Billabong Rio Pro Round 2 ON at Barra da Tijuca

BARRA DA TIJUCA, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Friday, May 17, 2013) – The Billabong Rio Pro has been called back ON this morning at the primary site of Barra da Tijuca with Round 2 commencing at 7:30am in building two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves.

Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, will face off against wildcard Gustavo Fernandes (BRA) in the opening

heat of Round 2 at the Billabong Rio Pro.

The third of 10 stops on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Billabong Rio Pro completed Round 1 of competition on the opening day of the event window before enduring a five-day holding pattern waiting for swell to return this morning.

“It’s been a bit of a wait, but the surf is returning to Barra da Tijuca and we’ll recommence competition at 7:30am,” Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge said. “We’ll keep an eye on the conditions, but we plan to run the 12 heats of Round 2 and will see where we go from there. Good luck to all our competitors today.”

Up first this morning will be Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, will face off against wildcard Gustavo Fernandes (BRA) Heat 1 of Round 2.

The Billabong Rio Pro will be webcast LIVE via http://wctbrasil.com/rio13

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Gustavo Fernandes (BRA)
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Messias Felix (BRA)
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA)
Heat 5: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 7: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 9: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 11: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 12: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Filipe Toledo (BRA)