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HURLEY TOUR NOTES: RIO

Txomin — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:07:38 +0000

Hurley put their time to good use whilst in Rio, holding an impromptu Rip My Shred Stick with the kids from the favelas, signed autographs, free surfed and even eventually got round to surfing a few heats. Somewhere during that time, Brett Simpson gets ahold of a video camera, and cinematic greatness ensued with the birth of “Simpo Cam” (with cameos from Occy, Mick, Kelly and Jordy).

RIO FREESURFS

Txomin — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:55:36 +0000

Featuring Jeremy Flores, Michel Bourez, Josh Kerr, Kieren Perrow, Jack Freestone and Kelly, here’s the first free surf footage from Rio so far this year. After missing out on last year’s edition (and compromising his 12th world title campaign to finish runner-up), a lip-sliding, wheeling punting Kelly Slater is looking visibly hungry to make amends.

JOHN JOHN & TIAGO PIRES PULL OUT OF RIO

Txomin — Fri, 03 May 2013 07:43:58 +0000

Florence, opting to forego Brazilian closeouts so he can be at the top of his game for Fiji. Photo: ASP.

A quick injury update on the up-coming Billabong Rio Pro which starts next week. Still not fully recovered from the ankle injury he sustained on the Goldie, John John has officially withdrawn from the Rio Pro and therefore won’t be able to defend his title. Originally claiming he’d be back in time for Bells, the injury has clearly proved more serious than originally thought:

“I am going to take my time and wait for my ankle to heal 100% before competing,’ said Florence, “I am looking forward to being healthy and ready for Fiji and the rest of the year.”

After his mind-blowing performance during that historic swell at Cloudbreak last year, it sure would be a shame if the Hawaiian didn’t make it back in time for the Fiji Pro and it just happened to crank again.

Another world tour competitor to pull out of the Rio Pro last minute is Portugal’s Tiago Pires, due to a knee injury he sustained while free surfing at home a couple of weeks ago. He originally hoped to recover in time for the Brazilian leg, which in the past has proved a strong event for the powerful natural footer, “I’ve pulled a ligament in my left knee while surfing this past Saturday,” said Tiago, “Usually they predict four-to-six weeks with these type of injuries but I’m working hard everyday to recover for Rio. I’m doing two sessions of physiotherapy a day hoping that I can be close to 100% before the event.” Unfortunately it hasn’t quite panned out that way, announcing on Facebook a few days ago that he wouldn’t make the event after all.

In his sixth year as a member of the Top 34, and a slow start to the year with a 25th on the Gold Coast and a 13th at Bells Beach, Tiago will no doubt have to work extremely hard to maintain his place on tour.

Scraping back on tour in 2012 by the skin of his teeth, it looks like Tiags has got his work cut out for him again in 2013. Photo: ASP

All of this bad news comes as actual good news for Yadin Nicol who, as second alternate, will get to enjoy another world tour appearance after being sidelined by a series of injuries himself. The ASP caught up with the Australian recently to find out where his head’s at going into the Rio Pro – click here for the full interview.

Billabong Rio Pro: Final Day Highlights

Txomin — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:41:28 +0000

John John has won his maiden world champ tour event, taking out the Billabong Rio Pro over Parko in barreling three-to-four foot waves at Barra da Tijuca. Florence, currently in his rookie year, proved unstoppable on the final day of Billabong Rio Pro, topping prodigious Australian Julian Wilson and Josh Kerr on his way to triumph over Parkinson.

“This is the best feeling in the world,” Florence said. “I had that bad heat at Arpoador to start and we had a couple of lay days and I had to just sit and think about it. I can’t even believe this right now. I’m in shock. I was just sticking to my game plan and not thinking about the other guys. I’m so happy right now.”

Florence, who now sits at No. 6, will look to further strengthen his ranking points in Fiji and Tahiti.

Pictured: John John Florence, 2012 Billabong Rio Pro Champion. Credit: ASP/SCHOLTZ

Billabong Pro Rio Day 7 Highlights – Quarter-finalists Decided

Txomin — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:46:48 +0000

Another good day of comeptition was seen at the Billabong Pro Rio, the main European highlight being that Portugal’s Tiago Pires is through to the Quarters while Parko earned the day’s highest heat total.

BILLABONG RIO PRO QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:

QF 1: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)

QF 2: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)

QF 3: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)

QF 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 5 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.33 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 7.00

Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.00 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 7.20

Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.43 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.77

Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.73 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 7.90

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 4 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.40, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.67, Michel Bourez (PYF) 7.50

Heat 2: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.90, Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.43, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.73

Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW) 17.73, Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.50, Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.20

Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) 17.84, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.10, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 5.97

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.37 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 6.33

Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.00 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 4.17

Heat 5: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.34 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 8.50

Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.07 def. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 12.67

Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.50 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.70

Heat 8: John John Florence (HAW) 16.23 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 14.14

Heat 9: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.90 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.94

Heat 10: Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.73 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 7.33

Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.33 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.17

Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.10 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 11.77

Pictured: Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, earned the day's highest heat-total while advancing to the Quarterfinals of Billabong Rio Pro competition. Credit: ASP/DUNBAR

Billabong Rio Pro 2012 – Day 6 Highlights

Txomin — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:24:01 +0000

All the action from Round 2 and part of Round 3, which ran at the primary venue of Barra da Tijuca. Hawaii’s John John Florence put on the day’s stand-out performance with the highest heat total of 17.00 out of 20. Incidentally, the rest of Round 3 is in the water right now which you can watch live on the webcast http://wctbrasil.com/rio12/live-gb. With Tiago Pires and Michel Bourez through to Round 4, and Flores still to surf against Ace Buchan, it’s looking like a strong event for the Europeans.

Pictured: John John Florence (HAW), 19, was a standout today, posting big scores in both the barrel and the air to advance to Round 3 of Billabong Rio Pro competition. Credi: ASP/ SCHOLTZ

Billabong Pro Rio Video Highlights

Txomin — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:02:16 +0000

Weren’t able to log on the Billabong Pro Rio round 1 live webcast yesterday? Us neither. Word is the event’s broadcast van backed into a tree. Oops! So here’s the day 1 video highlights and results for you.

BILLABONG RIO PRO MEN’S ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.86, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.23, Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.56
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.57, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.24, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.53
Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS) 13.60, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 9.20, Taylor Knox (USA) 6.03
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.80, Kai Otton (AUS) 14.53, Willian Cardoso (BRA) 11.40
Heat 5: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.16, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 11.20, Tomas Hermes (BRA) 9.53
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.00, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.23, Peterson Crisanto (BRA)
Heat 7: Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.14, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.74, Brett Simpson (USA) 11.56
Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.00, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.24, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 11.30
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.34, Travis Logie (ZAF), 13.87, Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.53
Heat 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 13.90, Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.17, Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.57
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.84, Kolohe Andino (USA) 10.17, Heitor Alves (BRA) 9.37
Heat 12: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 14.93, Adam Melling (AUS) 12.57, John John Florence (HAW) 9.16

UPCOMING BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Peterson Crisanto (BRA)
Heat 2: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Tomas Hermes (BRA)
Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA)
Heat 4: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 5: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 6: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 9: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 10: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 11: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
Heat 12: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)

Kelly pulls out of Billabong Pro Rio Leg

Txomin — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:57:00 +0000

Following an injury to his ankle sustained in Java, Kelly has decided to pull out of the next leg of the tour in Brazil.

“I injured the inside of my left heel in Java and then re-opened it again the following week at Cloudbreak,” Slater said. “It became infected and I flew to Australia to get it treated and stitched in hopes of making it to Rio, if not for Round 1, at least for Round 2. I’ve been in the water since getting it stitched and while I can go straight, I can’t do turns at all right now so I’ll have to pull out of Rio. It’s unfortunate, but I’m just going to focus on healing up as soon as possible right now. Good luck to all the competitors in Brazil and I’ll be watching online.”

Sure enough, it doesn’t seem like it’s anything too serious… here’s some recent footage of him hanging out on the Goldie from Surfing Life magazine.