Slater, Fanning and Nicol reach Round 3 of Volcom Fiji Pro – Surfing news
America’s Kelly Slater, Australia’s Mick Fanning and his compatriot Yadin Nicol walked away with a win from their respective Round 2 heats of the Volcom Fiji Pro, stop No.4 on the 2013 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour, which
continued at Restaurants in Tavarua, Fiji, on Thursday, June 6, 2013.
While the surfers claiming success in Round 2 advanced to the third round, those who suffered their second consecutive defeat found themselves eliminated from the competition.
The event organisers decided to shift the Volcom Fiji Pro action to the alternate venue of Restaurants with the intended motivation of making full use of the building four-to-six foot barrels that were on offer.
Slater, 11-time ASP World Champion, had missed his Round 1 heat, but was back in time to compete against local talent Aca Lalabalavu in the opening heat of Round 2.
The American surfer wasted no moment to remind everyone in attendance at Restaurants why he is regarded as the best in the sport.
Navigating through the barrels to select the two juiciest waves that appeared during the 30-minute heat, Slater posted an 8.17 and an 8.10 on the score-board to finish with a heat-total of 16.27 points.
Lalabalavu gave his local fans some hope after scoring a 7.23 off his first business-wave, but the expectations were short-lived as he only managed to back it up with a modest 3.67-point ride, thus registering a heat-total of 10.90 points.
The second heat pitted former two-time ASP World Champion Fanning against America’s Alex Gray.
Making use of his years of experience, the Australian surfer got the better of his rival with evident ease, courtesy of an 8.67 and 6.00-point wave that allowed him to register a heat-total of 14.67 points against his rival’s dismal two-wave total of 6.26
points.
The third heat featured one of the biggest upsets of the day, as Nicol managed to down and consequently oust Brazil’s Adriano de Souza from the competition.
The Australian surfer got off to a solid start, earning an 8.27 off his first business-wave and went on to add an additional 4.50 points to his account, this finishing with a heat-total of 12.77 points.
De Souza failed to find his rhythm in the barrelling conditions and despite a determined effort, only managed to score a 6.67 and 5.93 off his best-two waves, thus finishing with a heat-total of 12.60 points. The inadequate effort forced him to surrender
victory and thus the Round 3 spot to his rival.
Tags: