Slater and Wright’s third consecutive Final bout marks a first in ASP history, as no two competitors have faced off in three successive ASP Dream Tour Finals – a noteworthy statistic in sparking this new rivalry in the battle for the ASP World Title.

Slater roared to life on the Final day, unloading the highest heat-total of competition, 18.40 out of 20 in the Semifinals, and maintained his lethal form throughout the day’s entirety with a consistent display of new-school airs and patented carves to clinch his unprecedented 48th elite ASP World Tour victory and third of the season.

“Owen (Wright) is tough and he’s been surfing great,” Slater said. “There really are no weak points to his surfing and he’s going to be a standout in every spot. A lot of the guys tried to get him this week and I got lucky in that last exchange. I was taking the first wave of the set under his priority and once I got priority I wanted to wait. It almost looked like there wasn’t a wave after Owen’s. It’s been fun surfing against Owen and surfing Lowers. It’s been a great week and thanks everyone for the crazy support, it’s been wonderful.”

Wright, current No. 2 on the ASP World Title rankings, has continued to build momentum throughout his sophomore year amongst the ASP Top 34 and dispatched of a rampaging Mick Fanning (AUS), 30, and rookie prodigy Julian Wilson (AUS), 22, en route to his rematch against Slater, but was unable to solidify the victory over the veteran in the Final.

“I’ve been enjoying the rivalry,” Wright said. “We’ve had some great heats and the last three finals have been great. I’m glad the sets came through at the end. It was a bit of a dud final but I’m glad that last exchange came though at the end. It made it exciting.”

Julian Wilson (AUS), 22, was a standout throughout the Hurley Pro at Trestles, earning the highest single-wave score of 9.80 as well as the second-highest heat-total of 18.23 in his Quarterfinals win over Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, and consistently unloaded some of the most progressive maneuvers of the contest.

“I had a bit of fire after yesterday, not against Joel (Parkinson), but just to show that I could beat him,” Wilson said after his Quarterfinal win. “I’ve dreamed about surfing against Joel and Mick (Fanning) my whole life and yesterday gave me a lot of confidence to go against him today.”

The young Australian got off to a slow start in his Semifinals matchup versus Owen Wright after an interference and was unable to rebound, finishing equal 3rd overall. Wilson now sits at No. 11 on the ASP World Title Rankings.

Heitor Alves (BRA), 29, who finished equal 5th in New York, continued his giant killing spree at the Hurley Pro Trestles, defeating ASP World Title campaigners Taj Burrow (AUS), 33, and Adriano de Souza (BRA), 24, before falling to Slater in the Semifinals to earn his career best result of an equal 3rd place finish.

“Thanks God for everything in my life,” Alves said. “This is a good result for me. Adriano is a good surfer, he rips this wave and surfs very well. This is a great event for me and I enjoy this wave.”

The final Hurley Pro wildcard spot will be up for grabs right before the first heat of Round 1. The four trials finalists — who earned their spot during the Hurley Pro Trials at the US Open of Surfing — will compete in a four man heat to determine who will be awarded the final spot into the main event. The second Hurley Pro wildcard is still to be determined by Hurley.

The Australian’s win moves him to No. 2 on the ASP World Title rankings and is now within striking distance of his first ASP World Title. Slater was in deadly form on the final day of Quiksilver Pro New York competition, defeating high-flying Australian Josh Kerr and Taj Burrow, but was unable to overtake Wright’s rampaging forehand assault in the Final. 

“I just want to say thanks to everybody,” Slater said. “The swell is offshore and we almost didn’t have the contest last week and it all came together. I’m stoked for Owen to get his first win, congratulations. I’m stoked to be on the East Coast and I think we might have a surf with bravest and finest with firefighters and policemen tomorrow. Thanks to everyone at Quiksilver for an amazing week. We’ve been taken care of like never before. Thanks!”

QUIKSILVER PRO NEW YORK FINAL:
1 – Owen Wright (AUS) 17.90
2 – Kelly Slater (USA) 14.53

QUIKSILVER PRO NEW YORK SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.07 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 18.33
SF 2: Owen Wright (AUS) 14.84 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 9.63

QUIKSILVER PRO NEW YORK QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
QF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.77 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.37
QF 2: Kelly Slater (AUS) 15.50 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.00
QF 3: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.10 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 10.10
QF 4: Owen Wright (AUS) 12.93 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 12.44

The situation has been changing daily, and we recognize that City resources are focused on hurricane restoration and clean up as first priority. In that context, we have been informed by the City that the festival and music components of the event are no longer achievable.

The Quiksilver Pro NY is first and foremost about the surf contest and Long Beach has an incredible surfing tradition and spirit. We are committed to holding the ASP tour event at Long Beach so that together we can promote the sport by bringing together the best surfers in the world to this terrific community.

Slater began to really pick up steam in today’s conditions, dispatching of an in-form Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, in the Semifinals before meeting lethal goofy-footer Wright in the Finals. The iconic American utilized his superior backhand tube-riding technique to post an 18.43 heat total out of a possible 20, which would prove too much for his younger opponent to overcome.

“I felt like I finally hit my stride in the Semifinals this morning,” Slater said. “In the Final, I fell on a couple of waves that were maybe better than what I ended up getting scored on. It put the pressure on me, and took the pressure off him (Wright). He got that really big one at the end that could have gotten pretty close to the score. These are the best conditions this event has ever run in. It’s been a phenomenal week.”

Coming into Tahiti rated No. 6 on the ASP World Title rankings, Slater’s win today rockets the Floridian to the No. 1 spot after a number of top seeds suffered early eliminations at the hands of an unmerciful Teahupo’o

“It’s one of those weird events where you have to scramble through the early rounds,” Slater said. “Every year at this event, there are few of the top guys that lose in the early rounds and you have to scramble if you want a result here. You have to be in tune with the tides, swell direction and everything to make sure you get those waves that get you the score.”

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 18.43
2 – Owen Wright (AUS) 17.10

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.50 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.60
SF 2: Owen Wright (AUS) 19.50 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 14.40

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.94 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.83
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.50 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 6.17
QF 3: Travis Logie (ZAF) 18.07 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 17.14
QF 4: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.74 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 13.10

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cme5-QcizOg

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPpaUg9ah64

In one of the most lopsided heats in recent memory, Nicol wouldn’t even catch a wave until there were less than five minutes left on the clock — and when he did finally stand up, the wave just closed out. Throughout the event, Slater had to work hard for his heat wins, finding tubes that didn’t exist and landing air rotations that he never should have landed, but Nicol more or less handed the 10-time world champ the $100,000 first-prize check. It was, in the words of Nicol, “a shocker.” The final heat score was 16.27 to 2.57 — in other words, a blowout. “I guess Yadin wanted me to win because he didn’t catch any waves,” Slater said. “I was just really frustrated for him because he was sitting out the back waiting for the big sets and the big sets were closeouts. The small ones he was just two far outside and I got them. I think what happened is I got the 8.50 to start and he was just going to be patient. If he got a good one he would have thrown a big rotator, but it just never came.”  Hoping to qualify for the world tour with a result at the Open, Nicol inched closer to his goal, but still sits on the bubble.”There are still two World Tour events to go so it doesn’t completely change my life just yet,” Nicol said of his second place finish. “It definitely helps the vibe though.”

Nike US Open of Surfing Men’s Final Result:
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 16.27
2. Yadin Nicol (AUS) 12.40Nike US Open of Surfing Men’s Semifinals Results:
SF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.94 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 14.90
SF 2: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 13.44 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 12.8Nike US Open of Surfing Men’s Quarterfinals Results:
QF 1: Dusty Payne (HAW) 13.93 def. Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 10.10
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.50 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.27
QF 3: Kolohe Andino (USA) 10.44 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 10.33
QF 4: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 11.60 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 8.26Nike US Open of Surfing Women’s Final Result:
1. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.23
2. Lakey Peterson (USA) 12.40Nike US Open of Surfing Women’s Semifinals Results:
SF 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) 14.67 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.60
SF 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.46 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 14.16

FINALISTS:
1st – 200 points
2nd – 175 points
———
SURFERS LOSING IN SEMIFINALS
3rd – 151
4th – 150
———
SURFERS LOSING IN QUARTERFINALS
5th – 128 points
6th – 127 points
7th – 126 points
8th – 125 points
———
SURFERS LOSING IN ROUND 5
9th – 103 points
10th – 102 points
11th – 101 points
12th – 100 points
———
ROUND 4 (NON ELIMINATION)
———
SURFERS LOSING IN ROUND 3
13th – 86 points
14th – 85 points
15th – 84 points
16th – 83 points
17th – 82 points
18th – 81 points
19th – 80 points
20th – 79 points
21st – 78 points
22nd – 77 points
23rd – 76 points
24th – 75 points
———
SURFERS LOSING IN ROUND 2
25th – 45 points
26th – 46 points
27th – 45 points
28th – 44 points
29th – 43 points
30th – 42 points
31st – 41 points
32nd – 40 points
33rd – 39 points
34th – 38 points
35th – 37 points
36th – 36 points
———
ROUND 1 (NON ELIMINATION)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_bmgka0hcs

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1:
Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA), Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS), Bobby Martinez (USA), Cory Lopez (USA)
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Patrick Gudauskas (USA), Mitch Crews (AUS)
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA), Kai Otton (AUS), Matt Banting (AUS)
Heat 7: Owen Wright (AUS), Taylor Knox (USA), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Brett Simpson (USA), Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 9: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 10: Michel Bourez (PYF), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 11: Chris Davidson (AUS), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 12: Jadson Andre (BRA), Damien Hobgood (USA), Tiago Pires (PRT)

ROXY PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1:
Heat 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Paige Hareb (NZL), Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Pauline Ado (FRA)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Tyler Wright (AUS), TBA
Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Laura Enever (AUS), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Heat 5: Carissa Moore (HAW), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Alana Blanchard (HAW)
Heat 6: Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Coco Ho (HAW), Courtney Conlogue (USA)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=azVC9hL4X4c

It’s usually easy to tell which surfers spent the break between the Pipe Masters and Snapper training for a grueling year ahead and which surfers used that time to knock back a few hundred cold ones with his friends and family, as their performances and results often speak volumes.

Snapper is as high-performance as a wave comes, and if you aren’t prepared physically and mentally to be at your very best, you’ll be left in the dust by those who are. Historically, local Gold Coast WT competitors have cleaned up at Snapper, and now with more and more moving there every year, it is only going to get more difficult for rookies and foreigners to get a good result under their belt at the first event of the WT year.

My Fantasy Surfer Team for the Quik Pro:

Parko and Mick are easy picks to perform well and potentially add another win at their homebreak. Both surfers were no-brainers when choosing my Fantasy Surfer team. These two good friends and sparring mates continue to push each other to be at the top of their game, and on top of the world.

Taj Burrow has the ability at Snapper to do anything fellow competitors can do, only better. More than any other competitor on Tour, I hope he finds the ability to put it all together—as he is very capable of doing—and not only win Snapper, but the 2011 World Title as well.

Jordy Smith will come into Snapper fitter and more prepared mentally than ever before. If the waves cooperate and he is able to unleash his full potential on the innocent walls of Snapper, only a few surfers even stand a chance of putting him down. For 2011, the World Title is his to lose before the season even begins.

Josh Kerr is a much different surfer and the contest world is a much different place than the last time he was on the World Tour. All this change should bode well for him, and starting the year at the wave he grew up surfing can’t hurt either.

Julian Wilson impressed me tremendously during the Triple Crown last year (at least the two events he was able to surf in) by systematically picking apart his waves and competitors en route to back-to-back finals. With Snapper just down the road from his Sunshine Coast home, Julian should feel very comfortable for a rookie. Now if he adds a few more explosive moves to his proven Hawaiian competitive formula, Julian will be giving the established hierarchy fits.

Alejo Muniz is another rookie who performed marvelously in Hawaii while securing his spot on the World Tour. The very determined and well-rounded Brazilian should find the waves at Snapper very much to his liking. A result here would set him up for a much easier transition into competing on the World Tour.

Dusty Payne is coming off a tumultuous rookie season that ended with one of the most amazing come-from-behind victories of all time to beat Mick Fanning and remain on the World Tour for 2011. This year, he will be much more prepared and adjusted to the performance required to win at the highest level. It was never a question of his skill in 2010, but for 2011 look for Dusty to put out a much better representation of this amazing talent.

Other Good Picks for Snapper:

Kelly Slater is still the best, will always be the greatest, and stands a good chance of winning Snapper…if his head is in the game. We’ve been down this road year after year: Will Kelly retire (again)? Will Kelly give his all competing for the World Title (again)? Will Kelly even show up on time for his first heat (again)? Will Kelly continue to amaze us with his longevity, brilliant performances, and untouchable competitiveness? YES! The main reason Kelly isn’t on my FS team is he was $500,000 too costly for by budget.

Dane Reynolds still hasn’t confirmed that he will be competing at Snapper, or else he would be a definite choice for any FS team at any right pointbreak.
*Ed’s Note: Dane has officially withdrawn from the event.

Bobby Martinez was remarkable last year at Snapper. The rest of the season, not so. But to get last year’s third-place finisher for only $4 million—that’s a great buy.

Pat Gudauskas can be downright explosive. At only $3.5 million, that explosiveness can mean trouble for anyone he surfs against and a great value for your FS team.

Michel Bourez, Adam Melling, and Taylor Knox are all powerful regular-footers that can drown their opponents with the sheer volumes of water they displace. In an era when many competitors are too busy trying to get tricky with the lip, these three can make all those tricks look downright childish with their commitment to the rail.

Owen Wright is goofyfooter, thus stands a very difficult road ahead of him if he is to place well at Snapper and ultimately compete for a World Title. He is the first goofyfooter in a long time that actually has a shot at making both things happen.

Hope you enjoy the show in 2011. It’s setting up to be a great one!  This article was written by Shea Lopez and originally published by SurferMag.