The action was intense at the Nike US Open of Surfing today as elite ASP Top 34 surfers clashed against the leaders of the next generation in consistently changing one-to-three foot (.5 metre) waves at Huntington Beach Pier.
The 2011 Nike US Open of Surfing represents the last ASP men’s PRIME contest before the midyear cutoff for the elite ASP World Title Series, making the event crucial for surfers’ qualification campaigns for the back half of the year
Wave selection proved key in the tricky conditions with a number of top seeds tumbling in round one while others excelled including stand-outs ten-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA) and two time world champion Mick Fanning (Aus).
The crowds turned out in force for superstar Slater and the champion didn’t disappoint. Fresh from surfing massive waves in Fiji, Slater displayed his versatility shredding the small tide affected waves. With just seconds on the clock Slater used a lucky last ride to post a heat-high 8.5 score and jump from second to first for the win. Slater finished with a total of 15.50 to advance in front of Brazil’s Jano Belo on 12.57.
US OPEN – Mens RD1 Webisode from McKinnon Media Productions on Vimeo.
Slater said conditions were tough at Huntington Beach today.
Slater, then added, that he is still in the hunt for this year’s world title but won’t be able to make one false move after missing the recent J-Bay contest in South Africa.
World No.4 Mick Fanning (Aus) opened quickly with a 7.17 for an early lead but was still forced to hold out a strong challenge by Aritz Aranburu (EUK) to narrowly advance over the Basque surfer for the win.
Thirty year-old Fanning said his first ride was crucial to the heat win.
Fanning who recently finished second in J-Bay, also added he has frontrunner Joel Parkinson (Aus) in his sights for this year’s title.
World no.5 Taj Burrow (Aus) surfed a smart and sharp heat for a convincing win over his younger rivals in his opening round one heat. The 33 year old was solid in the shore-break to finish with a heat total of 15.93 (out of a possible 20). Burrow advanced in front of second place getter American junior Conner Coffin who posted a heat total of 12.34.
2004 US Open of Surfing Champion, Burrow, said he had to re-think his strategy midway in the heat.
World no.9 Josh Kerr (Gold Coast,Aus) pulled off some of the days biggest aerials to advance with ease. Renowned for surfing above the lip Kerzzy progressed, a clear three points ahead, of his nearest rival Dylan Graves (PRI).
World no.20 Julian Wilson (Sunshine Coast) was another Aussie who impressed with one of the days top performances. The 22 year-old tour rookie surfedex fast and fluid to take the heat win.
California’s Dane Reynolds (USA) made a much-anticipated return to the competitive ranks after knee surgery and won his hard fought heat over Brazils Jesse Mendes.
Looking loose and relaxed Reynolds said it felt good to don the contest jersey again despite some nerves.
Maui’s Dusty Payne controlled his heat from the outset to never be headed in his round one match-up at the Nike US Open of Surfing. Looking relaxed despite having slept in, the world no. 20 advanced in front of Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) with world tour surfer Matt Wilkinson (Aus) eliminated.
The 22 year-old said he was happy to advance after a hectic start to the day.
Young Brazilian prodigy Gabriel Medina (BRA), unleashed his patented aerial-surfing and progressive turns on the lefthanders to ignite the day’s highest heat total of 16.73 out of 20.
The 17 year-old, has been lethal in the ASP PRIME events this year and is on target to become the youngest ever surfer to qualify for the elite ranks next year. Currently 19th on the world rankings, Medina today showed why he is the ‘talk of the tour’ after advancing in front of Hawaii’s Kekoa Bacalso. Eliminated were Cory Lopez (IUSA) and Adam Robertson (Aus).
New Zealand’s Richard Christie was the in-form surfer in his opening round one heat of the Nike US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach California today. The twenty-two year-old displayed powerful, committed surfing in the peaky conditions to take a Round 1 win while posting the day’s highest single-wave score of an 8.93 (out of 10).
The New Zealander’s victory came over reigning ASP World Junior Champion Jack Freestone (AUS), 19, ASP World Title campaigner Damien Hobgood (Satellite Beach, FL), 32, and former US Open of Surfing Winner Nathaniel Curran (Oxnard, CA), 26.
Christie said he stuck to his game plan and added he was looking forward to catching up with fellow countryman Iain ‘Ratso’ Buchanan (NZL) who recently claimed ASP Grand Masters Champion title in Brazil.
Tomorrow’s action will see the completion of ASP PRIME Round 1 action as well as the first half of Round 2. Also surfing will be the elite ASP Top 17 in Round 3 of the women’s.
LIVE webcast of the Nike US Open of surfing will run from August 1 through 7, 2011 via www.usopenofsurfing.com
For media downloads log on to www.usopenofsurfing.com/downloads
The Nike US Open of Surfing represents a massive action sports festival which also includes Skate, BMX, Art, Music and Fashion shows all of which are free to the public.
Further Information www.usopenofsurfing.com
Mandy McKinnon [email protected] +61 (0) 417 079941
Nike US Open Round of 96 Results:
Heat 1: Hizunome Bettero (BRA) 12.17, Torrey Meister (HAW) 10.30, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 9.50, Glen Hall (IRL) 9.20
Heat 2: Dusty Payne (HAW) 12.93, Jonathan Gonzales (CNY) 10.96, Austin Ware (USA) 10.86, Matt Wilkinson (USA) 10.70
Heat 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.73, Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 15.07, Cory Lopez (USA) 14.73, Adam Robertson (AUS) 11.63
Heat 4: Evan Geiselman (USA) 12.37, Blake Thornton (AUS) 11.27, Michel Bourez (PYF) 10.07, Travis Logie (ZAF) 5.70
Heat 5: Richard Christie (NZL) 14.13, Jack Freestone (AUS) 13.90, Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.30, Nathaniel Curran (USA) 9.55
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.67, Joel Centeio (HAW) 12.00, Roy Powers (USA) 9.94, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 8.40
Heat 7: Chris Davidson (AUS) 12.90, Pedro Henrique (BRA) 12.23, Lincoln Taylor (AUS) 11.80, Kai Otton (AUS) 8.77
Heat 8: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.93, Conner Coffin (USA) 12.34, Nic Muscroft (AUS) 11.00, Billy Stairmand (NZL) 9.30
Heat 9: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 16.33, Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 14.93, Leonardo Neves (BRA) 10.56, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.00
Heat 10: Brian Toth (PRI) 14.03, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.06, Dion Atkinson (AUS) 10.10, Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 9.34
Heat 11: Josh Kerr (AUS) 14.03, Dylan Graves (PRI) 10.93, Bernardo Miranda (BRA) 9.33, Daniel Ross (AUS) 7.54
Heat 12: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.50, Jano Belo (BRA) 12.57, Jay Quinn (NZL) 10.63, Mason Ho (HAW) 8.37
Heat 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.50, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 11.30, Luke Davis (USA) 10.77, Marc Lacomare (FRA) 9.30
Heat 14: Adam Melling (AUS) 12.47, Kolohe Andino (USA) 11.50, Joan Duru (FRA) 9.87, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 6.70
Heat 15: Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.10, Jesse Mendes (BRA) 13.66, Tim Reyes (USA) 12.67, Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 8.53
Heat 16: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.67, Gabe Kling (USA) 12.73, Kai Barger (HAW) 10.00, Sunny Garcia (HAW) 6.83
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