SAN CLEMENTE, USA (September 12, 2006) – It was high performance surfing all the way for the first day of the Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley, which kicked off today in excellent conditions at Trestles in San Clemente, California.
With swell building throughout the day to a solid 1.5 to two metres (five to six feet), the best of the best had ample opportunity to impress the judges and the huge crowd on hand – and impress they did.
Leading the way by posting a massive total of 18.20 out of 20 was last year’s event runner-up Phil Macdonald (AUS) who literally smashed some solid waves to defeat Raoni Monteiro (BRA) and Travis Logie (ZAF).
Macdonald was solid during his performance even posting the highest individual wave score of the day a 9.60 out of 10 for a ride where he completed no less than five extra-large carving turns.
The powerful natural footer is eager to go one better than last year and hopefully claim his first Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour victory.
“I’m here and I want to make it back in that final and take it out,” said Macdonald. “It kind of inspires me because of what I did last year. I love this wave and my boards are feeling better than they did last year. The more that I think about it, I have a lot motivating me at the moment."
So far this year Macdonald has failed to reproduce the consistency of last year where he finished the tour rated number five so a good result here is very much needed.
"I haven’t done too well this year,” said Macdonald. “But I always seem to do all right in the second half of the season… plus I’m just really enjoying my surfing right now. I’ve got the surfing bug back and I feel like a grommet again!"
Joel Parkinson (AUS) was another to turn heads today, looking at ease as he swooped through some seering carves.
Parkinson was a victor here at the Boost Mobile Pro back in 2004 and his affinity with the location was obvious right throughout his demolition of Darren O’Rafferty (AUS) and Pedro Henrique (BRA).
Returning to the event after missing it last year due to injury Parkinson was pleased with his effort.
"I haven’t surfed a heat here since the final in 2004,” said Parkinson. “I hope I have a few more heats like that one. I didn’t get to surf here last year because I was injured so I still consider myself the defending champ in a way."
"I’ve always done well here,” he continued. “I really consider this to be one of my golden events – one where I often gain a lot of points and climb up the ratings. As long as I have a few things going my way and my boards go really well then I’ve basically done all the elements I can fit to make then good and the rest is up to Mother Nature. So as long as she’s happy with me, it’ll all work out."
Also turning up the heat today was world title hopeful Damien Hobgood (USA).
Hobgood has been in devastating form all year and showed that he has the ability and the tactics to go all the way and claim his second victory this year.
"I was fortunate enough to start out with a score,” said Hobgood. “There are a lot of big lulls especially with the high tide and that opening score definitely makes me more comfortable. I thought that if I could get another good score then I would have a chance."
Meanwhile ratings leader Kelly Slater (USA) was back to his best as he easily took a win in heats eight.
Slater stayed strong to hold of a charge from wildcard local, the ever-exciting Dane Reynolds (USA) and tour veteran Greg Emslie (ZAF).
“I’m just surfing relaxed,” said Slater. “You have to go out there and try to have some fun and stick to the game plan of watching the waves and the conditions and just surf the waves that will give me the best scores. It’s a pretty simple plan really."
"Trestles has been good to me. I had my first professional win out here when I was 18 and I’ve had a lot of good results. I’m always getting a fifth or better at this so I hope it stays that way."
Round two will resume tomorrow morning from 8am local time.
Forecasts look very positive for the week ahead with some solid overhead waves expected for Saturday when the event will be completed.
For transcribed and audio athlete quotes, TV news feed details and images head to the media section of www.aspworldtour.com or www.boostmobilepro.com
RESULTS:
HEAT 1: 1 Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.40; 2. David Weare (ZAF) 12.10; 3. Bruce Irons (HAW) 8.33
HEAT 2: 1. Nathan Hedge (AUS) 14.67; 2. Tim Reyes (USA) 9.48; Jarrad Howse (AUS) 8.50
HEAT 3: 1. Joel Parkinson (AUS)18.00; 2. Darren O’Rafferty (AUS) 12.50; 3. Pedro Henrique (BRA) 11.37
HEAT 4: 1. Roy Powers (HAW) 13.43; 2. Luke Stedman (AUS) 12.87; 3. Taylor Knox (USA) 9.
HEAT 5: 1. Bobby Martinez 14.43; 2. Yuri Sodre (BRA) 14.06; Fred Patacchia (HAW) 9.43
HEAT 6: 1. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.86; Toby Martin (AUS) 13.50; Mick Fanning (AUS) 7.50
HEAT 7: 1. Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.83; Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.77; Trent Munro (AUS) 13.67
HEAT 8: 1. Kelly Slater (USA) 16.30; 2. Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.60; Greg Emslie (ZAF) 14.36
HEAT 9: 1. Andy Irons (HAW) 16.66; 2. Shaun Cansdell (AUS) 15.23; Jamie O’Brien (HAW) 12.70
HEAT 10: 1. Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.27; 2. Rob Machado (USA) 14.40; 3. Cory Lopez (USA) 10.53
HEAT 11: 1. Marcelo Nunes (BRA) 12.57; 2. CJ Hobgood 11.93; 3. Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 8.46
HEAT 12: 1. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 15.20; 2. Mikael Picon (FRA) 14.10; Paulo Moura (BRA) 3.63
HEAT 13: 1. Phil Macdonald (AUS) 18.20; 2. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 16.27; 3. Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.84
HEAT 14: 1. Danny Wills (AUS) 14.83; Mick Lowe (AUS) 11.37; Victor Ribas (BRA) 10.30
HEAT 15: 1. Dean Morrison (AUS) 14.40; 2. Chris Ward (USA) 11.34; Troy Brooks (AUS) 9.67
ROUND TWO HEAT DRAW:
HEAT 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs Dane Reynolds (USA)
HEAT 2: Taylor Knox (USA) vs Jamie O’Brien
HEAT 3: Tim Reyes (USA) vs Rob Machado (USA)
HEAT 4: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs Adrian Buchan
HEAT 5: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs Toby Martin (USA)
HEAT 6: Greg Emslie (USA) vs Yuri Sodre (BRA)
HEAT 7: Shaun Cansdell (AUS) vs Pedro Henrique
HEAT 8: Cory Lopez (USA) vs Jarrad Howse (AUS)
HEAT 9: Trent Munro (AUS) vs David Weare (ZAF)
HEAT 10: Fred Patacchia (HAW) vs Mikael Picon (FRA)
HEAT 11: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
HEAT 12: Darren O’Rafferty (AUS) vs Victor Ribas (BRA)
HEAT 13: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs Chris Ward (USA)
HEAT 14: Paulo Moura (BRA) vs Peterson Rosa (BRA)
HEAT 15: Travis Logie (USA) vs Jake Paterson (AUS)
HEAT 16: Mick Lowe (AUS) vs Troy Brooks (AUS)
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