Greg Emslie, South Africa’s sole remaining contestant in the Billabong Pro at Jeffrey’s Bay, gave the country something to get excited about on Saturday by eliminating former world number two Taj Burrow (Australia) and advancing to the last 16 in the R1,8-million ASP World Championship Tour event.
”Bigfoot”, as the East Londoner is known, began strongly with an 8,17 point ride, and despite losing the lead midway through the 33-minute heat, was able to lock in another 7,5 to gain control in the dying minutes. Burrow was able to catch another set wave, but fell on a critical manoeuvre toward the end of the ride, coming up short of the 7,17 points he needed for victory.
”It was a tough heat and I think anyone on tour would be stoked to beat Taj,” said Emslie. ”In my opinion he’s the most dynamic surfer on the pro tour. I just stuck to my game plan and got the sets, and surfed like I normally would at J-Bay on a free surf session.
”I gave it my all, so I’m stoked it went my way. It’s pretty awesome surfing with all this crowd support.”
Reigning two-time world champion Andy Irons (Hawaii) today solidified his surfing supremacy by eliminating local wildcard Sean Holmes (Wilderness), the one person who has haunted his past two Billabong Pro campaigns.
With clean 1,5m lines pouring down the Supertubes point and warm sunshine, a massive beach crowd converged to watch the world’s best surfers tear apart the long walls and all 16 third-round heats were completed in great waves.
The day’s most anticipated rematch between Irons and Holmes, his wildcard nemesis of the past two Billabong Pros, commenced at a snail’s pace. When the line-up transformed with growing swell lines, so too did the vocal support as Holmes paddled for the first wave of the set using priority.
While he executed a series of big manoeuvres, the Kauaiian took off on the wave behind and also carved a couple of strong top turns before pulling into a speeding barrel and somehow managed to emerge before falling on his next move.
The Hawaiian was given the best score of the tournament to date, a near-perfect 9,93 (out of a possible 10 points) while Holmes received 8,5 for his effort and the pressure was on the local.
Needing a 7,61 for the final seven minutes, Holmes’s patient approach was rewarded with another set wave and he utilised all it offered. The crowd were convinced he done enough to snatch a third successive giant-killing victory but the judges deemed the ride less than required and decided to give the heat to Irons by only giving Holmes 7.
”Finally,” began Irons, surrounded by media. ”I’ve got to say it was a huge monkey on my back the last couple of years. Sean’s an awesome competitor, and he knows how to sit and wait for the good waves. I want to take my hat off to him.”
”Hopefully he retires this year so I don’t have to deal with him next year,” Irons laughed.
”I knew I was going to have to put something good together, as the crowd was going nuts for him,” he recalled of the critical exchange. ”I did a couple of good hacks and then free fell into the barrel, which just ran. I adjusted on my board and luckily it opened up toward the end and I sneaked through.”
Australia’s Richie Lovett will challenge Irons next, after clawing his way back this morning with an inspired 9,5 ride against fellow countryman Phil MacDonald.
Six-time world and defending Billabong Pro champion Kelly Slater (United States) then put on a show against the sole remaining VZ wildcard, Bede Durbidge (Australia).
The Floridian was on his game, laying down huge carves and long floaters for a strong lead, and while Durbidge also entertained the crowd with some big aerial manoeuvres, he ultimately needed another score worth 7,78 points.
”I think he was hoping to land a big air and then link the wave all the way through,” reasoned Slater of his opponent’s strategy. ”It didn’t happen for him, but he’s a really good aerialist and he could have gotten a big score if he had.
”It’s early in the contest and I have to make it through my heats, so I don’ t want to focus much on what Andy’s doing,” he said.
”I basically have the same board design as I rode last year and it feels solid under my feet. I’ve still four heats left in this contest I want to try and win, so I’ll focus on that for now.”
Slater meets Peterson Rosa in round four, after the Brazilian accounted for Tom Whitaker (Australia) on Saturday. Rosa is competing with an ankle injury, but credited his love for surfing Jeffrey’s with his determination.
The 1999 Billabong Pro winner, Joel Parkinson (Australia), again illustrated his command in point break surf by unleashing his fluid style against compatriot Chris Davidson, posting a 9,4 and then an 8,33 the following ride. His 17,73 point heat tally is the best of the tournament so far. — Sapa