2004 BOOST MOBILE PRO: FINAL DAY

Parko pulls up another chair. PHOTO: ASPWORLDTOUR.COM/TOSTEE

Surf: Mondo super- chunk wind- coping. 4-6' brown-green juice, go second one, always cleaner. Where was the OCC?
Events held: Quarters through the final countdown.
Nature's call: P.O.R.K.O: Power lines outdo radical Kelly outpouring
Predicted: SURFING editor Evan Slater reports on the Quik Pro France, when not experiencing his own mind bending sessions aboard a trippy five- finned bonzer.

"We were talking and laughing out there, just happy with this position we have in life, and to be lucking into some waves." Kelly Slater shares all this with a honest-to-goodness smile upon his face, a soulful gesture considering that he's just lost his first 'CT final of the season, and that to a lanky kid with a funny nickname. "Go, the Pork!" blare good mates "Hedgy" and "Brooko" hoisting their pal far above the cobbles, handing up a handy tall can of piss, all exerting attitude maybe comparable to those exerted backstage an AC/DC concert at some grimy soccer stadium circa '75.

Joel Parko -- Porko -- certainly appears to be taking (and rubbing) it all in. Rubbing shoulders up against his victim as the media melee sets in, says the victor, " I grew up watching the videos of him here, back when he won the Bud Pro Tour event." And it would seem both our two finalists are handling themselves very well. But are they? Or does Parko know something we don't know? Because with seconds remaining, with Slates needing a mere 6.77 ride, how in the world did he fail to make it to his feet on the initial takeoff? Kelly Slater does not belly-board waves on the drop! That is, unless a surfer might subtly place himself in his direct path, causing him to be caught behind, missing a chance at a first big move. (Something of which a sly, young Australian should not be unexpected.)

But that's only speculation. The real fact is that Joel Parkinson has absolutely blown doors on the competition to snag his second clear win this season. He surfs like a modern day 'wounded gull', with huge, sweeping turns a must. He's like the yin to Slater's aggressive, gymnastic yang. He soundly beat Luke Egan in true chunky juice all while the latter went full Bunyip. And while Kelly ripped full throttle all week, Parkinson looked to hardly break a sweat.

Still, we all know Slates is the showman. Heading for two comps in Europe, his inverted maneuvers and competitive mind look truly ready to thrive. And CJ Hobgood, though he had a shocker in the quarters here, is obviously licking his chops. Parko, CJ and Kelly -- these aquatic carv-nivores are never full. They have tactics and they keep their cards close. The question is who will slip up next, and worst. " Should we all do well in Europe, we'll have a real race on our hands." That's how Slates is playing it. The level will and must go up, up. Who will be left soft? And how will Andy answer all of this? It's all a funny game. Someone will have to win, and the others will get chopped.-- Hagan Kelley

Boost Mobile Pro of Surf Presented by Quiksilver
1st Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.17 – US$30,000
2nd Kelly Slater (USA) 13.63 – US$16,000

Semifinals (1st>Final; 2nd=3rd receives US$10,000)
SF1: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.77 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 14.24
SF2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.16 def. Luke Egan (AUS) 13.84

Quarterfinals (1st>Semifinals; 2nd=5th receives US$8,000)
QF1: Cory Lopez (USA) 13.53 def. Danny Wills (AUS) 10.17
QF2: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.34 def. Darren O'Rafferty (AUS) 10.4
QF3: Luke Egan (AUS) 15.17 def. CJ Hobgood (USA) 8.67
QF4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.6 def. Nathan Hedge (AUS) 8.1

Official ASP Ratings after WCT#7/11
1. Andy Irons (HAW) 6,036-points
2. CJ Hobgood (USA) 5,376
3. Kelly Slater (USA) 5,316
4. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5,208
5. Nathan Hedge (AUS) 4,644
6. Damien Hobgood (USA) 4,392
7. Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 4,356
8. Luke Egan (AUS) 4,308
9. Jake Paterson (AUS) 4,296
10. Danny Wills (AUS) 4,104

 

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