In the best result of his career to date tour rookie Tim Reyes (USA) was over the moon with his third placing giving all recognition to Slater for such a commanding performance
Showing heart all the way through the event, Reyes’s fluid surfing turned many heads and no doubt his fellow competitors will be looking over their shoulders when the tour shifts to Japan for the next event.
“This is the best result in my career so I’m really stoked,” said a beaming Reyes. “I’m also really happy to have come here and surfed the waves that I’ve always dreamed about since I was a kid and I also broke the curse I had on me that made me go out of events in the early rounds. I had so much fun and since Kelly beat me I hope he goes on to win the contest. Kelly is my favourite surfer and I know I nearly could’ve had him if he didn’t catch that last wave. But I’ll gracefully lose to him.”
Equal third place getter and local South African hero Greg Emslie also achieved a career best and right throughout the final day had full crowd support as he knocked over big guns Taylor Knox (USA) and Joel Parkinson (AUS).
“I stuck to my game plan the whole way through which was to be relaxed, have fun out there and take it to the guys,” he said. “I drew some tough competitors and I’m really happy with some of my heats. It felt like an iron man event due to the conditions. You have a good wave, you surf your heart out, kick out and then there’s like four massive sets washing through behind and you’ve got a long paddle back out.
“I’m very happy with the result, I think I learnt a lot in this event just about surfing heats the way I want to surf heats so I’m definitely going to take the knowledge into the next event.”
Earlier in the day, as the contest progressed from round four onwards, their were numerous sterling performances with Joel Parkinson (AUS) being one of the standouts.
Parkinson defeated Dean Morrison (AUS) in round four executing an incredibly difficult carving 360 degree turn. Falling to Emslie in the quarter finals Parkinson is now ranked fifth and is still in touch with the front runners
Final day results:
Round four:
Heat 1: Luke Stedman(AUS) 14.00, def Luke Egan (AUS) 10.84 Heat 2: Tim Reyes ((USA) 15.33, def Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 6.20 Heat 3: Bede Durbidge(AUS) 16.17, def Lee Winkler (AUS) 9.60 Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.30, def Jake Paterson (AUS) 15.50 Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW) 16.50, def Bruce Irons (HAW) 13.50 Heat 6: Raoni Monteiro (BRZ) 15.13, def Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 13.16 Heat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.17, def Dean Morrison (AUS) 9.50 Heat 8: Greg Emslie (ZAF)16.00, def Taylor Knox (USA) 15.73
Quarter finals:
Heat 1: Tim Reyes ((USA) 17.50, def Luke Stedman(AUS)14.34 Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.50, def Bede Durbidge(AUS)14.33 Heat 3: Andy Irons (HAW)15.67, def Raoni Monteiro (BRZ)9.16 Heat 4: Greg Emslie (ZAF)14.83, def Joel Parkinson (AUS)9.67
Semi finals:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA)17.33, def Tim Reyes ((USA) 13.83 Heat 2: Andy Irons (HAW) 15.67, def Greg Emslie (ZAF)11.00
Final:
Kelly Slater (USA)16.83, def Andy Irons (HAW)16,56
Top 10 Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour ratings:
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 5342 2. Andy Irons (HAW) 4596 3. Trent Munro (AUS) 4286 4. Mick Fanning (AUS) 4230 5. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 3732 6. Fred Patacchia (HAW) 3628 7. Phil MacDonald (AUS) 3599 8. Cory Lopez (USA) 3575 9. CJ Hobgood (USA) 3546 10. Nathan Hedge (AUS) 3443
