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Taj Burrow claims victory in Billabong Pro at Jeffreys Bay |
| Billabong Pro Foster’s ASP World Tour: Event #5 of 10 Supertubes, Jeffreys Bay, South Africa 11 – 22 July 2007  TAJ BURROW CLAIMS VICTORY IN BILLABONG PRO AT JEFFREYS BAY Taj Burrow (AUS) claimed victory in the R2.1 million Billabong Pro on Saturday, beating Kelly Slater (USA) with an outstanding display of high performance surfing in glassy one to 1.3 metre (3-4 foot) waves at the legendary Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay. After a slow start to the final where both surfers fell on their opening waves, Burrow took the lead at the halfway point of the 40 minute final, racing down the line while stringing together a series of his trademark vertical manoeuvres to earn the heat-high score of 8.50 points (out of 10). Following that up with an 8.00, Burrow tallied 16.50 to leave the uncharacteristically out of sorts eight-time world champion needing to replace both his scores for victory. Slater, who admitted to being tired after his semi-final, fell on his first four rides and was never in contention. The victory moved Burrow into second place on the Foster’s ASP World Tour ratings, behind compatriot Mick Fanning, and earned him us $30 000 (R210 000). Andy Irons (HAW) retained third place while Slater moved up from sixth to fourth. “It’s a great feeling and I’m stoked to be finally taking the win here at J-Bay, one of my favourite places on the tour,” Burrow said. “I’ve had Kelly combo’ed before and nearly lost, so I wasn’t claiming anything until the final siren.” Burrow was on fire throughout the event and particularly on the final day where he posted scores of nine points or more in every heat before the final. He reached the final by defeating Fanning in a replay of last year’s final after coming from behind to overtake J-Bay standout Joel Parkinson (AUS) in their quarterfinal encounter. Slater squeaked through his semifinal match-up to gain revenge over Dean Morrison (AUS) who had ousted him from the last World Tour event in Chile at the end of last month. Needing 7.01, Morrison was frustratingly awarded 6.93 as the heat wound down. The American had earlier left young Brazilian Adriano de Souza needing a combination of scores in the quarters and recorded a convincing victory over Australian Luke Stedman in their round 4 clash. Slater also took the Nixon ‘Winner Takes All’ (WTA) award for the highest heat total of the event, earning himself a unique custom built Nixon watch encrusted with black diamonds valued at approximately US $10 000 (R70 000). The three-time Billabong Pro J-Bay champ compiled a heat total of 19.23 points out of a possible 20 in the quarterfinal against de Souza, posting two near perfect scores of 9.70 and 9.53 to overtake Taj Burrow’s 18.33 round 2 effort that included a perfect 10 point score. Both Slater and Burrow’s exceptional rides can be viewed on www.billabongpro.com. World Tour rookie Josh Kerr (AUS) pocketed the US $2 000 for the Best Kustomised Manoeuvre when his outrageous rail grab carving 360 under the falling lip of the two metre (6 foot) wave in round 1 was adjudged to be the most innovative manoeuvre at any time during the Billabong Pro South Africa’s last hope in the event, Travis Logie from Durban, could not match the smooth power of Danny Wills (AUS) in round 4 and was eliminated in equal ninth place overall with 600 points and US $6 000 (approx R42 000). Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Final Day Results Final Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.50 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 6.17 Semifinals Semi 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 17.67 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.17 Semi 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.83 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 13.76 Quarterfinals Quarter 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.33 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.50 Quarter 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.93 def. Daniel Wills (AUS) 12.34 Quarter 3: Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.60 def. Andy Irons (USA) 11.50 Quarter 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.23 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.33 Round 4 Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.66 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 7.00 Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.00; def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 9.17 Heat 3: Daniel Wills (AUS) 15.83 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 11.10 Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.66 def. Pancho Sullivan (4.84) Heat 5: Andy Irons (AUS) 13.66 def. Fredrick Patacchia (6.13) Heat 6: Dean Morrison ((AUS) 12.50 def. Bobby Martinez (5.17) Heat 7: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.17 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 12.23 Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.00 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.53 Foster’s ASP Word Tour Ratings (after event #5 Billabong Pro J-Bay) 1. Mick Fanning (AUS) 4860 2. Taj Burrow (AUS) 4286 3. Andy Irons (HAW) 3921 4. Kelly Slater (USA) 3840 5. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 3804 6. Damien Hobgood (USA) 3599 7. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 3057 8. Daniel Wills (AUS) 2942 9. Dean Morrison (AUS) 2838 10. Travis Logie (ZAF) 2810 27. Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 2050 32. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 1777 33. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 1685 47. David Weare (ZAF) 225 (one event) Replays of heat highlights throughout the event are available on www.billabongpro.com along with a gallery of images and heaps of other information. The 2007 Billabong Pro was proudly supported by South African Airways; Von Zipper; Kustom; Nixon; True Technologies; Dirk Ellis Motors; Canon; Telkom SA; Bonaqua. \Ends Covered Images: Karen Wilson Email: karen@coveredimages.com Issued on behalf of: Billabong South Africa Tel: +27 (0) 42 200 2600 Fax: +27 (0) 42 293 2478 Email: sean.holmes@billabong.co.za Website: www.billabongpro.com Compiled and issued by: Life's a Beach Communications PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965 Fax: +27 (0) 86 684 6250 Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964 Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za About ASP The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the Foster’s ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America. About Foster’s Group Foster’s Group is a premium global drinks company delivering a portfolio of beer, wine, spirits, cider and non-alcoholic beverages. The Foster’s network spans three regions: 1) Australia, Asia and Pacific, 2) Americas and 3) Europe, Middle East and Africa. Foster’s has been the naming rights Title sponsor of the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour since 2004. Foster’s Lager is the official beer of the tour and is the world’s seventh largest international beer brand - available in 155 countries. |
| Date: 21 July 07 |