Kelly Slater got his campaign back on track with an easy win over wildcard Jack Robinson (AUS) in Round 2.
Order has been restored following the completion of round 2 at the Oakley Pro Bali, with big hitters Kelly Slater, Taj Burrow and Joel Parkinson advancing after disappointing Round 1 heats.
Also entertaining the crowds in Round 2 was Julian Wilson, who after a somewhat quiet period on tour in the past few events, let his surfing do the shouting with some massive airs that would see him through to Round 3 – as well as buckle a board under the pressure of a mistimed landing in the flats. The Australian advanced easily over Brazilian Raoni Monteiro.
Julian Wilson stuck this massive slob air to advance over Brazilian Raoni Monteiro.
Travis Logie missed out on his Round 2 heat, when he failed to make it to Bali after jetting back home to LA to get his reef rash checked out following a Round 3 beating at Cloudbreak – staph infection was something the lightning fast Saffa was just not willing to risk.
Taking Travis’ place in the event was local surfer Putra Hermawan, who took his chances against Californian Brett Simpson and advanced to a match-up with Kelly Slater in Round 3.
Local wildcard Oney Anwar put up a brave fight against current world champ Joel Parkinson, but couldn’t find the scores to beat the champ.
Another of the highlights during Round 2 was watching Adrian ‘Ace’ Buchan hop up and over some serious pitching sections with a pair of massive backside floaters – the landings of which made you worry about the health of his knees. Those moves brought back memories of similar floaters the Australian did at double overhead Supers during the last Billabong Pro J-Bay, and although Ace will always be the ‘floater guy’ in Zag’s book, if he continues to keep his knees in working order, then we’ll gladly watch the goofyfooted Australian cruising weightlessly along thick lips every event. Ace also moved on to Round 3 with that performance.
Ace Buchan’s big backhand floaters saw him secure the highest single wave score of Round 2.
The swell is predicted to settle down after an exciting first two rounds, and with another swell predicted to start filling in only on Monday, we could just be in for a few more lay days before Round 3 resumes, and we get to see the likes of Jordy, Kelly, John John and Julian tearing apart the world’s most rippable wave.
Until then, check out www.oakleyprobali.com for Heats on Demand, all the results and highlights from Rounds 1 and 2.
Official press release below.
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TOP SEEDS REGAIN CONTROL ON DAY 2 OF THE OAKLEY PRO BALI
Joel Parkinson, back in control in Round 2 and advancing to the next round.
The Oakley Pro Bali recommenced this morning in clean four-to-six foot waves at Keramas.
The fifth stop on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Oakley Pro Bali opened up this morning’s action with four heats of the elimination Round 2 before halting for a tidal readjustment and then completing Heats 5 through 10 this afternoon. After yesterday’s blistering opening round featuring a number of high-profile upsets, today’s action witnessed the top seeds regain control, winning nine from 10 heats, in the high-performance perfection of the Keramas righthanders.
Kelly Slater (USA), 41, 11-time ASP World Champion and current ASP WCT No. 1, wasted no time in steamrolling wildcard Jack Robinson (AUS), 15, this morning, amassing the day’s high 18.17 out of a possible 20 for a masterful display of forehand tube-riding and power turns.
“There are some really good waves out there when they come,” Slater said. “Still though, I’m two for two on slow heats. The waves are fun when they come through, but there just weren’t a lot in mine. I was happy to get a couple of good waves at the start and that really put the pressure on Jack (Robinson).”
Following a win in Fiji last week, Slater bolted back up the ASP WCT ratings and regained the frontrunner spot. Although under threat of acquiring a poor result in today’s Round 2, the Floridian’s quick start over his younger competitor allowed him to come in for a board change mid heat.
“Crucial heat for everyone in Round 2 I think,” Slater said. “Yeah, I still like to experiment. Before the heat, I told Belly (Stephen Bell) that if I got two good waves, I was going to come in and switch to the quad. During the free surfs out here, there really isn’t a lot of space so I like to take the opportunity to test equipment whenever I can.”
Joel Parkinson (AUS), 32, reigning ASP World Champion and current ASP WCT No. 7, held fast in a slower heat against lethal local wildcard Oney Anwar (IND), 19, to take a morning win and advance through to Round 3.
“It was pumping at first light, but the tide was running out so our heat was a little slow,” Parkinson said. “I was stoked to get a win though as I had a shocker yesterday. Oney (Anwar) is a really good kid and a really talented surfer,” Parkinson said. “He was telling me that if he got a set out there, he was going to do some damage and he certainly did.”
Taj Burrow (AUS), 35, perennial ASP World Title contender and current ASP WCT No. 4, was another top seed to reclaim a victory this morning, besting wildcard Bruce Irons (HAW), 33, with a flurry of fast-paced forehand action.
“The start was looking to be an incredible heat,” Burrow said. “We both nearly came out of great drainers, but just got pinched. It wasn’t an ideal heat for me. I was torn between catching waves to find my feet as well as playing it smart. Every event, it takes me a few days to find my feet. It’s unfortunate that it didn’t pump for the whole heat, but that’s alright.”
Following the midday hold, the world’s best surfers returned to Keramas for six heats before dark and the action was nothing short of excellent.
Gabriel Medina (BRA), 19, current ASP WCT No. 14, was heavily-touted as a legitimate ASP World Title contender before the 2013 season started. However, outside of an Equal 3rd at Rio, this year has been less-than-stellar for the Brazilian wunderkind. Looking to correct this season’s momentum, Medina posted a solid win against compatriot power broker Willian Cardoso (BRA), 27, this afternoon for committed and powerful backhand surfing.
“Yesterday, I was trying to go too big because this wave is so rippable,” Medina said. “Today I just focused on completing turns and waves. I was able to build a momentum that way and it worked out well for me. I have had a few tough results this season, but I am learning and I’m hoping I can get back on track in Bali.”
Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 25, 2013 ASP Dream Tour rookie and current ASP WCT No. 9, was a stand out in yesterday’s Round 1 action, posting a near-perfect 19.37 out of a possible 20 and going down to John John Florence‘s (HAW), 20, 19.87. Zietz was undeterred today, however, lacerating the Keramas walls to take out a Round 2 win.
“I knew there weren’t going to be any barrels today but it’s perfect air wind,” Zietz said. “Completely different heat to yesterday, but super rippable and I’m glad I was able to get a few good ones. Being in Bali is a blast. I feel comfortable here and I’m looking forward to more Keramas perfection.”
Zietz has re-drawn Florence in Round 3 of the Oakley Pro Bali when competition resumes.
Julian Wilson (AUS), 24, took to the sky this afternoon, vaulting a series of massive aerials to take down a hungry Raoni Monteiro (BRA), 31, and advance through to Round 3 of the Oakley Pro Bali.
“I feel like I’m warming up a bit,” Wilson said. ‘I had a good first heat and got unlucky at the end. I was fired up. Had a good free surf before, there are lots of fun sections and that put me in a good frame of mind heading into the heat. I wasn’t looking for a perfect wave, just taking a lot of opportunities and it worked out well for me. Surfing out here is so much fun.”
Adrian Buchan (AUS), 30, capped off the afternoon’s proceedings with the day’s high single-wave score of a 9.67 out of a possible 10 for a series of blistering backhand assaults and elevator drop floaters.
“When the wind comes up, I think there are less opportunities for barrels,” Buchan said. “I think this wave really suits goofy-footers. I’ve had a few close heats this year, but I feel like my surfing has been there and my equipment is feeling good. There were some opportunities out here for me this afternoon and I went as hard as I could at them.”
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 6:45am start.
Surfline, official forecasters for the Oakley Pro Bali are calling for:
The current SW swell to gradually back down through the end of the work week. A slightly smaller swell for Keramas (much smaller for Canggu) will peak on Sunday the 23rd, after building Saturday afternoon the 22nd. A series of potentially solid SW to SSW swells are on the radar for the afternoon of Monday the 24th through Friday the 28th.
OAKLEY PRO BALI ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.17 def. Jack Robinson (AUS) 3.43
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.50 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 3.14
Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.10 def. Oney Anwar (IND) 14.03
Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.00 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 11.00
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.80 def. Willian Cardoso (BRA) 8.77
Heat 6: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 15.23 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 11.60
Heat 7: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.70 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 12.77
Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 17.13 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 10.44
Heat 9: Kai Otton (AUS) 14.90 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 8.17
Heat 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.77 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.70
Heat 11: Putra Hermawan (IDN) 12.00 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 11.07
Heat 12: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.90 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.50
