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Mick Campbell Wins Salomon Masters Final
Author: ASP World Tour
6-8ft (2.5m) waves were on offer for the final day, after stormy conditions abated overnight and sunny skies returned for the strong, supportive beach crowd.
Campbell, who last won an event over two years ago, paddled out for the 30-minute decider confident following his commanding semifinal victory. The 28-year-old then established an early lead, with the final’s best single score of 8-points among his total before 10-minutes had elapsed. While all three other finalists remained within striking range throughout, the goofy footer’s precise forehand snaps and searing cutbacks ultimately earned US$15,000 and pushed him up into third position on the current WQS ratings.
“I feel really good,” began Campbell afterward. “It’s been a long while and it was tough all week out there. It was really big one day with 15ft (5m) sets, so it’s good to come through it and win finally.
“Margaret River is one of the most special places in Australia,” he added. “A great little surf town and opens it’s arms to the all pro surfers every year, so we’re lucky to have it on tour. It’s great.”
Californian Shane Beschen, also a former world #2, proved Campbell’s biggest threat. The 31-year-old picked off the final’s first wave and gave it a solid backhand bash, but still required an additional ride worth 6.18-points for the majority. Despite catching a good wave toward the end, it didn’t allow enough and he was forced to settle with second place. Still, the result takes him to runner-up position on the current WQS ratings and goes a long way to securing his World Championship Tour (WCT) re-qualification.
“It was just a really inconsistent final,” reasoned Beschen. “Mick pretty much won on that one 8.0 he had, and I got second on the one 7.5 I had. I had a wave in the last 20-seconds, but it kind of fattened up and didn’t allow me to do anything to get the score I needed. I’m stoked with second though. This is a good start for my re-qualification campaign.”
World #7 Kieren Perrow (Aus) finished third in the Salomon Masters, while 2001 ASP world champion CJ Hobgood (USA) placed fourth in the final. Both posted one strong ride, but required another to challenge the leaders.
Following the surfing action, the Hon. Clive Brown MLA presented the Salomon Masters trophy to Campbell on stage.
“I’d like to congratulate all competitors in the 2003 Salomon Masters on an outstanding effort,” said Mr. Brown. “Margaret River’s prime location status gives the event a great profile on the international circuit and it certainly has been a privilege to watch the world’s best compete in this magnificent natural setting.”
Finishing equal fifth in the Salomon Masters today were Darren O’Rafferty (Aus) and Renan Rocha (Brz), while Brazilians Neco Padaratz and Peterson Rosa placed fourth in their respective semifinal matches to place equal seventh overall in the 2003 event.
Padaratz, a former finalist at Margaret River began the day with an inspired 9.57 first ride in the round of 32, and following his quarterfinal win appeared the man to beat. The world #21 failed to find similarly impressive rides during the first semifinal, however, and was eliminated requiring another 5.78 score. Nonetheless, the result combined with his earlier 4-Star WQS win at home in Brazil this year sees him on top of the current ratings for the qualifying series.
Older bother Flavio was hit a double blow this morning. The Brazilian snapped his surfboard at the start of the second quarterfinal, and after swimming most of the way in toward the beach was met by Neco, who had paddled back out following his earlier win to assist. By offering his surfboard as a replacement, however, ASP rules deem this an unfair advantage for the competing surfer, hence Flavio only counted one single wave score worth 4.07-points and was narrowly eliminated.
A Harvey Norman expression session was held prior to the final today, with local West Australians Tom Innes winning an Xbox game system for the best maneuver, while former event champion Jake Paterson collected a Fuji digital camera for the best overall ride.
The Salomon Masters was proudly sponsored by Salomon Sports, “Perth” Western Australia, SunSmart, Department of Sport & Recreation, Emu Bitter, Wet Dreams International, Coca-Cola, Arnette Optics, SAAB, Harvey Norman, 96fm, Jim Beam, Evans & Tate, Australia’s Surfing Life Magazine, Margaret’s Beach Resort and Margaret River Law.
Official Results of the 2003 Salomon Masters
1st Mick Campbell (Aus) 13.67 - US$15,000
2nd Shane Beschen (USA) 13.33 – US$8,000
3rd Kieren Perrow (Aus) 12.27 – US$6,000
4th CJ Hobgood (USA) 10.77 – US$4,000
Semifinals (1st, 2nd advance; 3rd finishes=5th; 4th finishes=7th)
SF1: Shane Beschen (USA) 14.33; Kieren Perrow (Aus) 12.0; Darren O’Rafferty (Aus) 11.07; Neco Padaratz (Brz) 11.06
SF2: Mick Campbell (Aus) 14.27; CJ Hobgood (USA) 11.54; Renan Rocha (Brz) 11.0; Peterson Rosa (Brz) 9.97
Quarterfinals (1st, 2nd advance; 3rd finishes=9th; 4th finishes=13th)
QF1: Neco Padaratz (Brz) 15.0; Kieren Perrow (Aus) 11.9; Lee Winkler (Aus) 10.83; Toby Martin (Aus) 5.34
QF2: Darren O’Rafferty (Aus) 12.9; Shane Beschen (USA) 7.47;Flavio Padaratz (Brz) 4.07; Fabio Gouveia (Brz) 2.73
QF3: CJ Hobgood (USA) 16.6; Mick Campbell (Aus) 16.04; Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.57; Chris Davidson (Aus) 11.0
QF4: Renan Rocha (Brz) 17.4; Peterson Rosa (Brz) 15.53; Tom Whittaker (Aus) 12.17; Taj Burrow (Aus) 3.04
For more information: www.salomonmasters.com
Jesse Faen
Media Director, ASP Int'l
jesse@aspworldtour.com
www.aspworldtour.com
Mobile (on-site): +61-407-189-289
ASP Int'l office (Aus): +617-5599-1550
Mandy McKinnon
Salomon Masters Media Director
mandymac@ozemail.com.au
Mobile (on-site): +61-(0)-417-079-941
Mario ‘Marz’ Vassallo
Western Australia Media
Marz1@inet.net.au
Mobile: +61-(0)-416-086-662
For complimentary high res images: www.surfingaustralia.com.au (Go to media centre – username ‘media’; password ‘access1’ then simply follow prompts for Salomon Masters photos.