SURF

: Nova Schin Festival • Florianopolis, Brazil : Hobgood claims victory as Slater takes world title

Tuesday 8 November : It was a memorable day in surfing history today as Damien Hobgood (USA) defeated Victor Ribas (BRA) in front of an extremely vocal crowd at the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong in Brazil. Surfing in one metre (three foot) waves at Imbituba, Santa Catarina, Brazil, Hobgood stole a wave in the dying seconds of the final to claim the victory in the event, the 10th on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour career.

Coming from behind and knowing he only needed a small score – a 3.3 out of 10 – Hobgood grabbed a smaller inside wave in the dying stages of the final and punched out two quick turns to score a 4.13 in what was a nail biting finish for both competitors and spectators alike.

It was a slow start in the 35 minute encounter with neither surfer really able to catch any quality waves until Hobgood scored an 8.17 with seven minutes to go. He then had to wait patiently until those dying seconds for his last score as the ocean went flat.

Ribas meanwhile had locked away some average scores of 5.17 and 5.33 and had the full backing of the incredibly passionate crowd. Each time Ribas stroked into waves they roared loudly, jumped up and down and hooted.

It was Hobgood’s second final appearance in a row – he finished second behind Andy Irons (HAW) in France – and he knew he had an inside running here today due to what he claimed was divine intervention.

"It was one of those contests where I wasn’t really surfing that well but the Lord was telling me that this was my contest,” said Hobgood. “I’d be in a heat and the waves would be bad and then a bomb would just come to me! I started off slow and gained momentum throughout the event. I’m super stoked with the win.”

Hobgood acknowledged that it was a slow final and that he didn’t really dominate as he would have liked but in scratching into his final wave of the event he knew he had played the right hand, but given the vocal nature of the crowd he didn’t want to go overboard in showing his excitement as he didn’t want the crowd to get out of control.

“I certainly didn’t command the heat,” said Hobgood. “I couldn’t hear clearly but I thought they said I needed a 3.0 or something [which was correct] and I paddled for that last wave. I thought it wasn’t that good but I went for it because I thought it would be my last hurrah. I took off late but managed to get in front of the section and I knew if I could do two good turns I’d get the score. As soon as I finished I knew I’d got the score and if I was anywhere else in the world I would have claimed it but I didn’t want get the crowd going too crazy so I just cut out.”

Hobgood went on to site that he was trying emulate Joel Parkinson’s (AUS) new found drive. After taking time off since the event in Japan back in September, Parkinson was “frothing like a grommet” being incredibly excited every time he hit the water for a heat.

“I was trying to draw energy from Joel Parkinson,” said Hobgood. “He was so amped to be back in the water after his injury I was trying to be like him and charge out there and just really enjoy competing.”

Ribas, in having the backing of the locals was in excellent form in the lead up to the final. He was unfortunate in that the set waves were few and far between. His two average scoring rides were just below par of Hobgood’s excellent wave and a smaller one.

“I couldn’t hear very well out there and I didn’t know he needed only a 3.3,” said Ribas. “I did my best and I tried to make all the manoeuvres on the waves but unfortunately he only needed that small score and he did make it. But I’m so proud that I have represented my country well. I always hope to do well for them.”

Through this second place today and his third placing in France, Ribas is now in a solid position on the ratings after looking very shaky all year previously. Originally he hadn’t qualified for the 2005 Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour but due to the retirment of Pat O’Connell (USA) at the start of this year Ribas scored a start and is now cemented for a return in 2006.

“I have to thank Pat O’Connell for retiring as that was how I made it into the top 45 this year,” said Ribas. “I was so stoked to be back this year and to have some big results. At Trestles this year Pat was driving the jetski in the surf and I thanked him for everything, for helping me get here on the WCT. I am very stoked to be here and have the crowd behind me. I didn’t win but for me it was like a win in front of this crowd.”

Finishing in equal third place was Nathan Hedge (AUS) who had an interesting day in that he contributed to the world title race by defeating Andy Irons in the quarter-finals. Irons needed to finish at least third here to keep the title race alive going into the next event at Pipeline Hawaii and Hedge blasted to victory scoring the highest heat score of the event.

His dream run came to an end in the semi-finals, however, as he went down fighting to Ribas. He was held back by some long lulls and couldn’t find the big scores.

“I felt as though I hadn’t even really hit my straps yet in the event so I was a bit disappointed that the waves didn’t come in that heat, said Hedge. “But that’s surfing you know. You just have to take the good with the bad. Victor is really hard to beat in these conditions as he only needs half a wave and he’ll catch it. That was my second best result of the year and it came at a good time of the year. It’ll keep me in the top 10 so now just bring on Pipe!”

Equalling Hedge was another Brazilian hot shot in Raoni Monteiro. Up until this event and the World Qualifying Series event held last week, he was looking like bowing out of the elite tour for lack of quality results.

Monteiro is a promising youngster and will certainly be a serious challenger in future as in an earlier round he landed one of the biggest aerial reverse manoeuvres of the event. In his semifinal against Hobgood, Monteiro, like Hedge was hampered by the long breaks between set waves. He was however pleased with his performance.

“It was hard out there. He got a good one to start and I think that was the best wave of the heat,” said Monteiro. “I had a small wave then I couldn’t really come back. This is the first podium I’ve made so far so I’m really happy to get this far. It was an important event for me because I needed a good result and I think now I’m in 30th on the WCT and now in 18th on the WQS. If I do well when I get to Hawaii then I’m back in.”

Results

Round 3
 Heat 11: Nathan Hedge (AUS) 14.67 def Pedro Henrique (BRA) 12.63
 Heat 12: Jake Paterson (AUS) 11.50 def Guilherme Herdy (BRA) 7.03
 Heat 13: Phil MacDonald (AUS) 11.50 def Flavio Costa (BRA) 8.93
 Heat 14: Victor Ribas (BRA) 15.00 def Tim Reyes (USA) 9.00
 Heat 15: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.50 def Yuri Sodre (BRA) 6.83
 Heat 16: Fred Patacchia (HAW) 14.67 def Renan Rocha (BRA) 12.93

Round 4
 Heat 1: Kirk Flintoff (AUS) 17.55 def C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.77
 Heat 2: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 16.33 def Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.70
 Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.53 def Cory Lopez (USA) 12.07
 Heat 4: Travis Logie (ZAF) 14.07 def Kelly Slater (USA) 13.66
 Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW) 17.10 def Bede Durbridge (AUS) 11.67
 Heat 6: Nathan Hedge (AUS) 15.27 def Jake Paterson (AUS) 13.43
 Heat 7: Victor Ribas (BRA) 14.26 def Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 13.50
 Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.50 def Frederick Patacchia Jr (HAW) 11.64

Quarter Finals
 Heat 1: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 12.00 def Kirk Flintoff (AUS) 7.46
 Heat 2: Damian Hobgood (USA) 13.27 def Travis Logie (ZAF) 10.83
 Heat 3: Nathan Hedge (AUS) 17.70 def Andy Irons (USA) 16.80
 Heat 4: Victor Ribas (BRA) 14.33 def Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.70

Semi Finals
 Heat 1: Damian Hobgood (USA) 14.23 def Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 8.70
 Heat 2: Victor Ribas (BRA) 12.63 def Nathan Hedge (AUS) 10.67

Final
 Heat 1: Damian Hobgood (USA) 12.30 def Victor Ribas (BRA) 11.50

• Ratings post Brazil

 1. Kelly Slater (USA) 7896
 2. Andy Irons (HAW) 7260
 3. Phil MacDonald (AUS) 6060
 4. Mick Fanning (AUS) 6028
 5. Damien Hobgood (USA) 5826
 6. Trent Munro (AUS) 5618
 7. Taj Burrow (AUS) 5512
 8. CJ Hobgood (USA) 5248
 9. Nathan Hedge (AUS) 5236
 10. Cory Lopez (USA) 4960

November 7 : Irons and Slater title race remains alive

Surfing fans all over the world were glued to their computer monitors or TV screens today watching the live broadcast of the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong in Brazil. And knowing that if Andy Irons (HAW) were to lose and then finish behind Kelly Slater (USA) in the event, the 2005 Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour crown will go to Slater, it’s no doubt that all and sundry felt an anxiety rush as both surfers hit the water in their round three heats against rookie Brazilians.

Throughout the previous rounds and the earlier heats of the day, the hungry locals, who revel in the smaller beach break conditions, caused many an upset and potentially could have easily derailed either or both Slater’s and Iron’s 2005 Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour title campaigns.

Both, however, lifted to win against their Brazilian rivals – Guilherme Ferriera and Heitor Alves – in the one metre (three foot) wind affected waves thus keeping the race and the anticipation alive.

Slater began his heat looking much more confident than on his previous encounter in this event. He began with a bang, busting large aerials mixed with some hooking carves in the pocket. He locked in two 8.5 scores in the first 10 minutes then went on to score a 9.0 in the very late stages to leave his opponent needing two good rides to catch up.

Slater claimed that he predicted his foe’s game plan and devised his own around it. Of those who lost throughout the day to the rookies, many waited patiently for larger waves, which didn’t arrive, and they were instantly behind the eight ball. Slater did the opposite.

“I felt pretty calm out there and I managed to predict his game plan,” said Slater. “He’s a bigger guy and I thought he would go for the bigger waves as he looked like he was struggling in the smaller waves the other day. I just wanted to get a start on him and luckily I got two 8.5s early and a 9.0 towards the end.”

Slater, like everyone in the event, acknowledged just how dangerous the rookies are due to the home “field” advantage plus the fact that there are 14 who progressed through to round three. He revealed that his guard must be up at all times.

“They [the rookies] don’t have a lot of pressure on them as they have nothing to lose. You always have to be conscious of that,” he said. “You have to put them on the back foot from the start. I don’t know of any time where a country has had 14 guys in this round – that’s almost half of the guys left in the event and they’re tough to beat, especially the goofy footers. I don’t expect Andy to lose today so I certainly can’t afford to let my guard down. I want to win this event regardless of whether Andy gets knocked out today or tomorrow. I just have to focus on that.”

Irons, meanwhile, indicated that he didn’t feel himself in his heat but from a spectator’s point of view he appeared to be on fire. While he didn’t get going till the halfway mark in the heat his radical snaps were well appreciated by the judges.

Irons also felt pressured as he couldn’t hear the scores and had a nervous finish after he witnessed Alves score a 9.0 on his last wave before the final bell. Not realising Alves needed two good rides to beat him Irons was jubilant when he learnt the result.

“In the first second Alves threw the tail on what I thought was a great ride,” said Irons. “Alves is on a roll right now as he had a good result last week in the WQS event here. I was pretty lost out there. We couldn’t hear a thing and I didn’t know how I was going. I thought it was much closer than what it was. I’m just happy that I won. The local guys are so hungry and the crowd’s behind them, they are so hard to beat.”

Irons also conceded that he may have made the wrong equipment choice, which had him somewhat confused in his tactical plan.

“It was really tough out there,” he said. “It was more like England out there than Brazil. I was trying to ride in the pocket but had trouble getting speed. I also think I made the wrong board choice and was in two minds as to whether or not to paddle in to get my other board. Tomorrow I’ll go back on to my old faithful board.”

Meanwhile, in earlier heats, South Africa’s Travis Logie demolished his opposition in Marcelo Nunes (BRA). The heat, one of the standouts of the event, saw both Logie and Nunes pick off some of the larger waves of the day with both landing some solid aerial manoeuvres. Logie though, had to fend of Nunes all the way.

“I had a really good score halfway through the heat and then he needed a 9.0,” said Logie. “He managed to lock away some good scores to catch up a bit but I then scored a really good one and put him out of reach. It’s actually very similar to the waves I get at home in Durban and it seemed to pulse during my heat so there were plenty of waves.”

Logie is in dire need of a big result in this event so he can requalify for the 2006 Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour, but his next challenge will be one of his toughest ever as he will come up against Slater in round four.

“It’s a good result for me already because it helps me jump up the ladder to requalify for next year,” said Logie. “But I’m surfing against Slater next so it’s going to be difficult to go further. I’m really looking forward to surfing against him as I’ve never surfed against him in man on man before. I’m so amped. I’m certainly hoping that he wins the title but I’m putting myself first out there [laughs]. I have to qualify! I’m not going to give him an inch.”

Showing why he is labelled as one of, if not the fastest surfer in the world, Australian Mick Fanning, despite him not being in the running for title race, indicated that he is still eager to rack up another event win to add to the two he has already bagged this year.

“It wasn’t too great in my heat. The rip was breaking up the waves and it deteriorated. I wasn’t too worried about surfing against the rookie. I’m like those guys now in that I’m not in the title race and have nothing to lose. I’m just going to surf my best and have a great time doing it. With those waves out there you just have to take off and see what happens. It’s hard to tell between good ones and bad ones.”

Results round three:

 Heat 1: CJ Hobgood (USA) 12.00 def Diego Rosa (BRA) 8.17
 Heat 2: Kirk Flintoff (AUS) 12.00 def Paulo Moura (BRA) 8.90
 Heat 3: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 14.34 def Richard Lovett (AUS) 13.17
 Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.80 def Odirlei Coutinho (BRA) 11.46
 Heat 5: Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.50 def Adriano de Souza (BRA) 11.87
 Heat 6: Cory Lopez (USA) 15.07 def Tom Curren (AUS) 11.60
 Heat 7: Travis Logie (ZAF) 14.83 def Marcelo Nunes (BRA) 12.83
 Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.50 def Guilherme Ferreira (BRA) 8.44
 Heat 9: Andy Irons (HAW) 15.34 def Heitor Alves (BRA) 14.00
 Heat 10: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 16.33 def Darren O’Rafferty (AUS) 10.43

Sunday 6 November : Locals send the big guns packing

In rising one metre (three foot) and choppy conditions it was great day for the locals in the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong held at Imbituba, Florianopolis Brazil. Ousting big names including world number five Trent Munro (AUS), Hawaiian hot shot and 11th ranked Bruce Irons, former Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour number three Danny Wills (AUS) and currently 17th ranked Tom Whitaker (AUS), Brazilians Guilherme Ferreira, Heitor Alves, Flavio Costa and Odirlei Coutinho are holding their heads high and will move through to round three.

After a long wait for swell to arrive to the Florianopolis coastline, competitors in the last four heats of round one were sent out in fairly small conditions to begin with, but as the tide filled in the waves quickly rose to meet the occasion.

And although becoming bumpy due to the strong onshore wind brought in by a nasty storm front, competitors had some nice walls to play with and the locals revelled.

In a bizarre backdrop, the enthusiasm of the spectators literally couldn’t be dampened by the wind and the rain, which drove in all afternoon. Driving their cars onto the beach they honked their horns to cheer on their heroes as they knocked out their more fancied rivals.

Defeating Bruce Irons in heat four with an aggressive display, Alves who is rated number 56 on the second tier tour, the ASP World Qualifying Series was incredibly happy.

Mobbed by local media as well as the crowd Alves was beaming. “I’m very, very happy to beat someone like Bruce Irons,” he said. “I was very lucky out there and managed to pick up some good waves. It is a very big thing for me and to do this in front of my home crowd is very special.”

The lone Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tourers to fend off local challengers were Damien Hobgood (USA) and Mick Fanning (AUS).

Hobgood who is suffering from chronic food poisoning managed to muster just enough strength to come home with the goods in heat three where he defeated Pablo Paulino (BRA). Prior to the heat he was sleeping in a car in the car park in between running to vomit.

Interestingly, Hobgood also freely admitted that he suffered an “accident” in his pants prior to the heat. “Yeah, I was standing there waiting for my heat and woops!” he said.

Fanning meanwhile was very focused and spent most of his leadup to the heat zoning in. He looked strong and went about his round two heat in a tradesman like manner despite there being a long lull in the waves to start with.

“It was a really slow start and we sat there for almost 12 minutes waiting for a wave,” said Fanning. “I didn’t get any really big scores but they did the job and were enough to get through.”

He was very wary of the local wildcards and acknowledged that on their home turf they can’t be underestimated. He also indicated that now the title race is over for him he’ll be trying new things and preparing for next year.

“You just never know with the wildcards,” said Fanning. “They have nothing to lose and the whole crowd really gets behind them. Every time they get a wave the crowd roars. But I’m pretty pumped here and will be trying new ways of attacking heats so I can hopefully ‘light it up a bit more’.”

Taking onlookers back in time and displaying the talent that took him to great heights in his hey day in the mid-’80s, former world champion Tom Curren put his foot down to defeat Wills, and Luke Stedman (AUS) in round one heat 13.

Since scoring numerous wildcard entries to Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour events this year, this is his first heat victory and he will now move directly through to round three.

“It was great to get in the water finally,” said Curren. “I got a good wave early and luckily it had a really good wall. I managed to link together some long turns and get the score. I’ve had a lot of heats this year as a wildcard and this is the first time I’ve won so I’m stoked. It’s great to come here as the locals get so behind the sport. I believe we’ll see a lot more quality surfers come out of Brazil very soon.”

• Results

Round One
 Heat 13: 1. Tom Curren (USA) 14.34; 2. Danny Wills (AUS) 13.60; 3. Luke Stedman (AUS) 6.70
 Heat 14: 1. Fred Patacchia (HAW) 16.33; 2. Bernado Pigmeu (BRA) 11.60; Greg Emslie (ZAF) 10.50
 Heat 15: 1. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 15.16; 2 Guilherme Herdy (BRA) 13.60; 3. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.70
 Heat 16: 1. Kirk Flintoff (AUS) 16.70; 2. Renan Rocha (BRA) 14.47; 3. Peterson Rosa (BRA) 9.63

Round Two
 Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.00 def Guga Aruda (BRA) 10.46
 Heat 2: Guilherme Ferreira (BRA) 14.17 def Trent Munro (AUS) 13.33
 Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.43 def Pablo Paulino (BRA) 9.83
 Heat 4: Heitor Alves (BRA) 16.66 def Bruce Irons (HAW) 11.43
 Heat 5: Flavio Costa (BRA) 17.27 def Wills 9.30
 Heat 6: Ordirlei Coutinho (BRA) 16.17 def Tom Whitaker (AUS) 14.06

Tuesday 1 November : Round one hits the road and scores

The decision to move two hours drive south from the home base of Joaquina, Florianopolis, Brazil proved successful today for the organisers of the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong. Getting underway in fun one metre (three foot) beach breaks at a location known as Imbituba, contestants in 10th event on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour had the huge crowd enthralled as they put on amazing displays of new-school surfing.

Obviously, due to the potential for the 2005 Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour title to be wound up in here in Brazil, the major focus of the day was on the early performances of Kelly Slater (USA) and Andy Irons (HAW) but there were plenty of cheers throughout round one as both local competitors and the international field effortlessly completed some massive aerial manoeuvres. Slater even described the day as being like one massive “expression session”.

In the first heat of the day Cory Lopez came out of the starting blocks with all guns blazing. He certainly showed that he wasn’t going to let the nightmare preparation he faced in the four days leading up to the event affect his performance.

After facing visa problems on arrival into Brazil, Lopez was forced to spend time in Argentina until the dramas were solved and he arrived in Florianopolis at 2am local time this morning. He then had to scrounge up equipment after his luggage did not arrive. After only a couple of hours sleep he was on hand at 6am ready to compete.

“I tried to come to the event a couple of days early to get warmed up but unfortunately my visa had expired a week before I got here,” said Lopez. “They almost sent me back to Atlanta USA, but luckily instead they sent me to Buenos Aires. I had to sit there for Saturday and Sunday until the consulate opened and then I somehow made the lady give me my visa in one day.

“I made it here at 2am this morning for the 6am call,” Lopez continued. “It was an adventure but I’m here and luckily I came out on top. I got to my room and Chris Ward and brought two boards over for me. My luggage hadn’t arrived either so that was lucky. I’m in a borrowed wetsuit also… I don’t know how it all came together!”

Following on from Lopez’s strong showing was a head turning display from Brazilian Marcelo Nunes. Obviously gaining extra confidence surfing in front of a home crowd he executed numerous large aerials to blitz his heat against Damien Hobgood (USA), and fellow Brazilian Pedro Henrique.

Sitting right on the cusp of the re-qualification boundary, a big result here is important for Nunes’s future on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour.

“This event is very important for me. I really need a good result here so I can keep going on the tour next year,” said Nunes. “I’m very happy to win that first heat and even happier that it is in Brazil. I feel good and confident in front of this home crowd. I’ve been training out here and even though it’s smaller today there’s still some good waves and luckily I caught a few. It was good to beat Damien. I knew I had to do some big turns to beat him as he is such a great surfer. I’m 28th at the moment so I really need this result. But I’m confident – I have good boards and a lot of people helping me.”

Making a comeback after a serious medial ligament tear in his knee saw him withdraw from the tour back in September in Japan, was Joel Parkinson (AUS). Although seemingly struggling at the start of the heat, right on the final buzzer Parkinson showed the form that had him sitting in number five on the rankings prior to his injury. Parkinson now sits in 14th and will endeavour to climb back into the top 10. He was elated with his first round win.

“It’s unreal. I was so nervous to see how I’d go and I really thought I was going to struggle more than I did out there,” said Parkinson. “I’d been surfing really good at home but the waves are so much weaker here and I was struggling in the free surf this morning. But with each wave I felt more confident and now I think I’m almost 100 per cent.”

Parkinson defeated Travis Logie (ZAF) and Diego Rosa (BRA) and like all winners of round one will receive instant passage through to round three.

Also getting off to a late start in his heat against Mark Occhilupo (AUS) and local Guga Aruda, was Kelly Slater. He too found some late momentum to come in with a win.

“I never really got in synch in that heat and I don’t think anyone else did either. I thought I was in last actually! And then I heard I was in first and that Occy needed a 6.0 or so to catch me. I just never really found my feet out there so it was good to win a heat knowing I didn’t surf all that well. I think it was a cumulation of a few things, jet lag, climate change, sitting around doing nothing. I actually changed the fins in my board too which made it feel terrible… so maybe it was good just to get all that out of the way and I can get into gear from here.”

Knowing he has a huge task ahead of him in the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong, Irons took it to his fellow competitors Taylor Knox (USA) and Guilherme Ferreira (BRA) by posting the highest score of the day, a 9.5 out of a possible 10.

On that wave he launched a typical Irons attack pulling off some huge power gouges. On returning to the beach however Irons played down both his sterling performance and the enormity of what lies before him.

“The waves were pretty soft and slow as the tide got higher,” said Irons. “One of the guys out there was really aggressive and it was hard to catch waves but I got a good one at the end which came in a bit wider and it lined up well. I’m glad to get that one out of the way.

“Everyone’s talking it [the title showdown] up and there’s so much going on, but really I’m in cruise mode,” he continued. “There’s a lot riding on it and it’s a long shot but I’m just having fun with it and I’m not going to get too stressed out. It’s plain and simple what I have to do and I’m going to go for it and try to win every single heat.”

Wednesday 26 October : Defending champ Taj Burrow withdraws due to injury

The focus of the sporting world will shift to Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil from this coming Monday, 30th October as the The Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong gets underway. The event, the 10th on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour will play host to one of the hottest showdowns for world championship glory in the history of pro surfing as Andy Irons (HAW) attempts to score his fourth world crown and in doing so thwart Kelly Slater’s (USA) hopes of gaining a seventh.

Slater, who has dominated the 2005 tour, has made finals on five occasions this season, claiming four victories at Tahiti, Fiji, Jeffreys Bay and California and one second placing (behind Irons) in Japan. He currently sits in number one on the ratings with 7896 points and could potentially claim the crown here in Brazil.

Irons meanwhile, by his own admission, had a slow start to the year but has well and truly hit his straps after claiming wins at both Japan and most recently in France. He lurks behind Slater with 7128 points and a win here will keep his title hopes alive going into the last event of the year at Iron’s favourite location – Pipeline, Hawaii. After his French victory Irons showed his determination screaming “Bring on Brazil!” to the masses.

Post France, Slater and Irons are the only men still in contention for the 2005 world crown and as Slater has admitted several times, if anyone can accomplish the feat of coming from behind to win it’s Andy Irons.

It’s a similar situation to 2003 where Irons won at Pipeline, leapt past Slater who was in the number one slot, then claimed his second world title. For Slater the scars from that year ran deep as he quoted earlier in the year: “It took me till the win in Tahiti this year to get over what happened in 2003.”

Slater therefore will be eager to wrap up the title here at the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong and establish himself as the greatest surfer of all time.

If any one of the following situations take place, Slater will clinch the title in Brazil: If Irons were to come in fifth place, Slater needs only to finish better than 33rd and the title is his. If Irons were to get a third, Slater will win by finishing fifth or better. If Irons were to get second, Slater needs to finish third or better to clinch, and if both make the final, Irons has to win to keep his title hopes alive entering Hawaii. If he loses, Slater will earn his seventh world crown.

Aiding the opening of an opportunity for a victory in Brazil for either surfer was the shock withdrawal of defending Nova Schin Festival champion Taj Burrow (AUS) who broke his foot while free surfing with some pro surfing buddies on NSW, Australia’s North Coast.

“I was freesurfing down at Yamba where I was attending Hitcho’s [former Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour surfer Luke Hitchings] wedding,” said Taj. “It was on the day of his wedding and I went for a big air despite there being an ugly landing section. I knew all the boys were watching so I had to try and make it.

“I knew I wasn’t going to land it right and when I did my toes curled up under my foot and I’d never felt pain like it. I was carried to the hospital and the X-Ray revealed my foot was broken. I now have to wear a boot for about six weeks.”

Burrow was obviously disappointed with not being able to defend his title but more so was shattered at not being able to gain a solid finish and climb further up the ratings. In both France and California Taj finished equal third and is currently ranked 6th.

“I’m devastated that I can’t go and defend my Nova Schin Festival title. But that’s what happens I guess. But I guess it could have happened at a worse time, it’s just a little forced holiday! [laughs] I’m excited that I’ll be back by Pipe, especially since I’ve had two 3rds in the last two events and am still in 6th. I really wanted to get a good result in Brazil and move up higher. But I guess I’ll just have to wait till Pipe.”

About the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong

Status: The Nova Schin Festival, presented by Billabong is number 10 of 11 stops on the 2005 Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour. It is South America’s sole event on this tour.

Location: The Nova Schin Festival, presented by Billabong will be staged in Florianopolis, Brazil. The event is mobile in the State of Santa Catarina and is predominantly held in fun beach-breaks with gorgeous locals, warm weather and passionate crowds.

The event’s headquarter are at Joaquina Beach, a beach break with a headland that, with the right swell, can hold lefts from two to three metres (six to 10 feet). There is also a “peak” in the middle of the beach. The other prime spot is Praia da Vila (Vila Beach), in Imbituba, 11.5 hours south of Florianopolis. Vila Beach hosted the 2003 final and the last three days of the 2004 event. Conditions there can be compared to a reef break as the beach is very short with two small islands on either side. The beach holds a sand bar that never shifts. Rights and lefts are available but the right is the preferred wave.

Field: The Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong will feature the world’s top male full-time touring professional surfers and along with event wildcards will comprise a total field of 48.

Duration: A total of four full days of competition is required to finalize the event but the tournament has an 11-day waiting period for the best possible conditions from October 30th through to November 9.

Format: 16 x three man non-elimination round one heats (1st>rnd 3, 2nd & 3rd>rnd 2). Round two onwards feature man-on-man elimination heats

Prizemoney: Total prizemoney for the Nova Schin Festival, presented by Billabong is US$270,000. The winner receives US$30000 and 1200 World Championship points.

Defending Champion: Current world number six, Taj Burrow (AUS) has been forced to withdraw due to injury.

Previous Champions: 2004 Taj Burrow (AUS) 2003 Kelly Slater (USA).

World Champion Andy Irons: Hawaiian Andy Irons clinched his third consecutive world title at the Brazilian event last year. Following the shock elimination of title contender Joel Parkinson (AUS) in round three of the Nova Schin Festival 2004 at Imbituba, the Kauaian’s massive ratings lead became untouchable.

The crowd: The local crowd is regarded as the most vocal and passionate on the tour.

Wildcards: Awaiting final list.

Contest Director: Recently retired Flavio Padaratz is the most successful surfer to emerge from Brazil. His list of triumphs since he joined the ASP tour in 1988 includes three Top 10 finishes on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour and two ASP World Qualifying Series titles (1992 and ’99).