Competition continued at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Qualifying Series (QS) 6-Star Los Cabos Open of Surf in clean two-to-four foot surf at Zippers. Men’s action narrowed the field from the original 144 down to 24, while the women’s competition commenced with a Round 1 that saw the first Perfect 10 of the event.
The Los Cabos Open of Surf represents the largest surf contest in Mexico’s history and will play a crucial role in determining qualifiers for the 2015 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT). The event at Zippers is the third ASP 6-Star Men’s and fourth of seven 6-Stars for the women globally.
Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), 24, current No. 2 on the ASP QS rankings, continued his winning ways in Mexico following a victory at the recent Prime in Saquarema. The Brazilian talent delivered a deadly backhand attack on the rights of Zippers, earning excellent scores en route to victory.
Matt Banting (AUS) will advance to Round 4 with a second place heat finish in Day 3 competition.
Thomas Woods (AUS), 21, got the best of a heavy Australian matchup, topping current ASP QS No. 7, Matt Banting (AUS), 19, who would advance in second, while eliminating two-time World Junior Champion Jack Freestone (AUS), 22, and South American Guillermo Satt (CHL), 21.
“I’ve been surfing against those guys since the juniors and I just went into it like I was going to have a stacked heat back at home,” Woods said. “It was fun and I really enjoyed it and I’m happy to be making some heats. I came down here last year as well and I enjoy the whole vibe.”
While men’s competition narrowed the field down to just 24, women’s action kicked off with high scores throughout the first round.
Mahina Maeda (HAW), 16, a standout on the World Junior Stage, was dominant on the women’s opening day of competition. She earned the first perfect 10-point ride, for a flawless combination of backhand snaps across the point at Zippers.
Mahina Maeda earned the tournament’s first and only Perfect 10 thus far en route to a Round 1 heat win.
“I’m feeling amazing here in Cabo,” Maeda said. “This is my third year entering in the 6-Stars. I entered as an alternate and I’m so happy that I got in. This wave is very rippable and it’s a long right. It’s nice to have a few waves to yourself out there!”
Ella Williams (NZL), 19, the reigning ASP Women’s World Junior Champion, got off to a strong start in Cabo, commanding her opening heat from start to finish, advancing to Round 2 as as result.
“It’s a lot colder at home right now so it’s nice to be in my bikini and relax a little,” Williams said. “It’s a fun wave on your backhand. You can really unleash on your backhand and hopefully I can keep going.”
The Los Cabos Open of Surf holds a waiting period from June 16 through 22, and is webcast LIVE on aspworldtour.com. In addition the event is broadcast live in Hawaii and Southern California on Time Warner Cable.
LOS CABOS OPEN OF SURF MEN’S ROUND 3 RESULTS: Heat 1: Davey Cathels (AUS) 13.90, Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.43, Tanner Hendrickson (HAW) 11.67, Hiroto Arai (JPN) 9.77 Heat 2: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.80, Billy Stairmand (NZL) 15.77, Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 12.07, Kaito Ohashi (JPN) 11.54 Heat 3: Frederico Morais (PRT) 14.37, Jesse Mendes (BRA) 14.37, Thiago Camarao (BRA) 12.80, Cooper Chapman (AUS) 7.70 Heat 4: Thomas Woods (AUS) 14.63, Matt Banting (AUS) 11.43, Jack Freestone (AUS) 11.00, Guillermo Satt (CHL) 10.63 Heat 5: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 15.03, Willian Cardoso (BRA) 12.14, Ian Gouveia (BRA) 11.40, Dylan Goodale (HAW) 10.17 Heat 6: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 14.70, Carlos Munoz (CRI) 14.30, Dale Staples (ZAF) 10.66, Miguel Tudela (PER) Heat 7: Tanner Guduaskas (USA) 15.37, Flavio Nakagima (BRA) 14.40, Wade Carmichael (AUS) 12.47, Granger Larsen (HAW) 10.23 Heat 8: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 14.83, Brett Simpson (USA) 13.77, Marco Giorgi (URY) 13.26, Santiago Muniz (ARG) 8.23 Heat 9: Mitchel Coleborn (AUS) 14.37, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.90, Nic Von Rupp (PRT) 8.93, David Do Carmo (BRA) 5.70 Heat 10: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 15.87, Connor O’Leary (AUS) 13.30, Cory Arrambide (USA) 12.80, Jay Thompson (AUS) 9.77 Heat 11: Medi Veminardi (REU) 11.17, Francisco Bellorin (VEN) 11.10, Steven Pierson (PYF) 10.83, Conner Coffin (USA) 10.74 Heat 12: Dion Atkinson (AUS) 12.46, Kaimana Jaquias (HAW) 11.33, Tim Reyes (USA) 10.10, Messias Felix (BRA) 9.07
LOS CABOS OPEN OF SURF WOMEN’S ROUND 1 RESULTS: Heat 1: Ella Williams (NZL) 15.60, Leticia Canales Bilbao (EUK) 11.23, Tia Blanco (USA) 11.16, Ana Laura Gonzalez (MEX) 3.83 Heat 2: Chandler Parr (USA) 15.10, Codie Klein (AUS) 12.80, Minami Takechi (JPN) 8.73 Heat 3: Brianna Cope (HAW) 12.80, Sarah Mason (NZL) 12.33, Danielle Ciminero (USA) 7.30, Leila Takeda (MEX) INT Heat 4: Holly-Sue Coffey (AUS) 15.16, Carol Fernandes (BRA) 12.44, Shelby Detmers (USA) 12.06, Keshia Seelow Eyre (GBR) 11.17 Heat 5: Mahina Maeda (HAW) 16.90, Dax McGill (HAW) 16.70, Demi Bolsterli (USA) 11.10, Kloee Openshaw (USA) 3.67 Heat 6: Bailey Nagy (HAW) 12.00, Reika Noro (JPN) 10.26, Sarah Taylor (USA) 8.77, Meah Collins (USA) 8.57
