Snapper Rocks continued to the deliver for Quarterfinal action at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast as Western Australian Taj Burrow teed off against Floridian C.J. Hobgood in the opening clash.
Burrow’s presence on the Superbank has been impressive this week with the natural-footer surfing with heightened speed and power on his forehand.
A reinvigorated Hobgood has been impressive as well during the opening event of the year, powering through on his backhand with renewed polish. The American would fall short this afternoon, however, and will take home an Equal 5th to open up the year.
The second Semifinal would see Gold Coast ASP World Champion Mick Fanning battle Gabriel Medina in an impressive battle.
Fanning would light up the Snapper Rocks lineup with his usual flare, dismantling sections with incredible power to solidify a solid lead.
The young Brazilian would battle back, however, delivering the day’s highest score of 9.40 under Fanning’s priority compliments of a devastating series of backhand combinations.
Medina’s victory over Fanning marked the day’s first major upset.
Quarterfinal 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 16.53 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 12.17
The grudge match between 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater and Brazilian sensation Adriano de Souza continued today with this afternoon’s Quarterfinal action.
Both surfers exchanged passionate opening scores with Slater holding the slight advantage.
The Brazilian answered back handily though, decimating a running righthander for an 8.60 and put pressure on the American. Compounding the high score was a 7.93 that De Souza blasted with three solid maneuvers.
Slater was unable to answer back and nets an Equal 5th at the opening stop of the event.
Quarterfinal 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.93 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 13.26
The Quiksilver Pro Quarterfinals would see Joel Parkinson carry the local torch against dangerous Brazilian Miguel Pupo in clean Snapper Rocks conditions.
Parkinson wasted little time in asserting his dominance in the heat, locking in a 9-point ride for a technical barrel followed by a flurry of sizzling forehand turns.
Pupo would hunt for the scores needed to surpass the past ASP World Champ, but Parkinson would solidify his spot in to the Semifinals with an additional excellent score in the dying moments of the bout.
Semifinal 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.13 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.10
The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Semifinals would open with electric backhand surfing from Gabriel Medina and a powerful forehand attack via Taj Burrow.
The lead would see a flurry of rides from both Burrow and Medina with both the Australian and the Brazilian sharing the lead throughout the match.
Burrow would find a crucial backup ride with just minutes remaining in the heat, but for the second consecutive time on the Final day, Medina would detonate a buzzer-beating score, topping Burrow to advance to the Semifinals.
Semifinals 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.70 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.67
Joel Parkinson would pick up where he left off following a stellar Quarterfinals performance, this time taking on passionate Brazilian Adriano de Souza.
Parko wasted little time in establishing a lead, logging a near-perfect 9.97 for an incredible barrel-ride followed with a series of signature rail-carves from the local regular-footer.
Parkinson continued to dominate the one-sided affair, logging a similar ride for a high 8-point score, convincingly solidifying his slot in the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Final.
Final: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.33 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.27
Joel Parkinson would pick up where he left off in the Final of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, netting a 9-point ride to open his campaign with an impressive tube from behind the rocks against lethal Brazilian Gabriel Medina.
Parkinson would quickly back up the ride with a high 6, while Medina would search feverishly to log scores on the board.
Medina would continue to battle hard, however, and maintained his trend of come-from-behind performances in the final minutes. The goofy-footer would decimate a long Snapper Wall for an 8.50 and back the ride up with little time remaining, securing the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast victory over the local veteran.
Medina’s historic victory makes him the first Brazilian and only the second goofy-footer ever to win the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.
