Kieren Perrow deals heavy blow to Michel Bourez in second Semi-final of 2011 Billabong Pipe Masters
The final stop of 2011 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour and Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons, continued to deliver a heavy dose of thrilling action to the fans as Australia’s Kieren Perrow
squared off with Tahiti’s Michel Bourez in the second Semi-final that went down at Banzai Pipeline on the famed North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, on Saturday afternoon, December 10.
It turned out to be a pretty tough heat for both the surfers due to the scarcity of waves. Perrow, however, managed to walk away with top honours, while bringing the ASP World Tour season to a premature end for his rival, Bourez, depriving him of the Vans
Triple Crown of Surfing Title in the process.
The conditions at the primary event site had become considerably friendly for the surfers on the third day of the competition after sending firing mammoth-sized waves in the direction during the first two days. However, the frequency of waves had also decreased,
giving birth to a new challenge for the surfers.
The 25-year-old Bourez was currently sitting in third place and had done exceptionally well in his heats during the initial rounds and the Quarter-final to reach the Semi-final. The Semi-final battle was extremely crucial for the Tahiti-based surfer as he
needed to reach the Final of the competition to surpass Hawaii’s John John Florence on the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing rankings.
As the battle for the coveted Finals’ spot got under-way, both the surfers got off to a slow start owing to wave-starved conditions on offer. The Australian only managed to add a 2.00 on the score-board off his first business-wave, while Bourez had to settle
for a 2.40-point wave.
As the heat progressed, the Tahiti-based surfer added another 1.67 points to his account, moving to a heat-total of 4.07 points and consequently leaving the window of opportunity wide open for his rival.
Perrow capitalised on the chance and rather than simply surpassing his competitor, the Australian went for an over-kill with a perfect 10, courtesy of one of Pipeline’s signature barrel. The phenomenal effort carried him to a heat-total of 12.00 points,
thus sealing the fate of the battle in his favour.
Bourez was extremely disappointed over missing out on the 2011 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Title after getting so close to it. Talking to a reporter after the heat, he said, “It was a painful way to lose, especially when there weren’t many waves out there.
I wish I won the Triple Crown, but it happens sometimes. It’s good for the confidence and a good result for the end of the year. It’s good to make the Semi-finals, but I just wanted one good barrel out there and it never happened.”
With his victory over Bourez in the Semi-final, Perrow moved into the Final to face the in-form Australian surfer, Joel Parkinson, for the 2011 Billabong Pipe Masters Title.
For updates on the Final of 2011 Billabong Pipe Masters, stay tuned to bettor.com.
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