CONGRATS FAFARU!

The Moskova underwear trials were held today at the main Quik Pro site at Bourdaines. In rippy, tricky peaks Alain ‘Fafaru’ Riou won the Trials with some trademark smooth ripping, refusing to be put off by Jake the Snake repeatedly calling him Alan Le Roo.

Also in the final was Patrick ‘PB’ Beven who ripped in all his heats of the day, Gabriel Vallarain and Kiron Jabur. Fafaru will join Joan Duru and Julian Wilson as wildcards into the Quik Pro France 2009, due to start tomorrow.

Alain Riou wins Wildcard.

I was paddling against the rip this morning when two men appeared paddling out. It Taj… and Dane. Dane drifted straight past in the rip. He was over it. He said, “Its 2ft and rippy as hell and shit.” Menawhile, Taj had paddled against the current and was looking for the left bowls. I paddled for one of those waves behind another one. I stood up and looked down and there was Taj like a deer in headlights.

He looked a bit scared, eyes opened wide but I steered the Gracey safely around him, and everything was fine.

Afterwards I said, “Ha! Taj! Did your life flash before you then mate hahahah?”

“What?” Said Taj.

“Life. Before your eyes. On that one before.”

“What’s that mate?” asked Taj.

Then we just kind of drifted apart in the current. Maybe I’ll catch up with him tomorrow.

Taj did not get run over at Estagnots today.

Here are the Round One heats coming up, with who I think will win them…

QUIKSILVER PRO France – 1er tour
Heat 1: Taylor Knox (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA) (Jihad)

Heat 2: Bobby Martinez (USA), Josh Kerr (AUS), David Weare (ZAF) (Bobby)

Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA), Tim Reyes (USA), Nic Muscroft (AUS) (Dooma Hobgood)

Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA), Drew Courtney (AUS) (Heitor)

Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Michel Bourez (PYF), Luke Stedman (AUS) (Michel)

Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Phillip MacDonald (AUS) (Bede)

Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Marlon Lipke (DEU) (Ace)

Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), TBA

Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA), Mick Campbell (AUS), TBA

Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), TBA (not sure about these heats but I reckon at least Julian and Joan will get through)

Heat 11: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Chris Ward (USA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK) (Aritz)

Heat 12: Kieren Perrow (AUS), Roy Powers (HAW), Nathaniel Curran (USA) (KP)

Heat 13: Dane Reynolds (USA), Chris Davidson (AUS), Michael Picon (FRA) (Dane unless hes on a drip)

Heat 14: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Jay Thompson (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT) (Tiags)

Heat 15: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Tim Boal (FRA), Greg Emslie (ZAF) (Jordy)

Heat 16: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Dustin Barca (HAW) (Mimi if his ankle is OK)