Rise of the Rookies
Sunday 13 March 2016 Jordy Smith and Kelly Slater were among the names dumped out by rookies and replacements at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast in stormy seas this morning, while Adriano de Souza prevailed.
SOLID GOLD: Adriano de Souza pulled one back for the vets. Photo WSL / Cestari
Blustery winds and rain squalls presided over Heat 1-10 in the first elimination round (2) of the opening stop on the 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour (CT).
The women's event ran yesterday, with four of eight quarterfinalists decided. When they resume, possibly tomorrow, the other eight surfers, including Bianca Buitendag, will contest elimination Round 4 to decide the other four quarterfinalists.
In the men's event, injury replacement Hawaiian Sebastian Zietz upset previous event winner Julian Wilson, from Australia. Other injury replacement Aussie Stuart Kennedy, eliminated four-time Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast winner, Kelly Slater. Kennedy got a 9.50 ripper to collect a two-wave score of 15.73 to defeat Slaters 13.10.
SNIPPED AT SNAPPER: Julian Wilson is also out, courtesy Sebastian Zietz. Photo WSL / Cestari
Tour rookie Ryan Callinan (AUS) took down a returned-to-form Jordy Smith. Although there were multiple lead changes, Callinan came out on top. “It's my first heat win on the CT, so it feels really good. It’s been a childhood goal to validate myself as a CT surfer and over the years I have had a fair few people tell me that they feel like I deserve to be here and it makes me feel like I deserve to be here now also.”
Fellow rookies Conner Coffin and Kanoa Igarashi, both American, took out Aussie Kai Otton and Hawaiian Keanu Asing respectively. Coffin edged the heat by 0.17 points. Asing, in his second season, controlled the heat at first, but Igarashi stole it by 0.01 points.
GIANT KILLER: Young Aussie Ryan Callinan was on fire. Photo WSL / Cestari
Brazilian Adriano de Souza, reigning WSL Champion, and Hawaiian John John Florence, brought normality back to proceedings by defeating two rookies. De Souza knocked out Quiksilver Trials winner Aussie Wade Carmichael by a comfortable 15.30 to 11.00, while John John, fresh off his huge victory at The Eddie, defeated Aussie Davey Cathels 14.36 to 12.66.
When competition resumes, up first will be another two rookies fighting it out in Heat 11 of Round 2, two former WSL Junior Champions Caio Ibelli (from Brazil) and Jack Freestone (from Australia).
More at www.worldsurfleague.com
IN AND OUT: Jordy Smith could not find a way to beat rookie Ryan Callinan. Photo WSL / Cestari
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (from Brazil) 15.30 def. Wade Carmichael (AUS) 11.00
Heat 2: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 13.10 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.87
Heat 3: Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 15.73 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 13.10
Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.50 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 10.83
Heat 5: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 15.74 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.00
Heat 6: John John Florence (HAW) 14.36 def. Davey Cathels (AUS) 12.66
Heat 7: Conner Coffin (USA) 13.33 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 13.16
Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.37 def. Alex Ribeiro (from Brazil) 13.47
Heat 9: Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 12.27 def. Keanu Asing (HAW) 12.26
Heat 10: Jadson Andre (BRA) 11.43 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 9.07
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Remaining Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 11: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 12: Matt Banting (AUS) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)