PLAYA REVOLCADERO, Acapulco/Mexico (Tuesday, July 17, 2012) ? The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco completed Round 1 of competition as well as the opening heats of Round 2 in clean four-to-six foot (1.5 metre) waves at Playa Revolcadero and called competition off early in the afternoon due to onshore winds.
The Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco was a late addition to the ASP North America schedule and the ASP 4-Star points offer an excellent opportunity for young surfers to establish their seed on the ASP World Ranking.
Oliver Kurtz (Vero Beach, FL) launched the highest single-wave score of opening day in the final heat with a massive frontside air, earning an 8.83 out of 10 for the single maneuver in addition to the day?s highest heat total of 14.40 out of 20 to a win over past elite ASP WCT surfer Timmy Reyes (Huntington Beach, CA), who advanced in second.
?There were still a lot of fun waves out there and these conditions definitely suit my surfing,? Kurtz said. ?On that on air, I kind of knew I had to get going because it was a long wall. I just got lucky and was able to time that one section really well. I?m psyched.?
Reyes also found success alongside Kurtz while staying busy in his heat and earned one of the day?s highest scores of 7.50 for powerful backhand surfing to easily advance to the Round of 64.
?It?s a four-man heat and I just focus on getting first and second and try to turn it up a bit each round,? Reyes said. ?This afternoon it was all about getting in a turn here or there an connecting to the inside and basically use your athleticism to make it back out. I was pretty rattled, but it?s a beachbreak and everyone gets their waves.?
Anthony Segura (CRI) a newcomer to ASP events, opened his Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco campaign in strong form with a Round 1 heat win compliments of the day?s top single-wave score of 7.33 with a short barrel and two committed turns. The Costa Rican remained consistent in Round 2, advancing to the Round of 64 behind Michael Powell (Wrightsville Beach, NC) in his second heat of the day.
?This is my second Star rated ASP event and I?m happy to make it through that first round,? Segura said. ?I was lucky to find that one 7 and it was enough to get me through the heat. I feel like I surfed well in El Salvador, but I didn?t make my heat, so it feels good to get a win there.?
Segura, who is competing at Playa Revolcadero for the first time, was impressed with the quality conditions at the Mexican beachbreak and hopes his streak continues in Round 3.
?This wave is much better than I was expecting,? Segura said. ?When I heard we were having a contest here, I thought it was going to be like a pool, but to get here and have barrels and fun waves, it?s like a dream. I?m happy and I hope I can put on a good performance for my sponsors.?
Michael Powell surfed for the first time following a leg injury sustained in El Salvador and made a seamless return to competition, matching Segura?s top single-wave score of 7.33 in Round 2 to claim his heat win.
?I didn?t do very well in El Salvador and for some reason I got this really huge bump on my leg which ended up getting infected,? Powell said. ?This morning was the first time I?ve surfed since El Salvador and I didn?t think I was going to have to surf for a couple more days. I guess I overcame a bit of adversity and made it through.?
