2009 ASP World Qualifying Series rankings following the 6 Star Coca Cola Pro

jadson-andre

As the 6 Star Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing is up and running this week, we’re now clearly in the back half of the season. Three more WQS events down and we’ve seen more movement amongst the front-runners. This latest update is all about Brazil. Brazilians won the two back to back 6 Star events, with 15 year old Gabriel Medina taking the 6 Star Maresia Surf International in Santa Catarina, Brazil, followed by Neco Padaratz’s triumphant return when he took the 6 Star Coca Cola Pro in Saquarema, … [Read more...]

2009 ASP World Tour rankings following Slater’s win in Brazil

joel-parkinson-brazil-pensive

While we're all still basking in the glow of King Kelly Slater's return to form at the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro, little attention has been paid to some of the other movers and shakers on the 2009 World Tour.  Following Slater's triumphant return in Brazil, the rankings have shaken up a bit. For starters, let's take a look at the front ten.  Joel Parkinson (AUS) still sits comfortably in front, at number one in the rankings, with a slightly diminished point lead after his solid equal third … [Read more...]

Kelly Slater returns to form, wins 2009 Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro

Just as I called it a few days back, Kelly Slater has indeed returned and has taken the win at the 2009 Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro.  He stumbled a bit at the start of the event, placing second in his first round heat on a borrowed board, and fell several times, though still snuck by local wildcard Bernardo Miranda on a self-shaped asymetrical quad in round two.  After reverting to his older equipment for round three, he built a winning momentum that increased with each successive heat. Rounds … [Read more...]

How can you not love a Brazilian lay day?

We've now had two lay days in a row at the 2009 Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro and everyone's waiting for the action to resume.  During this downtime, I think it's important to address what has often been the most complained about stop on the World Tour. I've heard tons of complaints from the world's best surfers over the years about the waves on the Brazil leg of the World Tour.  Last year, nearly all of the tour front-runners opted out of the event, when Kelly Slater had effectively ended the … [Read more...]

Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro – Kelly Slater is back!

kelly-slater-hang-loose-pro-day-2

Well, at least Slater's back on track for not taking home less than a 17th at the 2009 Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro, which just wrapped up day 2 at Praia Da Vila in Imbituba, Brazil.  Slater saw his second heat of the event on Sunday, winning his Round 2 "loser's round" heat over local Brazilian talent, Bernardo Miranda, by sticking an 8.17 on a fly away frontside 360 reverse.  While he failed to back it up with an other major score,  Bernardo's two mid-range scores fell short.  Though it still … [Read more...]

Jihad Khodr reloaded

Jihad

I ended 2008 with an anti-Jihad Khodr rant, and started 2009 with a similar thread, but something is going on with the unusually named Brazilian. Though his appearance on the World Tour his freshman year was anything but exciting, Jihad went down swinging in 2008. Towards the end of the year he had requalified for the World Tour through pulling double-duty on the World Qualifying Series, and he put on a hell of a strong finish in the first event of the 2008 Triple Crown. He amazingly fought his … [Read more...]

Hang Loose Pro, Fernando de Noronha – Finals recap

hang-loose-pro6

The 2009 Hang Loose Pro has wrapped up on Sunday on the beautiful island of Fernando de Noronha, crowning Brazilian charger and World Tour giant killer, Bruno Santos as the winner.  The 5 star event concluded in head high to overhead crystal clear barrels, making for an exciting end to the competition. Bruno's path to victory began in Round 1, where he finished second in his all Brazilian heat to Bernardo Miranda, ousting Rafael Venuto and Raimar Sousa.  He proceeded to win his Round 2 heat, … [Read more...]

Hang Loose Pro, Fernando de Noronha – Friday lay day

hang-loose-pro5

Day 5 of the 2009 Hang Loose Pro on Fernando de Noronha was called a lay day due to smaller waves and onshore winds, allowing the surfers who descended on the tropical paradise a day off to relax and take in the island. The 5 star event completed all of Rounds 3 and 4 on Thursday, setting up the final eight surfers who are ready to face off in the Quarterfinal heats. The all Brazilian Quarterfinals includes a stacked heat of former World Tour surfers and serious WQS campaigners.  When competition … [Read more...]

Hang Loose Pro, Fernando de Noronha – Thursday recap

hang-loose-pro4

Day 4 of the 2009 Hang Loose Pro on Fernando de Noronha. The 5 star event blew through all Round 3 and Round 4 heats on Thursday, setting up the final eight surfers for the Quarterfinal heats. The contest was blessed with yet another day of overhead, crystal clear barrels, making for another exciting day of competition. All of the international surfers have now been eliminated from the event. American, Darrell Goodrum was the last standout, before falling to Leonardo Neves in Round 4. The only … [Read more...]

Hang Loose Pro, Fernando de Noronha – Wednesday recap

hang-loose-pro3

Day 3 of the 2009 Hang Loose Pro on Fernando de Noronha finally managed a timely start on Wednesday, running through the final two heats of Round 1 and all heats of Round 2. Brazilians turned out en masse to take on any internationals challengers, while a few international campaigners have shown up to try to lay claim to some of those big points on offer in this 5 star event. Chile’s Manuel Selman, the only international competitor left in Wednesday’s Round 1 heats, managed to surf his way … [Read more...]