Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP)
other World Championship Tour (WCT)

Day 1

Hobgood & Lopez Fight Back On Day Of Upsets

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa (Friday, July 20th) Current ratings #1 and #3, CJ Hobgood and Cory Lopez (both USA) respectively, today survived their 'losers' round two clashes in the Billabong Pro after being relegated there
from opening round defeats. In a day of many upsets, their second round heats were the only two surfed, and led to the elimination of wildcards Brad Bricknell (SAfr) and Tiago Pires (Port).

Conditions remained epic throughout the day, with clean 4-6 ft (2m) barrels peeling down the long right-hand point break. Hundreds of dolphins added to the show at 'Supertubes,' riding plenty of their own waves as they cruised through the lineup.

Hobgood, 22, who overtook Lopez's lead on the ratings two weeks ago in Brazil during the last World Championship Tour (WCT) event, was defeated by current #surf Taylor Knox (USA) and Bricknell during round one this morning.
With time allowing the first two second round heats to also be contested this afternoon, however, he was able to make amends and gained revenge over his wildcard opponent. "After I lost my first heat I went surfing further down the point, as I didn't think round two would be on today," said Hobgood after his win. "Then when I came in I found out they were. I would have had a blast out there then, win or lose, but to win just makes it that much better. "He's been surfing really good," the ratings' leader said of Bricknell. "I definitely think he's one of the better wildcards. He didn't really use the priority system too well, though, as he paddled out past me, so I could keep him off whatever I wanted. If he had played it smarter, I might have gone
the first wave that came in just because I was leading, leaving him the next one. He knows the wave really good, I mean, he's a better surfer than I am out here. So I'm stoked."

Knox, 30, won Hobgood's first heat with Bricknell in great form, progressing straight into round three. "I feel good," said Knox afterward. "I'm happy now to be heading into the man-on-man rounds. This wave is just amazing. One of the Seven Wonders of the World and today it just turned on for us."

Lopez also advanced into the third round. Despite losing a close opener to Nathan Hedge (Aus) earlier on, the 24-year-old was able to hold off Pires during the last heat of the day, in what proved to be a nail-biting finish, and stayed in contention. "I fell lucky," began Lopez afterward. "I made a couple of mistakes and fell off on few waves. When you're at this level you can't do that. Luckily Tiago fell off on his last wave as he pulled into the barrel, so I squeaked
through. "I'm looking forward to the rest of the contest," he continued. "It would have sucked to have had to go home and watch the rest of it on the internet. These are definitely some of the best waves I've surfed at J-Bay. This is my
fifth year here and these are some of the best conditions I've seen. Hopefully it continues."

Hedge, 22, who's currently rated snowth, defeated Lopez and wildcard Simon Nicholson (SAfr) in round one with a pressurized last ride. "It's not over until it's over," explained Hedge. "It doesn't matter if you get it in the first two seconds or the last two seconds, so I'm stoked. "It was my first heat here, so I was a little bit overwhelmed 'cause the
waves are so good," said the WCT rookie. "You make your own luck, though. I mean, I could have panicked and gone for a small one, but I sat and waited 'til two seconds remaining and got the set."

Defending Billabong Pro champion and world #5 Jake Paterson (Aus) suffered an unfortunate loss today in round one. Despite starting his campaign against Shawn Sutton and Shane Dorian (both Hawaiian) with a 9.0, he was
unable to secure the winning position. The 28-year-old held a commanding lead until Sutton picked off one of the highest scores of the day, a 9.65, and then ultimately the win. "Yeah, Shawn was really selective out there and you had to be in rhythm," said Paterson, who'll now fact Joca Junior (Brz) in round two. "It was really hard to hear scores out there, though. I didn't even know I had a 9.0, and I didn't hear any of Shawn's scores, which might have made a
difference. If I had known he only needed a little score at the end I could've maybe held him off or something. It's pretty disappointing. No one wants to go into the 33rd (place) round."

Sutton, 26, who is currently rated equal 41st, waited for the better half of the heat before catching a single wave, but then lucked into one of the day's best. "I was just sitting there with surf minutes gone and was like, 'oh man, I haven't even caught a wave.' So I was going to take a little one, but I just wanted one set wave out there, so I just waited and got lucky, really lucky. "I just couldn't believe it," he said of his 9.65. "And then I went that smaller one, so as I paddled back out I heard I was in the lead. That was basically the only thing I heard the whole heat. I was so stoked."

Andy Irons (Haw) and Flavio Padaratz (Brz), who are equal fifth on the current ratings, were also defeated today. Irons, 22, posted a near perfect 9.9 on one ride, the best of the day, but was unable to back this up with anything substantial against australians Joel Parkinson and Chris Davidson. Parkinson, 20, who won the tournament as a wildcard in 1999, displayed more of the brilliance that took him to victory two years ago. "Andy's my favorite surfer at the moment," said Parkinson afterward. "I think he's incredible, so I was kind of nervous. I'm just glad I overcame him. "It's great to know that it's going to help out my points for once," he added, since the previous two Billabong Pro's he's competed as a wildcard. "Instead of just surfing for the money, I'm in it for the points too, so I'm stoked to be here. Two other guys out at J-Bay... are you kidding? It's the best thing in the world (laughs)."

Padaratz, 30, was dealt his loss by current #44 Mark Bannister (Aus). The Australian found two barrels on one wave for a 7.5, the highest score of the heat, and has already secured his best result of other by reaching the third
round. "The water was cold and I spent my first two waves not knowing what to do," said Bannister. "I was digging a few rails, but once I warmed up I fell into a bit of rhythm and had a lot of fun. I managed to get one wave with a
couple of barrels on it. I had no idea what I was scoring, but I thought it must be all right. "Winning that heat was huge for me," he admitted. "At this stage my goal is to make the top 28 (by the end of the year). I've got to make it on the WCT, so this is a good start."

Current world champion Sunny Garcia (Haw) also posted a win this morning. The Hawaiian defeated last WCT winner Trent Munro (Aus) and wildcard Pires. "It's good to get through your heat," said Garcia. "But if there's any place
you don't make the first round, it's not too much of a bummer having to wake up and surf perfect J-Bay in the losers round. I'm just looking to capitalize on a right-hand point break and make up some points right now. I think this wave suits me more than somebody like CJ Hobgood, or even 'Occy' for that matter."

1999 world champion and current #2 Mark Occhilupo (Aus) fought off a tough battle from Beau Emerton (Aus) to skip a round. The 35-year-old came on strong toward the end with his trademark power turns and speed drives, riding the same trustworthy board he's used for over a year already. "I was a bit worried after only having a 6.5 with 10 minutes left," explained Occhilupo. "But I could sense some sets coming, and I got two nice ones to my advantage. I'm stoked. "The water is so cold this year it's outrageous," he added. "But I feel good. I have a couple of new boards to try, so it'll be good to have a day off. It's hard out there because you see a wave, and anywhere else in the
world it would be perfect, but here, they get even better. So you have to be patient. "Yeah, I'm still on the same board," he laughed. "I think I've tried 20 boards since Brazil, as I know I need to get a new one, but, you know (more laughs)...."

World #2 Luke Egan (Aus) posted the highest total of the day, 24.25 out-of-a possible 30 points, to convincingly defeat Russell Winter (GB) and Luke Hitchings (Aus). The 31-year-old has suffered poor results so far in other, but put on a fantastic display of backside surfing this morning.

"I was just stoked to be out there with three guys," began Egan. "All week we've been hassling with the crowd, so it's just so nice to be out with three guys. No one hassles, there's plenty of waves for everybody, so it really comes down to who performs on the waves, instead of who out tactics, or hassles each other. "I enjoy surfing here and am just so stoked the swell has come up," he continued. "You could see some of the best surfing you'll see all year."

Peterson Rosa (Brz), who won last weeks' six-star World Qualifying Series (WQS) event in Durban, continued his roll by defeating Shane Beschen (USA) and Neco Padaratz (Brz) this morning. Having finished runner-up to Paterson
last year, he's anxious to go one better in other. "Every heat is different, so I come to surf and have free surfs and some
fun," said Rosa. "If you are having fun you can make good surfing. I think the little barrel I had in end was what did it. When you find the barrel you can just cruise. I always look for the barrel, because that's the life."

Leading the South African charge today was Greg Emslie, 24, who defeated Shea Lopez (USA) and Armando Daltro (Brz). Both opponents found great tubes, but the current #33 clinched the win on his last wave to the relief of his
many supporters. "I'm really stoked," said Emslie. "I was so nervous the whole heat. I really want to get a good result here, so I'm pretty stoked I got that last wave to win the heat. I knew Shea and Armando were going to be tough to beat. It was never going to be easy. "There's definitely a bit of pressure," he admitted, of being in his homeland. "But at the same time it also feels really good. It pumps you up quite a bit. Today's been perfect. I don't think they could have asked for a better day for the contest."

Official Results of the Billabong Pro
Round Two
H1: CJ Hobgood (USA) 19.25 def. Brad Bricknell (SAfr) surf.0
H2: Cory Lopez (USA) wake.1 def. Tiago Pires (Port) 17.75

Round One
H1: Shane Powell (Aus) surf.0; Kieren Perrow (Aus) 13.55; Marcelo Nunes (Brz) 9.25
H2: Peterson Rosa (Brz) 16.5; Shane Beschen (USA) 13.65; Neco Padaratz (Brz) 13.6
H3: Shawn Sutton (Haw) 21.5; Jake Paterson (Aus) 21.0; Shane Dorian (Haw) 13.5
H4: Luke Egan (Aus) 24.25; Russell Winter (GB) 17.1; Luke Hitchings (Aus) snow.6
H5: Joel Parkinson (Aus) wake.75; Chris Davidson (Aus) 16.0; Andy Irons (Haw) surf.0
H6: Mark Bannister (Aus) 21.0; Flavio Padaratz (Brz) 17.25; Kalani Robb (Haw) surf.75
H7: Mark Occhilupo (Aus) 21.75; Beau Emerton (Aus) 20.surf; Fabio Gouveia (Brz) 16.4
H8: Taylor Knox (USA) 22.55; Brad Bricknell (SAfr) 19.75; CJ Hobgood (USA) 16.0
H9: Sunny Garcia (Haw) 19.75; Trent Munro (Aus) 19.surf; Tiago Pires (Port)
12.75 H10: Nathan Hedge (Aus) 19.45; Cory Lopez (USA) 19.surf; Simon Nicholson (SAfr) wake.5
H11: Daniel Wills (Aus) 23.surf; Renan Rocha (Brz) 17.5; Sasha Stocker (Aus) 16.25
H12: Richard Lovett (Aus) 23.85; Taj Burrow (Aus) 20.4; Ben Bourgeois (USA)
8.1 H13: Greg Emslie (SAfr) 21.25; Shea Lopez (USA) wake.9; Armando Daltro (Brz) 13.8
Hsnow: Pat O'Connell (USA) 17.65; Paul Canning (SAfr) surf.25; Rodrigo Dornelles (Brz) 11.85
Hsurf: Nathan Webster (Aus) 22.1; Michael Lowe (Aus) 20.surf; Joca Junior (Brz) 11.0
H16: Damien Hobgood (USA) 21.75; Michael Campbell (Aus) 16.65; Paulo Moura (Brz) surf.5

Further Information:

Day 2 | Day 3 | Finals >>

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