Round 3 Highlights - 2010 Quiksilver Pro Australia
In pumping 2m waves at the famous Gold Coast point-break, two-time world champion Fanning got off to a flying start in his Round 3 heat against American rookie Brett Simpson, opening with a solid 6.67 before unloading with an excellent 9.07 ride. The man known as White Lightening, held the lead from start to finish, his combined two-wave score of 15.74 more than enough to fend off a late challenge from Simpson, who finished with 10.43. Not to be outdone, Parkinson mixed his typically stylish carves with some notoriously difficult `behind-the-rock’ barrels to punt highly touted Hawaiian rookie Dusty Payne. The defending Quiksilver Pro champion and current world no.2, whose 2009 campaign was derailed by an ankle injury, was a man on a mission as he posted 8.10 and 8.53 scoring rides to surge to a combined total of 16.63.
Payne put up a good fight, with a 12.20, but was obviously outclassed by the experienced 28-year-old father of two. Parkinson is more determined than ever to win the world title this season after now finishing runner-up three times in his career. v Frenchman Jeremy Flores was bundled out of the Quiksilver Pro presented Land Rover at Snapper Rocks today, after incurring an ankle injury in his Round 3 showdown against USA’s Dane Reynolds. Flores landing awkwardly on his heel in the opening minutes of the 30-minute heat to be on the back foot for the majority of the tightly fought exchange.
Bede Durbidge (AUS), 27, current ASP World No. 3, proved the form surfer of the day, posting a near-perfect 19.30 out of a possible 20, to dispatch of Luke Munro (AUS), 27, in their Round 3 bout. Durbidge blended deep tube rides with progressive forehand gaffs en route to his emphatic victory, even posting the day's highest single wave score of a 9.93 out of a possible 10.
Nine times world champion Kelly Slater (USA) is on track for his third Quiksilver Pro crown after disposing of 2010 rookie Pat Gudauskas (USA) in their Round 3 heat at Snapper Rocks yesterday. World no.6 Slater, who won the season-opening Gold Coast event in both 2006 and 2008, schooled his young opponent at the famed point break, registering a 7.77 and 7.60 to finish with a heat winning 15.37 combination.
Post your comment