Wilkinson and Wright win Quiksilver and Roxy Pro
COOLANGATTA, Queensland/AUS (Wednesday, March 16, 2016) - Australians Matt Wilkinson and Tyler Wright emerged victorious today, claiming the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast titles respectively, in clean three-to-four foot waves at Snapper Rocks.
The opening events on the 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour, the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast pres. by BOQ showcased the world’s best surfing, massive upsets and a significant tone-setting for the season ahead.
Wilkinson’s victory today marked his maiden on the elite Championship Tour with the Australian putting on an exciting performance throughout the event, pushing scorelines and knocking out top-seeded opponents. The goofy-footer unleashed a variety of technical maneuvers to solidify his position atop the ranks of the Jeep Leaderboard. Wilkinson previously dispatched reigning World Champion Adriano De Souza (BRA) and last year’s event winner, Filipe Toledo (BRA).
Wilkinson faced Kolohe Andino (USA) in the Final and the frontside verse backside match-up did not disappoint. The two battled wave for wave, with multiple lead changes throughout. Wilkinson took an early lead with an 8.60 opening score and held off Andino until halfway through. Andino took the lead and stayed busy as the time ticked down, while Wilkinson waited for a wave. The Australian’s patience paid off with a 5.60 point ride at the six minute mark to regain the lead. With thirty seconds left on the clock Andino caught a wave to chase the 7.38 score needed, but Andino’s efforts were not enough. Wilkinson won the event 14.22 to 13.66.
“I started this year with a win in the Qualifying Series and to win this event felt amazing. I did not expect this but I was hoping for it,” said Wilkinson. “My heat against Adriano is the kind of heat where I usually lose. I just got the score right at the end and it gave me the fire to make me feel like the ocean was on my side. I surfed well with so much pressure on, and I knew I hadn’t gotten a great Snapper wave this whole event, and that first wave of the Final had two really nice sections at the start. I am so stoked to win.”
“I was hoping to make it in the top five or ten this year, and I have been at the back end of the teens for the last few years, so this is a different start,” continued Wilkinson. “I feel like I have matured a lot in my heat surfing and in my surfing in general. Hopefully I can put a lot of heats together this year and win the Title.”
“There are so many great surfers that went out early in this event or did not make the final, so I am stoked, but obviously I wanted to win that final really bad,” Andino said. “I guess it is like the first loser, so it is going to fire me up even more. I am excited for the rest of the year. Obviously, I’ve got big goals and big plans, but it’s a long year. I’m trying to stay even-keeled with my attitude in surfing.”
The final match-up of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast saw Tyler Wright (AUS) battle Courtney Conlogue (USA) in an epic clash. Wright looked smooth and powerful, claiming a win at the first event of the season and climbing the Jeep Leaderboard ranks to earn the top spot. Throughout the competition, Wright stayed focused and committed, winning each heat leading up to the Final. Today was the 10th match-up for Wright and Conlogue, adding a 7th win to Wright’s tally.
Wright and Conlogue went wave for wave to start the heat, but Wright continued to outperform her previous wave scores to give her a control halfway through the Final. Wright showcased her powerful rail-to-rail surfing, with a clean and precise rhythm. Wright landed a 14.67 over Conlogue’s 10.94 to give Wright her second Roxy Pro Gold Coast Title. Wright will wear the yellow jersey going into Bells. This was Conlogue’s highest finish at this event, as it was her first Finals appearance on the Gold Coast.
“The last few months and everything that has happened, it has been such an experience and a crazy one. It brought so much clarity for me and simplified everything so I could come here and absolutely be my best on the day. It made me realize that I want to win a World Title and I want to do it my way.”
“I want to verse the best, and Steph (Gilmore), Carissa (Moore), Courtney (Conlogue) and all the girls on Tour, they are all the best. I just want to do my own thing. I’ve known for a long time that I could win and it is having that belief and going out in heats saying ‘Yes, you’ve got this - just get it done.’”
“I want to thank Micro [Glen Hall] for being in my corner and helping me out, as well as my family and Rip Curl and everyone who came down today and supported us. It has been absolutely incredible so thanks.”
“It was an amazing final as I always wanted to have a heat against Tyler, and she surfed absolutely stellar,” said Conlogue. “ I’m really looking forward to being at Bells and starting over again. I thought every heat was a challenge posing obstacles I had to overcome. Your biggest challenge is usually you and the ocean and trying to get yourself on the right waves and creating those opportunities to perform. I am happy to be out here. To be able to surf Snapper with only a few women out there is amazing.”
Filipe Toledo (BRA), defending Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Champ and favorite to win the event, was injured after trying to perform an air-reverse in the Semifinals. Toledo fought through his injury to score a 13.27, but Matt Wilkinson (AUS) came back with a 14.43 two-wave combined score, earning a 6.60 in his last wave to advance to the Finals.
“I went for the air on the last maneuver of the wave and when I was landing the wave just came up on my board and put the pressure on my leg, which went up and sideways,” Toledo said. “I kept surfing after that and it was painful. But now I am good. I am not dying at all, I am just feeling a lot of pain. Besides that, I am happy with my result. I was surfing good and the board was good.”
In a major upset, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) knocked out reigning World Champion, Adriano De Souza (BRA), in the Quarterfinal match-up. De Souza began the heat with a relaxed approach, where Wilkinson took an early lead, but De Souza snagged the lead right back from Wilkinson. Needing a strong second-wave score to defeat the World Champion, Wilkinson caught a buzzer-beater giving him a 0.43 edge to eliminate De Souza.
“He [Matt Wilkinson] has been surfing good with a nice rhythm as well,” De Souza said. “It was a tough heat. He got the score he needed right at the end. I’ll just keep fighting. It is another result where I’ll walk away thinking I can do better, I can improve. I’m definitely hunting for a good result at Bells.”
Stuart Kennedy (AUS) continued his streak of upsets as he eliminated John John Florence (HAW) from the competition with a buzzer-beater ride in the last heat of the Quarters. Kennedy, who gained entry into the event as an injury replacement, earned a 15.23 combined two-wave score to defeat Florence’s 14.00.
“I learned so much coming out of last year and I’m putting it all together this year and figuring out how it all fits together,” Florence said. “The Quarters isn’t a super bad result at all. I am confident going into the next events. I love Bells and Margaret. I am looking forward to doing some carves.”
Carissa Moore (HAW), reigning WSL World Champion and last year’s event winner, was defeated by long-time rival Tyler Wright (AUS) in the Quarterfinals. Moore was not able to find a second wave score to answer back to Wright’s 8.50. Wright beat the three-time World Champion 14.17 to 14.00 despite a strong event showing from Moore who swept all heats leading up to the Quarterfinals.
“Two minutes to go, I still feel like that was a lot of time,” said Moore. “Just the way that the waves were coming in I was losing a little bit of faith there, but wanted to fight all the way to the end. I am stoked for Tyler. It is good to see she is surfing really well and she’s in rhythm with the ocean. I think for me the most disappointing part of it is that I never felt like I opened up the entire event. It’s just one of those events where I didn’t feel like I really clicked. I am super stoked to start off the year with the semis, not bad.”
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Final Results:
1 - Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.20
2 - Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.66
Roxy Pro Gold Coast Final Results:
1 - Tyler Wright (AUS) 14.67
2 - Courtney Conlogue (USA) 10.94
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.43 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.27
SF 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.23 def. Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 14.20
Roxy Pro Gold Coast Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 14.17 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.00
SF 2: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.27 def. Johanne Defay (FRA) 10.50
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 12.34 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.16
QF 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.16 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.73
QF 3: Kolohe Andino (USA) 16.00 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 4.83
QF 4: Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 15.23 def. John John Florence (HAW) 14.00
Jeep WSL Men’s Leaderboard (after Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast):
1. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10,000 pts
2. Kolohe Andino (USA) 8,000 pts
3. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 6,500 pts
4. Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 6,500 pts
Jeep WSL Women’s Leaderboard (after Roxy Pro Gold Coast):
1. Tyler Wright (AUS) 10,000 pts
2. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 8,000 pts
3. Carissa Moore (HAW) 6,500 pts
4. Johanne Defay (FRA) 6,500 pts
Comments
Well done to Wilko...but does anyone else find his backhand stance just a bit..well, crabby? Those bow knee bottom turns make him look likes he's had 3 days in the saddle, and I thought repetition was penalised at this level? Not much change in his vert approach. I get the feeling if he was a Brazo we'd all say it's a rort.
But like I said, good on him.
Crabby I agree, but also stable and well planted over his board when he's getting all loose and free above the lip.
i believe that style plays no part in competitive surfing . we could all post critisism about how stupid contest surfing looks believe me . i wouldnt even surf waves that rubbish , but if i did my score would be about 0.5
That's funny as Caml, as in your world tho, I bet your balls have more style than most, Big, Hanging Low and Groomed to say the least eh;)
Anyways good on them, I missed watching today, but IMO the best surfer of the comp was Stu Kens, love his style, He Rips.... :-)
Geez thanks welly you just made me picture camels balls. Blughhhh
Camel balls in shops & stores near you . U gotta sick mind goofyballs & wellybolls
You wouldn't surf those waves? Far out, man. They weren't good for the contest but get me alone in those waves and I would be having fun, fun, fun until daddy took the t-bird away. I think I could scrape a 0.000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001 (with a claim).
yeah if the scenario was right i would , but on the gold coast no thanks. i prefer to surf abrolhos island naked and on my own, with nobody around though . some people like company but some dont . i actually watched some of the comp which was an eye opener seeing its been years since taking note of grovel pro events . sure was impressed and i did find it possible to be critical , but also in awe at times of the incredible things done , it dont matter about style and thats that . i liked it anyway but just for a one off , maybe i can check in another few years to see some progress . its proberly 5 or ten yrs since i had seen any surfing like that event and for sure theres been heaps of better standard now it is unreal . some of the chicky surfers too , they are wicked
Good to see Wilko win he has probably the best backhand on tour after Medina, not a fan of Wilkos style though.
Agree Welly, Stu Kens looked the best surfer too me he was on fire, and he ended up getting the Trifecta and beating, Kelly, Medina & John John.
Filipe was also surfing pretty good and mixing it up more than previous years.
His style looks pretty average at a slow pace. Loved his effort at j bay last year
Cleaned up at the tab good work wilko..weres that gronk from punters club saying wilko cant win ages ago.cant find the archives ...wright smashed it!!
WSL reports toledo has pulled out of bells.
I wonder what sort of scratch Micro would have made today being the coach of both winners?
I must be the only one on here that likes Wilcos style. Where has Stu Kennedy been hiding for the last 10 years? The guy is a revelation and with Wilco the surfer of the contest. Touch wood he can keep it up as he is a joy to watch.
Stu Kennedys been charging like that for years its almost like he's ultra underground,heaps of vids on vimeo of him testing Tomos shapes.....Freeride would see him surfing more than anyone
His surfing did it for me speed - power- flow -timing......the tricks don't usually do much for me but to have the ticker to pull one at the start of a wave in your first WCT comp...100% confidence, I reckon he has a bit of animal hidden in him ..look out boys
The STUNAMI is coming
Yeah Memla I quite like Wilcos style too. Backhand looks better than his forehand to me. But like most others I thought Stu was outstanding and just blew it a bit at the back end of his semi. Bit of a shake up for the WCT ratings and makes the year really interesting
I won't go as far as caml ( yeh I would be happy to give them a go) but the waves were pretty poor by WSL standards. One good section, cutback, cutback, cutback, just stand there for a while (or jump up and down if it got really flat) then maybe, a bit of much smaller inside wall. Hardly great entertainment. The surfing also became very formulaic. Hit absolutely vertical at any opportunity, throw some acrobatic trick if that wasn't on, otherwise cutback, cutback, cutback and claim like a mofo!
I could watch conlogue all day....
Steph for me :)
Seemed like a big departure from the 'one big move' from a lot of the younger guys, who all seemed to have moved back toward a more rail surfing game. The big airs fitting into an overall more functional use pattern and therefore a better flow over the whole wave. Was there a judging criteria change?
Good observation wing nut. Even Toledo didn't go to the air very wave and yeah for sure some good rail turns going on. You could tell who had a bit more volume in their boards from last year which helped them carry across the flat bits of which there were many. Hardly any tubes either for snapper. Was that just a bad swell direction or sand?
Loved Stueys surfing full power carves and unpredictability and i dont think i even saw him go to the air which hes really good at,full package.Wilko was my second choice and im glad hes finally maturing and taking it seriously.....
Also hows Micro as a coach,double header well done .
The only thing murky about Wilko's style are some of his fashion decisions: he's obviously been spending his formative years reading my fanzine 'Totally Gaz' and lifting a few of the styling tips. Understandable though, my style is a benchmark for Ripped Chic.
Comments about his surfing style ignore the fact he's landed several functional rodeo airs in heats, so it's obviously generating him as much speed, power and flow as Gaz on Hip Hop open mic night.
Good one Gary G, Wilco's on a burn, will he get a hat trick? Stu Kennedy was killing it, he looked fast with flow, go you good things
Can anyone tell me if there is a story behind the trophies? I can't figure out what the shape is all about...