Hang Loose Pro

ASP 6-Star Prime Men's WQS event
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
2 - 7 February 2010

There will be at least one Brazilian per heat in round 5   

The waves in Cacimba do Padre beach played host to Brazilians Jadson André and Peterson Rosa with the best barrels on Friday. They respectively scored 9.17 and 8.73, with fellow countryman Leonardo Neves a combined two-wave total of 16.00 (out of a possible 20), but Pablo Paulino posted the highest score of the event so far - 9.93 and 16.93.

They all made it through to the Round 16 that will run tomorrow with two Round 24 heats remaining. There will be at least one Brazilian per heat in round 5 looking for the U$20.000 and 6.500 points offered in the 6-star Prime Hang Loose Pro Contest 2010.

“I’m stoked to make it to the next round. It’s my best performance ever here in Noronha”, said Jadson André. “I’m looking for those lefts all the time and it’s working. Most of the guys are surfing in the middle of the beach but I think that the left corner of the beach is giving me the barrels”.

Peterson Rosa posted other high-score on Friday - 8.73 - to dismiss local athlete Patrick Tamberg, but it was Australian Matt Wilkinson who won that heat. Matt will face Brett Simpson in the round 16.

“With only two minutes left I managed to dig out that small tube and it payed off”, celebrates experienced Peterson Rosa. “I surfed with no stress and I let Patrick free to surf. Actually, I came to make some pics for my new sponsor so whatever happens in the contest is a bonus”.

The first Round 16 heat brings together American C.J. Hobgood and Brazilian Willian Cardoso. In the second heat Spanish Hodei Collazo faces Brazilian Gustavo Fernandes. Californian Brett Simpson will face Peterson Rosa. Matt Wilkinson meets against Brazilian Alejo Muniz. Jadson André is matched against French Joan Duru. And we’ll see Australian Dion Atkinson versus Wiggolly Dantas.

The first heat of Round 4 saw the victory of C. J. Hobgood: “It was a good heat to be in. The waves are kind of tricky but I found some good ones. Anyway, it’s just great to be here with friends”, says the World Champion. Hodei Collazo scored two nice barrels and jumped from last to first place in the final minutes of his heat. While Willian Cardoso followed him to next round, South African Rudy Palmboom is now out of the Hang Loose Pro Contest 2010.

“I was pretty relaxed at the beginning. Willian was on fire and I`d been waiting for a wave for a long time till I cought those blessed ones”, said Hodei Collazo. “After the first one, where I got a 7, I didn’t really know what I needed to make it through. But I got another barrel and did a good floater in the second wave. Waves are great here and it’s nice to surf in these conditions”.

Brazilian Raoni Monteiro has been a finalist twice in Noronha before, winning in 2008 and coming second to fellow coutryman Bruno Santos in the 2009 final. He is scheduled in the last round 24 heat with Damien Hobgood and Brazilian Hizunomê Bettero. “I didn `t have many barrels today but it was good enough to make it through. We`re in Noronha and you have to be lucky to find the right ones”, declared Raoni.