Double Disappointment

ONE DOWN, ONE TO GO: Mikey February was knocked out by Julian Wilson. Photo WSL / Sloane

Three hours later into the darkest ZA night, those who hung on for redemption via a Jordy Smith win would have staggered to bed knowing that another rookie Michael Rodrigues (BRA) had undone their senior man. Rodrigues is one of several rookies who have made the quarterfinal.

The drama and tension continued all round at the the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast - the first stop on the WSL Championship Tour - with upsets galore. Rounds 3 and 4 continued with 4-5' surf at Snapper Rocks when wildcard Mikey Wright (AUS) brought about another huge upset (being the operative word), when he vanquished world #2 Gabriel Medina (BRA), WSL Champion in 2014. Wright yesterday dropped current World #1 John John Florence (HAW).

Mikey (Feb, jees, all these Mikeys) looked right at home on the CT when he eliminated former champion Matt Wilkinson (AUS) in Round 2 but at least goes home from his first CT event with an equal 13th place finish, as does Jordy.

EQUAL 13TH: While it's not a great result, Jordy joins top seeds who are out. Photo WSL / Cestari

For Jordy (ranked 4th), it's a relatively poor start, but it has also been for John John (#1), Medina (#2) and Wilko (#5), with only Wilson (#3) still in the game in the Top 5, with Filipe Toledo (#10) and Owen Wright (#6) the only others also in the Top 10.

Despite Mikey Wright’s success in the early rounds, he could not escape the new Round 4 format, which now advances the top two to the Quarterfinals and eliminates third-place in equal 9th. Wright fell to challengers Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Adrian Buchan (AUS).

Having been in two Snapper Rocks finals, Toledo is always one to watch here. His electric blend of power and progression wowed the crowds with the highest single-wave score - a near-perfect 9.67 to progress into the quarters.

“The wind conditions did not make for the best air conditions, so I choose to stick to the face of the wave,” said Toledo. “I had the power and speed going into the 9.67 wave and was actually waiting for it to barrel, but it never did, so I figured I had to get creative with my maneuvers. I had a lot of fun this heat and took initiative on a lot of the waves, which really paid off.”

GIANT KILLER: Rookie Michael Rodrigues undid Jordy at Snapper Rocks. Photo WSL / Cestari

Last year's winner Owen Wright (AUS) booked a spot in the quarters after he eliminated rookie Willian Cardoso (BRA) in Round 3, then went on to dispatch rookie Tomas Hermes (BRA) and his friend Mick Fanning (AUS) in three-man Round 4. It was bittersweet for Wright as Fanning bows out in his last appearance at his hometown spot.

“I did my first trip with Mick [Fanning] when I was 14,” Wright said. “He has been like a guardian angel to me through my head injury. He’s showed me a lot of guidance over the years and is definitely one of my heroes.”

Fellow CT veteran and 2012 WSL Champion, Joel Parkinson (AUS), was also eliminated. The Coolangatta local was dispatched by rookie Griffin Colapinto (USA) in Round 3. The 19-year-old rookie continued through Round 4 where he edged Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) to make the quarters behind Julian Wilson, who looks in great form despite a recent shoulder injury from mountain biking.

Surfline are calling for: Rising shorter period E swell Wednesady with good surf for Thursday. Good size surf continues Friday but trends down into the weekend. Long range guidance points to more mid-size but shorter period ESE/SE swell around the last couple days of the event window.

WRIGHT STUFF: Owen Wright has looked strong, and will be in the quarters. Photo WSL / Cestari

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 3 Results
Heat 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 14.50 def. Willian Cardoso (BRA) 9.04
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.67 def. Conner Coffin (USA) 7.37
Heat 3: Tomas Hermes (BRA) 12.40 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.60.
Heat 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.60 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.70
Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.36 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.10
Heat 6: Mikey Wright (AUS) 16.07 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.90
Heat 7: Julian Wilson (AUS) 7.30 def. Michael February (ZAF) 7.10
Heat 8: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 15.26 def. Frederico Morais (PRT) 11.10
Heat 9: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.50 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.94
Heat 10: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.07 def. Wade Carmichael (AUS) 13.60
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.50 def. Connor O’Leary (AUS) 6.43
Heat 12: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 15.00 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.40

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 4 Results
Heat 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 17.00, Tomas Hermes (BRA) 11.20, Mick Fanning (AUS) 10.43
Heat 2: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.70, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.60, Mikey Wright (AUS) 11.20
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.97, Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.83, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 11.67
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.97, Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 13.83, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.53

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Quarterfinal Matchups
QF 1: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
QF 2: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Tomas Hermes (BRA)
QF 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Michael Rodrigues (BRA)
QF 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA)

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Semifinal Matchups
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Malia Manuel (HAW)
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Keely Andrew (AUS)