Typical of these Indonesian open ocean breaks, as the tidal push moved in the sets became larger and some classic committed barrel rides and on-face surfing were put on display.
French pair Marc Lacomare and Charly Martin both moved into the quarter finals in contrasting heats. Lacomare’s was the day’s opening heat on a lower tide with inconsistent 3 to 4 feet surf.
Two heats later as the tide pulsed we saw Charly Martin surf the heat of the day, dropping in and making perfect power packed tubes and backing his rides up with a variety of innovative explosive moves.
“That was a great heat for me” explained the French surfer.
“The waves were perfect and I found a good rhythm with the ocean catching plenty of excellent waves and I love the barrel rides this wave delivers.”
South Africa’s two representatives clashed today in a highly entertaining barrel shootout.
Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) held the upper hand for almost the entire heat, showing brilliant tube skills but then his Cape Town countryman Brendon Gibbens pulled into possibly the wave of day with just two minutes remaining, maintained perfect poise through a huge barrelling section to score a 9.5 and go to the lead.
“It was make or break for me on that wave “exclaimed Gibbens.
“Luckily I love riding big barrels at home in Cape Town and I was familiar with what I had to do to make the thing, I just held my nerve and held my line on the wave and I made it.”
Joubert made a late valiant attempt to regain the lead in the final minute on a bomb 8 foot set wave, committing to a huge tube but just failed to make the ride which would have certainly been a perfect 10.
“When I saw Shaun (Joubert) take the last wave I thought he’d regain the lead – he’s such a great tube rider especially in big waves but he didn’t so I was fully relieved to win” added Gibbons.
The final heat of the day saw an awesome display from Brazilian Alejo Muniz whose on-face moves were unmatched.
Just seven heats remain to crown the champion for this year and with the swell peaking we are in for an incredible set of quarter finals through to final as the world’s best Pro Juniors surfers chase $US20 000 first place prize purse and this prestigious title.
Who do you think will be 2009’s next surfing World Champ? Vote for your winner:
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Round three Heats: 1st to quarter finals, 2nd eliminated in equal 9th place $US2 500.
Heat 1: Granger Larsen (HAW) 16.50, Jesse Mendez (BRA) 13.17
Heat 2: Sam Wrench (AUS) 15.50, Nat Young (USA) 12.86
Heat 3: Clay Marzo (HAW) 13.00, Davey Cathels (AUS) 9.33
Heat 4: Kai Barger (HAW), Mustofa Jeksen (IND)
Heat 5: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 9.67, Dewa Made Ardika (IND) 5.37
Heat 6: Brendon Gibbens (ZAF) 13.90, Shaun Joubert (ZAF)12.65
Heat 7: Charly Martin (FRA)16.67, V Kato Arashi (JPN)9.40
Heat 8: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 15.17, Billy Stairmand (NZ) 13.14
Quarter Final Draw at this stage:
Quarter 1: Granger Larsen V Sam Wrench
Quarter 2: Clay Marzo V Kai Barger
Quarter 3: Marc Lacomare V Brenden Gibbons
Quarter 4: Charly Martin V Alejo Muniz
