The Dorky Taco: October 2012

Monday, October 1, 2012

Quiksilver Pro France 2012: Round 1 Upsets, Round 2 Match-ups

Round 1 of the Quik Pro France is over after two days of questionably contestable conditions. Random shifty peaks, largely closeouts, led to a kind of free-for-all where just about anyone could win. Heats were typically low scoring and it was often a battle of the backup scores. With these trying conditions, I suppose it’s no surprise there were a few upsets.

Jadson Andre barely squeaked by Adriano de Souza and Damien Hobgood with a mere 9.04 heat total. Patrick Gudauskas (12.70) beat Hawaii favorite John John Florence (11.67) and Miguel Pupo (6.86). What’s crazy is that a rookie was odds on favorite in the first place. Tour veteran Kieren Perrow beat out two of his much younger competitors, Julian Wilson and Adrian Buchan. Perhaps the wildest upset of Round 1 came in Heat 5, where Dane Reynolds edged out current world #2 Joel Parkinson. Always the space cadet, Dane floated through his heat seemingly without realizing he was even in a contest, and gave an equally spacey post-heat interview.

Of course a great number of the usual suspects won their Round 1 bouts and get to skip Round 2. Unsurprisingly, Taj Burrow, Kelly Slater, and Mick Fanning made it through.

With some crazy upsets, Round 2 looks really exciting. Joel will be up against Trials winner Wiggoly Dantas. Owen Wright vs. Matt Wilkinson will probably be fun too. But what I’m most excited yet incredibly depressed about is the all Hawaiian heat of John John and Dusty Payne. Why do they have to go up against each other?

At least the swell outlook is finally turning up. Let’s hope the wind doesn’t ruin it!