Quiksilver Pro Trials

The Quiksilver Pro kicked off yesterday at Snapper Rocks launching with the pre-main event Trials competion. Conditions were prime for the Trials round to send one fortunate trialist into the main event for stop number one on the 2007 ASP World Tour. The waves were running in the 4-5 foot range for most of the heats with semi-clean to clean conditions along the Superbank.

Out of a star-studded trials final that included reigning ASP World Junior Champion Jordy Smith (ZAF), former Foster’s ASP World Tour competitor Kirk Flintoff (AUS) and Tahitian powerhouse Michel Bourez (PYF), it was the 19-year-old Richards who stole the win and the remaining Quiksilver Pro wildcard from the rest of the fold.

“It’s all a bit too much for me right now – I guess it really hasn’t set it yet,” Richards said. “I couldn’t hear the scores or anything out there, just my mates hooting every time I took off. I’m really stoked. I’m frothing so hard to be in the main event right now, I don’t even care who I draw.”

The final was closely contested as young upstart Jordy Smith held onto the lead for the first half of the final. Around the midpoint of the heat, Michel Bourez (PYF) took over the lead and held it through much of the second half of the final. Nearing the 3 minutes remaining mark, Jordy Smith made a late charge with a great wave and scored a 8.53 to take the lead. But, Richards answered on the following wave with a solid 7.30 to seal the deal as the ocean went flat shortly after.

~ by Kaiser on February 27, 2007.