Kelly, Parko and Wilko on fire! Quik Pro Round 3

Wilko on Fire in Round 3 (Photo: ASP)

Well any thoughts you may have had that Kelly Slater was heading for retirement, can be put to rest. He absolutely smashed young super grom Matt Banting in his Round 3 heat.



Joel Parkinson showed that he is on his way back to his best form after last years injury lay off and had the crowd of local Snapper pals screaming.



Matt Wilko on his backhand was going beyond vertical and showing some of the best backhand surfing we have seen in a long time. Still waiting for Jordy's heat to be put up, but look out for it later today!

Inside the Tour with SA's Surf Ambassador - Travis Logie

The world of top level Pro surfing gets underway today with the Start of the Quiksilver Pro. With Jordy being our only surfer in the event and being hectically busy, I thought I would chat to long time WCT surfer, one of the only guys on tour to beat Slater and hopefully full WCT campaigner again soon, Travis Logie. He gives us the lowdown on the new tour format, Jordy and where local surfing is at.

The backhand Shralp that has defeated Champions. (Photo: ASP)

Kai - 

How many years have you been on tour now?

Travis - Been surfing professionally for for 13 yrs but been 100 percent touring for 9 years. 

Kai - 
What have been the major changes to the World Tour since you started?

Travis - 

Well back when I started events had 300 odd surfers in them , the heats were 20 mins long , 4 waves counted and the prize money for first place in CT was only USD15K! Now there's only 32 guys , 2 waves count in 30min heats and you win 75K usd.

Kai - 

What are your feelings on the new tour format?

Travis - 

I'm undecided , it's still a bit fresh to make a call, those round 4, 3 man heats kind of randomise the seedings which I don't know is such a great call. 

Kai - Its great that we have Jordy doing so well, but who are the guys 
that are going to step up for SA Surfing in the next few years?

Travis - 

I think Dale Staples , Shaun Joubert and Jacko could really end up having successful careers! They all have good technique and seem pretty focussed! Casey Grant has huge talent too, if he can channel it he will be a real force. 

Kai - We don't really have a Pro Tour locally anymore, and club surfing 
died a long time ago, how do we reinvent the system here? 

Travis - 

Money, someone needs to step up and sponsor some local events! And club events have died cause people don't really spend all day on the beach anymore. They drive down surf and drive home! I remember when everyone posted up for hours , I think its a crime thing. 

Kai - What are your feelings on bringing back Club Surfing in SA?

Travis - 

Its a must , its what got me and Jordy into competitive surfing and encourages beach culture! 

No one on tour wants to surf against Travis in Small rights! (Photo: ASP)

Kai - Your goals for 2011?

Travis - 

The first half of 2011 is all about making the cut! Second half I wanna do some damage on the CT 

Kai - 

Is this year for Jordy to become World Champ?

Travis - 

Jordys been surfing good enough to be world champ for 3 years! The only thing that has changed is experience, if he keeps managing his heats professionally he will be world champ! 

Thanks Travis. You can check out the start of the WCT at - Quik Pro 

Travis has defeated the biggest names in surfing, just check these two heats from last year's Rip Curl pro Portugal, where he smoked Dane and Mick!

Hawaiin and French pro surfers assualt Boardrider and kicked out of ASP Surf Contest

It seems you cannot take Sunny Garcia anywhere. After his 16 year old son was in a verbal argument with another surfer on the Gold Coast, Sunny ran over, choked the guy and knocked him a couple in the head. Jeremy Flores, who was surfing with Sunny's son at the time, also got involved, though according to him, he did not throw the first punch. Sunny, not done with this then chased down the guy who filmed the whole incident and gave him a klap to. I mean really guys, is this how you wanna portray surfers to the world?



The ASP released the following:
GOLD COAST, Queensland/Australia (Monday, February 21, 2011) -The ASP Rules and Disciplinary Committee has convened this morning to begin assessment of an incident involving ASP World Title contender Jeremy Flores and ASP World Tour surfer Sunny Garcia last Saturday, February 19, 2011 on the Gold Coast of Australia. In accordance with the ASP Rules and Discipline Policy, the ASP Rules and Disciplinary committee will cooperate fully and await the findings of an active police investigation into the matter before reconvening and determining the next course of action.
It is noted that ASP International implements a zero tolerance policy in relation to violence.
In accordance with the ASP Rulebook, immediately following Saturday’s incident, then-active surfer Jeremy Flores was suspended from event competition at Burleigh Heads and then-eliminated surfer Sunny Garcia was suspended from the next event on the ASP calendar that he was scheduled to attend, the ASP 4-Star Burton Toyota Pro in Newcastle.
The ASP Rules and Disciplinary Committee will reconvene following the closure of the active police investigation to determine whether further disciplinary action is required for both athletes.

Flores gets away with a slap on the wrist.