Date: Thursday, April 10, 2014 Schedule: Rounds 4 and 5 (Eight Heats) of the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Conditions: Two-to-four foot (1 – metre) waves at Main Break.
Conditions turned on for Round 4 of the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro as heavy-hitting natural-footers Josh Kerr, Bede Durbidge and Jordy Smith took to the lineup.
Following an emotional Round 3 in which Durbidge had to re-surf his heat against local Western Australian Taj Burrow, the big Queenslander looked polished and powerful in this morning’s conditions.
Smith offered a late charge of his own, but it proved too late and he and Kerr will have to surf in Round 5 while Durbidge vaults into the Quarterfinals.
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.33, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 11.50, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 9.30
Clean conditions persisted for Heat 2 of Round 4 as current ASP WCT No. 1 Gabriel Medina, compatriot Miguel Pupo and WA wildcard Yadin Nicol did battle.
Nicol’s comfort at Margaret River’s Main Break was apparent, but it was Medina’s world-class form at the moment that was on display once again to take the heat win.
Pupo and Nicol will look to survive the upcoming Round 5.
Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 11.93, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 10.63, Michel Bourez (PYF) 8.50
Round 4 action would continue with 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater, high-flying Brazilian Filipe Toledo and Tahitian Powerhouse Michel Bourez all bringing their distinct styles to competition in a battle for the Quarterfinals.
Toledo would strike first, locking in a 5.33 to take an early lead. Slater would battle back however, locking in a 5.60 of his own. The seesaw battle would continue with an answer from the Brazilian, but Slater’s final score of a 6.33 would solidify his slot in the Quarterfinals.
Heat 4: Nat Young (USA) 13.93, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.37, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.73
Nat Young, 2013 ASP Rookie of the Year, would continue to assert himself among the world’s best surfers in Round 4 at Main Break, taking to his signature backhand in what would be a strong performance against 2012 ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson and hungry Brazilian Adriano de Souza.
Young would lead the heat from start to finish, advancing directly to the Quarterfinals while relegating his veteran competition to Round 5.
Following the completion of Round 4, Drug Aware Margaret River Pro competition would make history, running Round 5 at the iconic Western Australian slab ‘The Box’ for the first time.
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.16 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 8.37
Jordy Smith and Miguel Pupo would be up first, would both surfers taking heavy wipeouts while battling for a slot in the Quarterfinals.
Smith logs the first score of significance, posting a 6.33 for a solid forehand tube. The South African would follow up with a mid-range score shortly after and place the heat out of reach for the Brazilian goofy-footer.
After a sleep start to Heat 2, The Box turned on for the clash between Josh Kerr and compatriot Yadin Nicol.
After a flurry of mid-range scores, Kerr split the heat wide open with an excellent 8.17 for a particularly deep forehand barrel.
Despite answering back late in the heat, Nicol would be unable to overtake Kerr’s lead and finish Equal 9th at the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.
Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.60 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.50
Conditions would continue to fire at the Western Australian Slab, as Joel Parkinson and ASP Dream Tour Sophomore Filipe Toledo spent 30 minutes exchanging barrels.
Parkinson would navigate the technical barrels with ease, earning an 8.17 on his opening ride. While some doubted the Brazilian’s abilities in the tube, Toledo quickly put questions to rest, responding with an 8.23 of his own, briefly overtaking the former champ for the lead.
The Australian would answer back, however, earning the highest score of the round, 8.43, securing a Quarterfinals berth.
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) 14.33 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 11.50
Following two heats of firing waves, conditions in Heat 4 between Michel Bourez and Adriano de Souza began to slow, but both regular footers would share in some exciting exchanges at The Box.
De Souza would strike first with a midrange score, but Bourez would log two keepers in a row, securing his first Quarterfinals berth of the season.
