Julian Wilson and Nic Muscroft survive round of 96 heat in Saquarema Surf Pro International
Australia’s Julian Wilson and his compatriot Nic Muscroft finished in first and second positions respectively in the 10th heat of Saquarema Surf Pro Internationals’ first round, the round of 96, held at the beach-break of Itauna in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, on Wednesday, May 25th.
Both surfers have advanced to the next stage of the event, round of 48, while the other two competitors in the heat, America’s Kolohe Andino and Brazil’s Andre Silva, have been eliminated from the competition after finishing in third and fourth place respectively.
Saquarema Surf Pro International is the fourth Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Prime event of the year and with the best surfing names in the world making up the field, fans were expecting to see surfing at its best. However, the conditions at
the primary event site, Itauna beach, turned out to be a joy-killer, with low tides and small waves keeping the surfers from exhibiting their full potential.
Even though mother-nature refused to be any kinder to the surfers during the 10th heat of the day, Australia’s Wilson refused to bow down in front of nature and give in to the tough surfing conditions. He put up a determined fight and eventually
managed to earn 14.93 after his two waves. His exceptional performance under challenging circumstances not only showed his skills, but also epitomised his experience. He finished in first place and has secured his place in the round of 46.
Wilson’s compatriot, Muscroft, did not look too comfortable in the sea either. He did, however, push himself enough to earn a two-wave score of 12.50 from the judges and ensure his survival in the competition for the time being.
Andino, one of the most promising young talents from California, struggled to find his rhythm during the heat, though it would not be fair to completely blame him for the shaky performance. The challenging conditions had been bringing out the worst in majority
of the surfers since the beginning of the competition. The California-based surfer finished in third place with a final score of 11.60.
Brazil’s Silva may have been surfing in his own backyard, but the local knowledge proved to be futile during the heat. He failed to handle the low tides and weak waves, managing to earn a score of 10.97 after his two waves and getting eliminated from the
competition along with Andino.
The fans and event organisers are hoping to see the conditions get better for the 11th and 12th heat that are scheduled for the opening day of Saquarema Surf Pro International.
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