None of the South African contingent were able to sprint off to a flying start with a cracker result on the WQS.
Sarah Baum was the highest placed South African at the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing.
The two remaining surfers, Sarah Baum and Beyrick De Vries, were eliminated in Women’s Round of 12 and Men’s Round of 48 at the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing respectively.
The waves have been dismal all week at Manly though, so this event has been a battle of tactics as much as a display of surfing prowess. “The world’s best surfers in the world’s worst waves” stated Beyrick on his Facebook page a few hours prior to his Round of 48 heat.
Mitch Crews makes the most of a sloppy wave.
Sarah Baum was the highest placed South African at the event, with an equal 9th place finish in the Women’s division. She adds a respectable 920 points to her WQS tally to begin what she is hoping will be an excellent qualifying campaign, that will see her join fellow Saffa, Bianca Buitendag, on the Dream Tour.
Bianca’s season opener did not go as she may have hoped. She was eliminated by Australian Bronte Macauley and the experienced Silvana Lima from Brazil in her opening heat (Round of 48).
Next up for the WQS warriors will be the 6-Star Burton Toyota Mens Pro and the Hunter Ports Womens Classic at Merewether Beach in Newcastle, Australia.
Check out the official press release from Day 7 below, or go to www.australianopenofsurfing.com to follow the event as the remaining competitors fight it out for the title.
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WILDCARD HING FLIES HIGH AT THE ASP 6-STAR HURLEY OPEN OF SURFING TODAY
Kai Hing, the 16-year-old Hurley Australian Open of Surfing wildcard is stepping up against the world’s best surfers.
MANLY BEACH, NSW/AUS (Friday, 14th February, 2014) – Another big day of competition at the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing at Manly Beach saw the field culled to just eight Quarterfinalists for the women, and only 24 competitors in the men’s. Tomorrow is set to see the men’s division run Rounds 4 and 5, reducing the field to eight Quarterfinalists ready for finals day Sunday.
Kai Hing (Sunshine Coast, QLD/AUS), the 16-year-old Hurley Australian Open of Surfing wildcard is stepping up against the world’s best surfers, winning his heat today with sharp turns and a huge and highly difficult air-reverse. Hing is now one of only 24 men left in the draw, from a field that started with over 144 competitors.
“I didn’t expect to win that, so I’m over the moon,” Hing said. “I’ve been training a lot and my coach Matt King is here, some last minute words from him never hurt. I hadn’t done an air at this event yet so I’m glad I did a good one and landed it. I think there’s a lot of luck involved in a heat like that, I pulled a rabbit out of the hat.”
Carissa Moore (Hawaii), reigning ASP Women’s World Champion continues her good form at the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing by winning through to the Quarterfinals. Moore posted an early excellent 8.7 (out of a possible 10) ride to easily win the heat. Moore faces fellow Hawaiian Leila Hurst in tomorrow’s Quarterfinal 1. The Hawaiians have dominated the women’s draw, taking up five out of the eight Quarterfinal spots.
“I wasn’t expecting the Hawaiians to be doing this well because we’re not on our home ground and the surf is so small,” Moore said. “I’m really happy for the Hawaiians, it’s great. It’s an exciting year for us, there’s five Hawaiians on the women’s ASP WCT this year and the last event of the year is in Maui! I’m so excited for the year ahead. I was surprised that Sally (Fitzgibbons) lost yesterday, because she’s so good at finding waves and putting a good heat together.”
Peterson Crisanto (Brazil) used his trademark aerial antics to secure a spot in Round 4 of competition at the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing today. Crisanto was the clear standout in a very difficult heat, winning with 16.00 (out of a possible 20) to Jake Sylvester (Newcastle, NSW/AUS) 10.94, Stu Kennedy (Lennox Head, NSW/AUS) and Yadin Nicol (Yallingup, WA/AUS) 10.00.
“The were a lot of top seeds in that heat so I just had to stick to my game plan and I got through,” Crisanto said. “I’m a little sick and not feeling one hundred percent, so it’s really good to get through. When you’re sick you just have to rely on your passion and go as hard as you can and it worked today, I’m so happy.”
Evan Geiselman (USA), runner-up at the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing in 2012 is once again proving to be one of the form surfers of the event. Today he won his heat with two excellent wave scores – 9.00 and an 8.17 (out of a possible 10), putting on a masterclass in how to surf small waves.
“I’m more excited to be here now than the first year because I know I can do well out here,” Geiselman said. “I got that 9.00 on an inside right, but it had a really good wall on it and it allowed me to do four or five turns, it was really fun. I’m really happy to be back in Manly, I’m so stoked that this contest is back on.”
Mitch Coleborn (Sunshine Coast, QLD/AUS) was on point at the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing today, powering through the small surf with a variety of big and powerful carving turns. Coleborn will now take on Kai Hing and Joshua Moniz (Hawaii) when competitions resume tomorrow.
“It was a tough heat being up against three Brazilians in small waves,” Coleborn said. “It’s good to make it through that heat, I didn’t do many ASP 6-Star events last year, I only focused on the Primes. Then at the end of the year I only missed out on qualifying for the WCT by 1000 points and who knows, I could have gotten those points at a 6-Star. I’m loving this event, I’ve got a lot of mates down here, I checked out the skateboarding yesterday and the guys were going loony and the Presets are playing tonight – it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Dane Reynolds (CA/USA) was eliminated by fellow Californian Pat Gudauskas (CA/USA), and ASP WCT veteran Bede Durbidge in a wave starved heat this afternoon and takes home an equal 25th place finish.
For more event information log on to www.AustralianOpenofSurfing.com