Former event winner Taj Burrow was eliminated in a close heat on Day 3 - WSL / Tim Hain
Day three of the Komune Bali Pro pres. by The Mad Hueys saw big names, big scores and epic barrels as the East Coast of Bali continued to pump out epic surf for the WSL QS1,000 rated event. The event's top seeded Round hit the water with a few massive performances and a couple of upsets.
The most intense heat of the event, and possibly ever at a QS1,000, saw Jack Robinson, Taj Burrow, Pepen Hendrick and Mikey Wright match-up. Jack Robinson barely put a foot wrong, building his scores on every wave, finishing the heat with a perfect 10-point-ride. Mikey Wright started slow, but finished with two powerful tube to turn combos, locking in an 9.50 and an 8.60. Burrow laid down some of the strongest turns of the day, but failed to find a tube, eventually getting eliminated. Hendrick was also eliminated, finishing 4th despite having an 8.15 to his name.
Mikey Wright wins one of the most star studded QS1,000 heats of all time. - WSL / Scott Hammond
"It was fun out there with all the boys," Wright said. "I had a bad start but was able to find a few at the end. We were talking and laughing at the start of the heat, but when it was really close and positions were changing we left each other alone and had our game faces on. These are some of the best waves I've ever had at a QS, I wish every event was like this."
Jack Robinson is one of the best barrel riders on the planet. Exhibit A. - WSL / Scott Hammond
"That was my first ever WSL heat against Taj (Burrow) it was so much fun to be out there with him," Robinson said. "This is the hardest QS1,000 in the world, so many big names are here. I can't believe that heat was only Round Three, it could have been the Final. That 10 was crazy - I was just buried in a little cocoon and then I popped out. I didn't know if I would make it but you always have to hope for the best."
Top seeds go bannanas on Day 3 of Komune Bali Pro pres. By The Mad Hueys
Dean Bowen and Dede Suryana put on a tube riding clinic with Bowen on his backside and Suryana on his forehand. Bowen dropped two 9-point-plus rides to finish 1st over former event champion Suryana, who had multiple 8s. .
Dean Bowen spends a good deal of time under the lip, but is capable of destroying them as well. - WSL / Tim Hain
"That was a dream heat," Suryana said. "The waves were perfect and I was able to get so many. It felt like a free-surf, we just all got so many good waves. That kind of heat is why I like to compete, to get waves and push myself to be better."
Adriano de Souza, 2015 World Champion, put on the kind of show that only a World Champ can, catching only two waves in his opening heat, but they totalled 19.55 (out of a possible 20) - the highest two wave total of the event thus far. De Souza waited for solid waves and timed his turns to perfection and then proceeded to unload devastatingly beautiful hooks and carves.
Adriano de Souza is the number one seed at the Komune Bali Pro and it looks like he can take the whole thing out with a two wave total of 19.55 in his first heat. - WSL
"That heat alone was worth booking my ticket to come over here," said de Souza. "People might think that my first heat at a QS1,000 is not important for me, but I had a goal to win that and score 9-point-rides in some perfect waves and it worked. I feel like I'm in a really good rhythm after the Australian CT leg and I'm here to get some waves and keep the rhythm going into the next CT event in Brazil. It's so good to be back in Bali - this event is amazing."
Mitch Parkinson continues to be a Komune Bali Pro standout - claiming a major scalp off of CT surfer and Komune Bali Pro No. 2 seed Sebastian Zietz, who also advanced in 2nd position. Parkinson had it all in his heat, posting two near perfect 9-point-plus-rides.
Mitch Parkinson was bored of all the barrels and thought it would be more fun to launch. It did him well as he took down CT star Sebastiean Zietz. - WSL / Tim Hain
"That one was fun," Parkinson said. "I've had a couple of good heats but that one was the best, I really wanted some barrels and that heat had it all. I feel relaxed and I can wait to get out there for a couple more heats."
Top Seeds Tackle Tubes at Keramas
WSL
Day three of the Komune Bali Pro pres. by The Mad Hueys saw big names, big scores and epic barrels as the East Coast of Bali continued to pump out epic surf for the WSL QS1,000 rated event. The event's top seeded Round hit the water with a few massive performances and a couple of upsets.
The most intense heat of the event, and possibly ever at a QS1,000, saw Jack Robinson, Taj Burrow, Pepen Hendrick and Mikey Wright match-up. Jack Robinson barely put a foot wrong, building his scores on every wave, finishing the heat with a perfect 10-point-ride. Mikey Wright started slow, but finished with two powerful tube to turn combos, locking in an 9.50 and an 8.60. Burrow laid down some of the strongest turns of the day, but failed to find a tube, eventually getting eliminated. Hendrick was also eliminated, finishing 4th despite having an 8.15 to his name.
"It was fun out there with all the boys," Wright said. "I had a bad start but was able to find a few at the end. We were talking and laughing at the start of the heat, but when it was really close and positions were changing we left each other alone and had our game faces on. These are some of the best waves I've ever had at a QS, I wish every event was like this."
"That was my first ever WSL heat against Taj (Burrow) it was so much fun to be out there with him," Robinson said. "This is the hardest QS1,000 in the world, so many big names are here. I can't believe that heat was only Round Three, it could have been the Final. That 10 was crazy - I was just buried in a little cocoon and then I popped out. I didn't know if I would make it but you always have to hope for the best."
Dean Bowen and Dede Suryana put on a tube riding clinic with Bowen on his backside and Suryana on his forehand. Bowen dropped two 9-point-plus rides to finish 1st over former event champion Suryana, who had multiple 8s. .
"That was a dream heat," Suryana said. "The waves were perfect and I was able to get so many. It felt like a free-surf, we just all got so many good waves. That kind of heat is why I like to compete, to get waves and push myself to be better."
Adriano de Souza, 2015 World Champion, put on the kind of show that only a World Champ can, catching only two waves in his opening heat, but they totalled 19.55 (out of a possible 20) - the highest two wave total of the event thus far. De Souza waited for solid waves and timed his turns to perfection and then proceeded to unload devastatingly beautiful hooks and carves.
"That heat alone was worth booking my ticket to come over here," said de Souza. "People might think that my first heat at a QS1,000 is not important for me, but I had a goal to win that and score 9-point-rides in some perfect waves and it worked. I feel like I'm in a really good rhythm after the Australian CT leg and I'm here to get some waves and keep the rhythm going into the next CT event in Brazil. It's so good to be back in Bali - this event is amazing."
Mitch Parkinson continues to be a Komune Bali Pro standout - claiming a major scalp off of CT surfer and Komune Bali Pro No. 2 seed Sebastian Zietz, who also advanced in 2nd position. Parkinson had it all in his heat, posting two near perfect 9-point-plus-rides.
"That one was fun," Parkinson said. "I've had a couple of good heats but that one was the best, I really wanted some barrels and that heat had it all. I feel relaxed and I can wait to get out there for a couple more heats."
Komune Bali Pro
Barreling conditions on Finals Day of the Komune Bali Pro pres. by the Mad Hueys, with Brent Dorrington taking home the event title.
Dorrington overcomes Indonesian prodigy Rio Waida in the final of the 2017 Komune Bali Pro pres. by The Mad Hueys.
Quarterfinalists Decided at Keramas
Komune Bali Pro pres. by The Mad Hueys is down to its final eight competitors and is set for a huge final day.
Top Seeds hit the water at the Komune Bali Pro pres. By Mad Hueys
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