WeAreH2O.Com Fresh Friday Sept 22 2006

Bede Durbidge won the Trestles contest last Saturday. He defeated Kelly Slater in the final to take his first WCT win. With only 4 contest to go in the WCT title race the action heats up as everyone needs to step up and score points to keep up with Mr. Slater.

It is looking like Kelly Slater will win his 8th World Title if he continues his winning form.

Slater on his 2006 ASP World Title campaign: "I’m honestly not too worried about it. I’ve looked at the points already - they came up and gave me a sheet right after the final. I know what the points are and where we stand. I’m sure I’ll do a little math in my head and figure it out going into France what I need to do there. Realistically, Taj (Burrow) and I aren’t that far apart. One slip up by me and Taj can jump right past me. If both of us slip up, we can let Andy (Irons) right back in the door. France has proven to be Andy’s event, winning three years in a row - I don’t know if anyone’s ever won a contest three years in a row. For some reason, it’s just a contest that suits him pretty well."

The first day of the waiting period is today for the French contest. Current conditions show big swell for the contest, but today the organizers say it is too disorganized. Check back on Saturday to see if the contest has started. France is only six hours ahead of us so we should be able to catch some of the action during the day.

7AM France time is 1AM EST. So, 6AM EST is Noon in France.

Live coverage of French contest can be found here: http://www.aspworldtour.com/quikprofrance/

The crowd began building to maximum capacity from the moment the first heat hit the water at 8am.

Damien Hobgood (USA) looked to be in top form as he easily defeated Australian Jarrad Howse in Round 3 action.

Kelly Slater continued his winning form to beat Shaun Cansdell in their closely contested round 4 heat.

Hawaiin Andy Irons suffered a sensational upset when he was defeated by Australian Bede Durbidge.

Dean Morrison (Aus) powered past Damien Hobgood (USA) to advance to the quarterfinals where he faced fellow Gold Coaster Mick Fanning.

Taj Burrow (Aus) finished equal third, losing out to Bede Durbidge (Aus) in the semi finals.

Kelly Slater (USA) gets his board ready.

Kelly Slater

Bede Durbidge (Gold Coast, Aus) scored a sensational victory when he beat Kelly Slater to claim victory at the Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley.

Kelly Slater, always the good sportsman, congratulates Bede Durbidge who beat him in the final to claim his first ever WCT victory.

Bede Durbidge (Gold Coast, Aus) is carried up the beach by his Aussie comrades moments after he clinched the Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley.

Bede Durbidge holds up his first WCT trophy.

2006 Top Ten World Title points after Trestles:

1 Kelly Slater(USA) 6141
2 Taj Burrow(AUS) 5558
3 Andy Irons(HAW) 4965
4 Bobby Martinez(USA) 4643
5 Taylor Knox(USA) 4470
6 Joel Parkinson(AUS) 4384
7 Damien Hobgood(USA) 4367
8 Mick Fanning(AUS) 4309
9 Tim Reyes(USA) 4175
10 Bede Durbidge(AUS) 3939

The round one draw is as follows for the French contest:

HEAT 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs Jarrad Howse (AUS)

HEAT 2: Tim Reyes (USA) vs Nathan Hedge (AUS) vs Roy Powers (HAW)

HEAT 3: Taylor Knox (USA) vs Luke Stedman (AUS) vs David Weare (ZAF)

HEAT4: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs Fred Patacchia (HAW) Toby Martin (AUS)

HEAT 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs Cory Lopez (USA) vs Pedro Henrique (BRA)

HEAT 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs Travis Logie (ZAF) vs Yuri Sodre (BRA)

HEAT 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs Trent Munro (AUS) vs Adrian Buchan (AUS)

HEAT 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs Mark Occhilupo (AUS) vs wildcard

HEAT 9: Andy Irons (HAW) vs Shaun Cansdell (AUS) vs wildcard

HEAT 10: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs wildcard

HEAT 11: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs Chris Ward (USA) vs Mikael Picon (FRA)

HEAT 12: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs Victor Ribas (BRA) vs Raoni Monteiro (BRA)

HEAT 13: Phil Macdonald (AUS) vs Darren O’Rafferty (AUS) vs Marcelo Nunes (BRA)

HEAT 14: Danny Wills (AUS) vs Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs Jake Paterson (AUS)

HEAT 15: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs Paulo Moura (BRA) vs Mick Lowe (AUS)

HEAT 16: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs Troy Brooks (AUS) vs Peterson Rosa (BRA)

Last 4 Contest Schedule:

Sep 22-Oct 1 South West Coast-France Quiksilver Pro France
Oct 2 or 3-14 Mundaka, Euskadi-Spain Billabong Pro
Oct 30-Nov 8 Brazil Nova Schin Festival Billabong
Dec 8-20 Banzai Pipeline,Oahu-Hawaii Rip Curl Pipeline Masters

All photos and captions above copyrighted ASPWorldTour.Com

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Pier Talk

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East Central Florida is definitely in wave season. We have had back-to-back Hurricane swells and it looks as our good luck with swells will continue next week. Hurricane Florence gave us huge surf last week, and Hurricane Helene is currently providing the goods this past week and into the weekend.

Its feels good to be able to surf everyday again. After our miserable summer this seems to be payback for us!

Surf everyday!

http://2ndlight.com/

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We Are Water Happenings

Satellite Beach lost a great friend and surfer. Rob Youngkin drowned while surfing in Hurricane Florence swell on Thursday, September 14, 2006. On the following Sunday a paddleout took place.

Thanks to everyone who made the early morning date for Rob Youngkin's paddleout. It was awesome and a great tribute to him.

See you on the outside Rob!