Taj Burrow and Gabriel Medina emerge triumphant in Round 1 at O’Neill Coldwater Classic
Australia’s Taj Burrow and Brazil’s Gabriel Medina finished on top in their respective Round 1 heats at the O’Neill Coldwater Classic, ninth of ten stops on the 2012 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour, which went down at Santa
Cruz in California, America, on Thursday, November 1, 2012.
Burrow got the better of his fellow countryperson Matt Wilkinson and America’s Brett Simpson in the seventh heat to advance straight into the third round, relegating both his rivals into the second round of the competition.
The eighth heat saw Medina make his way through into the third round after prevailing over Australia’s Bede Durbidge and Adam Melling, forcing both the rivals to take a trip to Round 2 to have another shot in Round 3.
With shifting two-to-four foot waves on offer at the point-break of Steamer Lane, the stage was all set for a series of thrilling battles between the top surfing talent from around the globe.
Pitted against Wilkinson and Simpson in the seventh heat, Burrow got off to a solid start during start, locking his first business-wave in the opening minutes to earn a 7.83 off it.
Adding an additional 6.63 points to his account, the Australian surfer moved to a heat-total of 14.46 points, which held up until the end to see him through to victory.
Wilkinson finished just behind Burrow in second place with a heat-total of 13.67 points, which comprised of a 7.00 and 6.67 points, thus getting relegated to Round 2.
Simpson was also forced to take on the long road to the third round after finishing in third place with a heat-total of 13.33 points, which included a 5.00 and 8.33-point ride.
The eighth heat saw Medina put on an excellent performance to down Durbidge and Melling, consequently earning his place in Round 3.
The 18-year-old Brazilian young-gun scored a 9.43 off his first business-wave and later backed it up with an impressive 7.10-point ride, thus finishing with a decisive heat-total of 16.53 points.
“That was a fun heat,” Medina said. “I was waiting for the air and that wave was a surprise. Last year I didn’t do well and I’m starting to love this place. It’s been fun. I’ve got here a week ago and have been trying a lot of boards. I’m sticking to the
same board as Portugal though and hopefully I can get a good result. I’m feeling better after Portugal and I’m trying to focus on getting a result here.”
Durbidge finished in second place with a heat-total of 14.77 points, which included a 6.67 and 8.10-point ride, whereas Melling had to settle for third place after registering a heat-total of 6.80 points, compromising of a 4.50 and 2.30-point wave.
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