Race for the Billabong ISA World Team Trophy Commences in Panama
Watch the event LIVE WEBCAST beginning at 8:00 a.m. (local time), 6:00
a.m. (US PDT), 9:00 a.m. (US EDT) and 11:00 p.m. (Australian EST).
Billabong ISA World Surfing Games presented by Panama
Playa Venao, Panama
June 26, 2011
The annual Billabong ISA World Surfing Games got underway today at Playa
Venao’s perfect three-to-five foot lefts and rights. The race for the Fernando
Aguerre ISA World Team Trophy has begun with 27 countries in contention,
which over the next six days will narrow down to only one champion of the
premiere world team surfing event.
All of the 173 registered surfers in the Open Men, Open Women and
Longboard divisions surfed today with qualifying round one action. A total of
48 heats were completed in a day full of action and emotion, in two
simultaneous surfing venues, located 250 meters from each other.
Australia, Brazil, New Zealand and South Africa are the only countries that
made it through the first day without losing any surfers into the repechage
heats. Defending Team Champion Peru, USA and France, all of them
powerhouse surfing nations, had at least one surfer that will now surf the door-die heats in the repechage rounds.
Llewellyn Whittaker (RSA) proved to be the standout performer of the day in
the Open Men division. Employing a set of strong backhand moves, Whittaker
achieved a combined score of 15.83 (7.17+8.67) to beat Magnum Martínez
(VEN), David Godoy (PAN) and Luis Chamorro (NIC).
“Our team arrived five days before the contest, and we had a lot of time to
practice on these waves,” said Whittaker. “We are feeling very comfortable
surfing here in Playa Venao. The level of competition is extremely high—you
have the best surfers from every country at this event, but for those 20
minutes, you have to believe you will get through your heat.”
Another victorious competitor in the Open Men division, Costa Rican Anthony
Fillingim, surprised the local crowd with his powerful and innovative surfing.
He beat Brazilian favorite Ian Gouveia by posting a combined score of 12.00
(6.00+6.00), leaving Jonathan Chila (ECU) and Erick Portillo (SAL) in third
and fourth respectively.
“I felt I would win first place from the time I entered the water,” said Fillingim.
“Let’s hope I keep doing this well in the following heats. My Brazilian friend is
a great surfer, but as everybody saw, I finished in the lead. We feel at home
here where we’ve performed excellently in past tournaments. If all goes well,
we will all make it to the finals.”
Other in-form surfers in the Open Men division displaying progressive surfing
and winning their heats were Drew Courtney (AUS), Hugo Savalli (FRA),
Michael Campbell (AUS), Martín Jerí (PER), Justin Mujica (VEN) and Chris
Waring (USA).
In the day’s second to last heat, a shocking victory by Uruguayan Marco
Giorgi over 2009 ISA World Champion, Jeremy Flores from France, made the
news on the beach.
“I was excited, because I knew I was competing against Jeremy,” said Giorgi.
“I never had the pleasure of competing against him, and just competing
against him is a sign that this championship is at an amazing level. Beating
him, it’s incredible.”
Ecuador’s Dominic Barona pulled off a huge upset in the Open Women
division, outscoring South African star Tanika Hoffman by posting a combined
total of 10.10 (6.50+3.60). Yocelin Aldana from Venezuela placed third in the
heat.
“The heat was a little difficult because of the conditions. The tide was very
high with very few waves, but I caught a couple and was able to win the heat,”
said Barona. “Now I’m very focused, and hopefully tomorrow the waves will be
more favorable. Panama is amazing. People are very friendly, the weather
has been great, the event is well organized and it is a living celebration of
surfing. Now we all need to simply enjoy ourselves and do our best.”
The best surfer of the division was Analí Gómez (PER) who scored 15.00
(9.00+6.00) to beat Lucía Cosoleto (ARG) and Sonia García (PAN).
Other standouts in the divison were Sofía Mulanovich (PER), Nikita Robb
(RSA), Silvana Lima (BRA), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) and Alize Arnaud (FRA).
Tony Silvagni from the United States was undeniably the best longboarder of
the day. After combining a repertoire of turns and stylish hang-fives, Silvagni
scored an 8.33, backed up with a 7.33 to create the day’s highest combined
total (15.66).
“I was feeling really good and loose out there, caught a bunch of waves and
my rhythm was pretty good,” said Silvagni. “I love Venao, a beach break with
peaks everywhere and the wave conditions are very suitable for all of us. We
would love to win Gold. The USA won in 2009, and I was on the team. I would
love to do better than I did in the final in 2009 and eventually win an individual
Gold Medal too. That would be awesome.”
Two-time ISA Longboard World Champion Matthew Moir (RSA), last year’s
Medalist Harley Ingleby (AUS), 2009 World Champion Antoine Delpero (FRA)
and 2008 Medalist Taylor Jensen (USA) were other highlights in the
Longboard division, winning their heats and making it to the Main Event
Round 2.
The event continues tomorrow with the following heats:
Podium 1 (will be webcasted live)
Open Main Event Round 2
Longboard Main Event Round 2
Open Main Event Round 3
Podium 2 (will have scores online)
Women Main Event Round 2
Open Repechage Round 1
Longboard Repechage Round 1
Women Repechage Round 1
Watch the event LIVE WEBCAST beginning at 8:00 a.m. (local time), 6:00
a.m. (US PDT), 9:00 a.m. (US EDT) and 11:00 p.m. (Australian EST).
ATTENTION MEDIA
Daily Photos, Video Highlights and daily TV newsfeed will be available online
copyright free only for editorial purposes.
For additional information please contact:
Media contacts
International Media
Pablo Zanocchi
Media Manager
International Surfing Association
[email protected]
"JJ"
Billabong Media Manager
+507 6455 5682
[email protected]
Local Media
Glenda Amaya E.
Jefa del Depto. de Relaciones Públicas Autoridad de Turismo Panamá (
ATP)
[email protected]
Tel. 526.7126 - Cel. 6615.4672
Jose M Duarte S.
Medios Locales
Billabong ISA World Surfing Games
[email protected]