Kelly Slater (USA), considered by many to be the greatest surfer of all time, has won the first event of the 2006 Foster's ASP Men's World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro presented by Samsung.
Up against Australian surfing icon Taj Burrow in the final, Slater, the seven-times world champion was back to his absolute best and the 34-year-old wasted no time in securing a lead in the 30 minute final, being notably fast at pouncing on any wave that came his way.
Thousands of fans cheered on as their surfing heroes went wave for wave, with both Burrow and Slater pulling out all the stops as they vied for the USD 30,000 first place winner's cheque and the all important ratings lead in the chase for the 2006 world surfing title. Despite 27-year-old Burrow having a reputation as one of the most electric small-wave surfers in the world, he was no match for
Surfing's King, who for the first time since 1998 took top honours in the season's opening event.
Slater also picked up some extra pocket money when he piped Bruce Irons (Haw) for the Evian Longest Tube Ride Award. Brother, former three times world champion Andy Irons (Haw), fell to Taj Burrow in the quarter finals to finish equal fifth.
The focus of the ASP Mens World Tour now shifts to the
Rip Curl Pro scheduled for Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia, April 11 to April 21, 2006; a couple of weeks after the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
ASP Men's World Tour Ratings after Event 1:
1. Kelly Slater USA 1200 pts
2. Taj Burrow AUS 1032
3. Bobby Martinez USA 876
3. Adriano de Souza BRA 876
5. Andy Irons Haw 732
5. Taylor Knox USA 732
5. Raoni Monteiro BRA 732
5. Damien Hobgood USA 732
9. Joel Parkinson AUS 600
9. Troy Brooks AUS 600
9. Greg Emslie ZAF 600
9. Travis Logie ZAF 600
9. Tom Whitaker AUS 600
9. Marcelo Nunes BRA 600
9. Pancho Sullivan HAW 600
9. Darren O'Rafferty AUS 600
