The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast is scheduled to get underway at Snapper Rocks in Australia this weekend, marking the beginning of the 2010 ASP World Tour season.
The story lines are drawn: Will Mick Fanning defend his title? Will Kelly Slater, 38, rally from last year's sixth-place showing and win his 10th world title, then finally retire? Will Joel Parkinson, who dominated the first half of last season before stumbling down the stretch, finally win his first world title?
Will Andy Irons, a three-time world champion who has returned from a one-year hiatus, find his form and contend for a fourth title?
And how high up the ratings latter will any of several promising rookies climb?
Said Slater, who perhaps experimented with his equipment a bit too much at the start of last season: "I never found myself in the right mind frame to deal with the pressure of a 10th title and find the excitement and purpose for what I was doing for more than a few heats.
"Brazil worked out but all the close heats went the other guy's way and I just made a lot of mind decisions and not surfing from the gut and real feelings. I'm comfortable with nine [titles] but yeah, 10 has a certain allure to it."
Because of a stellar class of rookies, led perhaps by San Clemente's Patrick Gudauskas and Australia's Owen Wright and Daniel Ross, this probably is the most talented group of 48 in ASP history. (Wright will compete against tour veteran Fredrick Patacchia of Hawaii and Gudauskas in the first round.)
There's a sense of urgency for every competitor as the field will be cut to 32 at the midway point, after the fifth of 10 World Tour contests, to streamline the field for future seasons.
That seems a positive move as it makes this inaugural contest, which will be televised live by FUEL TV in Australia, more important than in past years.
Says Gudauskas, who finished second to Ross on the qualifying circuit last season: "My goal is to come in with guns blazing. My goal is to win the world title. That's everyone's goal; it's why we're here."
-- Pete Thomas
Photo of Kelly Slater by © ASP / ROBERTSON
Comments