ASP World Tour: September 2008 Archives

"To surf against Kelly in a final, it's like a dream come true," stated Ace Buchan prior to paddling out for the final of the Quiksilver Pro. If you were a betting man you wouldn't have put a nickel down on Ace to win. History was hardly in Ace's favor. Had Kelly won he would have clinched his 9th world title and claimed his 40th world tour victory. Instead, in relatively meager, wind-blown conditions, Ace doubled down on every card in his hand, and came up with the biggest win of his career. Hoisted on the shoulders of his mates he rode up the beach with the Aussie flag waving in his hand, and as contest announcer Jake Paterson pointed out, tears streaming down his face. "I don't what to think right now," he'd say immediately following the final, obviously still trying to comprehend what he'd just done. "Mate, it's the best feeling in the world."

This is the event that could see Kelly crowned as the 2008 world champ. As you'll read below, there were only two people left standing in his way. Today, after Round 3's conclusion, there's only one person left. Wildcard Michel Bourez was happy to play the roll of spoiler, while Kelly was happy to survive another day and get that much closer to Number 9.

Well folks, things finally returned to normal here in France (or at least as normal as they get). For the most part everybody that was supposed to win today did. Round 2 is now in the books, and it's looking like a new swell's in route for later in the week. So for now just chew on the latest news and don't forget to tune in as this sucker wraps up in what's looking like some pretty good conditions.

It was a hit and miss day for the Red Bull Crew today at the Quiksilver Pro France. While 9 out of the top 10 surfers on tour failed to advance out of Round 1, there were some bright points, most notably Red Bull Rising up-and-comer Michel Bourez knocking out Joel Parkinson in Round 2. Also worthy of note was both Ben Dunn's win which carried him straight into Round 3. And besides Bourez, fellow Rising standout and Quiksilver Pro Trials winner Tim Boal gave it his all against Kelly Slater in Round 2, but came up just short. Unfortunately Mick Fanning and Andy Irons have both been eliminated from the event. Other than that, we're just going to have to wait until tomorrow to see how the rest of the boys do, but until then, here's a few highlights.

The surf continues to pump, and the boys continue to flare. Adriano and Mick have certainly set the pace, and what a mean pace it is. With four- to six-foot southwest sets continuing to pulse for the second day of competition at the Boost Mobile Pro, the performance level out at Lowers has been downright ridiculous. Still looking for his first win of the 2008 campaign, Mick appears to be the man to beat, implementing his wraps, carves and off-the-tops with effective precision. Adriano on the other hand seems to constantly be surfing in fifth gear. All year the kid from Brazil's thoroughly been getting the job done, and considering rumors on the beach have Adriano relocating to San Clemente, he's looking quite at home here in Orange County. All that said, Bruce is also rolling and snapped out of his Round 1 funk. The less he cares the better he does, which is a dangerous thing. Stay tuned as the comp rolls on.

The Boost Mobile Pro has never been short on drama, or performance, and it doesn't look like 2008's going to be an exception. With absolutely flawless 4- to 6-foot Lowers on offer--and the swell only improving throughout the week--the boys have been in hog heaven. Both Mick Fanning and Adriano De Souza logged exceptional performances in the bounty of perfect righthanders, winning their heats in convincing fashion and very much firing off an early warning shot that they very much have every intention of taking the whole damn event. And Royden Bryson put in an admirable performance at the end of the day, also winning his heat and advancing into the third round. It's still early days down here at Lowers, and it would appear that just about everybody on tour's out for blood, but the Red Bull boys definitely are on point and are going to be hard to beat. Stay tuned later today for another recap from Round 2... 

Mortar fire rumbled through the morning fog, morbidly rolling over the hills and down to the beach. Blast after blast, round after round, the boys from Pendleton hammered away. All the while, Mick Fanning, Adriano De Souza and Royden Bryson were in the water, readying themselves for the impending battle...