Surfing’s World Championship Tour (WCT) ‘Rookie’ and former Pipeline Master Bruce Irons (Haw) struggled to pick off a clean ride, or tried to make it out of some heavy barreling sections, but dropped to Danny Wills (Byron Bay, Aus) in
Surfing’s World Championship Tour (WCT) ‘Rookie’ and former Pipeline Master Bruce Irons (Haw) struggled to pick off a clean ride, or tried to make it out of some heavy barreling sections, but dropped to Danny Wills (Byron Bay, Aus) in round two elimination heats at the Quiksilver Pro presented by Boost Mobile.
Irons did lock in his best wave for a 7.5 score towards the end, but still needed another wave worth 7.74 points to advance.
Wildcard Luke Munro (Currumbin, QLD) caused a major upset by taking out world #4 Mick Fanning by claiming a near-perfect 9.5 barrel ride to gain an early advantage.
Fanning answered with a 7.83 points to be within striking range only to have Munro lock in an 8.17 score to seal the win.
Kelly Slater gained control over California wildcard Dane Reynolds with three eight-plus scoring rides with
Reynolds finishing with a combination of 17.41 points to catch up.
2002 Quiksilver Pro champion Joel Parkinson (Gold Coast, Aus) ended the barrel feasting of Quiksilver Trials winner Shaun Gossmann with a 9.41 tube ride, Gossmann requiring a near-perfect 9.97 points to advance.
Brazilian Marcelo Nunes upset 2002 Quiksilver Pro runner-up Cory Lopez (FL, USA) with a final 6.83 which swung the decision. Adding salt to Lopez’s wounds was the fact he broke a surfboard near the start of the exchange and had to ride a back up.
Kalani Robb (Haw) put on a blistering performance to overcome Pat O’Connell (CA, USA), the Hawaiian getting off to a great start with an 8.33 ride, breaking his surfboard at the end, but coming back with a 7.5 on the following wave for the control.
Luke Egan (Gold Coast, Aus) collected the best single score enroute to eliminating another former world #2 Shane Beschen (CA, USA), the Australian emerging from a backhand barrel to post a near-perfect 9.87 score.
Darren O’Rafferty (Bonny Hills, Aus) posted the highest combined tally of the Quiksilver Pro so far in the day’s final match against Armando Daitro (Brz), the Australian emerging from a tube for a 9.87, equalling Egan’s ride, and locking in another 9.0 to reach round three.
