Stop No. 3 of 6 on the men’s ASP North America Series, the second annual Surf Open Acapulco saw surfers take on a vast array of conditions beginning with small high-performance wedges and would finish on the final day in pulsing barrels.
Carmichael wasted little time in the final, unloading powerful backhand combinations on his opening two rides to secure an early lead. Despite a valiant effort from Reyes, The Australian would go on to lead the heat throughout its entirety, securing Carmichael’s first major ASP men’s event victory.
“I started off the way I wanted to, it worked out and I’m so frothing,” Carmichael said. “I had seen the conditions changing in the last Semi and I picked my spot. The first wave came in the final and it was right where I wanted it to be. That started it off perfectly. It kind of went pretty slow and Timmy (Reyes) didn’t really get very much and I’m just frothing. Thanks to everyone at home for all of the support.”
Carmichael, who finished fifth on the 2012 ASP World Junior Tour, is embarking on the men’s qualifying series full time this season and today’s victory marks the best result of the young regular-footer’s budding career.
“This is my first year doing the ‘QS and I’m so stoked to get a win,” Carmichael said. “My goal was to get in to the Primes after the cutoff and this should probably do it.”
Tim Reyes was in incredible form on the final day of competition, earning the day’s high heat total of 17.00 for two deep barrels while paving the way to a finals berth. Unfortunately Reyes was unable to find a rhythm in the final, finishing runner up overall.
“I surfed a pretty smart Quarterfinal and Semis and I knew going in to the final it would be turns,” Reyes said. “It got chunkier in the final and some of the biggest sets of the day came in during my heat under my priority which made it harder. I surfed the best that I could and time ran out and I never really found anything. I made the final, I’m really stoked and it was really incredible how many people were backing me.”
Kaito Ohashi (JPN), 20, looked comfortable in the powerful Playa Revolcadero conditions reminiscent of his home break in Japan, consistently donating strong performances on his way to the Semifinals. The ASP World Junior Tour surfer would go on to finish equal 3rd and was happy to build priceless experience towards his global men’s campaign.
“This wave reminds me of my home break in Japan and I felt good in these conditions,” Ohashi said. “It would have been nice to make the final, but a 3rd place is a good result. After surfing in the Junior Series, this event has been good experience for me.”
Francisco Bellorin (VEN), 23, led the Latino charge, earning some of the event’s highest scores with a powerful backhand attack on the lefts of Playa Revolcadero. The Venezuelan put together a solid effort on the final day of competition, but was unable to surpass Tim Reyes in their Semifinals clash, finishing equal 3rd overall.
“It’s always hard when you come this close to a final, but I’m proud that I was able to represent Venezuela and the Latinos,” Bellorin said. “I’ve had a great time in Mexico. We’ve had fun waves and the people have been amazing.”
Wesley Santos (BRA), 16, a standout performer in yesterday’s stormy conditions, reveled in the early morning barrels on offer at Playa Revolcadero, earning the event’s only perfect 10-point ride. Santos drove through a seemingly impossible tube, but would navigate his way through the technical barrel to earn the first flawless score of his career.
“I’m so happy because I knew after yesterday that there would be some good barrels out there this morning,” Santos said. “That was the first perfect 10 of my QS career and it felt amazing.”
For highlights of the Surf Open Acapulco log on to www.surfopenacapulco.com
For additional ASP information log on to www.aspnorthamerica.org
SURF OPEN ACAPULCO SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 11.50 def. Kaito Ohashi (JPN) 4.10
SF 2: Tim Reyes (USA) 13.84 def. Francisco Bellorin (VEN) 11.73
SURF OPEN ACAPULCO QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
QF 1: Kaito Ohashi (JPN) 10.13 def. Matt Pagan (USA) 5.36
QF 2: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 11.13 def. Alex Smith (HAW) 11.13
QF 3: Francisco Bellorin (VEN) 10.33 def. Wesley Santos (BRA) 10.30
QF 4: Tim Reyes (USA) 13.07 def. Brent Dorrington (AUS) 12.56
SURF OPEN ACAPULCO ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kaito Ohashi (JPN) 14.94, Alex Smith (HAW) 13.43, Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) 12.37, Alan Donato (BRA) 6.77
Heat 2: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 11.53, Matt Pagan (USA) 10.33, Ian Crane (USA) 8.84, Tanner Hendrickson (HAW) 8.70
Heat 3: Francisco Bellorin (VEN) 14.00, Brent Dorrington (AUS) 12.40, Cody Thompson (USA) 9.83, Chris Waring (USA) 7.50
Heat 4: Tim Reyes (USA) 17.00, Wesley Santos (BRA) 14.40, Alexandre Chacon (BRA) 10.00, Italo Ferreira (BRA) 6.10
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