Betting

Got asked today by a guy with some money to bet for his betting club who to put the cash on the win the Quikie Pro. My answer Taj (at $11) or Josh Kerr (at $26).

Taj is the defending champ and has won four times (in the Quikie and QS Breaka) at Snapper over the last couple of years. Surely he has to catch a break and win a world title soon.

Kerr is the total package and now has a wiser head. If the waves are at Kirra you can write off all the goofies and the power face surfers so Kerr will come into his own.

There's some pretty good odds, even the favourite Kelly Slater is paying $5.50. I think Fanning is a bit over rated at $7 and the third line of betting. Jordy Smith at $10 is strange. Its been a few years since he was on his game and he's never won here. Seabass Zeitz is $41 in his first world tour event above people like Michel Bourez, Bede Durbrige and both Hopgoods, all people with wins and years of experience on the world tour ?

I'm sure I have jinxed my picks but what can you do.

Round two finally over

It seems to have been going for ever but the Quikie Pro in France has only just finished round two and then went on a break.

Taylor Knox continues his run beating Adriano De Souza and he'll take on young gun John Florence in the first heat of round three.Yadin Nichol is out as are both Hopgoods and Josh Kerr.


Taj takes on Kolohe Andino, who finally made it into the third round. Slater has Jadson Andre, Joel gets Pat Gudaskas but Mick Fanning has dangerman Dane Reynolds. A loss here would hurt his title run but not be fatal.

With five days left and nothing perfect on the forecast expect the event to be a bit of a luck fest.

Round Two

Round two is done as well, again in reasonable waves. The only real upsets were Owen Wright going down to the old man power turns of Taylor Knox. Knox is having a bit of a resurgence this year and while he might not throw airs all the time he can out hack the new school. Both Hopgoods are out as well.

Taj is against Adam Melling in the next round and Yadin has a very challenging heat against John Florence. That will be the last heat of the round and if the conditions are right could be a classic.

HURLEY PRO AT TRESTLES ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.83 def. Conner Coffin (USA) 10.73
Heat 2: John John Florence (HAW) 14.37 def. Evan Geiselman (USA) 13.93
Heat 3: Taylor Knox (USA) 12.16 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 10.60
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 17.63 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 16.93
Heat 5: Julian Wilson (USA) 14.63 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.27
Heat 6: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.66 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.30
Heat 7: Heitor Alves (BRA) 14.50 def. Kolohe Andino (BRA) 14.33
Heat 8: Adam Melling (AUS) 17.30 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 17.13
Heat 9: Travis Logie (ZAF) 12.93 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 11.77
Heat 10: Brett Simpson (USA) 15.83 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.70
Heat 11: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 16.30 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 15.90
Heat 12: Kai Otton (AUS) 16.50 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 16.27

HURLEY PRO AT TRESTLES ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 5: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 8: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Heat 10: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 11: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 12: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)

Round two and three

Brazil started late last night with the non-elimination round one. Not that it matters but other than Parko the top surfers lost. The Hopgoods both got through to round three in waves that suit their styles. Travis Logie lost again.

Round two is on now. The waves are ok, decent size but a bit all over the place. It looks like there will be some slow heats wave count wise. It is cold, grey and pouring with rain - no bikini babes at this time of the year.

Taj has just won his round two heat with a huge air and a combo score over a Brazilian wildcard. Even if Taj has lost both his top scores he still would have won easily with his two back ups. Mick is in the water now against a local and Slater is up next against another one.

The webcast is basic but Billabong seems to have sent their commentators. Luke Egan, Snips Parsons and GT are a huge step up over the people used at last year's event.

BILLABONG SANTA CATARINA PRO ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Tanio Barreto (BRA)
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA)
Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Messias Felix (BRA)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Blake Thornton (AUS)
Heat 5: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Marco Polo (BRA)
Heat 6: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 7: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Nate Yeomans (USA)
Heat 8: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 9: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 10: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 11: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 12: Daniel Ross (AUS) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 13: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 14: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 15: Roy Powers (HAW) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 16: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)

The women have had three lay days in a row. They are into round three with all heats potentially exciting. Steph Gilmore is up against another wildcard. WA's Claire Bevo has a hard heat against Sophia Mulanovich.

COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC ROUND 3 MATCHUPS:
Heat 1: Silvana Lima (BRA) vs. Amee Donohoe (AUS)
Heat 2: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) vs. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Laura Enever (AUS)
Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (AUS) vs. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW) vs. Paige Hareb (NZL)
Heat 7: Melanie Bartels (HAW) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
Heat 8: Sally Fitzgibbons (HAW) vs. Lee Ann Curren (FRA)

Round two is done

Round two was completed today at 13th Beach in reasonable looking waves. Some rookies won their first WCT heats and head to round three. It was a bad day for the Hopgoods with both brothers eliminated by people they should have beaten. Bells was Damo's 100th WCT event, the seventh surfer to do so and CJ is still looking for his 200th WCT heat win. Travis Logie has recorded another 33rd.

Heat of round three will be Jordy v Owen Wright, especially if there are peaky and crumbly waves.

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.16 def. Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 12.06
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.43 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.84
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) 15.24 def. Adam Robertson (AUS) 14.07
Heat 4: Neco Padaratz (BRA) 12.03 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 9.60
Heat 5: Dane Reynolds (USA) 9.06 def. Blake Thornton (AUS) 7.46
Heat 6: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.23 def. Marco Polo (BRA) 9.84
Heat 7: Taylor Knox (USA) 13.67 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.60
Heat 8: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 13.83 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 10.54
Heat 9: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.10 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 9.43
Heat 10: Kai Otton (AUS) 11.94 def. Nate Yeomans (USA) 5.60
Heat 11: Chris Davidson (AUS) 16.13 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 16.10
Heat 12: Daniel Ross (AUS) 11.56 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 9.83
Heat 13: Brett Simpson (USA) 13.66 def. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 8.70
Heat 14: Drew Courtney (AUS) 12.84 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 8.27
Heat 15: Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.50 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 2.43
Heat 16: Owen Wright (AUS) 9.84 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 9.10

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 2: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Andy Irons (HAW)
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 5: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 6: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
Heat 7: Daniel Ross (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Heat 9: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 10: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 11: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 12: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 13: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 14: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 15: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 16: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)

Billabong Pro On

After one heat at Munduka its back to the beachie. The waves are better, light winds and some clean face on the lefts.

Mick Fanning has failed to capitalize on Parko's loss, losing in round three. Bobbie Martinez wouldn't be impressed with the move from Mundaka losing the second heat at the beachie. He was probably the best surfer yesterday finding long lefts and flying.

Slater is in the water right now and the waves have gone fat on the high tide.

Contest Director Mike Parsons has just indicated that they probably won't get back to Munduka in the rest of the waiting period and they may try to crown a winner today.

With both Mick and Fanning out the title race can close up if Slater, Taj and one of the Hopgoods can get through a few more heats.

Round 4 on

Round four has started with Dane Reynolds losing in the first heat and CJ Hopgood joining his brother on the side lines.

The Hopgoods have lost their chance to gain on Parko but Taj and Mick Fanning are still in it. Fanning knocked out Queensland grom Julian Wilson and will come up against Jordy Smith in a killer heat. Taj has Kieren Perrow and should have the advantage in the small waves. However the waves are only waist height again and currently clean. Wave selection will be the key as will a bit of luck.

There is some talk that they will try to finish the contest today, which means that the forecast is dismal.

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 2: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 4: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Patrick Beven (FRA)
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 6: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 8: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)