2018 AUSTRALIA EVENTS OVERVIEW by surfworldtour.blogspot.com -Paulo Piqueres

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2018- Championship Tour (CT)Men's Overview of Australian Events
          WSL - World Surf League
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CT#1-Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast- Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
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The 2018 Championship Tour(CT)started on March 11th, in Gold Coast, Australia.
In the opening heat of the Quarterfinals, A. Buchan(AUS)overcame his compatriot O. Wright(AUS)-6th position in 2017 Jeep Leaderboard Ranking.In the second heat, we had a Brazilian duel, the rookie  T. Hermes(BRA)defeated the surfer of Ubatuba, São Paulo, F.Toledo(BRA).In the third heat, the Australian J. Wilson(AUS)-3rd position in 2017 Jeep Leaderboard Ranking overcame the Brazilian rookie M. Rodrigues(BRA) and in the last heat of the Quarterfinals,the American rookie G. Colapinto(USA)defeated the Tahitian M. Bourez(PYF).
In the Semifinals the Australian A.Buchan(AUS) defeated T. Hermes(BRA)and his compatriot J. Wilson(AUS)overcame the American surfer G. Colapinto(USA).
Than we had an Australian Final in Gold Coast between two top surfers of the circuit.
At this fight J. Wilson(AUS)won A. Buchan(AUS) by 17.43 to 15.10.So J. Wilson(AUS)will wear the yellow jersey in the next event of the tour -Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Australia.
The 2016/17 World Champion J. J. Florence(HAW)was defeated soon in the Round 2 and the 2014 World Champion G. Medina(BRA)-2nd in 2017 Jeep Leaderboard Ranking was overcame in the Round 3. Both World Champions were defeated by the Australian M. Wright(AUS).The 2015 World Champion A. de Souza(BRA)-8th position 2017 Jeep Leaderboard Ranking was the third positioned in the Round 4, so as there is no more Round 5 -the Recap-the Brazilian surfer of Guarujá, São Paulo, was out of the competition. The three times World Champion, the Australian M. Fanning(AUS) also was out of the event in the Round 4.The 2012 World Champion J. Parkinson(AUS)was defeated in the Round 3 and was out of the competition.
Finallly, we may point out the good performance of  the rookies T. Hermes(BRA), M. Rodrigues(BRA) and G. Colapinto(USA)in their first event in the elite of world surfing.

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CT#2-Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach - Bells Beach, Australia
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The second event of the Championship Tour(CT#2)started on March 28th in Bells Beach, Australia.
The last year this event was the third of the schedule, and Margaret River, Australia was the second.
In the opening heat of the Quarterfinals the American surfer P. Gudauskas(USA)defeated the Tahitian M. Bourez(PYF)for small difference - 11.67 to 11.44.At second heat,  the three times World Champion M. Fanning(AUS)won the Australian duel against O. Wright(AUS). At third heat , the Brazilian surfer of Rio Grande do Norte(RN), I. Ferreira(BRA)overcame the Hawaiian E. Lau(HAW) with good grades-17.86.In the last heat of the Quarterfinals, the 2014 World Champion- 2017 2nd position in Jeep Leaderboard Ranking, G. Medina(BRA)defeated the Portuguese surfer F. Morais(PRT).
In the opening heat of the Semifinals, the Australian M. Fanning(AUS)defeated P. Gudauskas(USA). In the last heat, was a Brazilian duel, I. Ferreira(BRA) overcame G. Medina(BRA). So in the second stage of the Championship Tour, the Brazilian I. Ferreira(BRA)defeated M. Fanning(AUS) in the Final and won his first event in elite of world surfing.The 2016/17 World Champion J.J. Florence(HAW) was defeated in Round 3 by his compatriot E. Lau(HAW). 2015 World Champion, the Brazilian A. de Souza(BRA)also was defeated in the Round 3 by the American surfer C. Coffin(USA). Than in the next event in Margaret River, Western Australia, both surfers, J. Wilson(AUS) and I. Ferreira(BRA) will wear the yellow jersey because they are draw in the Jeep Leaderboard Ranking.


CT#3- Margaret River Pro - Margaret River,  Australia
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The third event of the Championship Tour (CT)started in April 11th, in Margaret River.
Unfortunately the competition was cancelled in the Round 3 due to shark activity in the competition área.
So the event was only disputed till the Round 2 - The Recap. and stopped by.
The 2016/17 World Champion J. J. Florence(HAW)would dispute the last heat of the Round 2 against M. Wright(AUS)that already had defeated the Hawaiian surfer and 2014 World Champion G. Medina(BRA)in Gold Coast, Australia.
The South African J. Smith(SAF)-4th position in Jeep Leaderboard Ranking- would face his compatriot M. February(SAF)in the heat 3. The 2012 World Champion J. Parkinson(AUS)would fight in the heat 11 against the French surfer J. Duru(FRA).
The American surfer K. Andino(USA)-7th position in 2017 Jeep Leaderboard Ranking- would dispute the second heat against the rookie J. Mendes(BRA). In the heat 4 would have a Brazilian duel between the leader of the Ranking, I. Ferreira(BRA) and the rookie M. Rodrigues(BRA).
The 2014 World Champion, G. Medina(BRA)would face J. Robinson(AUS)in the heat 7.
In the heat 9 , would have a Brazilian duel between, the 2015 World Champion A. de Souza(BRA)and W. Cardoso(BRA). In the heat 10 would have another Brazilian duel between F. Toledo(BRA)and the rookie Y. Dora(BRA).
Finally, the champions of the CT#1 and CT#2, J. Wilson(AUS) and I. Ferreira(BRA)respectivelly are in the top of the Jeep Leaderboard Ranking and both surfers will wear the Yellow jersey in the upcoming event in Saquarema, Brazil.(CT#4).




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