Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Day 4

SURF: 2-3 feet and a little better
EVENTS HELD: Men’s Round 3, Heats 11-16 and Round 4, Heats 1 and 2.
NATURE’S CALL: Could be good tomorrow
PREDICTED: Mick’s still the man to beat, but Kelly or Andy would be the one to do it.

“I will believe it when I see it.” Andy Irons after hearing that Kelly Slater won’t be going to Bells

Today was the Andy/Kelly show and it brought back nostalgia for the days of 2003 and 2005 when it used to be like that every contest. In slightly improved Snapper, they posted the top two high wave and heat scores and to put a little fear into hearts of Mick, Joel, Taj and Bede and Aussie homers everywhere. What happens tomorrow, when Kelly and Andy likely face off against each other in the quarters, is anyone’s guess, but it could be one for the ages. Just think, considering Kelly’s pronouncement today that he’s skipping the next event, it could potentially be the last time he and longtime nemesis go mano a mano.

For it to go down, Kelly will have to get by Adriano De Souza. That shouldn’t be a big deal though, considering how easily he dusted off another Brazilian, Heitor Alves, in his heat. Andy, meanwhile, will go against Kai Otton, one of the last two remaining goofyfooters left in the contest.

The combined 11 time world champs surfed incredibly well today. Kelly started out on a Merrick Flyer and went nuts, but felt it was too “squirrelly” and switched to a more standard thruster midway through his heat. Andy, for his part, gave Ben Bourgeois a heavy licking. In his last two heats, Andy’s surfed better than he did in 90% of the events last year. Uh, oh.

But if the Aussies are going down, it ain’t going to be quietly. Parko and Bede were the only heavy hitters to surf today and both cruised. Look for Mick and Taj to have easy Round 4 heats in the morning as well. After that, it could get gnarly. How about Bede/Joel, Jordy/Mick, Taj/Jeremy and Andy/Kelly as quarterfinal match ups? None of this is guaranteed except Bede/Joel, but chances are good it will shake down like that. If the swell, as expected, pulses a little overnight and shifts to a more favorable direction, it’s gonna be sick.

Kai Otton is one of only two goofys left in the event

COMPLETE ROUND 3 RESULTS:
(1st advances to Round 4; 2nd finishes =17th)
Heat #1: Bede Durbidge def. Kieren Perrow
Heat #2: Ben Dunn def. Tom Whitaker
Heat #3: Taylor Knox def. Dayyan Neve
Heat #4: Joel Parkinson def. Roy Powers
Heat #5: Dean Morrison def. Dane Reynolds
Heat #6: Jordy Smith def. Bobby Martinez
Heat #7: Leonardo Neves def. Neco Padaratz
Heat #8: Mick Fanning def. Julian Wilson
Heat #9: Taj Burrow def. Mikael Picon
Heat #10: Adrian Buchan def. Bruce Irons
Heat #11: Jeremy Flores def. Jay Thompson
Heat #12: Tim Reyes def. CJ Hobgood
Heat #13: Kelly Slater def. Heitor Alves
Heat #14: Adriano de Souza def. Luke Stedman
Heat #15: Andy Irons def. Ben Bourgeois
Heat #16: Kai Otton def. Luke Munro

COMPLETED ROUND 4 HEATS:
(1st advances to Quarters; 2nd finishes =9th)
Heat #1: Bede Durbidge def. Ben Dunn
Heat #2: Joel Parkinson def. Taylor Knox

REMAINING ROUND 4 HEATS:
Heat #3: Dean Morrison v. Jordy Smith
Heat #4: Mick Fanning v. Leonardo Neves
Heat #5: Taj Burrow v. Adrian Buchan
Heat #6: Jeremy Flores v. Tim Reyes
Heat #7: Kelly Slater v. Adriano de Souza
Heat #8: Andy Irons v. Kai Otton

 

		THE BEST WAVES! THE BEST SURFERS! THE BEST PHOTOS! AND NOW THE BEST DEAL: SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND GET 1 YEAR OF SURFING MAGAZINE FOR ONLY $12.00! Take advantage of this special offer-act now! GIVE A GIFT
				Email: First Name: Last Name: Address Line 1: Address Line 2: City: State: Zip: Select a payment option: Charge my credit card Bill me later Do you have a promotional coupon code? Enter Code: Please send me special offers and exclusive promotions from Surfing's premiere partners.