THIRTEENTH BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Tuesday, April 6, 2010) – Round 2 of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach was completed today as event organizers relocated to nearby Thirteenth Beach to take advantage of the available swell on offer.
Event No. 2 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach completed the opening round of competition at Bells Beach over the weekend, and today’s move to Thirteenth Beach saw the greatest assemblage of surfing talent in history light up the punchy two-to-three foot (1 metre) beachbreaks.
Chris Davidson (AUS), 34, a veteran of the international stage, proved the form surfer of the round, blasting the running righthanders in a battle royale against compatriot Jay Thompson (AUS), 27. Davidson’s forehand attack saw no parallel in terms of speed and ferocity as he bested Thompson 16.13 to 16.10.
“The waves start pumping for our heat and it’s a shame as Bottle (Jay Thompson) was surfing so well,” Davidson said. “He probably would have won any other heat, but that’s the tour, sometimes you just have those heats. I’m feeling good though. I feel healthy and I’m looking forward to the rest of the event.”
With the ASP Top 45 being reduced to 32 following the fifth event of the season, added pressure has been thrust upon the world’s best surfers, all striving for early season results to ensure their position amongst the elite throughout the year.
“I’m just happy to get on a roll here at the start of the year,” Davidson said. “With the mid-year cut to 32, the pressure is on all of us to perform. I started out the year well with a 9th on the Goldy and I’m looking to go better here down at Bells.”
Davidson will take on Luke Stedman (AUS), 33, in Round 3 when competition resumes.
Bobby Martinez (USA), 27, current ASP World No. 3, ended the hopes of local wildcard and last year’s event runner-up, Adam Robertson (AUS) today. The Californian flared on his backhand with a series of committed rail gouges and flawless execution to advance through to Round 3.
“I knew that Robbo (Adam Robertson) was going to be a challenge,” Martinez said. “He surfs great no matter where he is, but at home, he’s really good. He showed everyone last year how dangerous he can be and I wasn’t taking him lightly. The waves are small, but definitely contestable. Hopefully it picks up for the rest of the competition.”
Martinez will battle Drew Courtney (AUS), 31, in Round 3 of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.
Gabriel Medina (AUS), 16, wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, caused the biggest upset of the event thus far, defeating former ASP World Champion (2001) C.J. Hobgood (USA), 31, in Round 2 of competition.
“I’m very happy right now,” Medina said. “I had good confidence from winning the other day (in the Rip Curl International Grom Search Finals) and the conditions today suit my surfing. C.J. (Hobgood) is an amazing surfer and this is the biggest win of my career.”
Medina will face reigning two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, in Round 3 of competition.
Brett Simpson (USA), 25, 2010 ASP World Tour rookie, punctuated the afternoon action today, lofting an incredible full rotation Alley-oop to the tune of a 7.83 out of a possible 10, to secure his Round 2 win over 2009 ASP World Tour Rookie of the Year Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 24.
“I dropped in and it looked pretty fast,” Simpson said. “I didn’t think I could fit two nice turns so I just went for the Alley-oop tried my luck. There are tons of guys that could do it – it’s all about sticking them at the right time and I did it.”
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am for a possible 7:30am start.
When competition resumes, up first will be South American sensation Adriano de Souza (BRA), 23, against 2010 ASP World Tour rookie Brett Simpson (USA), 25, in the opening heat of Round 3.
Highlights from the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by SNICKERS will be available via www.live.ripcurl.com
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.16 def. Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 12.06
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.43 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.84
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) 15.24 def. Adam Robertson (AUS) 14.07
Heat 4: Neco Padaratz (BRA) 12.03 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 9.60
Heat 5: Dane Reynolds (USA) 9.06 def. Blake Thornton (AUS) 7.46
Heat 6: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.23 def. Marco Polo (BRA) 9.84
Heat 7: Taylor Knox (USA) 13.67 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.60
Heat 8: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 13.83 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 10.54
Heat 9: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.10 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 9.43
Heat 10: Kai Otton (AUS) 11.94 def. Nate Yeomans (USA) 5.60
Heat 11: Chris Davidson (AUS) 16.13 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 16.10
Heat 12: Daniel Ross (AUS) 11.56 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 9.83
Heat 13: Brett Simpson (USA) 13.66 def. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 8.70
Heat 14: Drew Courtney (AUS) 12.84 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 8.27
Heat 15: Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.50 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 2.43
Heat 16: Owen Wright (AUS) 9.84 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 9.10
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 2: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Andy Irons (HAW)
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 5: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 6: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
Heat 7: Daniel Ross (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Heat 9: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 10: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 11: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 12: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 13: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 14: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 15: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 16: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
