Mitch Crews and Adam Melling prevail in Round 4 of Australian Open of Surfing – Surfing News
Australia’s Mitch Crews and Adam Melling continued to display an impressive form during Round 4 (Round of 24) at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star Australian Open of Surfing that went down at Manly Beach in New South Wales, Australia,
on Friday, February 17.
The surfing conditions at the primary event site were not ideal, with two-foot waves and light on-shore winds presenting a significant challenge to the surfers. However, the skills and experience of the in-form surfers allowed them to adapt to the conditions
quite well.
During the third heat, Crews caught some long right-handers to unload a series of quick turns and other exquisite tricks. Scoring an impressive 8.10 off his first business-wave and managing to add another 8.83 to his account in the dying minutes of the heat,
the Australian finished with a decisive heat-total of 16.93 points to secure his place in the next round.
“It's fun, it's tiny, but you can still generate speed in the pocket,” Crews said. “I saw that Ace [Buchan] went into the lead at the end there and it fired me up, then I got a good wave and tried to go big to take the lead back off him. I'm frothing.”
Australia’s Adrian Buchan successfully kept his head from getting cut off from the competition after securing runner-up place, which included an 8.17 and a 6.93-point wave.
Brazil’s Charlie Brown got eliminated from the competition after finishing with a heat-total of 8.50 points, which comprised of a 3.73 and 4.77-point wave.
The fourth heat saw Melling treated the crowd to a spectacular show. He scored a 7.67 off his first business-wave and later backed it up with a 7.17-point wave to finish with a heat-total of 14.84 points. The score remained unbeatable until the end to seal
the fate of the contest in his favour and send him through into the next round.
New Zealand’s Billy Stairmand also extended his life in the event after scoring a 5.33 and 4.67 off his top-two waves to claim runner-up place.
Brazil’s Alan Jhones got removed from the contention for the event title after finishing with a heat-total of 6.53 points, which comprised of a 3.33 and 3.20-point wave.
The fourth round of Australian Open of Surfing continued at Manly Beach with the remaining heats, sending the in-form surfers to the next round while removing anyone who showed inconsistency.
Tags: