The Quiksilver Pro in Japan (September 1-8) will prove critical to this year’s ASP world title race as a stack of top surfers tries to close the ratings gap established by current world champion Andy Irons. Irons has just won
The Quiksilver Pro in Japan (September 1-8) will prove critical to this year’s ASP world title race as a stack of top surfers tries to close the ratings gap established by current world champion Andy Irons.
Irons has just won his first World Championship Tour (WCT) event of 2004, in South Africa, but has shown incredible consistency with two seconds and two third placings from the first four WCTs this year.
The Hawaiian is holding a strong lead of 5,016 points, with six-time world champion Kelly Slater (Florida, USA) in second on 3,552 points. There are six WCTs remaining for the year, with each win worth 1,200 points.
Last year the tour became a two-horse race between these champions with Irons gaining the ascendancy in the final event in Hawaii to record back-to-back world titles. Throughout the year, the pair won nine WCTs between them, five to Irons and four to Slater. Andy Irons taking out the Quiksilver Pro, Japan 2003.
This year, a different surfer has won each of the first five WCTs. Australian Michael Lowe secured the opening Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast, fellow Australian Joel Parkinson won Bells, American CJ Hobgood took out Tahiti, with his brother Damien winning his first WCT at the Quiksilver Pro in Fiji, and Hawaiian Andy Irons triumphed at Jeffreys Bay last month.
Close behind Slater in this year’s race is a logjam of talent including CJ Hobgood, Nathan Hedge (Aust), Mark Occhilupo (Aust), Damien Hobgood and Jake Paterson (Aust). But the spread of points is close with even Danny Wills (Aust), back in 16th place, holding 2,772 points.
The president of ASP, Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, a former world champion himself in 1978, said the US$260,000 Quiksilver Pro in Japan is a very important event if the challengers are going to step up and take on Irons.
“Japan is also the start of the traditional grueling leg, the back-to-back events as we go from Japan through Trestles (USA), France, and into Mundaca (Spain), and there’s a short break before we go down to Florianopolis (Brazil),” Bartholomew said.
“It’s the ‘meat and potatoes’ of the tour and everyone generally gets themselves in position. We’re basically at the halfway mark so there’s still plenty of surfing left in this thing. But if someone’s going to make a move, they’d better start getting on their bike now.”
Slater has a third placing, three fifths and a 17th so far this year and admits to feeling somewhat frustrated by his results.
Irons’ 2004 WCT record has included a 1st place, two second’s (one above at the Quiksilver Pro, Fiji) and two third places.
“My competition head is a little off but the surfing is there,” Slater said. “I just need to figure out what is blocking me accessing my best.” With this in mind, he is taking a break before the Quiksilver Pro in Japan.
“I am just taking some time off instead of going to Indonesia, where I was going to go, so I can get a few things done with my body work, board designs, and seeing my family,” Slater said.
This year, the Quiksilver Pro in Japan will relocate to the mainland at Hebara Beach, Chiba, which is one-and-a-half hour’s drive north-east of Tokyo. Last year the event was held on Niijima Island.
Not only is Irons the defending champion, but he’s also psyched to protect, if not extend, his ratings lead. “I am feeling physically fit, I have great boards right now, and I am looking forward to the event,” he said.
