Game Over Dane

Day 12 Photos

Like the outer bands of cyclone Hamish hammering my tent this morning, day 12 of the Quicksilver Pro got off to a sluggish start.  

7am contest call, no word.  9am call, nothing.  Sitting in the media room watching the building swell push through the near empty lineup at Snapper Rocks, I had my doubts.  I was torn.  

The 4th round match-ups for todays heats were stacked.  Fanning vs. Flores, Taj vs. Dane, Damo vs. Wilson.  But after a 6:30am synoptic chart purusal with my mate Punchy, I was feeling the itch to bail 3 hours north and catch the rising ESE swell at Noosa Heads. 

I'm glad I didn't.

The call came in just after 10am.  The comp was relocating just north to Coolangatta Beach, where 4-5 foot short period storm sets were starting to gape in front of the Kirra groin. 

A small but dedicated crowd watched as the remaining 16 souls went to battle under a water laden sky.

The last 8 heats of round 4 went down business as usual with Fanning, Parko, and the Hobgoods surfing like veterans to advance into the quarter-finals.  

Julian Wilson might've felt like a man jumping off the headland into the line-up yesterday at Snapper Rocks, but he was sent to the beach like a child after Damo disposed of him with his patented backside attack.  A feat not lost on the judges in the forehand favoring right-handers.

The main battle took place in Heat 7.  Taj Burrow, guardian of the old school air mavericks vs. Dane Reynolds, super stylish and carefree new school air monger.  Slater even scampered down the rocks with Benji Weatherly to get a front row seat for the action.  

Taj came out early with clean barrel riding and consisten hacks off the top, forcing Reynolds into a combo situation needing a 12.85.  Reynolds answered back with a deep barrel, charging out and gliding over a massive end section.  The judges handed him a 9.5.  

Taj was not to be outdone.  With an inconvenient squall line pushing through, he pulled into a massive outside pit, driving and driving like he was back in Mexico running the sand off the bank.  Rewarded with a 9.10, he backed this up on the next wave with a 7.9.  Super Dane needed a 7.5 or better with less than 8 minutes left. 

The rain left all but those equipped running for shelter.  As the skies cleared with just over 2 minutes remaining, Slater pops out from under a rock completely dry, to cheer on Reynolds.  He catches two waves, grabs a mean barrel, and a 6.73 from the judges.  Game Over Dane.  

Slater said the judges were crazy.  He was totally in Dane's corner, and I see why.  I think he sees the immense raw talent there, the immediately identifiable style, and the passion in his surfing.  But he knows that Dane isn't a natural competitor.  Without some big finishes early in the game to keep him addicted, he might just bow out of the big dance altogether and go about his business, not looking back, not giving a damn. 

Let's hope for the spectators sake he keeps his eye's on right ahead.

Watch Day 12 Heats