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.

Old bulls v Young Bulls

Today is finals day in France and its young versus old for each heat except the one in the water at the moment. So far its one all. Taylor Knox has continued his run beating Michel Bourez but in an upset 17 year old rookie Gabriel Medina has thrashed Slater 16.66 to 8.60.

The current quarter is Jordy v Alejio Muniz followed by the old bull Burrow and young bull Julian Wilson.

I would love to recommend that you watch it on the webcast but again it just jumps backwards and stops then jumps backwards again. It is 100% unwatchable. Shame Quiksilver shame.

Slater does it again

Five scored above five to end with an eight and a nine and Michel Bourez comboed.

Clean long tubes and a couple of doggy door exits that would have killed lesser people. If you watch his nine you can see the red singlet look like its about to get thrown over the falls but he comes out.

Its very un-Australian but I hope he gets his tenth world title this year.

Ace vs Perrow in an all Aussie quarter final. Ace is the last goofy left in the event.

Kelly Houdini !!!

Slater has pulled another classic escape act in round four. Michel Bourez was on fire early with some big turns and a bazza or two. Slater was comboed and with a total just over one with the heat half done. Owen Wright was never in it as he wasn't getting any decent waves.

Then Slater picks up a full stand up tube followed by a massive floater where he spent more time free falling than in the lip. The 8.5 put him back into the game.

Michel took an impossible dumper which was so powerful it snapped his Firewire, a task most trucks can't do. While he was trying to get in against a rip that looked like a river, Slater locked in another barrel, came through the curtain and the threw an air reverse for a high seven and the heat. He might have been just a little overscored but he has done enough to deserve it.

Slater to the quarters, Owen and Michel to round five.

Jordy Smith has just free fell into a deep pit but was whacked when he tried to sneak through another section.

The waves are still good but the rips are massive and moving through the lineup. With the "small"  9 metre tide running out the good waves are moving around between banks and the paddle out is getting difficult.