- 2017-09-21
-
SPORTS
-
-
Donate to support families affected by the crisis in Ukraine ➔ World Surf League: Test competition held at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch
After Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro, 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater held a test competition at his Surf Ranch in California on September 20, 2017.
Surf Ranch is a wave pool with the new technology, where several guest surfers have surfed such as Gerry Lopez, Bethany Hamilton, Carissa Moore, Stephanie Gilmore, Kanoa Igarashi and Nat Young, so far.
"This has been a dream come true and I can't thank you guys enough," Kelly Slater said before beginning the competition.
"Having the ability to replicate, even partially, the power and shape of ocean waves for anyone in the world, in any location and at any time is a truly magical thing,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL Chief Executive Officer. “The WSL intends to learn a lot - how this technology can be applied to live competition, how the surfers perform, how waves are scored, how we cover in broadcast, the overall experience that we can create and what it feels like to witness this kind of surfing."
This time, John John Florence (HAW), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Mick Fanning (AUS), Kanoa Igarashi (USA), Tyler Wright (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Carissa Moore (HAW), Courtney Conlogue (USA), Sage Erickson (USA), Silvana Lima (BRA), Pauline Ado (FRA) and Johanne Defay (FRA) participated in the test competition, with prize money going to charity.
Also seven founding members of the sport of surfing, Peter Townend, Shaun Tomson, Wayne Bartholomew, Mark Richards, Ian Cairns, Randy Rarick and Fred Hemmings, joined in the event.
The event saw 18 surfers battle through two preliminary rounds, with each surfer getting the chance to ride four waves (two in each direction) and their highest-scoring left and highest-scoring right hand waves combined to make their heat total. The four top scoring male and female surfers advanced on to the finals.
Stephanie Gilmore said;
“This is just a magical day, I can’t believe it. Every single wave is so much fun and challenging and nerve wracking. That was just so special!”
Filipe Toledo said;
"It's perfect. It's that wave that we dream about, the one that we draw on paper. The one that you dream about -- being able to surf it, fitting in the barrel for 20 seconds and make it out and turns, turns, and then a final maneuver. Just, mind blown."
Carissa Moore said;
“It feels amazing. I just didn’t think it was going to be possible to win so I’m so pleased.”
Gabriel Medina said;
"I'm so stoked to be part of history. This is such an incredible day for surfing, and I'm really proud to be a part of it."
Men's Final Results:
1 - Gabriel Medina (BRA)
2 - Filipe Toledo (BRA)
3 - Adrian Buchan (AUS)
4 - Kanoa Igarashi (USA)
Women's Final Results:
1 - Carissa Moore (HAW)
2 - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
3 - Tyler Wright (AUS)
4 - Johanne Defay (FRA)
All photos copyright by World Surf League.- source : World Surf League
