Surfing Magazine • 2014 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast

AN D W E’ RE BACK 2014 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast +Roxy Pro

5, 4 , 3 , 2 , 1. . . ...the first horn sounds and we’re back. Back in the water. Back on tour. Back at beautiful Snapper Rocks, Superbank, Coolangata, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia — the backbone of Southern Hemisphere surfing. Five of the top-34 call it their backyard and 34 of the top-34 call it a new year. Owen’s back is better.

Mick is looking for back-to-back world titles. The gang is back together — with new friends and old rivals — and it’s going to be an exciting season. Wanna come along? SURFING will be at every event this year and with unrivaled access to the water and competitors area, we’ll report from the backchannels to bring you the good, the bad and the beautiful as we play Almost Famous with the ASP. The first stop on this 11-city tour, of course, is the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast — are you ready to go backstage? —Taylor Paul

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PHOTO: COREY WILSON

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EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief | TAYLOR PAUL Managing Editor | BEAU FLEMISTER Assistant Editor | ZANDER MORTON Editor at Living Large | CHAS SMITH Photo Editor | PETER TARAS Associate Photo Editor | JIMMY WILSON Art Director | CHATO AGANZA Associate Art Director | NOA EMBERSON Online Editor | BRENDAN BUCKLEY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Corey Wilson Jimmicane Steve Sherman

COVER PHOTO: COREY WILSON

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THE BATTLE CONTINUES s u r f i n g m a g a z i n e . c om | #tigervsbear

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B EF ORE WE STA RT...

W H AT’S AL L T HIS ABO UT TH E “NEW” ASP ?

The Cliffs Notes: In 2012, ZoSea Media took over the ASP and promised to make surfing bigger and better than ever.

Non-endemic sponsorships, a more professional environment, bigger prize money and better webcasts. 2013 was a “bridge year” and so the 2014 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast was the first contest under the new vision.

WAS IT A NY D IFFE R E N T ?

You may have noticed an improved webcast with a more “SportsCenter” type approach. The ASP is trying to mirror the way the NBA does its coverage, although we’re not yet sure who Charles Barkley is in the equation…Peter Mel? More commercials. Did you see the one for Samsung?

They’re signed on for the whole year, along with GoPro. The athlete/ASP-crew tent was in a new location and access was stricter than ever, reserved for the surfers, their coaches and families. Only a handful of photographers were allowed back there and SURFING’s photo team took up the majority of that handful. Our thoughts? Pretty nice. The competitor’s area was more “locker room” and less “bar” than it has been in years past.

IS IT WRON G T HAT I D O N ’ T FI ND A NY OF TH AT IN TEREST ING ?

No. You care about the contest, the surfers and the actual surfing and that is respectable. So, shifting gears...

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2 0 1 4 QUIKSILVER PR O GO LD C OAST T H E CON TEST WAS L I K E … …Eleven days long, held on the first day of the waiting pe-

eight Quarterfinalists were Brazilian (Adriano de Souza, Ga-

riod until the second-to last.

briel Medina and Miguel Pupo) …Everywhere except the air…because the judges were all

AN D THE WAV ES WE R E L IKE… …Two to five feet. At best, it was firing barrels (Roxy Pro Round 3) and at worst it was inconsistent and onshore (Quik Pro Round 2). The sandbar from Snapper Rocks to Greenmount, otherwise known as the Superbank, was about as good as it gets.

BUT T HEN THE S UR FE R S WERE LI KE… …Upset…because red jerseys (top seeds) went down early and often. Missing from the late rounds were favorites like Jordy Smith, Julian Wilson, John John Florence, Filipe Toledo and Owen Wright. …Goofyfooted...even though this event has been brutal for goofyfooters in the past. The Quarters saw three of the eight surfers standing non-natural (CJ Hobgood, Gabriel Medina and Miguel Pupo). A goofyfooter hadn’t won the contest since Mick Lowe in 2004. …Brazilian…even though surfing’s favorite South American

about completing waves. And the wind was blowing the wrong way. And Martin Potter. We love the guy, but he’s pretty vocal in his support for finishing waves in a conservative fashion. “The old Gabriel would have done an air right there, but the new Gabriel makes sure he closes the wave…”

Well, the new Gabriel kinda tasted like tap water. …Girls…and not just when the waves were shitty! In one of the prettiest mistakes in ASP history, they sent the girls’ Rounds 2 - 4 out on the best day of the 12-day waiting period. And they did not disappoint. From Courtney Conlogue’s ridiculously deep tube to Carissa Moore’s 19.5 heat total, the girls showed that they could paint right along side the men — just give ‘em a canvas. …Professional…what with their new locker rooms, code of conduct, post heat-loss interviews, $100,000 first-place checks and so much more, the surfers gazed around their surroundings with necks craned, giving an approving nod as if to say, “ I could get used to this.”

nation had NEVER won the contest before. Again, three of the

IS I T TO O EA R LY TO TA L K A B O U T A WORLD TITLE ?

Yes. No. Maybe, but it’s worth noting that Gabriel Medina

on their website, no world-title winner in the last 10 years

doesn’t want to stop at being the first Brazilian to win the

has finished worse than 9th at the season’s first stop. So

Quiksilver Pro; he wants to be the first Brazilian to win a

while the sun is just beginning to rise on the 2014 season,

world title. And isn’t the surf world ready for someone oth-

Medina’s already wearing his shades in preparation for a

er than Kelly/Parko/Mick to top the podium? We can root

long, bright year.

for Jordy, Julian and John John, too, but as the ASP noted 09

EARLY R INGING IN TH E NEW YEAR

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PHOTO: C. WILSON

ROUNDS

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PHOTO:C. WILSON

RED MEANS DEAD. Top seeds like Jordy Smith repeatedly fell early in the Quik Pro, and Jordy was among the earliest of all.

PHOTO: JIMMICANE

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And they’re off! Dion and Mitch: A twoDion Atkinson showed signs of brilliance in his first WCT. Keeping the crowd’s attention en route to the third round, where he’d fall to Joel Parkinson.

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PHOTO:C. WILSON

-man rookie-of-the-year race.

Mitch Crews was admittedly nervous for his WCT debut. Carving toward comfort in the second round.

PHOTO: JIMMICANE

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Lay days aren’t the end of the world.

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PHOTO: JIMMICANE

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The boobie prize.

Filipe Toledo lost his Round 2 heat to rookie Mitch Crews, but won the expression session (and a quick $2,000) for this little spin.

PHOTOS:C. WILSON

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SHERMAN SHERMAN

Brixton Wilson and Uncle Julian.

Kelly Slater 020

At this size, tubes at Snapper Rocks can only be described as “quaint.” Kelly Slater pulls the cover over and gets cozy.

PHOTO:JIMMICANE

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In Round 1 Dane Reynolds was all,

“Wham! Bam! Wha-paaa!”

on

his way to beating Mick Fanning and Adam Melling. Then in Round 3 he was all, “Zzzzzz.” Essentially, it was his competitive career in a nutshell.

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PHOTO: COREY WILSON

PHOTO: SHERMAN

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You heard that Matt Wilkinson has been training, right?

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PHOTO: C. WILSON

Michel Bourez Mic

JIMMICANE

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PHOTOS: C. WILSON

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Watching people people watching Triangles aren’t just for interferences. Gabriel Medina impresses his scantly-clad compatriots.

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John John Florence landed this turn, but fell to Travis Logie in Round 2.

PHOTOS: C. WILSON

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Choo-choo!

When the judges didn’t reward him for his airs, Kolohe Andino took the rail-road to defeat local conductor Bede Durbidge.

C. WILSON

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PHOTO: JIMMICANE

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Where the magic happens Coco

Kolohe

Jordy Kai CJ

SURFING Nikki

Laura

Nat & Michel Filipe

Simpo

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Carissa

Coco Ho C. WILSON

SHERMAN

Kolohe Andino

Jordy Smith SHERMAN

C. WILSON

Taj Burrow

SHERMAN

John John Florence JIMMICANE 034

Josh Kerr SHERMAN

Nat Young C. WILSON

Mick Fanning

SHERMAN 035

What you don’t see in the photos is the lateral movement of the waves at Snapper. They move in, yes, but also over.

Mick Fanning uses the push to shove Dane 15.83 to 13.46 in Round 3.

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PHOTOS: JIMMICANE

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Cheeseburger in Surfer’s Paradise

SHERMAN

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JIMMICANE

JIMMICANE

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STRIKING MIDNIGHT. Owen Wright (l) returned to the tour with a couple of fairytale waves, but the consistency of Miguel Pupo (r) soon turned Owen’s carriage into a pumpkin by .30 of a point.

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PHOTOS: JIMMICANE

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The Fuel TV commercials in Australia called Joel Parkinson the “Silent Assassin.� Parko, speaking softly and carrying a big whip.

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Paul Fisher and Dane Reynolds.

PHOTOS: JIMMICANE

Mitch Crews

PHOTO: JIMMICANE

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F R EE SU RF N ON -J U DGE M EN T DAYS

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PHOTO: C. WILSON

:)

Sierra and Josh Kerr.

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HAM

We heard that most Aussies don’t know what the acronym “HAM” means. Well, our convict brothers, it means

“Hard As a Motherfucker.” As

in, Josh Kerr was going HAM between heats at Duranbah.

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PHOTO: C. WILSON

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Jeremy Flores PHOTOS: JIMMICANE

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Alana Blanchard

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SHHHHHHHH.

PHOTOS: JIMMICANE

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That suit. That board. That leash. That surfing. Julian Wilson, loud.

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Michel Bourez and Jordy Smith.

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That’s not a whitewater trail on the inside. That’s the residual drool from 200 surfers that stormed the lineup after the Roxy Pro scored the best day of the waiting period. You’ve got something on your chin, there, Joel.

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Many Brazilians are into jiu jitzu, but Miguel Pupo is cut from a much softer cloth. Still, he doesn’t hesitate to wrestle that board to the mat.

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R OXY PRO M OR E THA N BA B ES I N B OY LA N D

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AL L

Nikki Van Dijk

PHOTO: JIMMICANE

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Barrels and turns, barrels and turns. Courtney Conlogue wins SURFING’s

“pleasant surprise” award at this year’s Roxy Pro.

PHOTO: JIMMICANE

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P H OTO : C .W I LS O N

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PHOTO: SHERMAN

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Style:

On land it’s the way you dress, in water it’s the way you

surf the wave. Coco Ho, aesthetically pleasing in both mediums.

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Day 2 of the Roxy Pro saw some of the best waves and surfing ever in a women’s contest. Lakey Peterson was front, center and slotted while earning herself a spot in the Semis.

PHOTO: JIMMICANE

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PHOTO: C. WILSON

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In her historic Round 2 heat against Malia Manuel and Pauline Ado, Carissa Moore scored a 9.60 and a 9.90 with surfing that would have won most men’s heats. Carissa would eventually fall to Steph Gilmore in the Semis.

Malia Manuel

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SHERMAN JIMMICANE

Lakey Peterson

Sally Fitzgibbons

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Bianca Buitendag’s trip to the Final saw her take down the likes of Laura Enever, Alessa Quizon, Tyler Wright and Lakey Peterson. Her power will serve her well at Margaret River.

PHOTO: JIMMICANE

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Stephanie Gilmore

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Bianca and Steph, fulfilling your girls locker room fantasy.

PHOTO: C. WILSON

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Stephanie Gil-

MORE experience, wins and money.

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Mess with the bull...

you get the shocker.

PHOTOS: SHERMAN

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4- S E M I S

LATE ROUNDS OH , T H E D I FFE R E N C E A DAY CA N M AK E

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Mitch Crews fell to Cooly-cousin Mick Fanning in Round 5, but impressed the world, and himself, along the way.

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Kelly Slater was

hot and cold

during the first event of the season. He’d go icy against

Adriano de Souza in the Quarters, making Adriano 5 for 5 against Slater since 2011.

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Josh Kerr

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PHOTO: SHERMAN

SHERMAN

Mick Fanning

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5th-place feelings

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How do you think Russel Corowa, the didgeridoo guy, chooses the surfers he blesses? All we know is Jordy shirked him before his Round 2 heat and that didn’t end too well. Good ol’ Russ, giving Adriano the magic touch to the Semis.

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JIMMICANE

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Gabriel Medina. Ready and able.

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After 15 years on tour, Taj Burrow still surfs as fast and exciting as anyone. TB, hustling toward a 3rd-place finish.

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PHOTO: C. WILSON

PHOTO: JIMMICANE

Behind the rocks where nobody else cared to go, Parko drives toward the final.

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FIN VS Gabriel Medina

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NAL Joel Parkinson

PHOTO: JIMMICANE

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Time is a flat circle Joel Parkinson’s done this wrap thousands of times before and he’ll do it a thousand times more — although there’s nothing flat about it.

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PHOTO: JIMMICANE

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Behind-side While Parko waits behind the rocks, Gabriel Medina pursues a late-heat comeback on the inside section.

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Just by the hair of his chinny-chin-chin. Gabriel Medina defeats Joel Parkinson 16.33 to 16.27.

PHOTOS: JIMMICANE

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BRAZIL!

RAZIL!

BRAZIL!

BRAZIL!

BRAZIL!

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BRAZIL!

BRAZIL!

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WCT R A NKI N GS PHOTOS: SHERMAN

AFTE R T H E END OF TH E 2 01 4 Q UI KSI LVER PRO G OLD COAST AND ROXY PRO

M EN ’ S 01. Gab r i e l M e d i n a (BRA) 02 . Jo el Pa r k i n s on (AUS) 03. Taj B u r row (AUS) 03. Ad ria n o D e S ou za (BRA) 05 . M ic k Fa n n i n g (AUS) 05 . Ke lly S l ate r (USA) 05 . CJ Ho b g ood (USA) 05 . M igu e l Pu p o (BRA) 09 . N at You n g (USA) 09 . Jos h Ke r r (AUS) 09 . Fre dd y Pata c ch i a J r. (HAW) 09 . M itc h Crews (AUS) 13. Ju lia n Wi l s on (AUS) 13. M ic h e l B ou rez (PYF) 13. Owe n Wr i g h t (AUS) 13. Ad ria n B u ch a n (AUS) 13. Je re my F l ores (FRA)

WOME N’ S 1 3. Adam Melling (AUS) 1 3. Kolohe A ndino (USA ) 1 3. J adson A ndre (BRA) 1 3. Travis Logie (ZAF) 1 3. D ion Atk inson (AUS) 1 3. Tiago Pires (PRT) 24 . J ordy Smith (ZAF) 24 . Kai O tton (AUS) 24 . J ohn J ohn Florenc e (HAW) 24 . Filipe Toledo (BRA) 24 . S ebastian Z ietz (HAW) 24 . B ede D urbidge (AUS) 24 . Matt Wilk inson (AUS) 24 . A lejo Muniz (BRA) 24 . A ritz A ranburu (ESP) 24 . R aoni Monteiro (BRA) 24 . B rett Simpson (USA)

01. Ste p h a n ie Gilmo re (AUS) 02. Bia n c a Bu ite n d a g (ZAF) 03. Ca r issa Mo o re (HAW) 03. La key P ete rs o n (USA) 05. Tyle r Wr ig h t (AUS) 05. Sa lly Fitzg ib b o n s (AUS) 05. Co u rt n ey Co n lo g u e (USA) 05. Ma lia Ma n u e l (HAW) 09. P a u lin e Ad o (FRA) 09. Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 09. Alessa Qu izo n (HAW) 09. P a ig e Ha re b (NZL) 09. Co c o Ho (HAW) 13. La u ra En eve r (AUS) 13. Ala n a Bla n c h a rd (HAW) 13. Nikki Va n Dijk (AUS) 13. Jo h a n n e Defay (FRA)

U P N EXT

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