Jesse Mendes and Granger Larsen survive Round 4 of Australian Open of Surfing – Surfing News
Brazil’s Jesse Mendes prevailed in heat 7, while Hawaii’s Granger Larsen won the eighth heat of Round 4 (Round of 24) at the Australian Open of Surfing that continued at Manly Beach in New South Wales, Australia, on Friday, February 17.
The Association of Surfing Professionals 6-Star event was proving to be an exciting affair as the surfers put on spectacular performances for survival, much to the joy of thousands of fans in attendance at the primary event site.
Some of the best waves of the day arrived at Manly Beach during the seventh heat. The in-form Mendes wasted no time in getting down to business and caught a wave to unload a combination of stylish manoeuvres to earn an 8.17 for the effort. He soon followed
it up with a 6.97-point wave to finish with a heat-total of 15.14 points. The score served to earn him top honours, sending him through to Round 5 (Round of 16).
Hawaii’s Keanu Asing made use of his powerful carves and huge inverted airs to convince the judges into giving him a 6.83 and 6.70 on his two-best waves, consequently adding him to the Round 5 line-up.
“To make this heat feels so good, especially after losing first round in Brazil last week,” Asing said. “Our heat got lucky we probably had the best waves of the afternoon, so it was great see some nice waves and good surfing. Every heat at this contest
is a tough one, I'm just going to keep doing what I've been doing and hopefully go a lot further.”
America’s Luke Davis was forced to make an exit from the competition after finishing in third place with a heat-total of 12.60 points.
The eighth heat turned out to be a relatively low-scoring affair, with Larsen’s heat-total of 11.67 proving sufficient to earn him victory as well as a place in the next round.
Brazil’s Peterson Crisanto took first runner-up place after finishing with a heat-total of 10.97 points, which comprised of a 7.00 and 3.97-point wave. The result guaranteed his place in the next round as well.
Unarguably the biggest upset of the day was the elimination of Australia’s Taj Burrow. For someone who is renowned for his ability to put on an impressive performance in any conditions, his performance in the eighth heat was quite disappointing. He best
waves of the heat simply earned him a 4.17 and 4.97, making him finish with a heat-total of 9.14 points as a result. His lacklustre performance led to his elimination from the competition.
With the conclusion of the final heat of Round 4, the Australian Open of Surfing went on hold until Saturday.
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