THE 2003 QUIKSILVER PRO FIJI DAY TEN

Quarterfinalist Shea Lopez finds another keeper at Cloudbreak. PHOTO: ASPWORLDTOUR.COM/TOSTEE

For the final against Lopez, who earned a measure of revenge by turning the tables from last year on Lowey in the semifinals, Andy closed the deal within the first ten minutes of the thirty-five minute heat. Lopez wrongly chose the first wave of a set in the opening stanza, and Andy pig-dogged two heaving sections for a perfect score. The champ grabbed an insider for a backup of nine points, and the ocean nodded off for the rest of the heat, never allowing Lopez a chance.

Prior to this event, the year was shaping up to be an Irons/Slater dogfight, with a supporting cast slipstreaming within striking distance. But with Slater out with two broken bones in his foot, Andy turned a tie for the ratings lead into a 600-point-plus advantage. Slater's presence at the next event, the Quiksilver Pro Japan in two weeks, remains questionable. And at this point, even Kelly will be hard pressed to slow the Irons onslaught. Andy, for one, doesn't seem worried. Straight after the final, quarterfinalist Chris Davidson offered his sincere congratulations, adding that "K-Boy wouldn't even have touched you in this one." To that, Andy snapped back, "Oh, f---k no. Bring him on."-- Jason Borte

RESULTS QUIKSILVER PRO FIJI
FINAL
Andy Irons 19; Cory Lopez 13.83
SEMIFINALS
Heat 1: Andy Irons 16.83; Kieren Perrow 14.67
Heat 2: Cory Lopez 14.83; Michael Lowe 12.43
QUARTERFINALS
Heat 1: Kieren Perrow 16.97; Mick Fanning 16.40
Heat 2: Andy Irons 17.07; Shane Powell 13.77
Heat 3: Michael Lowe 17.73; Shea Lopez 14.17
Heat 4: Cory Lopez 15.24; Chris Davidson 12.30

RATING AFTER FOUR EVENTS
1. Andy Irons 3600
2. Mick Fanning 2964
3. Kieren Perrow 2940
4. Joel Parkinson 2724
4. Taj Burrow 2724
4. Cory Lopez 2724
7. Kelly Slater 2688
8. C.J. Hobgood 2676
9. Dean Morrison 2640
10. Shea Lopez 2424

 

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