The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star-rated Burton Toyota Pro got done with the third device and the first heat of Round 4 on Friday, February 22, 2013, as stormy conditions prevailed at Merewether in Newcastle, Australia.
The rapidly increasingly six-to-eight foot waves on offer at the primary event site tested the competition field, which included the top surfing talent from around the globe. The conditions were so tough that the event organisers were forced to put the event
on held only after getting done with eight heats.
Australia’s Julian Wilson put on the performance of the day, taking down his compatriots Dion Atkinson and Tom Whitaker, as well as Argentina’s Leandro Usuna in the seventh heat of Round 3.
Despite the challenging conditions, he managed to score a 7.50 off his first business-wave and went on to back it up with an outstanding 9.30-point ride, thus concluding the heat with a heat-total of 16.08 points, a score that remained unbeatable not only
during the heat, but during the entire day.
Even though Wilson managed to put on an exquisite performance, he was glad about the event being put on hold due to the stormy conditions.
“It was manageable in the morning but now it’s extremely stormy and unsurfable so I’m relieved that we’re off” said Wilson. “The swells big and hopefully tomorrow it clean’s up a little because it could be epic.”
The final heat of Round 3 saw Brazil’s Adriano de Souza claim a comfortable victory over America’s Patrick Gudauskas, Australia’s Darren O’Rafferty and America’s Brett Simpson to advance to the fourth round.
The Brazilian powerhouse finished on top during the heat by scoring a 5.67 off his first business-wave and adding an additional 7.33 to his account, thus registering a heat-total of 13.00 points.
Gudauskas finished in second place with a heat-total of 9.57 points, consequently accompanying De Souza into the next round.
The opening heat of Round 4, which also turned out to be the final heat of the day, saw America’s Damien Hobgood claim victory.
Despite the conditions becoming even worse, the American surfer held his own and managed to post a 6.17 and 7.33 on the score-board to finish with a heat-total of 13.50 points.
Brazil’s Bino Lopez finished behind him in second place with a heat-total of 12.70 points, thus advancing to the next round as well.
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