Competition appears to have ground to a halt at the Hang Loose Catarina Pro. Perhaps it’s the shock at five Europeans making it through to round three. To be fair, it could easily have been six after Aranburu narrowly missed out against Roy Powers, and did anyone else notice Tim Boal spanked Jordy “Big Air” Smith in round one? Talking of Jordy Smith, have a look at the BIG AIR VID O’Neill knocked out a while back.

Here’s the latest press release and round three match up from the ASP…

With only small conditions in the two-to-three foot (1 metre) range still on offer at the main site of Praia Vila, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro has called its third consecutive lay day for competition.

Event No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro enjoyed solid swell for the opening two days of competition, completing Rounds 1 and 2, but has since been in a holding pattern awaiting more optimal conditions.

“This morning is the smallest we’ve seen so far so competition is off for the day,” Perry Hatchett, ASP Head Judge, said. “We’re still tracking that swell model that is coming from a pretty good direction so we could be on as early as tomorrow. We’ll be back in the morning to assess conditions.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7:30am to review conditions for a possible Round 3 8am start.

When Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro competition recommences, first up will be defending event champ Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, up against ASP Dream Tour rookie Michel Bourez (PYF), 23.

Highlights from past days’ Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro will be available via www.aspworldtour.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

HANG LOOSE SANTA CATARINA PRO ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Dustin Barca (HAW)
Heat 7: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 10: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 11: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 12: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 13: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 14: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 15: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 16: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Chris Ward (USA)