The Rip Curl Pro in Portugal is burning through the waiting period. No consistent surf for a few days and now a massive storm is bering down on the contest site. The commentators are trying to talk it up but they are also trying to lay the foundations for a move to one of the back up venues where the wind will be side rather than onshore.
It's day 8 of 11 and they still have the bulk of round three to go. Even though it stays light for ages they still need a solid two days to run the event. It will be hard to squeeze out any extra time as the Cold Water Classic starts in the US on 1st November.
As usual Taj will be in the guinea pig first heat of whatever day they run. He always seems to end up going first and when the conditions are likely to be suspect he draws someone who can fluke a few waves and win. This time its Kolohe Andino who is desperate for any sort of result after not living up to his publicity so far. He is in danger of falling off the tour so will be a danger man for TB.
Yadin has Mick Fanning. The waves could be big and lean toward Mick because his poo stance isn't as suspect as in smaller waves. Parko will have to watch out for Dusty Payne and the rest of the heats are pretty even and could go either way depending on wave size and quality.
RIP CURL PRO PORTUGAL REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)Heat 7: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)Heat 8: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)Heat 9: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)Heat 10: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
