Photo: Hennings

Jhon Jhon Florence – Photo: Hennings

Event No. 5 of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Oakley Pro Bali recommences this year’s hunt for the elite ASP World Title and the new venue of Keramas delivered major upsets and mammoth scores throughout the opening 12 heats of the event.

Reigning ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS), 32, 11-time ASP World Champion and current ASP WCT No. 1 Kelly Slater (USA), 41, as well as perennial threat Taj Burrow (AUS), 35, were all victims of close Round 1 losses today and have been relegated to the elimination Round 2 when competition resumes.

Fredrick Pataccchia (HAW), 31, took down the reigning champion this morning in a rare man-on-man Round 1 affair, with Travis Logie (ZAF), 34, unable to attend due to an injury sustained in Fiji – Logie will attempt to arrive in time for his Round 2 match. While Parkinson’s patented power forehand approach was in full flight, it would be the Hawaiian’s ferocious backhand attack on the Keramas walls that would take the win.

“I was happy that I had priority at the end, but priority can also be tough to choose which wave you want,” Patacchia said. “It’s a tough wave to surf, Keramas, and I think a lot of us are trying to figure it out. I lost early in Fiji, so I came here right away and have been putting time in and getting use to the waves here. Joel (Parkinson) is the ASP World Champion and a great surfer and we saw Adriano (de Souza) kind of struggling out there as well, so you know it’s tough.”

Damien Hobgood (USA), 33, current ASP WCT No. 28, caused another major upset today in eliminating fellow Floridian Slater.

“It was a strange heat and it’s not often that Kelly (Slater) doesn’t have the waves come for him,” Hobgood said. “It was one of the slower ones of the morning and I just did my best to be on the better waves and surf smart. You take any win you can over Kelly.”

Yadin Nicol (HAW), 27, replacement surfer for the elite ASP Top 34, was in sensational form this morning, taking out a high-flying Round 1 bout over Taj Burrow (AUS), 35, and Kolohe Andino (USA), 19. Nicol’s aerial prowess and high-velocity surfing earned him the win and put the rest of the competitive field on notice.

“It sucks sitting on the bubble because you never want anyone to get injured and you don’t want to have to get their spot, but obviously you want to be in the events,” Nicol said. “I hope all of the inured surfers have a speedy recovery. I’m stoked I’m here though. That was a weird heat because I was rattled after that first exchange. Taj (Burrow) and Kolohe (Andino) are capable of getting huge scores and I was just happy to get a few waves of my own and make the heat.”

Nicol advances directly into Round 3 of the event.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 32, two-time ASP World Champion (2007, 2009) and current ASP WCT No. 2, took advantage of the opening day’s conditions, posting a strong 14.56 out of a possible 20 to overtake Brett Simpson (USA),28, and wildcard Bruce Irons (HAW), 33. Fanning’s razor-sharp surfing and incredible consistency saw the Gold Coast natural-footer navigate the afternoon onshore conditions.

“Really exciting to be back in Bali,” Fanning said. “The juniors have had the good fortune to compete here at Keramas over the last few years and all the boys on tour have been pretty jealous. The wave has so much power and variety, it could be the most high-performance wave on the planet. Not ideal conditions for our heat, but still some sets and some sections so I’m stoked to get through.

Mick Fanning – Photo: Hennings

While a number of top seeds were relegated to the elimination Round 2, several others took advantage of today’s conditions.

Adriano de Souza (BRA), 26, current ASP WCT No. 4, opened up the day’s affairs with a strong Round 1 win over Bede Durbidge (AUS), 30, and Dusty Payne (HAW), 24.

“Very happy to be here at Keramas,” De Souza said. “I had a poor result in Fiji so I left to come here early and put time in at the wave. It is a great wave and all the boys here are going to do some crazy things this week. It’s very high-performance. Very happy to get through today’s heat and hope for a good event.”

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, current ASP WCT No. 3, has been one of the most anticipated surfers for this week’s event and the big South African didn’t disappoint with a juggernaut Round 1 performance exhibiting his aerial ability as well as unmatched power game.

“That was a pretty exciting heat,” Smith said. “Oney (Anwar) started off really strong, but I was able to claw back around mid-heat. Every wave is a chance to go big – Keramas is that perfect. Few scores started to drop for me and I was able to build some momentum throughout the back half of the heat. I have some really good boards under my feet and I’m just psyched to be here in Bali.”

Nat Young (USA), 22, 2013 ASP Dream Tour rookie and current ASP WCT No. 6, continued his phenomenal run this season with a big Round 1 performance at the Oakley Pro Bali today.

“That was a lot of fun,” Young said. “The waves started pumping for our heat and there were just a lot of them coming through. Some people think that Keramas can be tricky on your backhand, but when it’s bigger you can actually get a lot more vertical. Glad the conditions went my way today and looking forward to the rest of the event.”

Joining Young in Round 1 victories from the rookie class today was lethal aerialist Filipe Toledo (BRA), 18. Both surfers advance directly into Round 3.

John John Florence (HAW), 20, in his second event back from injury, capped off the day’s proceedings with a phenomenal performance to collect a near-perfect 19.87 out of a possible 20. Hawaiian compatriot Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 25, opened up with some searing barrel-to-turn combinations and posted an excellent 19.37 out of a possible 20. However, it was Florence’s hail mary alley-oop that pundits are claiming as the biggest aerial ever in competition that netted the young Hawaiian the first Perfect 10 of the event and the heat win.

“I was in the air and saw the bottom and everything happened so fast that I was just reacting,” Florence said. “I claimed it pretty hard, but I was so stoked. The ankle is strapped but the brace gives me a lot of confidence and it feels good out there. Just psyched to be at Keramas, this wave is amazing and the boys are ripping so hard.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 6:45am start.

When competition resumes, up first will be 11-time ASP World Champion and current ASP WCT No. 1 Kelly Slater (USA), 41, up against Jack Robinson (AUS), 15, in the opening heat of the elimination Round 2.

Highlights from the Oakley Pro Bali will be available via www.oakleyprobali.com

Surfline, official forecasters for the Oakley Pro Bali are calling for:

The current SW swell will continue on Wednesday, slowly easing. Gradually fading surf continues through the second half of the week. A similar sized swell for Keramas (smaller for Canggu) will peak on Sunday the 23rd, after building Saturday afternoon the 22nd. A series of potentially solid SW to SSW swells are on the radar for the afternoon of the 24th through the 27th.

OAKLEY PRO BALI ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.93, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.17, Dusty Payne (HAW) 8.60
Heat 2: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 12.67, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.00, Travis Logie (ZAF) 0.00
Heat 3: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 14.56, Kolohe Andino (USA) 12.93, Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.63
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.46, Oney Anwar (IND) 11.93, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 9.03
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.56, Brett Simpson (USA) 6.83, Bruce Irons (HAW) 5.50
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.10, Kelly Slater (USA) 12.00, Jack Robinson (AUS) 5.83
Heat 7: Nat Young (USA) 17.03, Willian Cardoso (BRA) 13.90, Kai Otton (AUS) 13.40
Heat 8: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 16.07, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 15.50, Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.67
Heat 9: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.43, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.17, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 8.17
Heat 10: Michel Bourez (PYF) 17.30, Adam Melling (AUS) 14.10, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.93
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.94, Julian Wilson (AUS) 16.77, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.90
Heat 12: John John Florence (HAW) 19.87, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 19.37, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 13.60

OAKLEY PRO BALI ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS)
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Bruce Irons (HAW)
Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Oney Anwar (IND)
Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA)
Heat 6: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 7: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 9: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 10: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 11: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 12: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)

Indonesia’s Oney Anwar (Lakey Peak, Sumbawa) defeated twenty-three of South-East Asia’s best surfers to win the Oakley Pro Bali Trials and secure a coveted wildcard into the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), World Championship Tour (WCT) event at Keramas, Bali, Indonesia.

Photo: ISC/Hain

The nineteen year-old, has drawn world no.3 Jordy Smith (ZAF) and Matt Wilkinson (Aus) in his non-elimination, round one heat of the Oakley Pro Bali – which could commence as early as tomorrow. Anwar said he is looking forward to taking on the worlds best.

Anwar added that today’s win felt great. Anwar took home USD2500 today and is assured of another USD8000 even if he bows out early in the Oakley Pro Bali. Anwar defeated Putra Hermawan (Bali) in the final, staged in 2-3ft (one-metre) waves at Keramas, leaving his opponent requiring a near perfect score of 9.10 on the siren.  Anwar finished with a two-wave heat total of 17:00 (out of a possible 20) to his opponents 13.10 total tally.

Regarded as Indonesia’s most promising talents, Anwar, 19, attended Palm Beach Currumbin (PBC) High School on Australia’s Gold Coast and was apart of the schools sports excellence program. Over his four-year tour in Australia, the village boy from remote Indonesia learned to surf in colder conditions and cope with long periods away from his home as well as speak fluent English – all crucial factors in a successful surfing career of which Anwar has his sites firmly set on.

Oakley Pro Bali Trials Results:

 Final

1.  Oney Anwar (Sumbawa)

2.  Putra Hermawan (Nusa Lembongan)

3rd (Equal)  Raditya Rondi  (Kuta) – Tipi Jabrik (Seminyak)

Quarterfinals

1 Putra Hermawan def Wayan Susiana

2. Tipi Jabrik def Made Adi Putra

3.  Oney Anwar def Lee Wilson

4.  Raditya Rondi def Dede Suryana

Semifinals

1.  Putra Hermawan def Tipi Jabrik

2.  Oney Anwar def Raditya Rondi

Today, after forty years of exploring the archipelago, surf travelers have concluded that the island of Bali is pretty tough to beat.

Video: SurferMagz on YouTube

Sources: oakleyprobali.com

Bethany Hamilton @ Rip Curl Padang Padang 2012

International icons such as Jamie O’Brien, Dean Morrison, Chris Ward, Makua Rothman, Ry Craike and Ozzie Wright have all put on historic performances. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s top surfers like Rizal, Garut, Bol, Mega, Lee Wilson, Marlon Gerber and Dede Suryana have consistently proven they can compete with the best in the world at the Balinese Pipeline.

On July 1^st, the collective focus of the surfing world will again turn to Bali to see what new surfing history is made during the 2013 Rip Curl Cup (waiting period from July 1st – August 15th). To celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the Ultimate Tube Riding Contest, the Rip Curl Cup will be webcast LIVE to the world for the first time in history.

Watch all the action LIVE at live.ripcurl.com or on your Smartphone with the Rip Curl Live Events App. The LIVE webcast will include an online Heat Analyzer, so if you miss the action on contest day you can get to the event website and replay all the highlights from the contest any time, as many times as you want.

Rip Curl has announced 14 of the 16 Indonesian surfers invited to compete for the Cup in 2013: Rizal Tanjung, Bol Adi Putra, Garut Widiarta, Pepen Hendrik, Dede Suryana, Mega Semadhi, Lee Wilson, Raditya Rondi, Betet Merta, Mustofa Jeksen, Marlon Gerber, Made Lana, Wayan Gobleg, and Usman Trioko.

The additional two local spots remaining in the event will be determined by the local trials, to be held at Padang Padang or backup location Uluwatu on the best day of surf conditions between June 24th – 29th.

The winner of the trials and the highest placing surfer hailing from Bali’s Bukit peninsula will both gain entry into the main event and the chance to compete for their share of the $10,000 prize purse and one of the most coveted trophies in surfing.

The 16 international competitors have yet to be announced, however with past champions such as Jamie O’Brien and Chris Ward, expect to see a roll call of the best tube riders on Earth on hand at Padang to challenge for one of the most prestigious titles in competitive surfing.

The complete list of 32 invitees, including the Mystery Wildcard, will be released prior to the June 30th Opening Ceremony at Padang Padang beach.

Real-time contest status and updates can be found at live.ripcurl.com

Video: Romain Cloitre on Vimeo

Photo: Volcom Fiji Pro / Bielmann

Event No. 4 of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Volcom Fiji Pro was treated to a full day of world class ripping, setting up a possible finish for tomorrow.

Kelly Slater (USA), 41, current ASP World No. 4 and defending Volcom Fiji Pro Champion, was incredible while advancing to the Quarterfinals over Jeremy Flores (FRA), 25, and Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 25, in Round 4, earning a Perfect 10 and 9.30 for a near-excellent 19.30 out of a possible 20. Slater’s perfect score was due to a massive double-barrel, which saw the 11-time ASP World Champion drive through two deep tube sections covering the distance of the reef.

“That was unbelievable,” Slater said. “Those were some of the best waves I’ve ever had in a contest. On the 10, I was deep in the barrel and grabbed my rail, but I had to let go to get speed and then I hit the foam ball, I barely made that one. I did the turn and got another tube. On that one big one, it was so perfect and I just wanted to be in the right spot. As I was in the barrel, it spit really hard and there was lots of mist and I couldn’t see. The foamball pushed my tail up in to the wave and I just couldn’t come out the way I wanted to. I didn’t even care if I won or lost, because I’d get to surf again.”

John John Florence (HAW), 20, who posted a perfect 10 at Restaurants in Round 2, was flawless again at Cloudbreak, collecting his second perfect score with a series of seamless backhand turns followed by a deep barrel. Florence’s effort would see him advance directly to the Quarterfinals over rankings leader Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, and veteran Taj Burrow (AUS), 35, in their Round 4 clash.

“I didn’t know what the score was going to be because it was a bit of a smaller wave,” Florence said. “I did a couple of turns and then had the long running barrel on the inside and I was stoked to make it. I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing. I’ve been going out having fun and I’m going to try and do the same thing in the next round.”

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 32, reigning ASP World Champion and current No. 8, was impeccable in the open-ocean lineup of Cloudbreak, combining deep barrels and massive carves to ignite several of the day’s top scores. Parkinson would oust replacement surfer Yadin Nicol (AUS), 27, in Round 3, continuing with a dominant Round 4 effort over California up-and-comers Kolohe Andino (USA), 19, and Nat Young (USA), 21.

“The waves are so good that it felt like a crime to come in,” Parkinson said. “It was one of those heats you hope to get where the conditions just seemed like it turned on. That was a dream heat, we actually missed some of the good waves. Cloudbreak is the best left in the world. I love Tahiti, but with how fast you can go and get barrels and do turns and everything, to me, it’s the best left in the world.”

Photo: Volcom Fiji Pro / Bielmann

C.J. Hobgood (USA), 33, 2001 ASP World Champion and current No. 16, advanced to the Quarterfinals via two hard-fought heat wins. The Floridian bested fellow goofy-footer Travis Logie (ZAF), 34, in Round 3 before taking his Round 4 heat over Gold Coast stablemates Josh Kerr (AUS), 29, and two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 31.

“It was a scrappy heat between all of us,” Hobgood said. “Kelly (Slater) had three 10 point waves and two he didn’t come out of. Then in our heat, it was another one of those heats where it was hard to get scores. This reef is tricky and I’ve been making it out of those tricky heats. If I can keep making it out and keep going, I’m stoked.”

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, current ASP World No. 1, got the best of a hard-fought heat against barrel-riding standout Jeremy Flores (FRA), 24, that saw a series of excellent exchanges. Flores took off on a last second wave in need of a score, but with Smith holding priority, the South African shut down Flores’ chances of exiting the barrel, solidifying his Quarterfinals position.

“That was an important heat for me,” Smith said. “Any ‘CT heat is important, but getting through Round 5 is especially important to make it to the Quarters. It’s too bad because Jeremy (Flores) is a good friend of mine and you hate to be that guy. I shouldn’t have gone on that wave at the end. I’m stoked though, I’ve never made it through to the Quarters in the South Pacific leg.”

Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, roared to life in the final heat of the day, posting back-to-back excellent rides to eliminate Kolohe Andino. Fanning earned a 9.83 and 9.70 for his amazing pair of backhand tubes, taking the day’s high heat-total of 19.53 out of 20 and a spot in the Quarterfinals.

“I had that slow heat earlier today and that was pretty much the opposite,” Fanning said. “Awesome to finally get some good barrels at Cloudbreak and I’m happy to be through to the Quarters. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am local time for a possible finish to Volcom Fiji Pro competition.

When Volcom Fiji Pro competition resumes John John Florence will face off against Jordy Smith in Quarterfinal No. 1. Watch the Volcom Fiji Pro LIVE via www.volcomfijipro.com

VOLCOM FIJI PRO ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.00 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.50
Heat 5: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 11.60 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 10.73
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.87 def. Mitchel Coleborn (AUS) 11.03
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.66 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 5.67
Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.67 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 7.87
Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.76 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 6.13
Heat 10: Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.00 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 6.00
Heat 11: Nat Young (USA) 15.67 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 12.93
Heat 12: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.20 def. Yadin Nicol (AUS) 14.40

VOLCOM FIJI PRO ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: John John Florence (HAW) 17.43, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.43, Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.33
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.30, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 15.16, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.30
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.07, Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.83, Mick Fanning (AUS) 9.77
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.14, Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.07, Nat Young (USA) 8.07

VOLCOM FIJI PRO ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.50 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.43
Heat 2: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 15.97 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.23
Heat 3: Josh Kerr (AUS) 18.76 def. Nat Young (USA) 7.83
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 19.53 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.34

UPCOMING VOLCOM FIJI PRO QUARTERFINALS MATCH UPS:
QF 1: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
QF 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
QF 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)

]]> http://indosurflife.com/2013/06/volcom-fiji-pro-day-4/feed/ 0 http://indosurflife.com/2013/06/wave-garden-the-worlds-longest-man-made-wave/ http://indosurflife.com/2013/06/wave-garden-the-worlds-longest-man-made-wave/#comments Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:43:19 +0000 Calvin http://indosurflife.com/?p=27250 Wavegarden is the world’s longest man-made wave that creates ideal conditions for surfing, as well as a broadly appealing range of other wave sports such as body boarding, kayaking, and stand up paddling. Early testing and professional feedback show Wavegarden to be the closest thing to an ocean break.

Perfect waves of all sizes (standard size between 1,2-1,9 m), lengths (standard length around 18 second surfing ride duration), shapes and speeds are consistently generated in a safe, natural environment using much less energy than any other wave generator in history.

Sources: wavegarden.com

Video: Deus ex Machina on Vimeo

Mitch Coleborn (AUS), 26, returning Volcom Fiji Pro wildcard and winner of the recent ASP Prime event in Brazil, was deadly in the Cloudbreak lineup, earning the first perfect 10 point ride of competition. Coleborn locked into a flawless wave seconds after the start of his heat and drove through two heaving barrel sections to earn the score. The Sunshine-coaster would back up the ride with an excellent 9.33, taking the day’s high heat total of 19.33 out of 20.

“I’m feeling in good rhythm and trying to keep momentum going after my win last week in Brazil,” Coleborn said. “My first wave was a 10 and I don’t know what to say, I’m stoked. Hopefully I can keep it going in Round 3.”

Coleborn, who topped 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 41, in Round 1 at Cloudbreak last year, recreated the same magic today, besting ASP World No. 1 Adriano de Souza (BRA), 26, and Alejo Muniz (BRA), 23, to make his way to Round 3.

“I’m so thankful to Volcom for the wildcard,” Coleborn said. “This is the most amazing event all year. The waves are pumping. To get the wildcard again, I’m just so stoked. With priority in Round 1 now, it makes for more of a relaxing three-man heat. I was lucky with the first wave and that it was a 10. There wasn’t much jockeying. I was pretty confident after that and there wasn’t much hassling, so I was lucky.”

Heitor Alves (BRA), 31, former ASP WCT competitor and last-minute alternate in the Volcom Fiji Pro, took advantage of both his entry in to the event and the absence of reigning ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS), 32, in his Round 1 heat. Alves drove through two deep lefthand barrels, notching a near-perfect 9.80 and 8.83 for his efforts to advance to Round 3 over fellow goofy-footer Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 24.

“I’m so happy because I was in Brazil and got the invite just before the event, so it’s a dream for me,” Alves said. “I was just in Brazil and now I’ve just won a heat against Wilko (Matt Wilkinson). It was a hard heat, but I’m happy. I really need a result and hopefully I can do it here. I just got lucky. I was waiting for the best waves and God gave them to me. Luckily I made my heat.”

Fred Patacchia (HAW), 31, marked his return to competition following a serious ankle injury with a convincing Round 1 win at the Volcom Fiji Pro. Patacchia’s veteran experience at Cloudbreak was apparent, as he effortlessly navigated the lineup while threading pristine forehand barrels relegating current ASP World No. 2 Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, and fellow Hawaiian Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 25, to Round 2.

“This is a great event to come back to,” Patacchia said. “I love coming to Tavarua and I’ve been coming here since I was about 15 years old. My ankle is feeling decent. I’ve got it wrapped and braced and was looking for barrels out there because my turns aren’t really where I want them to be right now. It’s looking like it’s going to be about barrels and that’s what I’m looking for. We didn’t have a whole lot of swell before the event, so I didn’t get much practice, but I’m stoked to get the win.”

Damien Hobgood (USA), 33, two time winner in Fiji (2004, 2006), was deadly in the technical barrels at Cloudbreak today, beating two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, and wildcard Alex Grey (USA), 26, in a high-scoring Round 1 affair.

“Mick’s a great competitor and I knew it was going to be tough,” Hobgood said. “I was nervous before heat and just got it rolling right at the start. Towards the end, I creased my board, but I knew I couldn’t leave Mick in the lineup with priority. I saw him get the 6 and knew I couldn’t give him a good wave. I knew I’d have to make him earn it.”

Kai Otton (AUS), 33, current ASP No. 12, contributed to the day’s goofy-footed dominance, besting 2012 Volcom Fiji Pro runner-up Gabriel Medina (BRA), 19, and dangerous Hawaiian Dusty Payne (HAW), 24, compliments of two deep forehand barrels.

“I haven’t had many trips here so I came early with Taj (Burrow) and got the best Cloudbreak I’ve ever had,” Otton said. “I was on such a high and then all week I had the worst free-surfs. I haven’t been able to get a wave and I got pounded really bad on one wave, but then it all came together in that heat. It’s been really fun here. It’s a great place and the hospitality is amazing.”

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 32, reigning ASP World Champion and current ASP WCT No. 8, was absent from today’s Round 1 of competition, the result of an ill-advised decision to embark on a fishing expedition in the early hours of the morning before the call was made.

“I was 100% convinced last night that the contest would be off today so we went fishing early this morning,” Parkinson said. “There is so much good surf coming in the contest window that I thought there was no way we’d be surfing so we grabbed the fishing rods and took off down the coast in the boat. But the swell filled in a little early and the conditions at Cloudbreak were so good they had no choice but to run. There’s no way you walk away from waves that good. I was out of phone range and by the time the contest was called on I was too far away to make it back because I was in the third heat of the morning.”

Parkinson will surf against Dusty Payne (HAW), 24, in Round 2 of competition.

“I was pretty bummed to miss the heat, but I was even more bummed that I missed out on waves like that,” Parkinson said. “That was pretty perfect Cloudbreak. There were some absolute bombs out there and the boys got tubed out of their brains all day. But I guess you’ve got to be philosophical about it. You’re never too old to learn a lesson and I’ll definitely pull back a bit on the fishing during events. I definitely won’t be fishing tomorrow morning! The upside I suppose is that I get to surf an extra heat and the forecast for the rest of the event is looking insane.”

Kelly Slater (USA), 41, 11-time ASP World Champion and current ASP WCT No. 4, was another notable absentee from Round 1 today. Slater opted to remain in Florida for the birth of his nephew, but is en route to arrive before Round 2 of competition.

When competition resumes, up first will be Jeremy Flores (FRA), 25, Nat Young (USA), 21, and Kolohe Andino (USA), 19, in Heat 11 of Round 1.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am local time to assess conditions for a possible 8am start to Volcom Fiji Pro Round 2.

The Volcom Fiji Pro holds a waiting period from June 4-14 and is webcast LIVE via www.volcomfijipro.com

VOLCOM FIJI PRO ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Fred Patacchia (HAW) 15.20, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 14.50, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.00
Heat 2: Travis Logie (ZAF) 10.06, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 6.67, Taj Burrow (AUS) 4.90
Heat 3: Heitor Alves (BRA) 18.63, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.33, Joel Parkinson (AUS) ns
Heat 4: Mitch Coleborn (AUS) 19.33, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 6.60, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 5.77
Heat 5: Damien Hobgood (USA) 17.47, Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.23, Alex Grey (AUS) 6.23
Heat 6: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.00, Aca Lalabalavu (FIJ) 8.50, Kelly Slater (USA) ns
Heat 7: Kai Otton (AUS) 17.43, Dusty Payne (HAW) 14.36, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 7.96
Heat 8: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.57, Julian Wilson (AUS) 8.50, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 7.60
Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS) 17.66, Adam Melling (AUS) 13.36, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.27
Heat 10: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.34, Glenn Hall (IRL) 13.67, Michel Bourez (PYF) 10.63