07.02.01
Press Release

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - World Championship Tour (WCT) rookie Paulo Moura (Brz) today continued his giant killing run through the Rio Surf International by eliminating world #2 Luke Egan (Aus). In what proved to be a day of upsets, many of the world's top rated surfers lost to their lower counterparts.

Competition was again at Prainha in 3-foot (1m) surf. Unfortunately wind and tide changes created somewhat tricky conditions this afternoon.

Moura, 21, became the man to beat yesterday after eliminating defending Rio Surf International champion Kalani Robb (Haw). Against Egan today he again held his ground, though the match went right down to the wire. With less than 20-seconds remaining the world #2 paddled into a wave with priority needing a 5.16 score, but could only manage a 1.9. For the Brazilian it signaled his best result to date.

"The wave came and I just closed my eyes and hoped the best thing would happen for me," said a relieved Moura. "I feel so good. It's the first time I've made it to fourth round of a WCT. I knew it would be a real hard heat, so I tried to keep my focus and get the right waves and surf well.

"It's good because I have more confidence and feel more comfortable on the WCT," he continued. "But it's not like I think I'm better than Luke Egan, or Kalani Robb yesterday. I just had good heats and I hope I do next time as well."

Egan, 31, scored the highest single wave of the heat for 6.75, but lacked solid backups. Angry and frustrated by being dealt his third consecutive 17th place finish this year, his expression did most of the talking afterward.

"I lost," shouted Egan to members of the media. "What more do you want from me?"

Flavio Padaratz (Brz) and Andy Irons (Haw), currently equal third on the ratings, also became round three casualties today when Russell Winter (GB) and Trent Munro (Aus), respectively, beat the pair.

Russel Winter

Padaratz, 30, lead to the last minute over Winter, but then made the mistake of paddling for a wave and lost priority. This opened the door for his opponent to catch another decent ride, and ultimately claim the close match.

"I had the heat in my hand, but I paddled for this one little wave and lost priority," explained Padaratz. "Time was running out, so I had to try and get something before he did with less than one minute. Two waves came and I caught the first. He only needed a half point more, and my wave wasn't good at all. I knew it from the time I lost priority it could happen. One little mistake cost the whole thing. That's how close it is these days. You've just got to take it."

Winter, 25, who's currently last on the ratings in 45th position, is sure to climb a few places now with this already good result.

"I can't believe that happened at the end," exclaimed Winter afterward. "He lost priority which helped me out a lot. If he hadn't, I probably wouldn't have got it. At the end of the day it's just luck sometimes, and luck went my way today."

Irons, 22, who posted the highest total of round one with what appeared an ominous sign for this tournament, couldn't find the waves today against WCT rookie Munro.

"I had a bad heat and didn't get waves," said Irons. "Trent did, that's the end of it."

Munro, 22, continued his charge with a series of great rides, including an 8.0 to win.

"I'm feeling really good," said Munro. "Andy's a really good surfer, but I ended up getting waves, so I'm over the moon."

World #3 Rob Machado (USA) was another to go down, losing to fellow countryman Taylor Knox. While Machado proved to be the in-form surfer yesterday, his close friend turned it on today. Knox lead the way with a superb 9.5, before securing the highest tally of the round on 23.25 points.

"He definitely put it together today," said Machado of Knox afterward. "I'm stoked for him. We're good friends. Win or lose... you're kind of bummed when you lose, but you're stoked your friend made it. I wish him all the best going on in this contest."

Knox, 30, surfed with confidence he has largely lacked during the past few years. Widely praised for his style and ability, results have not flowed for the world #28. More heats like today, however, and this will surely change.

"I'm starting catch on," joked Knox of finally figuring out how to win. "I think I just lost my brains for a couple of years, but I'm starting to get it back. I don't think my surfing ever really suffered, but it was just in my head."

World number #8 Michael Campbell (Aus) and current #10 Guilherme Herdy (Brz) were both eliminated due to adverse circumstances. Herdy injured his knee free-surfing yesterday and was forced to withdraw from his match against Joel Parkinson (Aus), while Campbell failed to show for his clash with Nathan Hedge (Aus).

Hedge, 22, continued to surf alone until it was revealed his opponent had slept in and wouldn't be showing. By advancing, he's now secured his best WCT result.

"Unfortunately Mick couldn't show up, I was sort of ready for a heat," said Hedge. "I'm not complaining he didn't, though. I got used to my board a little more and am into the next round, so I'm stoked. This is the best I've ever gone since I've been on tour, but hopefully it won't stop there."

World Champion Sunny Garcia (Haw) continued his 2001 Rio Surf International campaign by avenging the first round loss caused by wildcard Leonardo Neves (Brz). Garcia, 31, was determined against his younger opponent, especially since many of his top-rated peers had already lost.

Sunny Garcia

"I was pretty determined not to let him beat me," said the world champ. "Especially after yesterday when a lot of guys who were in front of me on the ratings lost. It's a very short year and just a couple of good results and a win could win you the world title. I want to make sure I'm in contention going into Hawaii. Sunset (beach, the last event) is one of my favorite waves and I've won the last couple of years there, so the odds would be in my favor going into Hawaii."

Current ratings' #1 and #2, Cory Lopez and CJ Hobgood (both from the USA), also survived the day to retain their envious positions at the top. Hobgood, 22, was especially vicious against opponent Victor Ribas (Brz), letting loose on the wave of the day to score a near perfect 9.9 and rule out any chance of a loss.

"It felt pretty good and they gave me 9.9," said Hobgood. "Out there if you get over a nine it's pretty hard for the other guy to come back. After that I just held my ground and didn't want to let him get a wave that looked like that."

"Sunny made his heat right before me," he added. "So it gave me extra incentive to try and keep up with them all."

CJ Hobgood

Lopez, 24, then disposed of Beau Emerton (Aus) to move one step closer to the final rounds.

"I just got lucky on a few waves that peeled and was able to do a couple maneuvers and one little air," said Lopez. "I feel great, so we'll see what happens."

Official Round Three Heats of the Rio Surf International

H1: Taj Burrow (Aus) 21.4 def. Nathan Webster (Aus) 21.0
H2: Trent Munro (Aus) 20.25 def. Andy Irons (Haw) 13.4
H3: Nathan Hedge (Aus) 14.0 def. Michael Campbell (Aus) 0.0
H4: Russell Winter (GB) 17.9 def. Flavio Padaratz (Brz) 17.0
H5: Joel Parkinson (Aus) def. Guilherme Herdy (Brz) (Injured)
H6: Pat O'Connell (USA) 17.0 def. Danny Wills (Aus) 12.5
H7: Fabio Gouveia (Brz) 13.35 def. Luke Hitchings (Aus) 8.8
H8: Sunny Garcia (Haw) 18.85 def. Leonardo Neves (Brz) 15.5
H9: CJ Hobgood (USA) 21.65 def. Victor Ribas (Brz) 15.35
H10: Taylor Knox (USA) 23.25 def. Rob Machado (USA) 18.3
H11: Paulo Moura (Brz) 17.4 def. Luke Egan (Aus) 16.75
H12: Neco Padaratz (Brz) 20.4 def. Richie Lovett (Aus) 18.65
H13: Cory Lopez (USA) 18.9 def. Beau Emerton (Aus) 15.6
H14: Peterson Rosa (Brz) 15.25 def. Renan Rocha (Brz) 10.0
H15: Mark Occhilupo (Aus) 15.6 def. Marcelo Nunes (Brz) 11.55
H16: Armando Daltro (Brz) 20.85 def. Shea Lopez (USA) 19.45

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