Sunday, 4th March 2012

West Australian Taj Burrow opened up his 2012 ASP World Championship Tour with the perfect start...a win at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

Burrow defeated dangerous South American Adriano De Souza (BRA) in a final that came down to the wire. De Souza caught a wave in the dying minutes and launched into a massive air-reverse, requiring a 7.87 out of a possible 10 to take the lead. The judges deliberated until after the siren sounded and when it was announced that De Souza came a mere 0.27 short, Burrow was chaired up the beach and declared the 2012 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast champion.

"I feel so good now!" Burrow said. "I had a really good event last year, but came up short in the final against Kelly (Slater). Then today when I found myself against Adriano (De Souza), I was really nervous because he got me in a final in Brazil last year. He's really tough and I don't like competing against him to be honest. There was a lot of weight on my shoulders in that final so it's pretty rewarding to come out on top."

The ASP World Championship Tour will head to Victoria next for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach from 3 - 14 April, stop number 2 of 10 in the race for the 2012 ASP World Title.

"I've been going for the ASP World Title for a while now," Burrow said. "I don't know what to say. I just want to surf my best and hope that the rest falls into place. I love Bells. I love throwing on a full wetsuit and doing some big arcs in the Bells Bowl."

Video highlights from the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast are available here

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST FINAL RESULTS:
1 - Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.86
2 - Adriano De Souza (BRA) 15.60
 
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 14.16 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.57
SF 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.56 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.20
 
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 16.43 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 13.73
QF 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) 14.43 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 13.04
QF 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.56 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 11.30
QF 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.86 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.97
 
CURRENT ASP TOP 5 (After Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast):
1. Taj Burrow (AUS) 10,000 pts
2. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 8,000 pts
3. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 6,500 pts
3. Josh Kerr (AUS) 6,500 pts
5. Kelly Slater (USA) 5,200 pts
5. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5,200 pts
5. Owen Wright (AUS) 5,200 pts
5. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 5,200 pts