Friday, March 12, 2004 (Snapper Rocks, Gold Coast, Australia) Australian Michael Lowe (Windang, NSW) today defeated the biggest names in surfing to win the Quiksilver Pro presented by Boost Mobile. The US$260,000 World Championship Tournament (WCT) resumed with round four and ran right through the business end of the draw, climaxing at the grand finale and crowning of the 2004 champion.

Clean 4ft (1.3m) righthanders persisted throughout the day at Rainbow Bay, offering plenty of room for the world’s best surfers to cut loose on. Conditions became more inconsistent during the higher tide, but this did little to slow down performances.

Following an amazing day of surfing, in which world #8 Lowe accounted for six-time world champion Kelly Slater (FL, USA) in the quarterfinals and California Taylor Knox in the semis, the 26-year-old then faced reigning two-time world champion Andy Irons (Kauai, Haw). The goofy footer wasted little time in the 35-minute final, posting an 8.17 on his first ride and then snuck a great wave under his opponent’s priority to earn a daunting 9.17 midway through and gain control.

Having won his last WCT title two years ago in Fiji, the victory brings his overall tally to three, but more significantly sees him on top of the world ratings for the first time in his career. It also generated a cool US$30,000 in prizemoney.

“I’ve seen ‘Parko’ do it and ‘Dingo’ it, and can’t deny that I was jealous of them two,” began Lowe, after being carried up the beach past thousands of cheering supporters. “To finally get one myself is sensational. You can’t start the year any better than beating the world champ in the final. It’s insane.

“I wasn’t quite sure what they were going to score that wave, but it hit the bank really nice and I just kept on doing turns,” he explained of his best ride. “When they announced the 9.17 and that Andy needed a 9.51, I was pretty rapt. Kelly, Knox and Andy, three in a row… go the goofy footers, I say (laughs).

“I think my cupboard was a bit bare, so the trophy’s going to look good. To finally win in Australia is sensational.”

Irons had been the form surfer of the event, posting a 9.63 and then the tournaments only perfect 10-point ride in the quarterfinals. Against Lowe his ability was never in question, but unfortunately a lack of waves and wrong decision to allow his opponent to catch a good one proved costly. Nonetheless, the runner-up finish is the Kauaian’s best ever season opener, and left him charged for the year ahead.

“I knew it was going to be tough, as he’s been getting nines all day long,” said Irons. “He got a good one on the inside of me which didn’t look very big, but I guess it lined up and he just belted it all the way across. What can I say, he’s an awesome competitor and surfed really well. Congratulations to Mick. I really wanted to win, as I’ve always wanted to do well here, but to be in the final is awesome. I just came up one short. It’s a great start to my campaign this year, and Bells (Beach, Vic) is coming up and I really like that event. Can’t wait.”

Equal third today were Tom Whitaker (Bronte, Aus) and Knox. Both earned US$10,000 and are sitting pretty on the world ratings for at least the coming weeks.

Whitaker secured his best result to date this event, eliminating Peterson Rosa (Brz) this morning and then 1999 world champion Mark Occhilupo (Gold Coast, Aus) in the quarters. Unfortunately he had a ‘shocker’ against Irons, failing to catch any decent rides. Having struggled throughout his maiden WCT season in 2003, the 24-year-old credits added training with his fantastic finish on the Gold Coast.

“I had a blatant shocker and the wheels just fell off,” admitted Whitaker of the semi. “I just waited for a good one, but nothing really came. Andy snagged a couple, but I think it was more his surfing that got the good scores.

“Yeah, it’s pretty crazy,” he added, of being third in the world. “This is easily the biggest result I’ve had, and to take down Occy at Snapper is unreal and felt great. I copped a lot of flack from my brother and mates at home about my results last year. Luke Hitchings (WCT Alternative in 2004) and I really trained hard and came here excited. Just got to keep it going now.”

Knox, who finished last year rated 7th with three semifinal berths to his credit, appeared a dark horse leading into the final rounds. His match with Lowe proved extremely inconsistent however, and the pair sat waiting most the clash. Holding advantage with an eight in his tally, the Californian mistakenly allowed his opponent to catch a good wave near the end and there lost his chance of a finals berth.

“I’m a little frustrated, but I can’t be that bummed,” reasoned Knox. “I had a couple of close heats and just thought there would be more waves in that one. I had priority and let him go that wave, so it’s my fault. He only needed a small score, and letting him go was a mistake in hindsight. This result is definitely better than most years at the start though.”

Finishing equal fifth in the Quiksilver Pro presented by Boost Mobile were Occhilupo, West Australian Jake Paterson, Slater, and Brazilian Victor Ribas.

Slater was in devastating form this morning, posting a near-perfect 9.93 and the second highest combined total of the event with a 19.03 total. Against Lowe he opened with a strong 8.0 score, but once his opponent locked in a couple of nine plus rides, the Floridian required a combination of waves worth 18.58-points. Having finished equal 9th in the past two Quiksilver Pro events, today’s result was an improvement and will go a long way towards this year’s world title race, but nonetheless the 32-year-old was clearly frustrated.

“Huge (opportunity missed). Absolutely,” acknowledge Slater. “I’m really frustrated, as most of the top guys you expect to be up there, went down early. I made a huge mistake by taking the first wave in a set, which I’ve known not to do this whole contest. As soon as Mick scored a nine I was shooting for a 9.5, and that might have thrown me off a bit, as I was probably a bit too patient.

“It’s an interesting year now, as you’ve got ‘Parko’, Taj and Mick (Fanning) all starting without a great result, so they’re going to have to catch up,” he added. “If you’re going for a world title fifth’s about as bad as you want to do in any event and I’m right there on the border.”

Ribas dominated his match with West Australian Taj Burrow this morning, gaining revenge on a couple of losses last season, but then lost an extremely close heat to Knox in the final seconds, as his opponent picked off a good wave and turned it into a much needed 8.5 score.

“I’m really happy to make it this far,” said Ribas. “My best two results last year I was beaten by Taj, so pretty stoked to beat him, as he’s a very good competitor and hard to beat.”

Defending Quiksilver Pro champion Dean Morrison (Gold Coast, Aus) was eliminated by Paterson in round four this morning.

The Torquay Mineral Water ‘Time Tunnel’ award was won by Quiksilver Trials winner Shaun Gossmann (Gold Coast, Aus) for his amazing 13-second barrel in round one. The South African born surfer collected an additional AUD$5,000 pay packet.

The Quiksilver Pro presented by Boost Mobile marked the first event on the 2004 Foster’s ASP men’s World Championship Tour (WCT).

Quiksilver Pro presented by Boost Mobile
1st Michael Lowe (Aus) 17.34 – US$30,000
2nd Andy Irons (Haw) 14.16 – US$16,000

Semifinals (1st>Final; 2nd=3rd receives US$10,000)
SF1: Andy Irons (Haw) 16.16 def. Tom Whitaker (Aus) 2.34
SF2: Michael Lowe (Aus) 15.07 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 12.9

Quarterfinals (1st>Semifinals; 2nd=5th receives US$8,000)
QF1: Tom Whitaker (Aus) 13.77 def. Mark Occhilupo (Aus) 11.26
QF2: Andy Irons (Haw) 19.63 def. Jake Paterson (Aus) 12.0
QF3: Michael Lowe (Aus) 18.57 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 12.67
QF4: Taylor Knox (USA) 15.83 def. Victor Ribas (Brz) 15.37

Round Four (1st>Quarterfinals; 2nd=9th receives US$5,000)
H1: Tom Whitaker (Aus) 15.83 def. Peterson Rosa (Brz) 14.76
H2: Mark Occhilupo (Aus) 17.17 def. Joel Parkinson (Aus) 13.34
H3: Jake Paterson (Aus) 13.66 def. Dean Morrison (Aus) 13.5
H4: Andy Irons (Haw) 17.07 def. CJ Hobgood (USA) 16.53
H5: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.03 def. Guilherme Herdy (Brz) 15.17
H6: Michael Lowe (Aus) 12.84 def. Neco Padaratz (Brz) 11.07
H7: Victor Ribas (Brz) 17.6 def. Taj Burrow (Aus) 13.84
H8: Taylor Knox (USA) 13.5 def. Paulo Moura (Brz) 10.0

Official Ratings after WCT Event# 1/12
1. Michael Lowe (Aus) 1,200-points
2. Andy Irons (Haw) 1,032
=3. Tom Whitaker (Aus); Taylor Knox (USA) – 876
=5. Mark Occhilupo (Aus); Jake Paterson (Aus); Kelly Slater (USA); Victor Ribas (Brz) – 732
=9. Peterson Rosa (Brz); Joel Parkinson (Aus); Dean Morrison (Aus); CJ Hobgood (USA); Guilherme Herdy (Brz); Neco Padaratz (Brz); Taj Burrow (Aus); Paulo Moura (Brz) - 600

Further information: www.quiksilver.com & www.aspworldtour.com

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Mark Rayner - Quiksilver Media Manager
Email: Mark.rayner@qsilver.com.au