LIHU‘E — Australia’s Josh Kerr came from behind to claim an incredible victory at the 2010 Association of Surfing Professionals Drug Aware Pro at Margaret River, West Australia, topping fellow countryman Taj Burrow, 17.03 to 16.50 in the final. After
LIHU‘E — Australia’s Josh Kerr came from behind to claim an incredible victory at the 2010 Association of Surfing Professionals Drug Aware Pro at Margaret River, West Australia, topping fellow countryman Taj Burrow, 17.03 to 16.50 in the final.
After a slow start to his heat, Kerr had 10.33 points after seven rides before nailing a perfect wave and receiving 10-point scores from all five judges.
Even with that unbeatable wave, Kerr still trailed by 0.17 points and needed to replace a score of 6.33.
Up to the task, Kerr found himself another strong ride in the final two minutes and got just what he needed, coming away with a 7.03 to take the slim lead.
All of a sudden, Burrow, the top-rated men’s surfer in the world, was in need of a big wave and had to have an 8.54 with just 90 seconds left in the heat. He was unable to find that necessary score and Kerr had the improbable and memorable win.
Kerr took home a $20,000 prize for his victory, with Burrow settling for $10,000.
Kerr reached the finals by knocking off American Corey Lopez in the semis, 14.50 to 10.33. That heat was the reverse for the Australian, as he took his top two scores on his first two waves and held off Lopez.
Burrow also attacked early in his 15.23 to 10.47 semifinal win over fellow Aussie, Bebe Durbidge.
Kaua‘i surfer Roy Powers made the Round of 48 before being eliminated.
On the women’s side, 24 surfers began the day still alive and looking for a big finish at the Six-Star World Qualifying Series event.
Heat No. 4 of the Round of 24 saw Kaua‘i’s Alana Blanchard stake her claim to Round of 12 inclusion in a very competitive heat, scoring 11.43 to move on along with Australia’s Chelsea Hedges, who tallied 12.34.
Blanchard topped two French surfers, Alizee Arnaud (10.80) and Lee Ann Curren, to remain in the event, which began with 60 surfers.
Unfortunately, she just barely failed to make it to the quarters, posting a score of 10.00. Australia’s Tyler Wright and France’s Justine Dupont scored higher, with Dupont eking out the bid with a 10.90 heat.
The first heat of the day was a successful one for Hawai‘i’s Coco Ho, who moved into the Round of 12 alongside Australia’s Felicity Palmateer with scores of 14.30 and 13.17, respectively.
They eliminated Australia’s Jessi Miley-Dyer and South Africa’s Rossane Hodge in the heat.
Ho paddled back out for the Round of 12 with Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons and France’s Pauline Ado and made it through to the quarterfinals, putting up an 11.56, good for second place.
Fitzgibbons scored well with 16.27, while Ado could not put together a big enough ride to overcome Ho and finished with a 9.30.
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