Julian Wilson surges into Round 3 of Billabong Rio Pro after an exquisite Round 1 performance
Australia’s Julian Wilson advanced through into the third round of Billabong Rio Pro, the latest stop on the 2012 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Title Series, after putting on a spectacular performance to claim victory in the seventh heat
of Round 1 that went down at the alternative event site of Arpoador in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Wednesday, May 9.
Hawaii’s Fredrick Patacchia and Brett Simpson finished in second and third place respectively, consequently getting relegated to the second round to have another shot at the Round 3 spot.
The unfavourable surfing conditions prevailing at the main event site of Barra da Tijuca forced the event organisers to shift the first round of Billabong Rio Pro to Arpoador, which was being graced by clean two-to-four foot left-handers.
The seventh heat of Round 1 saw Wilson, 2011 ASP World Rookie of the Year and current World No.13 on the ASP World Title rankings, take on Patacchia and Simpson in a three-man bout for the Round 3 spot.
As the battle got underway, the 23-year-old ASP World Tour sophomore caught his first business-wave in the opening minutes of the heat to post a 7.87 on the score-board and immediately followed it up with a near-perfect 9.27-point ride, consequently reaching
a heat-total of 17.14 points. The score kept him in the lead until the end to eventually seal the fate of the heat in his favour.
“I got kind of lucky there because Freddy [Patacchia] didn’t go on that wave,” Wilson said. “The set before that, Freddy went on the first wave and the one behind was better. I think he was worried about that happening again and when that second set came
through, it lined up really well for me. I got to my feet straight away, but then saw that the section was still building and wasn’t really there yet. I took my time and squared it up.”
Patacchia scored a 5.07 and an 8.67 off his best-two waves to finish with a heat-total of 13.74 points, where Simpson finished in third place after putting on a rather ordinary performance for a two-wave total of 11.56 points. Both the surfers headed into
the relegation Round 2 to try and earn a spot in the third round.
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