The race for the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour title is hotting up as all contenders for the crown have progressed through to round four of the Billabong Pro Mundaka. In one-metre waves, Kelly Slater (USA), Andy Irons (HAW) and Taj Burrow (AUS) all won heats today to keep their stakes on the big prize alive.
Current ratings leader and seven-time world champion Slater surfed a very smart heat when he disposed of local wildcard Hodei Collazo (EUK) in the day’s first encounter. Slater looked to be in perfect position right throughout the heat and monopolised every set wave that pushed through the arena. Yet he feels he still has plenty of room for improvement.
His opponent Collazzo did put up a valiant effort and with the vocal crowd pushing him all the way he showed that he certainly possesses the skills that could take him onto the world stage.
Irons meanwhile had a very close encounter with his rival in Yuri Sodre (BRA). After grabbing a decent scoring ride, Sodre briefly went into the lead but Irons blasted a wave in the dying seconds to secure his victory.
Burrow looked dangerous in his heat against rookie Adrian Buchan (AUS). He only rode four waves in the heat, but managed to secure three great rides. He was worried however that there was always a possibility that the ocean could go flat and adapted his strategy to suit.
Indeed, only two other heats were run today as once again the tide filled in the break and the waves began to dry up.
Heat six between Jake Paterson (AUS) and Phil MacDonald (AUS) was a completely one-sided affair as Paterson only rode one wave during the heat.
The remaining heat of the day was between Trent Munro (AUS) and Shaun Cansdell with Munro running home with a win.
Organisers will meet again tomorrow at 9am to check conditions and will no doubt wait once again for the tide to become favourable. The www.surfline.com forecast indicates that while we perhaps won’t see huge swell over the next few days there potentially could be some very nice waves on which the event will be completed.
Stay tuned to www.aspworldtour.com and www.billabongpro.com for all the latest updates.
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