Gavin Gillette (HAW) advanced through to the Round of 32 today.
PLAYA REVOLCADERO, Acapulco/Mex (Thursday, July 19, 2012) ? The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco saw the event?s top seeds tackle challenging two-to-three foot conditions to complete the first 10 heats of the Round of 64 today.
Michael Dunphy (Virginia Beach, VA), a top seed in the Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco, capitalized on the improved conditions brought on by the building tide and consistently displayed an array of powerful turns to secure the day?s highest single-wave score of 7.17 as well as the day?s high heat-total of 13.84 out of 20.
?I think the tide came up right when we were starting and the wind came up a little bit so it gave the wave a little crumble and a little extra time to fit in a couple of maneuvers, ?Dunphy said. ?I just wanted to go out and get a couple of waves where I could do two turns each. I hadn?t ridden this particular board since El Salvador and it feels really good and I think that helped me out as well.?
Dunphy was relieved to wrap his opening heat and shake off the nerves built up while waiting to surf his first heat in Mexico.
?I was getting itchy because I?ve been here since Sunday,? Dunphy said. ?I?ve been surfing a lot and I just wanted to get it going as soon as I could. Hopefully the conditions stay fun for the next couple of days.?
Gavin Gillette (Kauai, HI), another top seed in this year?s event battled the challenging morning close outs brought on by the low tide and found two medium range scores, allowing him to open his campaign with a heat win.
?With Dylan (Goodale) and Brett (Barley), they?re both really good surfers in these conditions especially,? Gillette said. ?I knew it was slow out there and there wasn?t much opportunity so anything that looked like it had a bit of a shoulder I was trying to go for and get a couple of scores and build a house. Luckily I did because in the end I didn?t get anything.?
Gillette, who finished equal 5th at the Copa Quiksilver El Salvador, has reached the Quarterfinals several times in events this season and is looking to post a top result in Mexico.
?I?ve had two Quarterfinals finishes this year and I?d really like to better that,? Gillette said. ?Hopefully I can build a little momentum here.?
Diego Cadena (Salulita, MEX), who began his campaign in the Round of 96, was the top Mexican performer today, topping Americans Dane Anderson (Ventura, CA), ASP North America Pro Junior Standout Evan Thompson (Jacksonville, FL) and fellow countryman Angelo Lozano (Puerto Escondido, MEX) for the win.
?I?m happy, at home I have a wave at home that is similar to this,? Cedena said. ?It asks you for a lot. I think I?m used to it. I just tried my best to make my heat and find two waves that will give me the score. That?s all you need.?
Cadena has been building momentum in men?s ASP events due to his performances in the new Latin American events and plans on launching a full international campaign in hopes to establish himself on a global scale.
?I?m really stoked to make another round,? Cadena said. ?I?m going to Europe after this to gain some points and next year I plan to be competing full time.?
