The first round of both the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast kicked-off this weekend at Snapper Rocks. The future of ASP surfing was in the spotlight as ZoSea flipped the switch on the 2014 Dream Tour, their first season in charge of world professional surfing.
Aritz Aranburu in the slot.
While the waves weren’t offering anything too spectacular, the planet’s Top 34 Men and Top 17 Women showed exactly why they are amongst the elite, shredding the small punchy walls that were spinning down the top stretch of the Superbank.
Bianca’s backhand attack took her all the way to the quarter finals of last year’s Roxy Pro Gold Coast.
Bianca Buitendag was the first South African to surf a Dream Tour wave in 2014. In fact, the Vic Bay local was the first surfer to ride a wave this season, when she competed in Heat 1 of Round 1 at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast on Saturday. That wave never offered much, but Bianca did manage to find a good rhythm and showed-off her stylish backhand turns later in the heat, scoring a 6.33 on her best wave. Unfortunately she never found a good back-up score, which Hawaii’s Alessa Quizon did. Alessa also smartly grabbed a heat-winning wave late in the 3-way battle, while ensuring 4-time world champ Steph Gilmore received an interference at the same time. Impeccable tactics.
When Round 2 of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast resumes, Bianca will be facing Australian Laura Enever in Heat 6.
Mick Fanning executes the signature move for Mens’ Round 1.
Meanwhile, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast got underway on Sunday morning in similar conditions to the previous day. Slightly onshore, but clean enough to slot into some little drainpipes or carve some hooks in the shoulder. That was the signature move for Round 1 – a carve/hack combo that sent the most spray. Carve, keep carving, snap it at the end – score that judges.
Travis Logie, coiled and ready to unwind another blitzing backhand smash.
Travis’ trademark and precise backhand blitz almost saw him take out Heat 1 of Round 1. France’s Jeremy Flores was 0.36pts more precise though, and pipped Travis to the top spot in the heat, relegating Trav to a tough match-up with John John Florence in Heat 5 of Round 2.
If the waves stay as they are, then Travis has a good chance of grabbing the win, but if some proper barrels come to Snapper Rocks for Round 2, then JJF might gain the edge by finding his way through some impossible sections and into the next Round. It’s anyone’s game out on the face.
Jordy Smith drops his wallet during the Expression Session on Saturday ahead of Round 1.
Jordy, meanwhile, started slow in Heat 3 of Round 1. Back after an injury that saw him unable to compete in the Pipe Masters, Jordy fell on his opening two rides to start on the back foot. He did unleash one of the biggest turns of the day after eventually finding a good ride late in the heat, but it wasn’t enough to see him past a solid Fred Patacchia (HAW) and Californian, Brett Simpson.
If Jordy finds his rhythm in Heat 2 of Round 2, and unleashes more surfing like he did on his only decent ride in the opening round, then he should easily find his way past Portugal’s Tiago Pires, who he faces next. Tiago is a master barrel rider though, and if the conditions change he won’t be a pushover.
Check out all the results and heat reviews on www.aspworldtour.com
Jordy Smith the CHOKER!
Who wrote this article? RE:JS…..he should easily find his way past Portugal’s Tiago Pires, who he faces next. NOT SO EASY!
Howzit SnowyP. You left out the first part of that sentence – “If Jordy finds his rhythm in Heat 2 of Round 2, and unleashes more
surfing like he did on his only decent ride in the opening round, then…” He didn’t and was easily beaten himself.