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Quiksilver Pro wildcard defeats Irons at Snapper Rocks
by George Mojo
04/03/2007:// The surfers union represenative on the world pro tour took all the right action to strike a bitter blow to the early season hopes of three-times world champion Andy Irons in the opening World Championship Tour event in Australia.
Quiksilver Pro wildcard Jake Paterson, who is one of the main players in the World Professional Surfers organisation, surfed superbly at Snapper Rocks to defeat his Hawaiian opponent in round two of the competition.
Paterson, who announced his retirement at the end of 2006 after a decorated 17 years on tour, was given a wildcard into the event and without the pressure of tour ratings points being on the line, rose to the occasion.
"I couldn’t have asked for a better way to wrap up my career, not that it’s completely over or anything, but this was a dream heat today," said Paterson.
"I was pretty disappointed with my first round performance so I really wanted to make sure that I got a couple of good waves. Andy couldn’t put a foot right and everything that came to me was a dream - it was meant to be I guess."
Spurred on by unbridled patriotism, Paterson left Irons needing a combination of two good scoring rides to advance into round three.
Irons, realizing that he could not catch up exited the water with two minutes left in the heat.
"Andy and I have had a huge rivalry over the years so it was good that I got one up on him," said Paterson.
"My goal was to hopefully knock out one of the title contenders early on - aside from one of the Australians - I want to see Australia bring home the title, so I hope I helped out the boys a little bit."
Unfortunately for Paterson, if he wants to advance into round four, it will be at the expense of fellow Australian and title-hope Mick Fanning. They will meet in heat nine of the next round.
After losing to wildcard Julian Wilson in round one, reigning and eight-time Foster’s ASP World Champion Kelly Slater left no opportunity for another upset, easily defeating local wildcard Dale Richards.
"I think Dale fell of a bunch of times but I fell of a bunch of times too," said Slater. "There wasn’t that much wave pushing back out there."
Slater will again draw Wilson in a crucial round three encounter.
South American Adriano de Souza thrilled the throngs of Brazilians on site with his victory over Aussie Troy Brooks.
One of five Brazilians surfing in the second round, de Souza was the only one to advance. He will join fellow countrymen Leonardo Neves and Raoni Monteiro in the third round draw..
"I found a couple of nice waves behind the rocks and I’m pretty excited to get through here at Snapper Rocks," De Souza said. "I have a lot of Brazilian fans sitting on the sand, the flags are up, so I’m pretty stoked. Every guy from my country is going for me in the water so I’m pretty happy."
Pancho Sullivan held it down for the Hawaiians, beating Australian Shaun Cansdell14..76 to 12.80.
South African Travis Logie defeated local icon Mark Occhilupo, putting in an incredible performance on his backhand.
"I’ve looked up to Occy my whole life," said Logie. "He was the reason I started surfing and he was one of my heroes. Coming up against him is difficult because you feel bad beating someone you have looked up to so much. He was a really tough competitor so I was really nervous. I was really hoping to get through, really, really, really!"
Out of the water, movie stars Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson were spotted checking out the Quiksilver Pro from the surfer’s area. The Hollywood duo are currently filming a feature in Australia. McConaughey was sighted with Slater at Snapper Rocks last weekend as well.
"I’m just starting to get into surfing," McConaughey said. "Even if I get out there and have a crappy day and I’m just sitting around and I don’t catch a wave, I think, ’look where you are, you’re in the water on the beach, good sights all around, got sunshine!’ So even when I’m not getting a wave, I’m getting out there everyday as much as I can."
The 2008 Beachley Classic got underway this morning, completing Rounds 1 and 2 as well as the opening two heats of Round 3 at nearby Freshwater Beach in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves
Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, has officially announced her retirement from full-time competition, effective at the end of the year
Former Exeter University student Josh Lewin first heat at the Ocean and Earth Pro in the Canary Islands has been delayed because the 2ft surf was deemed uncontestable
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