Jordy On Track

“It was pretty hard out there at first and I’m stoked that I caught two quick ones,” Smith said after defeating Hawaiian Fredrick Patacchia, 30, and Californian Brett Simpson, 27. “On that one 9 (point ride), it just opened up real perfect. I lucked into it on the way back out when the boys got stuck inside and it just held open and I came out and got a couple of turns in.

“I’m pumped, it’s my first time back to Cloudbreak since my rookie year and I couldn’t have had a better start,” added the current ASP World No 7. “It felt fun out there and the waves are just pumping.”

Others to skip the cutthroat Round 2 elimination heats of event 4 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, by winning their opening encounters, included current ASP World No. 1 Joel Parkinson, fellow Australians Owen Wright and Mick Fanning, Brazilians Adriano de Souza, Heitor Alves and Alejo Muniz, American twins CJ and Damien Hobgood, Jeremy Flores (FRA) and 19 year-old Hawaiian sensation John John Florence.

Mitch Coleborn (AUS), 25, wildcard into the Volcom Fiji Pro, caused the upset of the day, beating reigning 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 40, as well as dangerous goofy-footer Kai Otton (AUS), 32, in their non-elimination Round 1 bout.

Travis Logie (Durban), 32, finished second behind Flores in their Round 1 clash and lost to Brett Simpson (USA) in Round 2.

On Day two yesterday (Sunday) Cloudbreak turned on once again for the world’s best surfers as the opening 10 heats of the elimination Round 2 of the Volcom Fiji Pro ran in clean 4-6' surf. The top seeds controlled the day’s tempo, taking nine wins from 10 heats.

Julian Wilson (AUS), 23, ASP Dream Tour sophomore and current ASP World No. 11, quickly found a rhythm in the Cloudbreak lineup this morning, earning a 9.47 and 9.10 for two lengthy backhand barrels to eliminate Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 26, in a one-sided affair while earning the highest heat total of Volcom Fiji Pro competition, 18.57 out of 20.

“Conditions are really good today,” Wilson said. “It’s pretty perfect. I had a crappy time yesterday and was really frustrated. It felt good to have that good start. My first wave was good and then I backed it up with another one. It felt great to have a couple of scores and to get that heat under the belt.”

Although 2012 marks Wilson’s inaugural trip to the Fijian islands, the young Australian exhibited little inexperience in the open ocean lineup today.

“It was only my fourth surf out there and I’m getting to know it better,” Wilson said. “I can’t believe I haven’t been here before. I’m getting a hard time from the boys because I’m such a rookie here. The people are amazing on both of the islands. The weather is great, the waves are great and I’m having a good time.”

Wilson will face Miguel Pupo (BRA), 20, when Volcom Fiji Pro competition resumes.

Gabriel Medina (BRA), 18, secured the event’s first Perfect 10 this afternoon for an incredibly long forehand barrel punctuated by some solid turns. Medina built upon this opening ride’s momentum to secure the Round 2 win over fellow rookie Yadin Nicol (AUS), 26, and advance directly to Round 3.

“That was sick,” Medina said. “I’m stoked to get that 10 and make the heat. I’m having a lot of fun. I didn’t know I was going to make it on that one and I just went for it. This is my second time to Fiji and I heard there is a swell coming. I think it would be fun if they ran at Restaurants too.”

Medina will face fellow Brazilian Alejo Muniz (BRA), 22, in Round 3 of competition.

Josh Kerr (AUS), 28, suffered a suspected grade-2 ankle tear in his opening Volcom Fiji Pro heat yesterday, but withstood the pain this morning to claim a Round 2 victory over veteran campaigner Taylor Knox (USA), 41, to advance to Round 3.

“I was worried because the doctor told me my ankle recovery was 8 to 12 weeks out,” Kerr said. “It feels super tender and I’m having non-stop work done. It’s really taped up and I don’t have much mobility with it at the moment. I got bounced up in the barrel and that didn’t feel very good, but I’m happy to get through

Tiago Pires (PRT), 32, veteran ASP World Championship Tour campaigner, survived a hard-fought heat over rookie sensation Kolohe Andino (USA), 18, this afternoon. Following a restart due to inconsistent swell, the two surfers attempted to battle the rapidly-changing conditions with Pires ousting the young Californian and advancing through to Round 3.

“I thought it was going to be a fun heat between Kolohe (Andino) and I but we had the restart and no sets came and then that wind came and changed the look of the wave,” Pires said. “I feel bad for Kolohe. No one likes to lose in these types of conditions. I’m happy to make the heat though. I had a tough loss to Owen (Wright) yesterday and I’m happy to keep going in this amazing event.”

Pires has drawn two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, in Round 3 of competition.

Kelly Slater (USA), 40, reigning 11-time ASP World Champion, rebounded from an uncharacteristic Round 1 loss yesterday to post a convincing Round 2 win over local wildcard Isei Tokovu (FIJ). While the scores didn’t necessarily reflect it, Slater admitted that Tokovu had the talent and opportunity to mix it up with the world’s best at Cloudbreak.

“It feels mellow out there and all of a sudden a 6-foot bomb comes through,” Slater said. “Isei (Tokovu) would have got a 10 on that bomb, but it was just a little too fast. There’s still a lot of energy out there, but it’s still a little slow. You can’t underestimate a local guy in these contests, they surf here all the time and know which ones are the best waves.”

Slater, who was forced to withdraw from the previous ASP WCT event in Rio de Janeiro due to a laceration to his foot, has been battling a Fijian stomach flu and is hoping to be in top shape for the latter rounds of competition.

“I’m feeling not quite 100 percent, I didn’t feel great yesterday and my legs were still a little shaky,” Slater said. “It’s no excuse for the Round 1 heat because Mitch (Coleborn) was totally in tune and just schooled us out there. It’s just about catching the best waves. I think we’ll have a few lay days and then there’s going to be a giant swell. My foot is better and when the swell kicks, in I have some big boards in the 7’6” to 8’6” range ready for it.”

Slater will take on lethal goofy-footer Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 30, in Round 3 of the Volcom Fiji Pro.

Highlights from the Volcom Fiji Pro will be available via www.volcom.com/fijipro

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

VOLCOM FIJI PRO ROUND 2 RESULTS

Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.90 def. Isei Tokovu (FIJ) 6.10
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.66 def. Willian Cardoso (BRA) 8.07
Heat 3: Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.00 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 8.56
Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 18.57 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 7.50
Heat 5: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.67 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 10.54
Heat 6: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.67 def. Yadin Nicol (AUS) 9.37
Heat 7: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 16.96 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.76
Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 17.04 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 16.23
Heat 9: Tiago Pires (PRT) 11.00 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 5.93
Heat 10: Brett Simpson (USA) 12.40 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 12.20

VOLCOM FIJI PRO ROUND 1 RESULTS
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.67, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 7.67, Brett Simpson (USA) 3.67
Heat 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.33, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 8.86, Josh Kerr (AUS) 6.10
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 11.00, Taylor Knox (USA) 10.16, Taj Burrow (AUS) 4.17
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.60, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 7.10, Willian Cardoso (BRA) 2.93
Heat 5: Mitch Coleborn (AUS) 17.37, Kelly Slater (USA) 13.50, Kai Otton (AUS) 13.27
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.93, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 8.33, Isei Tokovu (FIJ) 2.23
Heat 7: Owen Wright (AUS) 14.87, Tiago Pires (PRT) 11.50, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 10.26
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.66, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 4.90, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 2.00
Heat 9: John John Florence (HAW) 15.37, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 11.73, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 6.33
Heat 10: Heitor Alves (BRA) 8.70, Julian Wilson (AUS) 6.70, Kolohe Andino (USA) 5.67
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.80, Travis Logie (ZAF) 7.50, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 6.00
Heat 12: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 15.27, Adam Melling (AUS) 9.97, Michel Bourez (PYF) 9.70