Taj Burrow Secures Trifecta with Win at Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast

SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland/Australia (Friday, March 5, 2010) - Taj Burrow (AUS), 31 has taken out the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover over Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, in rippable two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Snapper Rocks.

 



The opening event of then 2010 ASP World Tour season, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast started the year off with a bang, bringing the greatest assemblage of surfing talent in history to one of the most iconic pointbreaks in the world, and the world's best surfers shattered high-performance barriers once again.

 



"I'm so so happy right now - it's the best feeling on Earth!" Burrow said. "It's unreal. I have a good group of friends with me and my parents are here supporting me. To have everyone cheering me on in the final is really really special."

 



While the young South African led throughout the first half of the 40-minute Final, it was Burrow who changed the tide with a mid-heat assault, racking up several solid scores in larger set waves amidst the deteriorating conditions.


 


"I didn't feel like I surfed my best in the Final," Burrow said. "I kind of just did what it took to win. I just waited for the best waves, did a couple nice turns - nothing too wild. I'd rather have taken Jordy's approach - catch lots of waves and just let loose. That's kind of my strategy normally, but it worked fine. Being a bit more patient and ive than usual definitely paid off. But I knew Jordy could unleash and get the big score any moment."

 



Burrow, who has secured victories in the previous two events entered (Pipeline in December and Burleigh Heads in February), has been in sensational form over the past three months, and will look to continue the momentum in 2010 as he hunts down his first ASP World Title.


 


"What can I say? I don't know," Burrow said. "I surprised myself really. Obviously, Pipe was the biggest event I could ever win. I was just overwhelmed. I felt like retiring after that event. I just couldn't believe it, and didn't think it could get any better. I guess I've taken the confidence from it and worked on some good boards. Burleigh Heads was a good warm-up. I felt good that there as well - there are fun little rights, and then here, I took a while to get rolling, but I just built up momentum. I felt great out there and here I am on the podium again - it just feels unbelievable."

 



Smith, who went on a giant-ing spree at the event, eliminating former nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 38, in yesterday's Round 4 before posting the best result of his young career.

 



"It's my first Final so I'm pretty stoked," Smith said. "It's unfortunate that the waves went kind of dead in our heat there, but we tried our best. It's been a great event though and I'm looking forward to the next one."

 



Long touted as one of the most dominant forces in the surfing world, Smith had yet to realize his potential in the competitive realm, but if this event's performance is any indication, the powerful natural-footer is a near-certain threat for an ASP World Title.

 



"I just feel a lot more comfortable with myself this season," Smith said. "I'm having a lot more fun with my surfing and everything seems to be coming together for me. I'm amped with a Runner-Up finish here and hope I can keep the momentum up for the rest of the season."

 



Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, looked the form surfer of the event yesterday, defeating defending event winner Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, with an impressive 19.20 out of a possible 20. However, the young Californian was unable to find a rhythm in today's challenging conditions, bowing out of the event with an Equal 3rd at the hands of Smith.

 



"I felt pretty good yesterday and it felt like my equipment was finally working," Reynolds said. "Even though the conditions weren't as good today, I thought I could catch an average wave and surf it well enough to get a good score, but that didn't happen. When the other guy gets a good roll going, it's hard to come back - or it is for me anyway."


 


With his penchant for churning out Earth-shattering performances and a good start to the year, several pundits are considering Reynolds as a legitimate ASP World Title contender, but the humble natural-footer has yet to commit such a goal.


 


"I've never been in this situation before so it's hard for me to say (in regards to motivation for the ASP World Title)," Reynolds said. "When you're a little kid, everyone always tells you that the ASP World Title is the goal, but there's only one each season and 45 guys going for it. It hasn't been a goal for me yet."


 


Bobby Martinez (USA), 27, matched his best result on the Gold Coast today, collecting an Equal 3rd (his first in 2006), but the sole goofy-footer in today's event was clearly upset about the deteriorated conditions.


 


"It's disappointing to finish when it's windy like this today," Martinez said. "We all want to surf when it's glassy, and I'm disappointed that we have to finish today. I did my best to mix it up out there, but it's very challenging out there on your backhand today."


 


Highlights from the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover can be found via www.quiksilverpro.com.au


The next stop on the 2010 ASP World Tour will be the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach from May 30 through April 10, 2010.


QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST FINAL RESULTS:


1 - Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.57


2 - Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.56

 



QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST SEMIFINAL RESULTS:


SF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.67 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 13.00


SF 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.30 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 8.96

 



ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 5 (After Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast):


1 - Taj Burrow (AUS) 10000 pts


2 - Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8000 pts


3 - Bobby Martinez (USA) 6500 pts


3 - Dane Reynolds (USA) 6500 pts


5 - Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5250 pts


5 - Bede Durbidge (AUS) 5250 pts


5 - Adriano de Souza (BRA) 5250 pts


5 - Kai Otton (AUS) 5250 pts

Champions Fall as Dane Reynolds Detonates at Quiksilver Pro Quarterfinals

SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland/Australia (Thursday, March 4, 2010) - Pumping three-to-five foot (1 - 1.5 metre) pulsed down the point at Snapper Rocks today, setting the stage for the world's best surfers to unleash upon the warm-water walls at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover and the Roxy Pro Gold Coast.



The opening event of the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast saw Round 4 as well as the Quarterfinals completed today, with some massive upsets as the world's best surfers



Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, current ASP World No. 10, was slow to start in his Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast campaign, but joined the giant-ing spree this afternoon, dispatching of 2009 ASP World Runner-Up and defending event winner Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, in their Quarterfinal bout.



"I was actually kind of surprised walking up the beach and people were cheering," Reynolds said. "I thought I was going to get booed or something, but yes that was special. That was one of the biggest heats of my life. I've never won a contest or anything so that was a pretty big one for me."



Reynolds left nothing to chance against the well-built Australian, posting a 9.27 out of a possible 10 on his opening wave for a series of ferocious forehand attacks and fin-free maneuvers. The Californian backed it up with the highest single-wave score of the day, a 9.93 out of a possible 10, for a blistering forehand assault before navigating through a Houdini-esque barrel. The result was the highest heat total of the day, a 19.20 out of a possible 20, and an emphatic win.



"That was a lot of fun and it was kind of what I was hoping was going to happen," Reynolds said. "I feel like a lot of the time you're out there and you see really good waves from the beach and once you're out there, you're kind of lost, but they all came together for me that time. I rode a different board - this one felt a lot better. This is the board I rode in my first heat. It felt kind of tricky then and this is only the second time I've ridden it, but it felt really good out there today."



Reynolds will face Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, in the Semifinals when the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast resumes.



Smith caused a major upset in Round 4 earlier today, eliminating former nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 38, with electric surfing and smart tactics.



"He (Slater) is the king of our sport so just being out there surfing in a heat with him, I said to my manager earlier, 'I don't even care if I lose,'" Smith said. "You don't get many opportunities to surf against Kelly, and also I guess it's another good birthday present for my Mom. It was her birthday yesterday, so just make it through a couple heats is pretty cool."



Smith would go on to defeat current ASP World No. 3 Bede Durbidge (AUS), 27, in the Quarterfinals.



Taj Burrow (AUS), 31, current ASP World No.4, continued his rampage at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast today, advancing through to the Semifinals and continuing his flawless competitive run over the past two months. Collecting wins at Pipeline and Burleigh Heads, Burrow will look to keep the roll going into the business end of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.



"I'm feeling pretty good and getting a good momentum," Burrow said. "It's a feeling like you're getting on a roll, and I feel really good on my board. I just picked a new board and it feels great, it really feels like it's coming together for me."



Burrow will face Bobby Martinez (USA), 27, in the opening Semifinal bout when competition resumes.



Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, reigning two-time ASP World Champion, went down today in a hard-fought Round 4 against compatriot Kai Otton (AUS), 30. Otton was subsequently eliminated by Martinez in the Quarterfinals.



Running in conjunction with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, the ASP Top 17 completed the opening four heats of Round 3 of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast.



Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, reigning three-time ASP World Champion, and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 19, current ASP World No. 5, dominated the mid-day action, with the youngster announcing herself as a legitimate ASP Women's World Title contender.



"2010 - hopefully a good year for me," Fitzgibbons said. "I want to be in that title race for sure!"



Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start.


QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 4 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.86 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.50

Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.53 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 10.60

Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) 16.06 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.43

Heat 4: Kai Otton (AUS) 15.76 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.57

Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.44 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.23

Heat 6: Dane Reynolds (USA) 12.63 def. Daniel Ross (AUS) 10.33

Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.97 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 9.17

Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.10 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 13.17 



QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:

QF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 17.70 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.40

QF 2: Bobby Martinez (USA) 16.66 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 10.64

QF 3: Dane Reynolds (USA) 19.20 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.47

QF 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.10 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.77



QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND SEMIFINAL MATCH-UPS:

SF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Bobby Martinez (USA)

SF 2: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)



World's Best Light Up Snapper Rocks for Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 3

SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland/Australia (Wednesday, March 3, 2010) - With pumping three-to-five foot (1 ' 2 metre) waves running down the point at Snapper Rocks today, Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover went off in front of a capacity crowd on the beach and hundreds of thousands watching online and FUEL TV.



The opening event of the 2010 ASP World Tour season, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast has consolidated the greatest assemblage of surfing talent in history, and with one of the most iconic pointbreaks in the world firing throughout the day, the world's best put on an incendiary performance.



Bede Durbidge (AUS), 27, current ASP World No. 3, proved the form surfer of the day, posting a near-perfect 19.30 out of a possible 20, to dispatch of Luke Munro (AUS), 27, in their Round 3 bout. Durbidge blended deep tube rides with progressive forehand gaffs en route to his emphatic victory, even posting the day's highest single wave score of a 9.93 out of a possible 10.



"I just made that barrel and I just didn't even care what happened after that," Durbidge said. "I just went for it. On the ride back on the ski, I was thinking I probably should have finished that wave for the 10, but it's all good."


A former Runner-Up at the event, Durbidge is one of the most dangerous surfers at Snapper Rocks, and will look to post a strong result to open up his 2010 ASP World Tour campaign.



"All my family and friends and here and there's so much hype around this event, being the first of the year, I would love to win this event," Durbidge said. "It makes all the difference. There's a lot more energy for you, and waves come your way."



Durbidge will face current ASP World No. 14 Kieren Perrow (AUS), 33, in Round 4 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.



Kelly Slater (USA), 38, former nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, negotiated the varying afternoon conditions today, putting in a solid performance against 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 24, in Round 3.



"It's a tough call sitting super deep because you can take off too deep or get one that doesn't barrel and there are a lot of bumps," Slater said. "My first one looked pretty nice, but I couldn't come out and it went from a 10 to a 2, so it's a challenge out there."



Slater has drawn South African wunderkind Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, in Round 4 of competition.



Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, reigning two-time ASP World Champion, continued his searing form through Round 3 today, besting 2010 ASP World Tour rookie Brett Simpson (USA), 25, with an intimate rapport with the Snapper Rocks sand bank.



"It's pretty tricky out there," Fanning said. "It's high tide and I don't really it. I've seen a couple in the heat before with Dingo (Morrison) and Kai (Otton), and then Steds (Stedman) and Damo (Hobgood). I thought I could have sat a little bit deeper and I was lucky enough just to get two waves like a 6 and I got that good one (9.07). I just looked for waves that would allow two turns at the start."



Fanning will take on compatriot Kai Otton (AUS), 30, in Round 4 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.



Adriano de Souza (BRA), 23, current ASP World No. 5, put on a clinic in the opening heat of the day, amassing a 16.10 out of a possible 20 to eliminate compatriot and travelling partner Jadson Andre (BRA), 19.


'I feel great to get through that heat and the waves are really fun," De Souza said. "It's hard surfing against Jadson (Andre). He's my roommate and team member and he's a really good surfer. He may be a rookie, but he's really smart and he's a dangerous surfer."



De Souza, who finished Runner-Up in the event last season, is enthusiastic about his prospects at the 2010 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, and is confident that a solid result at Snapper Rocks is possible.



"I would love to go one better this year and win on the Gold Coast," De Souza said. "I have been working really hard in the off season, training and with my boards, and I feel ready for 2010."



De Souza will face current ASP World No. 23 Adrian Buchan (AUS), 27, in the opening heat of Round 4 when competition resumes.



Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 7:30am start.


QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 16.00 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.46

Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.10 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 13.70

Heat 3: Chris Davidson (AUS) 11.00 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 9.27

Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.84 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 6.67

Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) 14.16 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 11.26

Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.73 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 13.40

Heat 7: Kai Otton (AUS) 13.97 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.60

Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.74 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 10.43

Heat 9: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.63 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 12.20

Heat 10: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.17 def. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 12.64

Heat 11: Daniel Ross (AUS) 13.54 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.00

Heat 12: Dane Reynolds (USA) 13.57 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.23

Heat 13: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 19.30 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 7.37

Heat 14: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.06 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 12.43

Heat 15: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.37 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 7.56

Heat 16: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.23 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.77



QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)

Heat 2: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS)

Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)

Heat 4: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)

Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)

Heat 6: Daniel Ross (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)

Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

ASP Top Seeds Dominate Day 1 of Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast at Snapper Rocks

COOLANGATTA, Queensland/Australia (Saturday, February 27, 2010) - Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover was completed today in pulsing two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Snapper Rocks on Australia's Gold Coast.

The opening event of the 2010 ASP World Tour season, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast ignites the greatest assemblage of surfing talent in history, and today's top performers proved no surprise with perennial ASP World Title threats dominating Round 1 of competition.

Kelly Slater (USA), 38, former nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, has refocused his attention on vying for an unprecedented 10th ASP World Title this season, and his dominance is the opening round of competition put his fellow competitors on notice. Slater posted the highest heat total of the day, a 17.77 out of a possible 20, including the day's high single-wave score of a 9.27 out of a possible 10 for a deep forehand barrel.

"I missed a really good wave at the ning of the heat and it kind of focused me," Slater said. "I was looking at the thing just barreling off at me and it was really frustrating so I thought I needed to be more patient. I got that 8.50, it looked like it might fatten out and it had that slow steep at the ning so I got that carve in. I was waiting for it to build back up and then it lined up and was a good wave. Obviously that 9.00 too, probably the best wave that came in during the heat, the thing barreled really hard and was fun."

Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, reigning two-time ASP World Champion, wasted no time in reasserting himself as one of the most lethal surfers on tour this year, dispatching of compatriot Kai Otton (AUS), 30, and wildcard Garrett Parkes (AUS), 18, with an excellent 17.36 out of a possible 20.

"It is great," Fanning said. "I am stoked to be able to surf good Snapper to start off the year. Happy to get through a heat and bounce back from last week (at Burleigh Heads). I was really just looking to get scores on the board, which went fine. I am having a bit of a hard time with my boards. My shaper Darren (Handley) and I kind of went backwards during the off-season. I was lucky this old one was good enough so hopefully we get a few of these made."

With an increasingly difficult sweep running through the line-up, the world's best surfers not only battled one another, but Mother Nature as well. Fanning, utilizing years of experience at the break, used the conditions to his advantage.

"You just have to know what to look for out in the water," Fanning said. "It s a little bit tricky and what can look like a good wave behind the rock does not always last. I'm just stoked to get through."

Other top seeds Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, Bede Durbidge (AUS), 27, and Adriano De Souza (BRA), 23, also posted Round 1 victories.

Owen Wright (AUS), 20, Brett Simpson (USA), 25, Dusty Payne (HAW), 21, and Jadson Andre (BRA), 19, led the rookie charge today, all three collecting Round 1 heat wins and advancing directly into Round 3. Wright looked impressive in the challenging afternoon conditions, besting fellow rookie Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 24, and current ASP World No. 15, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 28, in their opening round bout.

"It feels good to have my first heat on the ASP World Tour,' Wright said. "It is tough work out there with a few run-arounds. A few poundings and it is just great to be out there. Really exciting to put the singlet on and have a god against the world's best."

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 7:30am start.

When Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast competition resumes, up first will be current ASP World No. 4 Taj Burrow (AUS), 31, up against wildcard Garrett Parkes (AUS), 18, in the opening heat of the man-on-man elimination Round 2.

For the first time in the event's storied nine-year history, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast is being broad LIVE on FUEL TV in Australia, beaming the world's best surfing right into your living room. A 90-minute highlight show will be televised each night as well.

To find out how you can watch the world's best surfers in one of the world's most iconic pointbreaks LIVE on FUEL TV, check out www.foxsports.com.au/fueltv

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. by Land Rover will feature the world's best surfers from February 27 through March 10, 2010 and will be web LIVE via www.quiksilverpro.com.au

The Roxy Pro Gold Coast, featuring the ASP Top 17, will run in conjunction with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Brett Simpson (USA) 10.67, Dane Reynolds (USA) 6.70, Roy Powers (HAW) 6.24
Heat 2: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.67, Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.23, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 7.97
Heat 3: Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.26, Bobby Martinez (USA) 12.70, Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 11.94
Heat 4: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.30, Travis Logie (ZAF) 10.36, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.26
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.77, Ben Dunn (AUS) 9.50, Marco Polo (BRA) 7.34
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.90, Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.47, Blake Thornton (AUS) 8.86
Heat 7: Chris Davidson (AUS) 12.50, Taj Burrow (AUS) 9.13, Neco Padaratz (BRA) 6.64
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.36, Kai Otton (AUS) 11.53, Garrett Parkes (AUS) 10.77
Heat 9: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.17, Blake Ainsworth (AUS) 9.73, Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 6.23
Heat 10: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.57, Mick Campbell (AUS) 14.40, Craig Anderson (AUS) 6.16
Heat 11: Dusty Payne (HAW) 11.60, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 9.10, Drew Courtney (AUS) 4.76
Heat 12: Taylor Knox (USA) 14.83, Luke Stedman (AUS) 10.56, Nathan Yeomans (USA) 8.23
Heat 13: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.80, Jay Thompson (AUS) 10.66, Andy Irons (HAW) 5.83
Heat 14: Luke Munro (AUS) 12.73, Daniel Ross (AUS) 11.27, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 9.40
Heat 15: Owen Wright (AUS) 14.10, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.53, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 9.57
Heat 16: Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.94, Adam Melling (AUS) 11.30, Dean Morrison (AUS) 11.17

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Garrett Parkes (AUS)
Heat 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Blake Ainsworth (AUS)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Craig Anderson (USA)
Heat 4: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 5: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Blake Thornton (AUS)
Heat 6: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Marco Polo (BRA)
Heat 7: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 8: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 9: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 10: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Nathan Yeomans (USA)
Heat 11: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 12: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 13: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 14: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 15: Roy Powers (HAW) vs. Andy Irons (HAW)
Heat 16: Drew Courtney (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)

Kelly Slater Sets Sights on 2010 ASP World Tour with Gold Coast Kick-Off

COOLANGATTA, Queensland/Australia (Monday, February 22, 2010) - The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover, Stop No. 1 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, will commence its waiting period this weekend, ushering in the greatest assemblage of surfing talent in history with 15 ASP World Titles being represented amongst the 48-man draw.

Kelly Slater (USA), 38, former nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, will return to the singlet this season, challenging for an unprecedented 10th ASP World Title against the world's best surfers in the world's best waves. Coming away with an ASP Dream Tour win in Brazil last season, Slater made a mid-year challenge for the crown, yet fell short of the Australian onslaught.

"I never found myself in the right mind frame to deal with the pressure of a tenth title and find the excitement and purpose for what I was doing for more than a few heats last year," Slater said. "Brazil worked out but all the close heats went the other guy's way and I just made a lot of mind decisions and not surfing from the gut and real feelings. I am comfortable with 9 (ASP World Titles), but yeah, 10 has a certain allure to it."

The iconic natural-footer opened up the 2009 season on self-shaped, experimental designs that yielded mixed results. The ripple effect it caused, however, echoed throughout the remainder of the year, with the world's best surfers ing their respective equipment and collectively applying a more radical approach to their surfing.

"I love designing and experimenting," Slater said. "I love music. I love using the artistic brain and challenging myself and the way things are accepted around us. There is no shortage of things to do, only time and focus to do them. Last year was a radical change for my boards and surprising to a lot of people. I am sure some of those changes are here to stay and will be on my equipment. I am still working it out now."

Slater will face current ASP World No. 22, Ben Dunn (AUS), 24, and 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie, Marco Polo (BRA), 28, in the opening round of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

Owen Wright (AUS), 20, 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie, is one man who slashed holes in Slater's ASP World Title campaign last season, besting the Floridian as a wildcard on two separate occasions - in Bells Beach and Portugal. With a full arsenal of progressive aerials and high-performance turns, and a devastating competitive record, Wright enters the 2010 ASP World Tour season as one of the most closely watched rookies in history.

"I would love to perform well in my heats and make the cut offs by the end of the year," Wright said. "I have been surfing heaps and going right as much as possible. The swell has been pumping which is sick!"

Wright will take on current ASP World No. 15, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 28, and fellow 2010 ASP World Tour rookie, Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 24, in Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

Slater and Wright will take on the world's best surfers including reigning two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, 2009 ASP World Runner-Up Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, progressive innovators Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, and Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, amongst others.

Rounding out the 48-man draw at Snapper Rocks will be wildcards Garrett Parkes (AUS), 18, and Craig Anderson (AUS), 21, as well we the winner of the 16-man Trials, to be held Friday.

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. by Land Rover will feature the world's best surfers from February 27 through March 10, 2010 and will be web LIVE via www.quiksilverpro.com.au

The Roxy Pro Gold Coast, featuring the ASP Top 17, will run in conjunction with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Dane Reynolds (USA), Roy Powers (HAW), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Tiago Pires (PRT), Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS), Marco Polo (BRA)
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Michel Bourez (PYF), Blake Thornton (AUS)
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS), Chris Davidson (AUS), Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), TBA
Heat 9: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), TBA
Heat 10: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Mick Campbell (AUS), TBA
Heat 11: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Drew Courtney (AUS), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 12: Taylor Knox (USA), Luke Stedman (AUS), Nathan Yeomans (USA)
Heat 13: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Andy Irons (HAW), Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 14: Kieren Perrow (AUS), Daniel Ross (AUS), Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 15: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Patrick Gudauskas (USA), Owen Wright (AUS)
Heat 16: Dean Morrison (AUS), Jadson Andre (BRA), Adam Melling (AUS)

ROXY PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL), Carissa Moore (HAW)
Heat 2: Coco Ho (HAW), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Bruna Schmitz (BRA), TBA
Heat 4: Silvana Lima (BRA), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Nikita Robb (ZAF)
Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), Lee Ann Curren (FRA)
Heat 6: Melanie Bartels (HAW), Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Amee Donohoe (AUS)