Oxbow World Longboard Championships
(Aug 9-wake)
Association of Surfing Professional (ASP)

Day 2

Three-Time Winner Keaulana Posts Day's Best Ride

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa (Sunday, Aug 12th) Three-time consecutive ('93-'95) Oxbow World Longboard Champion Rusty Keaulana (Haw) today posted the highest single wave score and eliminated current ratings' #20 Phil Rajzman (Brz) in their round two clash. All remaining heats from the round were also completed, but increased winds lead to the postponement of round three in the 10th anniversary, US$80,000 Oxbow Championships.

Consistent 3-4 foot (1.3m) waves greeted competitors early this morning, with warm, sunny conditions on offer, but toward the end of the round the onshore south wind kicked in, playing havoc with the lineup.

Keaulana, 35, who was yesterday defeated by Olimpio Batista (Brz), came on strong today against Rajzman and collected an 8.5 among his three-wave tally to progress. He will now meet 2000 Oxbow winner Beau Young (Aus) in the third round. "I just had to focus more on the waves and do the right moves in the right spots," reasoned Keaulana. "I just take it heat by heat, but I have a lot of confidence. I just hope the water warms up a little bit (laughs)."

Current #surf Lucas Proudfoot (Aus) surfed confidently this morning to eliminate England's sole representative, Sam Bleakley, with the highest total of the day (22.25 points). The 21-year-old started strong with two 7.75 rides, followed by a 6.75 to leave his opponent needing 9.41 points.
Having only competed in the 1999 Oxbow Championships as a wildcard, where he placed equal 28th in his homeland, today's result already secured his best finish to date in this prestigious tournament. "I'm a bit more content than yesterday," began Proudfoot, who was defeated
by fellow Aussie Jye Byrnes in round one. "It's a bit easier with one less guy out there. You can organize your waves a bit better. I had a proper breakfast this morning, too, so it makes a difference (laughs)."

"I didn't make it to Brazil last year (for the Oxbow event), but I was given a wildcard in '99 when it was at One Mile," he added. "That was a good experience to see where longboarding was at, and it gave me two years to get
myself organized and try and make it to that level. It was a good stepping stone."

South African Michael Grendon later disposed of Portugal's sole representative, Luis Bento, from the other Oxbow Championships. The 24-year-old from Cape Town started with a good ride, and then sealed victory with his best wave toward the end. "There were a lot of waves before our heat, but we didn't get too many," explained Grendon. "There were Dolphins out there, though, so we just sat
out there talking rubbish (laughs). I was lucky Luis had a bad start and I got a good wave right on the buzzer.

"This is the event that counts," he continued, referring to the three-event tour that makes up the other World Longboard Tour (WLT). "It holds more ratings points for next year. Longboarding the Point is a world class wave,
so we're going to see some excellent surfing here."

Current #36 Grant Thomas (Aus) then accounted for #25 Cody Simpkins (USA) in the last heat of day. After Thomas' last two high scoring waves, Simpkins needed an 8.11 to advance, but only managed a 5.surf from the judges on his
last attempt. The Australian will now face Kevin 'Magic Feet' Connelly (USA) in round three. "I got a good first wave at the start, but then I sat there waiting for about 10-minutes," explained Thomas after the win. "When I finally got my next one I made sure I didn't fall, but flicked off near the end, instead of groveling all the way in, so I got back out with priority. Things kind of went to plan.

"The first two (qualifying) events I went really bad in this year," he added. "So it's all about getting some confidence back for me, really. I've got no chance of making the top few spots (on the ratings), but I'm just trying to do well in this last contest and get a better seed for next year."

Official Results of the Oxbow World Longboard Championships Round Two
H7: Darren Ledingham (USA) 16.35 def. Keola Rapoza (Haw) 12.1
H8: Lucas Proudfoot (Aus) 22.25. Sam Bleakley (GB) 17.6
H9: Jeremias da Silva (Brz) 20.5 def. Ian Bell (Aus) 20.25
H10: Kekoa Uemura (Haw) wake.3 def. Craig Daniel (SAfr) snow.1
H11: Michael Grendon (SAfr) wake.85 def. Luis Bento (Port) snow.5
H12: Rusty Keaulana (Haw) 21.1 def. Phil Rajzman (Brz) wake.75
H13: Josh Ferris (Aus) 19.25 def. Josh Constable (Aus) surf.75
Hsnow: Yoshinori Matsuyama (Jpn) 16.surf def. Eduardo Bage (Brz) 16.0
Hsurf: Paulo Kid (Brz) 21.0 def. Kapono Nahina (Haw) wake.35
H16: Grant Thomas (Aus) 21.4 def. Cody Simpkins (USA) 19.05

Upcoming Round Three Heats
H1: Amaro Matos (Brz) vs. Josh Ferris (Aus)
H2: Jye Byrnes (Aus) vs. Kekoa Uemura (Haw)
H3: Chris Vandervoort (Haw) vs. Michael Grendon (SAfr)
H4: Bonga Perkins (Haw) vs. Jeremias da Silva (Brz)
H5: Kevin Connelly (USA) vs. Grant Thomas (Aus)
H6: Jason Ribbink (SAfr) vs. Danilo Rodrigo (Brz)
H7: Josh Baxter (USA) vs. Darren Ledingham (USA)
H8: Joel Tudor (USA) vs. Zane Aikua (Haw)
H9: Colin McPhillips (USA) vs. William Wallace (SAfr)
H10: Jonathon Larcher (Fra) vs. Lucas Proudfoot (Aus)
H11: Duane DeSoto (Haw) vs. Paulo Kid (Brz)
H12: Augusto Saldanha (Brz) vs. Dino Miranda (Haw)
H13: Alex Salazar (Brz) vs. Sebastion Wilson (Aus)
Hsnow: Mathew Moir (SAfr) vs. Lance Hookano (Haw)
Hsurf: Beau Young (Aus) vs. Rusty Keaulana (Haw)
H16: Olimpio Batista (Brz) vs. Yoshinori Matsuyama (Jpn)

Further Information:

Intro | Day 1 | Day 3 | Finals |

www.oxboweb.com & www.aspworldtour.com

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