Slater comes back to grab a victory

WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG

The Assn. of Surfing Professionals has been steam rolling along,

knocking one event off in perfect 6- to 10-foot surf at Teahupoo,

Tahiti May 6 through 18. It was a high-scoring final with some steep

and hollow lefts and back to the center stage was the US’s six-time

world champ Kelly Slater. Slater, surfing on two dislocated toes,

came back to win the event, his last major victory was in 2000, in

top form. He air-dropped a big set, pulled in for a deep barrel and

threw a cutback at the end of the wave to score a 9.57. Another good

wave came in, and trying to hold off his fellow competitor Australian

Taj Burrow, Slater made a go at it, pulling into an unbelievable

double barrel to score a perfect 10.

“Slates” pocketed $30,000 for the win and tied for first place in

the standings. Burrow came up with his best result at Teahupoo, a

second, which saw him get some pretty killer rides, one earning him a

score of 8.83. He pockets $16,000 and moves into the number three

spot in the overall ratings.

Brazilian Danilo Costa was equal third along with Aussie Beau

Emerton. Finishing equal fifth were the U.S.A.’s Corey Lopez, Shane

Dorian and Kalani Robb.

Already underway is the Quiksilver Pro in Fiji at Tavarua. It

began May 25 and will run through June 6. Injuries have caused a

couple cancellations, one is Slater with the foot injury and the

other is former world champ from Hawaii, Sunny Garcia who’s been

having problems with his knee and looks like he’s going to get knee

surgery soon. Surfing veteran Tom Carrol, a pipe charger and a former

two-time world champ at the age of 41, came out of retirement to take

a wildcard spot, but pulled a muscle in his hip and had to come in

early during his heat.

Some of the winners in round one include last year’s reigning

world champ Andy Irons and Florida’s Damien Hobgood, one of the

twins. Some round two winners include Aussies Mick Fanning and

Burrow. In the women’s ASP World Champion Tour action, Hawaii’s

Kauaiian, Keala Kennelly, has won two in a row -- the Roxy Pro at

Fiji April 27 through May 3 and the Billabong Pro at Teahupoo, which

was held May 6 through 18. Kennelly, known for her strong surfing in

bigger waves, was tearing it up and on a couple waves and came really

close to the super-sharp reef. Kennelly has a bit of a lead now over

the current world champ Australian Layne Beachley, 2760 points to

2112.

Californian Julia Christian is in the number 16 spot. Next up for

the gals is the Figueira Pro in Portugal Sept. 19 through 28. That

gives the girls a bit of a breather to surf some World Qualifying

Series events coming up locally. That’s if for now see ya in the

lineup.

* RICK FIGNETTI is a seven-time West Coast champion and has

announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last nine years. He owns a

surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at (714) 536-1058.