Fanning, looking for an exit and a title. Photo: ASP/Kirstin
The Rip Curl Pro Portugal blew its starting horn on Wednesday morning with a stiff offshore and clean three-to-five foot waves. Peniche is the ninth stop on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour, and this year’s event is an exciting one. The race for the World Title may come to an end here.
There are, however, a few Supertubos stumbling blocks in the way for both of the current front-runners, Mick Fanning and Kelly Slater.
Fanning lost in Round 1 to an incredibly in-form Matt Wilkinson. Currently sitting in the 24th spot in the ASP WCT rankings, Wilksinson needs a strong finish this year if he wants to remain among the world’s top surfers next season.
Slater also fumbled in Round 1, losing to 16-year-old Australian phenom Jacob Wilcox, winner of the Moche trials and the wildcard into the event.
Both Slater and Fanning are slotted into the elimination Round 2.
RIP CURL PRO PORTUGAL ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.34, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 4.63, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 4.20
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 11.50, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 6.53, Brett Simpson (USA) 4.93
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.00, Travis Logie (ZAF) 7.77, Dillon Perillo (USA) 2.96
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.43, Frederico Morais (PRT) 9.16, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 5.90
Heat 5: Jacob Willcox (AUS) 13.07, Kelly Slater (USA) 9.60, Kolohe Andino (USA) 5.50
Heat 6: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 17.37, Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.60, Francisco Alves (PRT) 7.56
Heat 7: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 12.77, Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.07, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 3.73
Heat 8: Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.37, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.10, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 7.16
Heat 9: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 11.30, Damien Hobgood (USA) 10.50, Adriano De Souza (BRA) 9.83
Heat 10: Kai Otton (AUS) 11.40, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 5.63, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 5.43
Heat 11: John John Florence (HAW) 13.66, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 13.24, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 2.37
Heat 12: Nat Young (USA) 8.77, Adam Melling (AUS) 7.66, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 6.47
UPCOMING RIP CURL PRO PORTUGAL ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Francisco Alves (PRT)
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Frederico Morais (PRT)
Heat 3: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Dillon Perillo (USA)
Heat 4: Adriano De Souza (BRA) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 5: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 6: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 7: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)
Heat 9: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 10: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 11: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 12: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
