Keanu Asing bests Gabriel Medina to win the Quiksilver Pro France
SEIGNOSSE/HOSSEGOR/CAPBRETON, Landes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine / France (Wednesday, October 12, 2016) - Keanu Asing (HAW) has claimed victory this afternoon, winning the Quiksilver Pro France.
On the men's side Asing took down defending event winner and 2014 WSL ChampionGabriel Medina (BRA) in the Quiksilver Pro France Final to claim his maiden Championship Tour win and leap up thirteen places to 21st on the Jeep Leaderboard.
“I’m stoked and this is a dream come true,” said Asing. “The work’s not done yet but I hope I did something good for John (Florence) maybe and helped him with the title race. I’m over the moon -- it’s so surreal. I’m super happy and I feel like I’m dreaming right now. I’m stoked to see my other Hawaiian competitor and childhood friend, Carissa (Moore), also win. I’ve never even made a QS (Qualifying Series) final so this is crazy. Having all my friends on the beach is even more ridiculously unbelievable.”
“Every time I put on a jersey it’s to do one thing and that’s to win,” continued Asing. “The last time I won a contest is probably when I was a junior so it’s crazy to come here and win my first CT event. Competing with Kolohe (Andino), and John and Gabby (Medina) and all these guys is unbelievable. The competitive spirit that we all have and share is over the moon and really pushes me hard.”
The young Hawaiian unleashed forceful backhand maneuvers to put pressure on the Brazilian powerhouse. With five minutes left, Asing put Medina in a combination situation to challenge Medina to turn in two new scores. A 5.90 on Medina’s eleventh exchange bettered his situation, only requiring an 8.04 to counter. An interference penalty called on Medina in the last minute disqualified one of his wave scores, solidifying Asing’s win.
“I love France -- it’s been a good place for me,” said Medina. “I’m happy with second, I would be more happy if I won but I think second is good. It’s been a good warm up for Portugal. Congrats to Carissa (Moore) and Keanu (Asing). I know the feeling to win your first event so I think he’s really happy right now. They both deserve it and of course Tyler (Wright). I feel very proud of her and I know Owen (Wright) must be very proud too. It feels good to be closer to John John (Florence) so -- never give up!”
The all-Hawaiian Semifinal matchup witnessed a heated battle between John John Florence (HAW) and eventual winner Asing. With an opportunity to strengthen his World Title campaign for Florence, and requalification on the line for Asing, both surfers charged through the heat with excellent rides. Asing barely edged out Florence by 0.87 with his 16.94 combined heat score. Florence’s run in France will end with an Equal 3rd place finish and while the Hawaiian keeps retains pole position on the Jeep Leaderboard, the gap has now shrunk to only 2,700 points between him and Medina.
Kolohe Andino (USA) couldn’t quite rival Medina’s flair on the lefts of Guardians, and despite excellent efforts on multiple waves, ended his Semifinal in a combination situation. Currently in his best season amongst the Elite Top 34, the Californian claims an Equal 3rd place and the allocated 6,500 ranking points to move up to 5th on the Jeep Leaderboard.
“I’m stoked, I think I’m fifth now and I hope I can stay up over that range for a good seeding next year,” Andino said. “I definitely would have liked to have won an event, but two more left so I’ll see what I can do. Surfing is a unique sport, I think the final day has got to be your day, today’s was Keanu (Asing). I felt like I was surfing my best but I had a hard time finding good waves through that heat. I’ve never really done well at Pipe so this year I want to prove to myself that I can, so that if next year I’m in the title race I’ll be able to bank off that.”
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE FINAL RESULTS:
1- Keanu Asing (HAW) 13.94
2- Gabriel Medina (BRA) 7.00
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Keanu Asing (HAW) 16.94 def. John John Florence (HAW) 16.07
SF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.83 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.03
WSL Men’s Top 5 (after Quiksilver Pro France):
1. John John Florence (HAW) 48,150
2. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 45,450
3. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 38,250
4. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 35,700
5. Kolohe Andino (USA) 32,150
Comments
What a let down of a comp the forecast promised so much but delivered very little.
Glad to see JJF still at the top.
Yeah, the rip bowl lefts made for pretty mundane viewing.
"An interference penalty called on Medina in the last minute disqualified one of his wave scores"
WOW. That's it. That's the sum total of any mention of the interference?
Sheesh.
For something that happens very rarely in professional surfing, I'm surprised the interference does not get more commentary, some images even.
You can see it on the Heat Analyser. Wouldn't say it's that rare, every few comps it happens.
Unfortunately for Medina he's caused more than his fair share. Fella likes to push the issue but he's gonna have to find a different way to do it because it's costing him heats, and in this case maybe even a world title.
If you watch it you can see Medina is on the inside and takes the wave only to force Asing into catching it, however rather than straightening out he tries to get off the back quickly and nearly collides with Asing.
The reason Medina tries to get off the back and not, for instance, straighten out, is so he can immediately get back out and maybe catch the next wave. He's gonna have to revise that though, it's a real chink in his armour.
"Wouldn't say it's that rare, every few comps it happens."
Really?
When was the last one? How many heats have been surfed between?
Right now, sitting here typing this, the last one I can remember was Medina at Snapper, and that was how long ago?
Fuck, hang on, me using my memory to debate the point? Hmmm. Might just prove how bad my memory is rather than how frequent or infrequent an interference is recorded.
Wouldn't say it was a mistake either, Medina had 2 mins left, no priority, no chance unless he made Asing go and get back out for another one like you said, it was his only option at the time, all or nothing. Asing could of run him over earlier in the heat and claimed paddle interference, that would of been a big Medina mistake! how bout the long chat they had on the beach after? ended in smiles and hugs but looked kinda intense for a bit.
Got the feeling that was a chat with the big bloke upstairs. Is Keanu a happy clapper? Whatever, despite the interference and possible religious interlude it ended on good terms.
2 interferences in Fiji wingnut. Coffin did one. Can't remember the other one. I think Dantas got beneficiary.
Sorry Keanu I lost the faith should have held on. Was 151/1 to win.
This one wasn't hugely newsworthy as he got it from hassling super hard in the last 90secs of a heat he was unlikely to win. Didn't effect outcome.
Yeah, last one I recall was Connor Coffin, and quite often it's the lesser surfers so maybe they don't get that much attention? Always get a few per comp at Margs.
Good luck to the little guy. Being vertically challenged a wee bit meself good to see a win for Keanu. How are the quads on the chappy shite they are like Lee Matthews. Chunky little mite for sure. Never won a QS let alone a CT, good story and he bit Gabby. Pity the waves were rubbish.
Gabs was beaten in round 3.
He should be pretty grateful for a 2nd.
And good on Keanu, seems like a nice fella.