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Jordy Smith and Dane Reynolds Debut at Snapper Rocks (Wednesday 13th February) Gold Coast, Australia: Eight-time world champion Kelly Slater (Florida, USA) is just one of many elite surfers who have already felt the heat from the young guns included in the line-up of the 2008 Quiksilver Pro presented by LG, the US$320,000 season-opener on the ASP men’s world tour beginning next week at Snapper Rocks on Australia’s Gold Coast. Teenage sensation Julian Wilson (Coolum, Qld, AUS) and Tahitian charger Michel ‘the Spartan’ Bourez (PYF) have been awarded 2008 main event wildcards. In a surfing rarity, both defeated Slater in world tour events last year. Their entrants, coupled with the much-anticipated debuts of Jordy Smith (Durban, ZAF) and Dane Reynolds (Cal, USA) onto the dream tour, could see contest surfing redefined at Snapper Rocks. 2008 tour rookies, Smith and Reynolds, have also proven trouble for the top ranks eliminating world no.1 Mick Fanning (Tweed Heads, NSW, AUS), world no.2 Taj Burrow (Yallingup, W.A. AUS) and three-time world champion Andy Irons (Kauai, Haw) while competing as wildcards in last years world tour event at Trestles, California. Former world junior champion Smith, 20, who qualified in his first attempt, did so by winning the World Qualifying Series (WQS) with a record margin. Reynolds, 22, who is regarded as one of the world’s best free surfers secured his place amongst the worlds elite by finishing at no.2 on the WQS.
When defending Quiksilver Pro champion, Fanning was asked recently about the ‘Jordy and Dane factor’ on this year’s tour he said; “I think they are both amazing surfers and to have them on tour will be insane.” “It’s exciting for the sport. I think those guys can do things I can’t even think of doing.” “Those two kids and Julian Wilson are going to take surfing to a whole new level,” added Fanning. Eighteen year-old Wilson out-pointed ‘The King’ (Slater) in round one at Snapper Rocks last year and Bourez caused serious damage when he eliminated Slater from round three of the Quiksilver Pro, France. “It was pretty cool to beat Kelly at least once. I’m sure he won’t be around for much longer and to get one over him with all my family there watching at Snapper was a bonus," said Wilson.
The pair will draw one of the top three seeded surfers in either Slater, world champion Fanning or world number two Burrow in their non-elimination, round one heat. Sixteen past and future champions will compete for the third and final Quiksilver Pro wildcard in the Komunity Project Trials at Snapper Rocks on Friday, February 21st. The trialists have qualified via varying circuits, including the WQS, the Queensland Championship Circuit (QCC) or have been invited. Local
surfer Dale Richards (Coolangatta, Qld, AUS) won last years trials
and in doing so, became the first Aboriginal to contest an elite men’s
world tour event. The talented teenager, will once again line-up in
the hope of pitting himself against the worlds best at one of Australia’s
best known point breaks.
Also in the trials line-up are Chris Salisbury (Newport, NSW, AUS), Garrett Parkes (Byron Bay, NSW, AUS), Mitch Coleborn (Maroochydore, Qld, AUS), Ry Craike (Kalbarri, W.A. AUS), Trevor Tripcony (Yaroonba, Qld, AUS) Clay Marzo (Maui, Haw) Alain Riou (PYF), Tamoroa McComb (PYF) and Jadson Andre (BRZ). The Komunity Project Trials which will be staged in conjunction with the Roxy Pro Trials on Friday, February 22nd. The winner from each trials event will be granted a wildcard into the main events. The season-opening ASP women’s world tour event the US$80,000 Roxy Pro presented by LG and the opening men’s world tour event, the US$320,000 Quiksilver Pro presented by LG will commence on Saturday February 23rd and run through to March 5th. Both opening world tour events are mobile, granting access to some of the best surf breaks on the planet. The tournament will be based at Snapper Rocks, yet can travel from Stradbroke Island to Duranbah Beach on the Qld/NSW state border in search of optimum waves.
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