04.10.01
ASPworldtour.com

Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia - Current world No. 10-rated surfer Flavio Padaratz (Brz) today began his 2001 Rip Curl Pro campaign by winning the first heat of the main event with the highest total points awarded during the opening day. Competition began at 7:30 a.m. in good 4-foot (1.3m) waves at Bells Beach, but due to deteriorating conditions the tournament was postponed at the conclusion of heat six.

Padaratz, 29, finished runner-up to eventual 2000 world champion Sunny Garcia (Haw) in last year's Rip Curl Pro, but against Shane Beschen (USA) this morning he gained the upper hand with a combined score of 19.60-points. Sasha Stocker (Aus), meanwhile, failed to show at all for their match.

"My main thoughts as I was walking up the point before the heat were that I was runner-up last year, but it was a good time to forget about all that," said Padaratz. "This is a totally different story and it's starting all over again. I can't be thinking about results, or the enthusiasm of those past results, I've just got to keep focusing on winning the heats, and that's what I did.

"It was pretty average out there," continued Padaratz. "Shane had a couple of set waves at the beginning and I kind of sat too far out. Then I caught a couple of mid-sized ones and they took me all the way to the shore and allowed me to win the heat. I've got a day break now, so I can go back to sleep."

Current world No. 5 Jake Paterson (Aus) also took advantage of his first World Championship Tour (WCT) heat for 2001, clearly dominating Brazilians Armando Daltro and Joca Junior. The 28-year-old Australian looked completely at ease as he racked up huge, carving re-entries, despite admitting afterward he was feeling new season jitters.

Jake Paterson beat Armando Daltro (BRZ) and Joca Junior (BRZ) in round one to advance to round three of the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, Australia.

"The first heat of the year for me was pretty shaky really," explained Paterson. "I started off really well, which was lucky, as I had a bit of a shocker from then. It was the most nervous I've been for years. There are only eight WCT events this year, so you've really got to make sure each one counts. It was good to get away with a good start.

"To win this event, for me, is the next goal in my whole career," he added. "It's the longest running WCT, so to have a Bell in the collection would be awesome. I really love the wave here and it really suits my style. I just hope I can put the jigsaw puzzle together.

"Last year was a lot of fun. I made three finals, so I really want to try and step up the pace and make a few more finals. It's a good feeling being in the last heat of the day on a Sunday afternoon, or whatever day it is (at the end of an event). I really want to put it together this year."

Michael Campbell, Richard Lovett and Shane Powell added to the Australian dominance this morning, posting wins in three of the four remaining heats. Campbell convincingly disposed of Fabio Gouveia (Brz) and Trent Munro (Aus), as did Lovett over Paulo Moura (Brz) and Taj Burrow (Aus). Powell's win against fellow Australian Mark Bannister came right down to the wire and was decided on a best two-wave count-back, but opponent C.J. Hobgood (USA) failed to find the same form.

Hobgood's twin brother Damien, however, posted the only other win of the day, edging out tour rookie Nathan Hedge (Aus) and Kalani Robb (Haw).

Shane Powell advanced to round three of the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, Australia.

Official results of Rip Curl Pro Day 1, Round One
H1: Flavio Padaratz (Brz) 19.60
Shane Beschen (USA) 19.30
Sasha Stocker (Aus) 0.00

H2: Damien Hobgood (USA) 18.40
Nathan Hedge (Aus) 17.60
Kalani Robb (Haw) 16.05

H3: Michael Campbell (Aus) 18.65
Fabio Gouveia (Brz) 13.50
Trent Munro (Aus) 11.40

H4: Shane Powell (Aus) 17.50
Mark Bannister (Aus) 17.50
CJ Hobgood (USA) 9.40

H5: Richard Lovett (Aus) 18.50
Paulo Moura (Brz) 16.25
Taj Burrow (Aus) 15.15

H6: Jake Paterson (Aus) 16.75
Armando Daltro (Brz) 13.40
Joca Junior (Brz) 11.90

   Send to a friend  | Most sent  | Submit your photo or video