World No.1 Taj Burrow (Yallingup, W.A.) claimed his second major surfing victory in less than a week winning the Boost Mobile Surf Show presented by LG at Surfers Paradise Beach on the Gold Coast this weekend.
The West Australian lived up to his reputation as the surfer who has redefined modern day aerial surfing defeating a field of twenty of the best field of aerial surfers ever assembled to claim the inaugural crown.
Twenty-eight year-old Burrow out-performed high-flying fellow finalist Dru Adler (Palm Beach, Gold Coast) by executing the highest scoring maneuver of the tournament – a nine point Air-Reverse to claim the winner take all $20000 prize cheque.
“The two best things that could have happened to me this week have,” said Burrow. “I’m blown away. I haven’t won a contest in a couple of years, so to win two in a row especially an Airshow has me really, really excited.”
“These guys are so unbelievably talented in what they do it’s really hard to remain consistent especially in these tough conditions. It’s just so cool to go out there and nail the maneuver that you spin on the wheel.”
Palm Beach Boardriders Club President Adler who posted a 5.50 Air Reverse in the final received the runner-up consolation prize of a 42” LG Plasma TV. Aerial experts Ozzie Wright (North Narrabeen) and Wade Goodall (Sunshine Coast) finished equal third overall with impressive performances throughout the day.
Teenage surfing sensation Julian Wilson (Sunshine Coast) narrowly missed out on making the final four cut after earlier leading the charge to finish fifth overall.
Eight time world surfing champion Kelly Slater (Florida, USA) was forced to withdraw from the Boost Mobile Surf Show due to straining his left shoulder in yesterday’s jet-ski tow-in expression session at Surfers Paradise Beach.
The Floridian opted to rest the injury in preparation for the next world tour event in Tahiti next month. While Slater couldn’t break out his aerial repertoire he still managed to entertain the Surfer Paradise crowd with an impromptu jam session with renowned surfer/musician Tim Curran (California USA) last night.
“It was amazing,” said Curran who finished ninth in the tournament. “I haven’t played with Kelly since starting the band. I grew up on the tour so we always used to jam together but that was the first time he has played with the band.”
Following the event success organisers have vowed to be back bigger and better next year. The innovative event created a carnival style atmosphere with the use of the Boost Mobile Surf Show Wheel which proved popular with both surfers and spectators alike It was all serious spinning action with a comical Goon Maneuver included in the list of tricks to be spun up.
2001 Aerial world champion and elite world tour surfer Josh Kerr failed to live up to expectations bowing out before the first sudden death heat but enjoyed returning to his aerial roots. “This event has been fun, especially the whole new format with the wheel,” said 2001 world aerial champion Kerr. “It’s that much more exciting when surfers have to go for the big moves and not repeat the standard airs.”
“Other sports like skate and snowboarding have different criteria’s in which to compete in so it’s exciting to have that in surfing as well. You can be that much more creative in this format,” added Kerr.
Jirah Laws (Torquay, Vic) won the second highly prized 42″ plasma TV for performing the event’s ‘Big Boost’ for the most impressive aerial maneuver of the event.
Share