JULIAN WILSON WINS ASP PRIME QUIKSILVER PRO PORTUGAL

June 19, 2011 19:01:57

Julian Wilson (Sunshine Coast, AUS) 22, has won the ASP PRIME Quiksilver Pro Portugal defeating Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17, in a much anticipated matchup between the two inform surfers of the event, 19.37 to 12.83. A near perfect performance from Wilson left no chance for his younger opponent to build a challenge in excellent 4-5ft (1.2m) wrapping right-handers at the main event site of Ribera D’Ilhas.

Wilson looked ominous heading into the final with his momentum and confidence growing with each heat appearance. Repeating his semi-final game plan, Wilson racked up two excellent scores in the opening minutes to place all the pressure on his opponent.

“I am so happy. To put in the hard yards for this one has been unreal. I have had a mediocre start to my year and I have been working so hard to make some heats. I came off four weeks in Brazil without a strong result and I went home to reassess and do a bit of training and got really motivated. I flew over here by myself with just the goal of winning and stayed focused so it worked out.”

Wilson left his best surfing for the final with an impressive mix of fins-out snaps, floaters and power rail-turns to further his lead with a near perfect 9.8 out of 10, the highest single-wave score of the event. To finish off, Wilson hooked into another bomb set to continue his dominance to claim a 9.57 and take the Quiksilver Pro Portugal 2011 title.

“I felt good right from the start when in my first heat of the contest I had a 9 and an 8 and I felt comfortable out there. I never went too much out of my comfort zone and just surfed strong and made sure I was winning heats because I wanted to win this event. I was going to do whatever it took to do it.”

“The waves have been fun all week,” continued Wilson. “I have been surprised at the waves we got because everyone was saying at this time of year it would be small. We have scored with waves, weather, the people are really supportive and you can tell they really love watching surfing. I think it’s cool when they get right behind us.”

Gabriel Medina finished runner-up and added another great result to his already excellent season and continues on course to enter the elite ASP World Tour when the midyear cut takes place. Medina showed signs of repeating his recent PRIME victory in Brazil as he cruised through his quarter and semi-final with numerous excellent scores to take on the role as favourite. The backhand approach of Medina was sharp and fast on the long peeling right-handers with savage hooks in the most critical sections of the wave.

“I could not find a good one in the final but I am happy with this result. Julian got two 9’s in the final and he surfed really well so congratulations to him. Now I head to my next event in a couple of weeks in Ballito, South Africa and I hope I can do well there like I have done here.”

Miguel Pupo (BRA) 19, in semi nº2, was unable to hold back a rampaging Julian Wilson who got off to a lightening quick start to rack up two excellent scoring rides and put the young Brazilian on the ropes. Despite answering back with a combination of backhand gouges to score 7.87 out of 10, Pupo was left needing a near perfect score to oust the Australian.

“It is a good result but I wanted to make the final. Julian (Wilson) had a quick start and then I was trying to get a good wave but it was bad luck for me. I caught a pretty good one but I fell on the second turn. You never know when the good wave is going to come and Julian did his job well. It is time now to think about the mistakes and go for the next contest.”

Pupo has added to his best results of the year to take one step close to qualifying for the elite ASP World Tour. The added points will edge Pupo higher on the rankings to distance him from the 32-man cut-off mark and place him securely amongst the world’s best surfers.

“I was not feeling that good at the beginning of the comp and I was nervous because I needed a result here and now with a 3rd I am happy. My win in Trestles was a good result and a 3rd right now. A couple more results and I will be on the World Tour.”

John John Florence (HAW) finished equal 3rd to receive 4225 ranking points, almost double his previous best result in the last twelve months, to catapult him up the rankings ladder where he was sitting in a low 79th spot before the Quiksilver Pro Portugal.

Florence faced Medina in a classic semi-final clash between the two flamboyant surfers of the event after incredible displays by both athletes in their respective quarterfinal bouts. Florence, in quarterfinal nº2, earned a near perfect 9.70 out of 10 with a massive hack followed by a fins-out forehand reverse demonstrating that he is fully recovered from a back injury suffered earlier this year.

“I was hoping just to make a heat,” explained Florence of his objectives at the Quiksilver Pro Portugal. “I haven’t made a heat in the last couple of contests so I am stoked to make it this far.

Definitely a lot more confidence after this contest and it would have been good to make the final but the semis is cool. It is a fun wave and stoked to be here in Portugal. Gabriel (Medina) is so amazing. He is such a good surfer and is a contest machine because he is in such good form and doing the same as he did last week in Brazil.”

Dion Atkinson (AUS) who suffered a knee injury in his final heat yesterday, placed equal 5th being ousted by Miguel Pupo in a close heat despite the injury. Being his second best result of 8 which count for the ASP World rankings, Atkinson currently in 45th position will move closer to the 32-man cut-off mark.

“I am pleased with the result but I almost didn’t surf today because of my knee but I thought that I would give it a go. It is my back leg as well so I couldn’t get and drive in my turns. I am going home now for a couple of weeks and will get it checked out.”

The ASP PRIME Quiksilver Pro Portugal offered massive points and attracted a selection of the World’s finest competitors looking to qualify or maintain their position on the ASP World Tour. European surfers were also out to gain the added points on offer for the ASP European Men’s Series.

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Quiksilver Pro Portugal Day 5 Photos!

18 June, 2011 : - - Ribeira d’ilhas, Ericeira — The new generation of up-and-comers on the ASP World Rankings stormed into the Quarterfinals at the ASP PRIME Quiksilver Pro Portugal with dominating performances in tough wind affected 3-4ft waves at the main event site of Ribera D’Ilhas.

Miguel Pupo (BRA) 19, who is currently nº30 on the ASP World Rankings and inside the midyear 32-man cut-off, came home late on his final wave to leap straight into the Quarterfinals with a combination of backhand snaps in the pocket in the final moments of his 30-minute clash.

“My wave was just perfect and it went all the way through to the inside. This is an important contest with the points here and I am happy with my ranking at the moment. I got a good chance to go up the rankings and I want to take my chance.” Pupo, one of the most explosive and innovative surfers on the planet, recognises the emergence of future talent in the sport of surfing and is satisfied to be part of the new school coming through.

“The young guys have been on fire the whole event and we had good results last week in the previous PRIME contest. There are plenty of young guys coming up and you can see that they are pretty strong and good surfers and they will go through for sure.”

John John Florence (HAW) 17, put on another relaxed performance on the tricky right-handers with huge hits in the critical sections mixed with top-to-bottom rail carves to claim a two-wave combined total of 16.67 out of 20. Low tide conditions meant a shifting peak which added to the importance of wave selection to locate the potentially higher scoring waves.

“I got lucky to find a good one and I am so stoked to surf the quarters. I found those two super clean perfect ones right at the start of the heat and it is so hard to find a good one out there. I am so stoked because everyone is such good surfers and to go straight to the quarters is just luck of the draw really.”

Florence, ranked nº79 in the world, is back after suffering a serious back injury while surfing his favourite wave, the notorious Banzai Pipeline. The same location where he achieved an ASP 5-Star tour victory earlier this year. This result is guaranteed to catapult Florence up the rankings list as the midyear cut approaches.

“It is my best result for a while. I hurt my back at Pipe when the lip hit me and I was out for about two months but I have come back and all is going well.”

Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17, was the first competitor to qualify for the quarterfinals with an amazing display of sharp crisp snaps in extremely tricky conditions early this morning. Medina made it look easy as he flowed from turn to turn on the wind affected wave faces and built on his wave totals to finish with a combined total of 15.67 out of 20

“I am so happy right now and I am going to get really good points now with this result. I am trying to have fun in each heat but it is hard to compete against these guys. I want to do my best in this contest for sure. I feel confident at the moment but I am not thinking about winning this contest so hopefully I can do even better.”

Pat Gudauskas (San Clemente, USA) 25, after having a shocker in the ‘No Losers’ round, came back with a strong performance to oust a determined Junior Faria (BRA) and claimed his best PRIME event result for 2011. Currently bordering on the 32-man cut-off mark, the guaranteed equal 5th placing and 3120 valuable ranking points at the Quiksilver Pro Portugal is a welcomed result so close to the midyear mark.

“It is exciting now. It is definitely my best result in the PRIMES this year. I’m stoked and I think I am in a good heat tomorrow with John John Florence so I will just take it one heat at a time from now on and hopefully get through a couple more.”

Gudauskas changed his game plan in Round 5 and kept busy looking for waves and sections to hit. His final wave of 8.50 out of 10 secured a solid win and added much needed confidence heading in to the final day of the official waiting period of the Quiksilver Pro Portugal.

“You just never know which waves are going to turn into a good one and this morning I was waiting for a good one and watching Junior (Faria) he sort of had that strategy in this heat. He was sitting a little too deep and waiting a little more so I was trying to ride waves and let my surfing do the talking because you never know which are going to be the good ones.”

Dark horse Jay Quinn (Gisbourne, NZL) 27, for the second consecutive day, stormed through his heat to head directly into the Quarterfinals with a power packed 16.97 out of 20 heat total, the highest of the day. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 23, and Julian Wilson (AUS) 22, advanced also to the final 8 surfers despite having to surf Round 5. Both ASP World Tour members, after having failed in Round 4, came back to give commanding shows with their trademark forehand attacks in the improving afternoon conditions.

The ASP PRIME Quiksilver Pro Portugal offers massive points and has attracted a selection of the World’s finest competitors looking to qualify or maintain their position on the ASP World Tour. European surfers are also out to gain the added points on offer for the ASP European Men’s Series.

The Quiksilver Pro Portugal will make a first call at 10am local time for quarterfinal nº1 with Gabriel Medina (BRA) up against event top seed Jeremy Flores (FRA) and continue through to the crowning of this year’s champion.

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Quiksilver Day 4 video highlights

INCREDIBLE SURFING AND HIGH SCORES CONTINUE

June 17, 2011 18:24:01

The ASP PRIME Quiksilver Pro Portugal held another day of incredible surfing as Round Three of competition was completed leaving 12 surfers in contention for the Quiksilver Pro Portugal 2011 title. Messy swell lines made for tricky conditions which improved on the incoming tide with many tight encounters at the main event site of Ribera D’Ilhas.

The ASP PRIME Quiksilver Pro Portugal offers massive points and has attracted a selection of the World’s finest competitors looking to qualify or maintain their position on the ASP World Tour. European surfers are also out to gain the added points on offer for the ASP European Men’s Series.

Jay Quinn (Gisbourne, NZL) 27, ignited with an explosive display of controlled power surfing with intense forehand snaps and carves to claim a massive combined two-wave heat total of 18.10 to oust Quiksilver Pro Portugal defending champion Hodei Collazo (Zarautz,EUK) 27.

“I feel pretty good after that heat and just opened up with that 6 to get my feet on the board and then I just took it from there and it all fell into place. I was well positioned and Hodei (Collazo) was sitting a bit too wide so I ended up getting a couple of good ones.”

Quinn, a finalist earlier this year in the ASP 6-Star in Scotland, looked for the critical sections to perform his turns on one of his favourite boards that has already taken him to one final.

“I am on the same board I used in Scotland to get to the final so it is going good. There are a few more heats to go before I have to start thinking about finals. First I want to make the quarters and then take it from there.”

Caio Ibelli (Guaruja Sao Paulo, BRA) 17, destroyed a long right-hander with a mix of critical snaps and flowing rail turns in the opening minute of his heat to kick off with a 9.10 out of 10 one of the highest single scores of the day.

“I am so stoked that I found a really good wave in the first minute with a 9.10 ride. I tried to get a good one when the heat started and that happened for me. The waves are good and fun now and I want to keep going.”

Ibelli had to fight off an inform Alain Riou (PYF) 27, who answered back with an excellent 8.10 to leave him within striking distance of the young Brazilian. Riou threw down the challenge with his precise backhand attack however failed narrowly to peg back his opponent.

“I didn’t listen too much to the scores,” explained Ibelli. “I heard my scores and then I went out to catch a backup wave and I got a 6 and then nothing after that but Alain (Riou) surfed very well and the pressure was on in the heat.”

Ibelli, who is sitting low on the ASP World rankings in position nº141, has secured his best result in an ASP PRIME event and will face fellow up-and-comer Miguel Pupo (BRA) 19, and Davey Cathels (AUS) 20, in the following round.

“In the PRIMES this is my best result for sure to make it to the No Loser round. Last year I got a 3rd place in a 6-Star and I want to do better than that here if possible.”

John John Florence (HAW) 17, pulled off a pair of savage hits in a relaxed display against Brandon Jackson (ZAF) to claim an 8.67 out of 10 and a combined two-wave heat total of 16.27 one of the highest of the day.

“I was super stoked and it was a good wave and I got lucky because you are sitting way up the point now and you can’t tell which ones are going to close out or which ones are going to run through with a bit of a wall. Then when you do get a good one you have to ride it all the way in and then paddle all the way back out again. It is a fun right point and these are the best waves I have had in competition for a while.”

Jeremy Flores (FRA) 23, was pushed all the way by Andre Silva (BRA) 28, with the young Frenchman paddling into his final wave with only seconds remaining and needing a solid score. Flores kept his composure and laid down a combination of snaps and cutbacks finishing with a strong last turn to secure the required score.

“I was behind in the scores the whole heat so I was in second and I needed 6 points and in the last minute I got the wave. It was the only fun wave I got and I thought not to fall off and I got the score so I am happy to make it.”

Junior Faria (Sao Paulo, BRA) 24, currently nº56 on the ASP World rankings, is on a roll with another excellent result in the Quiksilver Pro Portugal to add to an already successful year for the power house natural footer. In a wave starved, low scoring, tactical clash against Heath Joske (Nambucca Heads, AUS) 22, Faria held a slim lead the entire matchup to eventually steer clear with an excellent 7.50 out of ten in the final moments.

“There is a long wait between sets and even when they come it is hard to know which ones are good so it was a matter of patience and looking for the right ones. This is my best year so far and I had a good contest at Trestles and Saquarema so for me it is about making heats and as last year was not a good year for me every heat is going to improve my ranking.

Pat Gudauskas (San Clemente, USA) 25, relied on a series of forehand snaps and carves on his opening ride to take control of a slow heat to oust Travis Logie (ZAF) 32.  Unable to hear scores due to the extreme low tide and wind, Gudauskas kept composed under the situation to find a solid backup ride towards the later end of the clash.

“I didn’t hear until the very end what it was. I was trying to do the math based on what Travis (Logie) needed so I was a little stressed out. It is tricky as it is more north the swell and not so much from the west today so it is hard to pick the ones which are going to hit reef. Also the wind is a bit more onshore so it makes it all a little more challenging but still really good waves out there.”

The Quiksilver Pro Portugal will make a first-call at 09h00 tomorrow for a possible start shortly after to Round Four with Cory Lopez (USA) facing fellow Brazilians Gabriel Medina and Junior Faria.

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Quiksilver Pro Portugal Day 3 Photos are up!

16 June, 2011 : - - Ribeira d’Ilas, Ericeira, Portugal – The ASP PRIME Quiksilver Pro Portugal witnessed an incredible marathon day of performance surfing with elite ASP World Tour member Julian Wilson (Sunshine Coast, AUS) 22, raising the bar in both his appearances.  Round Two of competition was completed late this afternoon in excellent 4-5ft (1.2m) right-handers at the reef point-break of Ribera D’Ilhas.

The ASP PRIME Quiksilver Pro Portugal offers massive points and has attracted a selection of the World’s finest competitors looking to qualify or maintain their position on the ASP World Tour. European surfers are also out to gain the added points on offer for the ASP European Men’s Series.

After being on hold for over three hours early this morning the Quiksilver Pro Portugal was rewarded with signs of a building swell. As the tide dropped out and started to push back in with a pulsing ground swell conditions pumped offering long rippable walls through to night fall.

Wilson, current ASP World nº 30, needed less than 5 minutes from the opening siren in his first heat to hook into two consecutive bombs to amass a combined two-wave total of 17.60 out of 20, the highest of the event. Despite placing second in his second encounter, Wilson still cracked out a 9.23 out of 10 with stunning innovative manoeuvres.

“I actually started third in line on the point,” explained Wilson of his first heat. “I saw that set coming and the guys were deep so I paddled them out as far as I could and turned around to get the first one and that got the ball rolling. Then I lucked into that 9 which I got out in time for. It is really fun out there now because this morning it was about knee high and now it has really pumped.”

Wilson, in his first year on the ASP World Tour, is hovering too close for comfort to the mid-year 32-man cut-off and hopes to get his year going with a big result. The experience gained competing against the world’s best surfers showed during his outstanding campaign opener.

“I have strong results from the end of the year but I am trying to find some results at the start of the year. It is hard coming onto the Tour as a rookie because you are thrown straight into the deep end but that is the way it has to be if you want to beat those guys. I have done all I can to get some momentum going and try and stick it to those guys.”

Hizunome Bettero (Ubatuba, BRA) 25, was able to push Wilson in their late afternoon heat with an opening near perfect 9.5 out of 10 which was built of massive backhand gouges on the bomb of the clash. Backing up with an 8.00 Bettero demonstrated the potential of his surfing in the excellent late conditions.

“I was relaxed out the back and that first wave came all the way through and I could make some good turns so I am so stoked to get that score in such a hard heat. All the guys are surfing great and to make that heat and go through to the man-on-man I am stoked. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 23, held a controlled heat and looked comfortable with the changing swell and tide as he continued to display fast, flowing surf in the wind affected faces during the afternoon.

“Man-on-man is going to be fun and it is definitely what we are used to on the World Tour as we surf like that all the time. So it is going to be interesting and we are going to be on the best waves. There is going to be some high scoring because now we are going into the final days and all the best surfers are ripping so it is really interesting. A PRIME is huge and it is here in Europe and we surf for Europe all year round. We try to do our best and an event in Europe I hope one of us can win it.”

Brandon Jackson (Durban, ZAF) 24, placed second behind Flores to secure a solid result at the Quiksilver Pro Portugal. A series of forehand smashes finished off with a close-out tail-slide earned a 7.83 out of 10 and pushed Billy Stairmand (NZL) into third place and gave a pass into the next round to Jackson.

“I am a big boy so I tried to gun for the big waves and I knew I could hold it on the bumps. Bigger waves and bigger turns to get the good scores. It was a stacked heat and they were all surfing really well but I went out to get my scores without thinking about them. I have had a bad year so far and it is nice to be here in Ericeira with a good right point and getting through some heats. Hopefully I can go out and make a few more.”

Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17, relied on his mix of speed and innovative surfing to secure a comfortable win into the next round. High tide chop and stronger afternoon winds made conditions tougher than those experienced during the morning session of competition.

“It was hard to get the clean turns but I got one good one with an 8 and a 7 so I am stoked to get through and I hope we have some good waves tomorrow too. I feel good and confident and I am trying to stay calm and enjoy the competition which is what I am doing. My board is good and I got it 3 days ago so it is all perfect.”

Richard Christie (NZL) snuck home with a deserved win pulling one huge forehand hack mixed with a series of snaps to pip Aritz Aranburu (EUK) into second place. Both surfers advanced through to Round Three man-on-man heats.

“Winning a heat is so much better than coming second because it does so much for your confidence to keep the roll going and to keep you relaxed. Any contest with over-head waves makes me happy because I am not the smallest fellow.” (laughs)

Christie suffered a broken leg rope early in the 30-minute bout placing added pressure on the powerful natural footer. Fortunately for Christie his board narrowly missed being smashed against the shore line cliffs. “It was my second wave and I was trying to catch this wobbly one on the inside and they were obviously not the ones to get. Then I snapped my leg rope and I swam for it and got it back just before it hit the rocks. It is my favourite board so I was lucky for sure.”

The Quiksilver Pro Portugal will make a first-call tomorrow at 07h30 local time for heat nº1 of Round Three which will see Richard Christie (NZL) up against Cory Lopez (USA).

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