at Pipeline, Hawaii.
Heading through the Quiksilver Pro France finishing gates in equal third place was tour stalwart Victor Ribas (BRA) and Australian Taj Burrow. For Ribas, it was his best result for the year and a much needed placing that will move him up the ratings and help him maintain his place on the Foster's ASP Men's World Tour. The flyweight Brazilian was very proud of his result and will gain extra confidence for the next event in front of his fellow countrymen.
"The conditions were very tough out there," said the quietly spoken Ribas. "It was very different at high tide with the wind and it was very bumpy. Unfortunately I couldn't find the good waves today but I'm very happy to be up there with all the good surfers like Damien and Andy. I'm stoked with my third placing because it will help me a lot. Surfing is my life and not to be on the WCT would be devastating for me. Everybody is going to be stoked in Brazil for sure and I can't wait to get there to surf in front of all the support."
Taj Burrow, who scored his second event third placing in succession, was disappointed as expected, but like Ribas is eager to get to Brazil as he won there last year. In losing to Irons he struggled to find quality waves and was washed around by the current and the backwash. He also admitted that his tactics may have been wrong.
"It was so big and thick and back washy out there," said Burrow. "It was so hard to control your board. I didn't even see Andy out there at all and then I heard from the announcers that he had a big score. I was just trying to jag a few lefts like I did in my last heat but it was just so hard to stay on my board. I'm still happy with the result but obviously I would have loved to be in the final. I've got some momentum going into Brazil and hopefully I can win there again like last year."
As stated the day was truly memorable with some of the deepest tubes ridden since Fiji and Tahiti earlier this year.
The ratings have now changed somewhat after the mixed results this week with Phil Macdonald (AUS) now jumping into third on 5870 points behind Slater, 7896 and Irons 7128, with Mick Fanning (AUS) 5838 and Trent Munro (AUS) 5618, now in fourth and fifth.
Twins CJ, 4873 points, and Damien Hobgood 4851, now sit in seventh and eight, while Nathan Hedge (AUS) 4770, and Cory Lopez (USA) 4770, are sitting in equal ninth to make up the top 10.
Scroll down for the latest ratings.
Results round four:
Heat 1: Victor Ribas (BRA) 13.93 def Dane Reynolds (USA) 13.50
Heat 2: Phil MacDonald (AUS) 14.66 def Luke Egan (AUS) 13.34
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.83 def Luke Stedman (AUS) 10.24
Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.00 def Paulo Moura (BRA) 7.27
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW) 18.73 def Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 16.77
Heat 6: Bruce Irons (HAW) 16.73 def Cory Lopez (USA) 6.07
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.33 def Peterson Rosa (BRA) 13.00
Heat 8: Nathan Hedge (AUS) 12.67 def Jake Paterson (AUS) 12.33
Results quarter finals:
Quarter final 1: Ribas 10.50 def Macdonald 10.10
Quarter final 2: Hobgood 18.00 def Slater 13.50
Quarter final 3: Andy Irons 15.83 def Bruce Irons 11.00
Quarter final 4: Burrow 15.17 def Hedge 8.50
Results semi finals:
Semi final 1: Hobgood 10.57 def Ribas 8.70
Semi final 2: Irons 15.67 def Burrow 11.00
Final
Irons 17.00 def Hobgood 12.83
Quiksilver Pro France prepares for world's best surfers and ratings lead battle
Quiksilver is preparing to welcome the only European stop on the 2005 ASP World Championships Tour (WCT), scheduled to take place in south-west France from 23rd to 2nd October. 45 of the world’s best surfers are expected to battle it out at the best breaks on the Landes and Basque coastlines. Competing in this decisive professional tour event for the world’s elite, each surfer will be vying for a share of the $270,000 prize purse.
What’s more, the attention looks set to focus more than ever on two of the tour’s biggest stars: Andy Irons (Hawaii), three-time World Champion and winner of the last two Quiksilver Pro France competitions, and Kelly Slater (USA), on the hunt for his 7th world title. Slater is currently leading the WCT standings with event in California still to come before the Quiksilver Pro France.
Some of the forces to be reckoned with…
With 3 victories to his name so far this season – in Fiji, Tahiti and South Africa– Slater is considered by many to be the man in form. His early season performances have been mind-blowing. On the perilous reef break at Teahupoo, the Floridian once again entered his name into the record books by scoring two perfect 10’s in the same heat, which just so happened to be the final! It was a first for the Pro Tour.
A closely contested and very symbolic victory against Andy Irons in the final at Jeffrey’s Bay then gave Slater the upper hand over “AI”, his big rival. At the Quiksilver Pro Japan, Irons took his revenge thanks to epic victory on Kelly Slater. Now, the elder Irons brother only trails the Floridian by a mere 578 points (prior to the Quiksilver Pro Japan), and the battle is sure to go down to the wire. All the more so now that genuine title challengers have begun to impose themselves consistently in the early season, most notably in the shape of a back-to-his-best Mick Fanning. The Australian, ranked n°3, cleaned up at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Aus) and at Reunion Island while his fellow countryman Trent Munro, currently 4th in the general standings, won a WCT event at Bell’s Beach (Aus). And spare a thought for 2004 Vice-World Champion Joel Parkinson (Aus) too… Consistently in amongst the top 10 at each of the early season events, the Australian is lying in wait to pounce on the 2005 title.
The competition sites
The Quiksilver Pro France 2005 will unfold on two fixed spots in an effort to find the best waves. Two spots have been chosen to host the contest in Hossegor : La Gravière and La Nord. The Lafiténia bay at Saint-Jean de Luz could well be a fallback in the event of extremely heavy swells.
The year’s best surfing
In 2001, the Association of Surfing Professionals granted Quiksilver a World Championships Tour event in France, and ever since then the decision to organise the event in the autumn has proved to be a smart one. The waves have always turned up for the occasion.
Worthy of comparison with Sunset (Hawaii), epic conditions blessed the Plage de la Nord in Hossegor that Sunday in October 2004 for the final of the Quiksilver Pro France. Hollow and powerful 4 metre swells, an offshore wind and summer temperatures all made a big impression.
And so did the quality duel between the Irons brothers in the final… Andy came out on top in this one-on-one with younger sibling Bruce, the latter beating Kelly Slater in the 1&Mac218;2 finals thanks to a tube that was rewarded with a perfect 10 score.
Wildcards – a chance to measure up against the best
The Quiksilver Pro France 2005 will provide several surfers with an opportunity to compete in the heats of the WCT competition to obtain a wildcard. Some of the surfers include French rippers Jeremy Flores and Miky Picon, as well as German charger Marlon Lipke. Brazilian surfer Wiggolly Dantas, victorious at the finals of the Quiksilver King of the Groms, the international tour for under-16 year old surfers, will also feature. The wildcard invitation will be handed out to the winner of the trials, set to take place prior to Europe’s most prestigious competition in the surf calendar.
Two other wildcards will be given to american surfer Dane Reynolds and french rider Miky Picon.
Follow the Quiksilver Pro France live on the Internet
The Quiksilver Pro France will be broadcast live on the internet in its entirety and with commentary in French, English, Spanish and Portuguese. The results of the heats will also be broadcast in real time.
“Live at 5”, a new daily rendezvous presented by John Shimooka, 1989 World Champion Martin Potter and 4-time World Champion Mark Richards, will allow internet surfers to dial up and hear what the stars of the WCT have to say about the day’s results.
What’s more, the Quiksilver Pro France press conference starring Kelly Slater among other pros will be broadcast live on Quiksilver’s website and Boardrider TV channel (diffused throughout Quiksilver’s network of Boardrider shops).
www.quiksilver.com
Hotline
A telephone hotline will be set up by Ocean Surf report for the duration of the Quiksilver Pro France. A source for all competition information: the day’s programme, competition site, weather conditions and swell sizes will be available from 8am every morning and updated at 12 and 4pm every day
Telephone: 08 92 68 1 360 – then press 1 (0,35 €/minute)
Quiksilver Pro France 2005 - Programme
Thursday 22nd September
Morning : Trials wildcard
5pm : Quiksilver Pro France press conference with Kelly Slater in attendance at the QUIKSILVER store in ANGLET – 51, avenue Jean-Léon Laporte.
Friday 23rd September
- Start of the Quiksilver Pro France window of opportunity
- Concert of THE FILM – Salle des Fêtes des Bourdaines - Seignosse
Sunday 2nd October
- End of the WCT waiting period
FOCUS
Andy Irons, World Champion
Record:
3-time World Champion (2002, 2003, 2004)
2-time winner of the Quiksilver Pro France
1 win on the WCT this season at Quiksilver Pro Japan
14 WCT career wins
DOB: 24th July 1978 at Kauai, Hawaii
Following on from his exhausting second World Champion title at the end of 2003, Andy Irons really did come into his own during the course of the 2004 season. Extremely consistent, the Hawaiian reached the quarterfinals or better at eight different WCT events, winning two of them (in South Africa and in France). His solid and creative surfing continued to amaze onlookers while his mental toughness allowed him to weather the mounting pressure. As one of the rare three-time Surfing World Champions, you can be sure he’ll be looking to add another title to his tally. Currently 2nd in the world standings, AI is in hot pursuit of the title. Victorious at the US Open (WQS) at the end of July, and recently in Japan, the Kauai boy is used to nice performance in Europe. The Quiksilver Pro France waves on the Landes coastline should suit him down to the ground…
Kelly Slater, Current Leader, 2005 WCT
Record:
6-time World Champion (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)
3rd in the 2004 WCT standings
3 WCT victories this season (Fiji, Tahiti, Jeffreys Bay/South Africa)
30 WCT career victories (2005 included)
DOB: 11th February 1972 at Cocoa Beach in Florida, USA
The Floridian made a big impression in 2004, despite his failure to capture a win on the WCT last year. This surf icon, a veritable Quiksilver ambassador, continues to fascinate the public and all surfers with his inspired style and creativity. 14 years on the tour have not diluted his desire to win. A true competitor, he’s set his sights on recapturing the title of World Champion – adding to the record-breaking 6 titles he has won during the course of his illustrious career. With 3 WCT victories under his belt this season, including a world first in Tahiti, Slater is on course for his seventh title.
MEMO:
Former winners of the Quiksilver Pro France:
2002 – Neco Padaratz (Brazil)
2003 – Andy Irons (Hawaii)
2004 – Andy Irons (Hawaii)
WCT Provisional Standings after 6 stops (after the Quiksilver Pro Japan)
1 Slater,Kelly USA 6374 $127300/$1263305 5,17,1,1,9,1,2,,,,,
2 Irons,Andy HAW 5796 $103200/$971233 5,2,9,9,9,2,1,,,,,
3 Fanning,Mick AUS 4962 $96800/$454460 1,9,17,17,1,17,5,,,,,
4 Munro,Trent AUS 4886 $69500/$380200 3,1,9,9,9,17,9,,,,,
5 MacDonald,Phillip AUS 4331 $55100/$340775 9,17,33,5,2,9,5,,,,,
6 Burrow,Taj AUS 4170 $49600/$682797 17,5,3,17,9,17,5,,,,,
7 Lopez,Cory USA 3985 $54700/$568960 33,3,9,5,5,17,17,,,,,
8 Parkinson,Joel AUS 3957 $39100/$508525 9,9,9,9,9,5,33,,,,,
9 Hobgood,C.J. USA 3956 $49300/$541558 5,9,5,2,inj,33,17,,,,,
10 Irons,Bruce HAW 3911 $63300/$363200 9,33,9,3,17,9,9,,,,,
11 Morrison,Dean AUS 3899 $39300/$280850 17,9,5,5,inj,9,9,,,,,
12 Hedge,Nathan AUS 3853 $44200/$326000 9,33,3,9,5,17,17,,,,,
12 Patacchia,Fredrick (jnr) HAW 3853 $44400/$162925 9,17,5,3,17,9,33,,,,,
14 Whitaker,Tom AUS 3807 $45900/$236575 3,17,9,33,17,17,3,,,,,
15 Wills,Daniel AUS 3658 $42200/$500885 17,3,17,17,5,17,17,,,,,
16 Hobgood,Damien USA 3634 $42500/$433150 9,5,2,inj,inj,17,17,,,,,
17 O'Rafferty,Darren AUS 3329 $46250/$261900 17,5,17,17,5,33,17,,,,,
18 Egan,Luke AUS 3260 $33900/$802670 17,9,33,9,9,9,33,,,,,
19 Knox,Taylor USA 3250 $37400/$620772 17,17,17,17,17,9,9,,,,,
20 Brooks,Troy AUS 3202 $57100/$217675 9,9,33,17,17,33,5,,,,,
20 Logie,Travis ZAF 3202 $46600/$148500 17,33,17,5,9,33,9,,,,,
ASP World Championships Tour 2005 calendar:
1-13 March Gold Coast, Australia Quiksilver Pro Mick Fanning
22 March/1 April Bell’s Beach, Australia Rip Curl Pro Trent Munro
5-17 May Teahupoo, Tahiti Billabong Pro Kelly Slater
22 May/3 June Tavarua Namotu, Fiji Globe WCT Kelly Slater
23 June/4 July St Leu, Reunion Island Rip Curl Search Mick Fanning
12-22 July Jeffreys Bay, South Africa Billabong Pro Kelly Slater
31 August/7 Sept Chiba, Japan Quiksilver Pro Andy Irons
13-18 September Trestles, CA, USA Boost Mobile Pro
23 Sept/2 October South-West, France Quiksilver Pro France
31 Oct/9 November Florianopolis, Brazil Santa Catarina Pro
8-20 December Banzai Pipeline, Hawaii Rip Curl Pipeline Masters
Guide
Qualification for the WCT
The international professional surfing WCT circuit (World Championships Tour) comprises 46 surfers.
At the end of each season, the top 27 surfers from the final WCT standings maintain their position among the elite for the following year. There, they are joined by the top 15 surfers in the WQS standings (World Qualifying Series). In the event of one of the 27 surfers on the WCT also featuring among the top 15 on the WQS, the surfer in question will free up his place to the surfer ranked 16th on the WQS and so on.
Wildcards
Each year, the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), organisers of the WCT and WQS Pro Tours, give two permanent wildcards to surfers returning from injury. In 2005, Mick Fanning (Aus) and Shea Lopez (USA) rejoined the WCT circuit thanks to this wildcard system. In addition, a further 2 ‘one-off’ wildcards are handed out by the ASP to organisers of every WCT event. These wildcards are generally given to locals or team surfers.
The number of wildcards can be increased during the course of the season in the event of WCT surfers withdrawing from competition.
According to the ASP rules, Quiksilver should obtain a minimum of two wildcards for the Quiksilver Pro France. However, given the high numbers of injured surfers on the tour at present, it is likely that the number of “organiser” wildcards will be increased. This should offer European surfers a chance to compete in the only European leg of the WCT World Championships Tour.
WCT Points
The winner of a WCT competition earns himself 1200 points; the runner-up 1032 points and the surfer in third position 876 points.
Scoring
In an effort to stay true to sporting performance and the essence of the sport, also know as free surfing, the ASP has broadened the judging criteria for 2005.
Perry Hatchett, ASP Head Judge, believes the broader scoring system on the Professional Tour will reward progressive surfing and will also favour surfers with a varied repertoire.
“A surfer has to execute radical and controlled moves with power, speed and rhythm on the critical section of the wave to earn the best scores. The innovative and varied nature of the surfing will be taken into consideration when scores are determined. The surfers applying these criteria with the most commitment and difficulty on the wave will earn the best scores.
Each wave is marked out of a maximum score of 10 points. The best and worst scores are taken away and the average of the three remaining scores becomes the final score for each wave. The result of each heat is determined by the sum of the two best scores from each surfer.
Rankings, statistics, and rules can be found on www.aspworldtour.com
The Quiksilver Pro France – Partners
SAMSUNG
Samsung Electronics continues its involvement in alternative sports, once again assuming the role of ‘presenting sponsor’ of the Quiksilver Pro France.
The current Samsung team is made up of Quiksilver surfers Miky Picon (France) and Alain Riou (Tahiti), Quiksilver skater Javier Mendizabal (Spain), Quiksilver freestyle skier Candide Thovex (France) and Quiksilver snowboarder Martin Cernik (Czech Republic). Samsung invites all fans of MP3 players, mobile phones and laptops to discover Samsung’s latest innovations and gadgets on the Quiksilver Pro France competition sites.
EVIAN
As in previous years at the Quiksilver Pro France, Evian will sponsor an expression session for WCT surfers and qualifiers alike to fight it out for a $10,000 prize purse.
A real hotbed of avant-garde tricks and moves, the expression session provides the surfers with a welcome interlude and the spectators with a wonderful spectacle. Last year, crowds on the Plage du Penon were left stunned by Australian Troy Brooks’s audacious ‘Superman Air’ and Kelly Slater’s perfect ‘air reverse’ – not something you’re likely to forget in a hurry.
Evian will also be associated to Quiksilver Initiative and make sure that the Quiksilver Pro France respects the environment: public awareness raising on recycling and on the water cycle, supported by a full display of an environmental action named "Du Flocon à la Vague" (from the snowflake to the wave).
The public will have the chance to meet the Quiksilver Evian pro- teamriders including Jeremy Flores whose image is featured on the latest Evian Freeride bottles.
WANADOO
The Quiksilver Pro France is also pleased to annouce its partnership with Wanadoo and France Télécom, a first which will allow, thanks to an important technical assistance with high speed solutions, a quality live transmission over the internet. At the same time, the Quiksilver Pro France will benefit from unprecedented media coverage thanks to France Telecom’s website www.wanadoo.fr (10,8 million visits and 1 billion pages seen in march 2005 – Nielsen)
Official event website
http://quiksilver.com/profrance
news powered by: Revolt media – www.revoltmedia.it
ARCHIVIO NEWS > 2004-2005
ITALIAN LONGBOARD TOUR OFFICIAL SITE
