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(click for full-size)
Lisa Andersen
Full-Size (22k)
Shea Lopez
Full-Size (24k)
Pier Viewers
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Ross Williams
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Kalani Robb
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Day of Upsets as Men’s Top Seeds are Eliminated |
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• Scedule of Events • Round 1 Results & Photos • Official Results Round 2: Men | Women • Round 3 Results & Photos • Round 4 Results & Photos • Bluetorch Pro Men's Final Results * Layne Beachley Crowned Champion of the Women's Elleven Pro Additional Coverage: Bluetorch.com Huntington Beach, California (Thursday, July 20, 2000)- Current world champion Mark Occhilupo (Aus) was the first of many top seeds to be eliminated from the Bluetorch Pro today when he lost to Brazilian wildcard opponent Joca Junior in round two. Despite improved 2-3 foot (1m) conditions, the day saw plenty of upsets with world number-two Taj Burrow (Aus) and current world number-four Jake Paterson (Aus) also bowing out.Occhilupo, 34, is currently sitting in eighth position on the ratings, though he is likely to drop even further after today’s narrow defeat. “I started off good, but then got behind and it all came down to the last wave,” explained Occhilupo afterward. “I didn’t really think I was doing enough (on his last wave), so I went for a big last turn, but fell off. I shouldn’t have done it, because they (the judges) gave me nearly the score I needed anyway. I didn’t think it was going to be enough, but maybe if I surfed a little safer? That’s it though, nothing I can do now.”Junior, who is currently rated third on the US Panasonic Shockwave Tour, was a member of the top 44 back in 1997, but has since failed to re-qualify through the World Qualifying Series (WQS). “I’m very happy to beat Occy in a man-on-man heat,” he said. “I have beaten him in WQS events before, but never in a WCT. I want to thank Bluetorch and ASP for the wildcard into this event, I feel very good and am looking forward to the next round.”World number-two Taj Burrow added to his increasing list of poor results this year in the next heat, losing to an in-form Irons. Burrows has placed 17th in the last three events, and was served a 33rd place finish by the Hawaiian today. Irons, who won this event back in 1998, didn’t actually qualify for this year’s WCT, but was granted a spot when two-time world champion Damien Hardman (Aus) choose not to compete. This was the case in South Africa two weeks ago, also, and if Hardman officially retires as he’s suggested he may, Irons will find himself on tour for the remainder of the year. “I just started off with a good wave, a five, and then backed it up with a seven,” said Irons after the win. “The waves kept coming to me and Taj looked like he was in a bad rhythm with the sets, so it turned out good.“I’ve got confidence here for sure,” he continued, referring to his 1998 win. “I’ve got nothing to lose really. I’m just surfing heat to heat, so it’s sweet. I hope I’ll be on the WCT for the rest of the year, we’ll have to wait and see what Damien does.”Current world number-four and winner of the recent Billabong MSF Pro Jake Paterson (Aus) was the next upset, losing to fellow Australian Toby Martin. Paterson has lost in the same round for the past four years now.“I paddled around like a headless chook,” admitted Paterson afterward. “Toby just got one good wave and that did it. This makes four years in a row I have lost in the second round at Huntington, I just can’t get through heats here.”Martin, currently rated equal 43rd in the world, is still recovering from surgery he underwent three weeks ago for acute appendicitis, but today secured his best result to-date on his maiden WCT season.“It wasn’t the most exciting heat out there,” admitted Martin. “One wave was all that separated us, and I guess I was lucky to catch it. It sucks to surf against friends, but I’m glad I’m not the losing one. I was meant to stay out of the water for four-to six-weeks, but it’s only been three. I had to miss the last event, but this is already my best result of the year.”Brazilian Guilherme Herdy was the highest scorer of the day when he eliminated American Ben Bourgeois 23.75 to 18.25-points. His combined score being the best in the event so far.“I rode a smaller board out there,” said Herdy. “It went really well. I found some good waves.”Current two-time world champion Layne Beachley (Aus) and current rating’s leader Megan Abubo (Haw) both advanced comfortably through their round two heats this afternoon, after poor starts to their Elleven Pro Women’s campaign. Beachley lost her first round one heat of the year yesterday, but dominated her round two heat against fellow Australian Belinda Godfrey to came back stronger than ever today.“I finally redeemed myself after having such a shocker yesterday,” said Beachley. I spent more time focusing on the ocean instead of people and allowing them to take away my focus. I studied the conditions correctly and found a good peak and just did what the judges wanted and got rewarded for it. It was a good heat for me and I’m starting to feel my confidence re-build.”Abubo, who initially lost her first round heat this morning to Pauline Menczer (Aus), also clawed back to eliminate Neridah Falconer (Aus) in their second round match this afternoon.“The waves were tough, there weren’t many sets in our heat,” explained Abubo after her win. “I went out there trying to forget about my early morning heat, even though I was. Now that I won a heat I’m feeling a little bit better though.”Four-time world champion Lisa Andersen (USA) also bounced back from her round one defeat today, eliminating world number-three Trudy Todd (Aus).“I was just trying to get super amped out there, as I was told I looked too mellow in my last heat,” said Andersen. “At the start of the heat I had a little bit of a hassle with Trudy, but she ended up not getting a good wave out of it and I got priority, so that probably helped me win. I had so many waves I didn’t even surf good on, though. I had full-on jelly legs, like when I first started competing 10 or 11 years ago. I was competing against me out there today (laughs).”Hawaiian Rochelle Ballard dominated the field in the day’s last heat, scoring the single highest ride of 8.75, as well as best combined total of 21.50-points, as she eliminated South African Heather Clark.“I have a really good board at the moment,” explained Ballard. “When you get in a rhythm on a board you like it’s just so much easier to do well. I was dreading losing in that round, so I just tried my best and it worked.” Looking for more surfing Web resources? Visit GravityDex.
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