A field that started with 144 surfers has been reduced to just 16 at the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series men's Burton Automotive Pro QS6000 - the Burton Automotive Women's Classic was off for the day. The athletes were treated to 4-to-6 foot clean peaks producing long lefts and rights, the perfect platform for exciting action in the water.
Willian Cardoso (BRA) put on a dominant performance in his Round 4 win over Joel Parkinson (AUS), who advanced in 2nd position, while Cardoso's countryman Ian Gouveia (BRA) was eliminated in 3rd. Cardoso posted excellent scores by producing some of the most powerful turns of the event thus far.
"I'm stoked to beat Parko (Joel Parkinson) and Ian (Gouveia) - they've been ripping!" Cardoso said. "That was my first heat where I've really found some great scores. I've had a tough time in the earlier heats trying to find the right waves and it all came together for me in that one."
Surfest, Newcastle - WSL / WSL/Dunbar
Parkinson was on the ropes from the start of the heat, picking waves that didn't quite allow him to open up with his trademark smooth carves. With 90 seconds left on the clock Parko unloaded two massive hacks to score a 8.23 and jump from 3rd to 2nd place.
"I was probably frothing a bit too hard at the start," Parkinson said. "It was a frustrating heat, but I guess it doesn't matter if you get two scores at the start or the end, just as long as you get them. When Willian (Cardoso) is on the best waves he's really hard to beat."
Keanu Asing (HAW) is preparing for his rookie season on the Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour (CT). After an uncharacteristically early exit at the last QS6000 event, he's managed to find his form at the Burton Automotive Pro to advance to the final 16 and the first man-on-man round of the event.
"Manly didn't go my way and my preparation was terrible so I learned some lessons," Asing said. "Now I'm working harder and trying to better myself at least one percent each day and I'm starting to gain some momentum. It's still really surreal that I have qualified for the CT - it's been a dream since I started surfing which has been my whole life."
Jack Freestone talking tactics. - WSL / WSL/Dunbar
Jack Freestone (AUS) put on a show in Round 4 - winning the heat by combining inverted aerials and stylish wraps. Freestone also made the final 16 in the last QS in Manly but was eliminated in Round 5 by event winner Kolohe Andino (USA) in one of the most exciting heats of the event.
"The ball is starting to roll and I'm feeling much more confident in my surfing," Freestone said. "This is already the best result I've ever gotten at this event and I'm still going which is a good feeling. It was hard to walk away from that loss to Kolohe (Andino) because I feel like I was surfing well in that heat, but that happens. I've just been surfing more, that's what we do in events is surf and so it's the best way to improve."
Full results, videos and LIVE webcast available via - www.Surfest.com
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Joel Parkinson ripping through his round 3 heat at Surfest
- WSL / WSL/Dunbar
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Mitch Coleborn driving off the bottom in his round 3 heat at Surfest
- WSL
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Locals patrolling the line up
- WSL / WSL/Dunbar
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Kalani David taking to the skies in his round 3 heat at Surfest
- WSL / WSL/Dunbar
Pumping Waves, High Scores at Burton Automotive Pro
WSL
A field that started with 144 surfers has been reduced to just 16 at the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series men's Burton Automotive Pro QS6000 - the Burton Automotive Women's Classic was off for the day. The athletes were treated to 4-to-6 foot clean peaks producing long lefts and rights, the perfect platform for exciting action in the water.
Willian Cardoso (BRA) put on a dominant performance in his Round 4 win over Joel Parkinson (AUS), who advanced in 2nd position, while Cardoso's countryman Ian Gouveia (BRA) was eliminated in 3rd. Cardoso posted excellent scores by producing some of the most powerful turns of the event thus far.
"I'm stoked to beat Parko (Joel Parkinson) and Ian (Gouveia) - they've been ripping!" Cardoso said. "That was my first heat where I've really found some great scores. I've had a tough time in the earlier heats trying to find the right waves and it all came together for me in that one."
Parkinson was on the ropes from the start of the heat, picking waves that didn't quite allow him to open up with his trademark smooth carves. With 90 seconds left on the clock Parko unloaded two massive hacks to score a 8.23 and jump from 3rd to 2nd place.
"I was probably frothing a bit too hard at the start," Parkinson said. "It was a frustrating heat, but I guess it doesn't matter if you get two scores at the start or the end, just as long as you get them. When Willian (Cardoso) is on the best waves he's really hard to beat."
Keanu Asing (HAW) is preparing for his rookie season on the Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour (CT). After an uncharacteristically early exit at the last QS6000 event, he's managed to find his form at the Burton Automotive Pro to advance to the final 16 and the first man-on-man round of the event.
"Manly didn't go my way and my preparation was terrible so I learned some lessons," Asing said. "Now I'm working harder and trying to better myself at least one percent each day and I'm starting to gain some momentum. It's still really surreal that I have qualified for the CT - it's been a dream since I started surfing which has been my whole life."
Jack Freestone (AUS) put on a show in Round 4 - winning the heat by combining inverted aerials and stylish wraps. Freestone also made the final 16 in the last QS in Manly but was eliminated in Round 5 by event winner Kolohe Andino (USA) in one of the most exciting heats of the event.
"The ball is starting to roll and I'm feeling much more confident in my surfing," Freestone said. "This is already the best result I've ever gotten at this event and I'm still going which is a good feeling. It was hard to walk away from that loss to Kolohe (Andino) because I feel like I was surfing well in that heat, but that happens. I've just been surfing more, that's what we do in events is surf and so it's the best way to improve."
Full results, videos and LIVE webcast available via - www.Surfest.com
Jack Freestone
Featuring Gabriel Medina, Owen Wright, Matthew McGillivray, Jeremy Flores, Nathan Hedge, Jadson Andre, Kanoa Igarashi, Caio Ibelli, John
Before CT hopefuls can book their tickets for 2022 they need to shine at a notoriously tricky North Shore venue.
Season 3, Episode 1
Go behind the scenes with Jack Freestone as he starts his road to the Rip Curl WSL Finals.
WSL Leaderboard frontrunners Gabriel Medina and Carissa Moore set the pace at Strickland Bay, but there are more high-powered heats on tap.
With more east in the swell, Narrabeen came alive as World Title contenders made their presence felt with some nail-biting heat wins.
Burton Automotive Pro
Alejo Muniz and Ellie Brooks are the last two standing at Burton Automotive Pro.
Eight Quarterfinalists left in men's and two Finalists remain in women's.
The men complete the Round of 96 and the women determine Semifinalists.
Seeded round light up Newcastle at Burton Automotive Pro.
Surfest is turning 30 and the party started in the water today.