Tom Whitaker of
AUS slips to the Repercharge
Photo credit: Covered Images/Rowland/Morris
DAY SEVEN RESULTS: THE 2006 LOST ENERGY DRINK ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES
Race for the Gold with Power Countries Australia, Brazil and USA in Top Three Position
Huntington Beach, Calif., October 21, 2006 – Day seven was met with glassy head high to overhead conditions as the heats narrowed the field of the remaining 56 athletes who weathered nine days of action packed surfing, perfect weather and jubilant support of their teammates all in the race to garner a gold, silver, bronze, and copper medal. At the day’s end, Australia leads the pack in first place, with Brazil narrowly following them and Team USA in third.
The Open Division saw some of the best surfers in the world with power countries Brazil, Australia and USA in a wave to wave mêlée culminating with Alejo Muniz (13.73) of Brazil is 16 year old ISA Junior World champion Under 16 taking first over Damien Hobgood and Gavin Gillette of Hawaii. Pat O’Connell took second in the heat with a combined 13.60. Australia’s Luke Stedman will also advance after posting a 16.63 after grabbing a long ride in the last 8 minutes of the heat.
t was a tight race in every heat of the Men’s Repercharge with a double interference called on Gilbert Brown of Costa Rica and Julian Wilson of Australia early in the heat. Australia’s Tom Whittaker and Jordy Smith of South Africa heated things up with a paddle battle in Heat 1 for two waves with Whittaker posting a 7.1 shooting him from third to first place and igniting his team into applause onshore. Both Whitaker and Smith will move on to the final Repercharge heat where they will face Jadson Andre of France and Gavin Gillette of Hawaii.
“Today was a really important day for the Games. I got some really fun waves, but I definitely felt some added pressure to do well because I was surfing for my team,” said Whitaker.
One of the most anticipated heats of the day matched Team USA surfers Julia Christian and 13 year-old Courtney Conlogue with Hawaii’s Bethany Hamilton in the Women’s Open division. With some great backhand snaps it was USA team anchors Christian and Conologue advancing leaving Hamilton behind with a standing ovation on the beach for her tremendous dedication to the sport. USA team womens surfers will meet Brazil’s Jacqueline Silva and Rosanee Hodges of South Africa who all stand a strong chance of gleaming gold medals at the approaching awards ceremony. “We have had great waves and weather all week, but tomorrow is where the plot thickens to see if we get through,” commented newly elected ISA Vice President and Surfing America executive director Mike Gerard.
Teammates Nichola Atherton and Jessie Miley –Dyer of Australia will both surf in the Repercharge tomorrow after defeating Diane de Souza of Brazil and Tamlynne Smith who will sit in 7th and 8th place respectively.
In Longboard Repercharge Phil Rajzman of Brazil advanced with his remarkable top turn combinations, and will meet Colin Mc Phillips of USA who has been consistently impressing juges with his fluid style throughout the week.
The day wound down with the ISA Nations Cup tag team event, a unique ISA tradition where the top eight countries compete for first through fourth place medals. Although this event has no bearing on the team world championship results it is a fun aside to the contest that shows a different surfing format and give teams another chance at medals. Each team has the option to catch 3 waves, and claim their two highest toward their team score. The ISA Nations Cup will also be contested tomorrow by between semi winners Australia, Costa Rica, Brazil and South Africa.
The gripping Finals of the nine day competition will commence tomorrow at 7 a.m. with 30 remaining surfers fighting the gold, silver, and bronze team and individual medals. With a team of seven athletes Australia will compete against Brazil’s six remaining athletes, with USA closely behind with four surfer. After the front runners, South Africa has been left with three athletes, followed by Spain, Portugal and France with two, and Hawaii, Japan, Great Britain, Puerto Rico who have one remaining athlete in the competition for individual medals.
The Closing Ceremonies will begin immediately following the Men’s Final Heat to the North side of the Pier at 2:15 p.m. Also, the coveted IOC President’s trophy will be presented to the Team Champion by ISA President Fernando Aguerre who said “What a great way of celebrating surfing and our hopes for a peaceful world;
