The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by BOQ, stop No 1 of 11 on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour, was called ‘on’ last Monday for round 2 in two-to-three-foot waves. Everything was on the line as the surfers hit the water for the first elimination round of the 2014 season. There were tricky conditions, with winners advancing into round 3 and losers sent packing with an equal 25th-place finish.
Mick Fanning, reigning three-time ASP world champion, easily dispatched trials winner Matt Banting in a one-sided heat. Fanning found his competitive gear, used his wave priority perfectly, and unloaded multiple trademark in-the-pocket snaps. Banting showed flashes of potential, but was unable to put a complete wave together, finishing the heat with a pair of 4-point rides to Fanning’s 6.17 and 7.50 (out of a possible 10).
‘A second-round loss is not a great way to start the year, so I just wanted to go out there and push myself and hopefully come out on top,’ Fanning said. ‘I’ve been feeling pretty relaxed. I know my surfing’s there; it is just a matter of getting the waves. In tricky conditions like these that’s what plays on my mind the most – not being able to get the waves. Matt (Banting) is a great surfer and a great kid with a huge future. Just because they’ve got a wildcard next to their name doesn’t mean they are any less of a threat. I just wanted to go out and do the job, and another heat under the belt sort of calms the nerves a little.’
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.67 def Matt Banting (AUS) 9.17
Heat 2: Tiago Pires (PRT) 12.70 def Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.67
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.56 def Brett Simpson (USA) 9.00
Heat 4: Dion Atkinson (AUS) 16.23 def Kai Otton (AUS) 7.00
Heat 5: Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.77 def John John Florence (HAW) 7.20
Heat 6: Owen Wright (AUS) 9.85 def Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 6.57
Heat 7: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.17 def Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 10.17
Heat 8: Mitch Crews (AUS) 13.76 def Filipe Toledo (BRA) 7.83
Upcoming Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 9: Sebastian Zeitz (HAW), Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA), Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 11: Bebe Durbidge (AUS), Kolohe Andino (USA)
Heat 12: Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS)
Roxy Pro Gold Coast Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA), Alana Blanchard (HAW)
Heat 2: Coco Ho (HAW), Malia Manuel (HAW)
Heat 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Keely Andrew (AUS)
Heat 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Johanne Defay (FRA)
Heat 5: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
Heat 6: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Laura Enever (AUS)
