2006 Lost Energy Drink ISA World Surfing Games

Lost Energy Drink ISA World Surfing Games - Experience Proves Critical In Closing Stages On Day Five

It was a day when competitive experience proved critical for all countries on day 5 of the ISA World Surfing Games at Huntington Beach. Inconsistent conditions, an outgoing tide, combined with a new south swell, made the 2 to 4ft surf hard to predict. It appeared those in tune with the ocean had a distinct advantage over others. Whilst set waves seemed to follow surfers from some countries, Team Australia surfers had to work hard with the few opportunities that came there way.

It was Team Australia surfer Luke Stedman, who set the pace in his round 4 heat, showing spectators why he is regarded as one of the best surfers in the world. Stedman was consistently able to produce high scores with inferior waves in his heat 2 win and emerged as the rounds second highest heat total. It was an unfortunate story  for young Aussie, Julian Wilson, who joined Stedman in the 2nd heat. All seemed to start well for Wilson, opening the scoring with a 6 point ride, but waves avoided Wilson for the next 18 minutes, giving the talented youngster limited opportunity to progress, finishing the heat in 4th place. The event format will however give Wilson another opportunity in the second chance draw – but it is sudden death from here.

Team Australia surfers Tom Whitaker and Blake Thornton combined in heat 3 to take on the inform Brazilian, Alejo Muniz. It was Muniz that had the wave magnet, amassing the rounds high score, leaving Whitaker in second and Thornton in third place and joining Wilson in the sudden death round.

It was a frustrating round 3 heat for an inform Nicola Atherton. Scoring the opening ride for the heat, Atherton sat waveless for over 14 minutes. It was an unfortunate occurrence for Atherton as her form going into the event, and early signs have been very positive. Learning from her team mate’s misfortune, Jessi Mylie Dyer, led her heat from start to finish, opening her account with a 7.5 point ride, but like many others struggled to find another solid back up wave. However it was Mylie Dyers experience at the top level that proved the stumbling block for her competitors.

In the Men’s body board it was Team Australia’s Ben Gohl and Andrew Lester who swung the momentum back the Aussies way late in the day, with clever and convincing wins. Both riders took control early in the heat with early scores and were never headed.

Team Australia are positioned well at the end of day 5 – it seems as though it will not be until the final day that the World’s leading surfing Nation will be decided. Challenging Australia for the title are Brazil, France, USA and South Africa and tomorrow will most definitely be the defining day.

The Olympics of Surfing continues to shine under the California Sun -ISA report

Huntington Beach, Calif., October 19, 2006 –Day five of the 2006 Lost Energy Drink ISA World Surfing Games started this morning with glassy waves in the chest to head high range for another summer-like day in Huntington Beach.  Spectators trickled down to the beach from Main Street, where each nation continued to wave their flags supporting their team members.

Competition was intense through all four heats of the Open Division Qualifying Round 4 as every wave counted toward the final standings for the top 16 competitors. In Heat 2, Luke Stedman of Sydney, Australia posted a combined score of 15.16 when he outsurfed heat leader Gavin Gilette of Hawaii on two strong rides that moved him from fourth to first place. Stedman competed against fellow teammate Julian Wilson who was knocked into Repercharge.

Francisco Bellorin of Venezuela had an interference called on him as he dropped in on Pat O’Connell in the fourth heat.  The heat panned out with Armando Daltro of Brazil leading the pack (14.00) followed by Pat O’Connell who anchored the USA team with his trademark long rides.

In Heat 3, three power countries Brazil, Australia and Costa Rica fought for first and second place finishes. In the 20 minute heat, a total of 28 waves were ridden by the four competitors with Brazilian surfer Alejo Muniz riding a maximum of 10 waves, as he took the lead over WCT fixture Tom Whitaker of Australia by posting a 8.5 and 7.73 for the days combined score of 16.23.

In true World Surfing Games spirit, Diego Naranjo of Costa Rica served double duty as he slipped into Repercharge in the Open division, ran down the beach and paddled out at the south podium with 14 minutes left on the clock with his next heat. Although small, the south swell offered long lefts which benefited the Longboard division. “It was my first time longboarding in the World Surfing Games. In the shortboard heats, it was tough being amongst the top 16 guys in the world but conditions were fun today,” Naranjo said of his second position finish in Heat 4. The Costa Rican later made it through Repercharge 2 with a second place score of 10.87.

2006 Longboard Panamerican Champion, Roberto Meza of Peru showcased his classic riding style gleaming victorious in Repercharge Heat 4 while Phil Rajzman of Brazil earned the days  divisional high score with 14.43 for his superlative cutback skills.

Roseanne Hodges of South Africa looked in sync with the ocean as she secured the highest combined score of a 15.83 in the Women’s Qualifying 3. She opened the heat with a score of a 6.5 when she charged down the line and snapped several times off the lip of the wave, earning her  several points in front of her competitors. Australia’s Jessie Miley-Dyer, Hawaii’s Bethany Hamilton and USA team member Courtney Conlogue all will advance. “I was relaxed and wanted to have as much fun as possible,” said Hodges.  “Most of the waves are closing out today so it was important to pick the really good waves and ride them as far as you can.”

Uri Valadao of Brazil earned the day’s highest combined score of a 15.26 and the highest single wave score of 8.33 for the Men’s Body Board Qualifying Round 3. Japan, Mexico and Spain were all knocked into Repercharge. “It was difficult to find good waves today because of the wind. I was further out than the other competitors, found a couple good waves on the outside and was able to pull off a few barrel rolls on both waves,” said Valadao.