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SLATER AND IRONS SURVIVE IN DAY OF MIXED RESULTS AT BILLABONG PRO, JEFFREYS BAY
Jeffreys Bay, South Africa played host to some of the most spectacular showdowns of the season (if not ever) today when perfect 1.2 to 1.6 metre (4 to 6 foot) waves consistently pumped into the arena offering surfers maximum opportunity to perform.
Before a hugely vocal crowd, results were mixed as number two and three seeds, Trent Munro (AUS) and Mick Fanning (AUS) plus tour stalwart Mark Occhilupo (AUS) were eliminated, while six-time Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour champ Kelly Slater (USA) plus reigning Billabong Pro and three-time tour champ Andy Irons wailed on their opponents to progress to round four.
The early demise of Fanning and Munro could heavily influence the top end of the title ratings, as going into the Billabong Pro, Jeffreys Bay, it was slim pickings amongst the top four (see below).
Slater could now easily begin to build an unassailable lead in the race with an event victory here, while Irons could very quickly throw himself back into title contention if he goes on to claim the stakes.
While the focus out of the water was on the ratings, in the water the standard was red hot and one and all were treated to some blazing displays of searing power and incredibly deep tube riding.
In what could arguably have been one of the best heats of all time, sentimental favourite for the Billabong Pro, Mark Occhilupo (AUS) was a round three casualty, when he was eliminated by in-form Bruce Irons (HAW) in heat 10 of the day.
Due to his impending retirement at the end of 2005 this could be his last showing at his favoured J-Bay and Occy began the heat showing the low-driving power that earned him the moniker “Raging Bull”.
But soon after he looked like he would dominate from go to whoa, his lead was pegged back as Irons mounted an attack of unprecedented proportions posting a total two-wave tally of 18.43 out of 20 against Occy’s 17.83 (a score which would have won most heats during the day).
It was the young gun versus the stalwart in the wave for wave encounter – Occy unleashing his patented backside body-torqueing backside gouges against the smooth frontside tube riding of Irons.
“He has a mental backhand that could easily have won out there,” said an almost relieved Irons playing down the epic encounter. “I just seemed to find the waves that let me sit in the barrel so I didn’t have to do much. I knew that if the wave lined up he would have had the score he needed. I blew it early when I took off on a really bad one and I thought, I’m not going to let that happen again, so I just sat there and waited so that when the best waves came I was onto them.”
In a day of many high points it was a very relaxed Slater who shone again when he fairly easily disposed of South African wildcard Damien Fahrenfort.
Slater who is eyeing his seventh Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour crown really threw down the challenge to all comers as his top to bottom forehand obliteration of waves was phenomenal.
Bursting in to and out of tubes at will, in between some mind blowing rail turns, he really looked in tune with the J-Bay wave and his equipment.
“I was just trying to get the big s-shaped turns on the face and get out the pocket and draw lines on the wave, instead of just surfing on the lip,” said Slater. “I was trying to push my board a bit and see what it does in different sections. I had the lead so I was able to test things a bit.”
Andy Irons, despite his opponent Bernado Pigmeu suffering an ankle injury on his first wave, also really lashed out on the open-faced walls of Jeffreys Bay and his victory, interestingly, will now pit him against his brother Bruce in round four.
“I had a couple of fun waves,” said Irons. “I actually fell a lot and made a couple of mistakes but hopefully I’m warmed up for the next one. I think I can beat Bruce a lot easier than I could’ve beaten Occy. [laughs] Hopefully I’m not biting myself in the ass there but I’m ready for him.”
Lone remaining Brazilian, Raoni Monteiro was another who looked more than at home deep in tube on the famed right hander as he accounted for Australian Nathan Hedge.
“It was no easy heat and I was just trying my best, waiting for the good ones and I got lucky,” said Monteiro. “I tried to do what I did in the heats before – stay out there and wait for two good ones. I’ve been really lucky at J-Bay this year, everything has been working so well. I felt I did everything right, didn’t fall and did a good job.”
