Kolohe Andino (USA) has taken out the Final of the inaugural Fantastic Noodles Kangaroo Island Pro over Jay Quinn (NZL) in an action packed day of surfing today. The surf picked up, but so did the wind as competitors went to battle in the 2 – 3 foot (1 meter) blustery waves at Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo Island.
Andino entered the Fantastic Noodles Kangaroo Island Pro as the number one seed with his eyes firmly set on qualifying for the ASP World Title Series for 2012. His intentions were made clear from the first heat of the event, launching into massive blow tail turns and monster airs. Andino didn’t sit still in the final, catching wave after wave, carving from top to bottom and launching into the air whenever a ramp popped up. After winning his 3rd consecutive ASP 6-Star event Andino now sits at 24th on the ASP One World Rankings.
“It feels kind of surreal right now,” Andino said. “Hopefully I can make the ASP World Title Series for next year now. I’m just competitive and want to win, I knew there was a lot of opportunity for me to do well here and I’m happy it went my way. With guys like Gabriel Medina winning events on tour, I just really want to get there. After he won that last event I just thought that I have to be on there too.”
Quinn played the waiting game in the final, holding priority until the bigger sets came through. But they weren’t enough to see him take top honours at the 2011 Fantastic Noodles Kangaroo Island Pro. Quinn’s powerful carves impressed the crowds and the judges all event, but he struggled in the wind affected conditions in the final.
“I could be feeling a lot better right now, but there wasn’t a lot more I could do out there,” Quinn said. “Kolohe (Andino) can get 8-point-rides on knee high waves and I can’t. This is a good result and should push me up the ratings a few spots which is good, I go into Hawaii with a bit of confidence, if I manage to get there.”
Mitch Crews (AUS) was one of the form surfers of the entire event, but came up against a red-hot Kolohe Andino (USA) in Semifinal 1. Crews posted a couple of decent scores, but couldn’t match Andino’s ruthless backhand attack after he netted a heat total of 17.17 (out of a possible 20). Crews has now jumped from 63rd to 56th on the ASP One World Rankings.
“I’m pretty bummed because I was really determined to win this one,” Crews said. “In the last 5 events I’ve had 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 9th and now this is another 3rd, I’ve come so close I just want to win one. Brother (Kolohe Andino) is unstoppable right now. There was 20 minutes to go and I know I needed a big score and I knew that if a set came that I could get an 8.00 or 9.00. A small one came through and I landed a backhand air and scored 8.77 and thought I was back in it, but no other good waves came through.”
Fantastic Noodles Kangaroo Island Pro Results:
Final
Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.33 def. Jay Quinn (NZL) 13.64
Semifinals
SF1: Kolohe Andino (USA) 17.17 def. Mitch Crews (AUS) 15.27
SF2: Jay Quinn (NZL) 11.83 def. Richard Christie (NZL) 8.50
Quarterfinals
QF1: Kolohe Andino (USA) 16.20 def. Michael Dunphy (USA) 14.50
QF2: Mitch Crews (AUS) 12.76 def. Evan Geiselman (USA) 11.17
QF3: Jay Quinn (NZL) 13.90 def. Billy Stairmand (NZL)
QF4: Richard Christie (NZL) 13.17 def. Perth Standlick (AUS) 9.80
