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weather forecast
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Temp
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13c
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72%
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6:52 am
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5:10 pm
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Clear
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Chris Davidson trumps Travis Logie to win the 2008 Mr Price Pro
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Australian surfer Chris Davidson (Aus) crushed South Africa’s hopes of a second ever South African winner at the Mr Price Pro, defeating World No. 41 Travis Logie (Dbn) before a patriotic crowd on New Pier beach in Durban, today.
Competing in crumbling half-a-metre onshore surf, arguably more suited to the Australian’s natural footed stance (left foot forward), Davidson’s powerful front-side surfing saw him out-position his local rival to win the heat with a 16.10 heat total to Logie’s 12.90, jumping to 7th on the ASP World Qualifying Series ratings.
“I’m stoked I made the final and beat the local boy,” Davidson said. “It was tough for Travis surfing little right-handers on his backside (right foot forward stance) so it definitely favoured me. I’ve got tens here in the past but I was the underdog out there today, so it felt good to come home with the win.”
A former competitor on the prestigious ASP World Tour, Davidson drew first blood opening with a respectable 6.67 (out of a possible ten) ride and followed up with a near perfect 9.43 putting his South African rival in a combination situation.
At the five minute mark, so confident of his win was Davidson that he began surfing with his board upside down and exited the water with three minutes still remaining on the clock.
“That was just a bit of fun and no disrespect to Travis,” Davidson said. “He’s an incredible competitor but I knew I had the heat won.”
The Australian took home R105 000 (US$15 000) as well as 2500 ratings points towards he 2009 qualification for the ASP World Tour.
Despite finishing as the highest placed South African in the event, Logie was visibly disappointed that first place had eluded him for the second time in his career, after reaching the final here in 2000.
“I’ve always wanted to win this event because I grew up surfing here and I live five minutes up the road,” Logie said. “The final was very tough and Chris definitely got the two best waves, I just couldn’t get the right ones today.”
One of just three South African surfers to advance into the final day of competition today, Logie disposed of fellow countryman Greg Emslie (El) in the Round of 16 before dismissing World No. 19 Jordy Smith (Dbn) in the Quarterfinals, eventually defeating Patrick Gudauskas (USA) in the Semifinals to take home R52 000 (US$ 7400) in winnings.
“I was stoked with second, it’s better than third and I will be back again next year, though, trying to win it,” Logie said.
While the runner-up finish will have no impact on Logie’s ASP World Tour ratings points, Greg Emslie’s 9th has seen him jump to No. 19 on the WQS ratings while David Weare (Dbn) who was eliminated on Saturday with an equal 25th, has jumped to an incredible World No. 2 on the ASP World Tour ratings.
Finishing equal third at the Mr Price Pro today were Patrick Gudauskas (USA) and 2003 Mr Price Pro Champion Neco Padaratz (Bra) who were defeated by Logie and Davidson respectively.
Gudauskas’s result saw him jump back into the lead on the ASP WQS ratings ahead of Weare, while the ratings leader coming into the event, Hizunome Bettero (Bra), has dropped down to third.
“I’ve never done well in Durban so to get a third today is a great result for me,” Gudauskas said. “I’m really excited to be back at No. 1, it’s a very long season so I just want to continue bettering my results.”
Jordy Smith (Dbn) and Josh Kerr (Aus) did not go home empty handed, both winning R5 000 in the Glodina Expression Session, Smith for his incredible air reverse while Kerr wowed crowds with his air 360.
The Mr Price Pro 5- and 6-Star Women’s and Men’s events drew to a dramatic completion on the Durban beach front after ten action packed day’s of world class surfing, in this, it’s 40th consecutive year.
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