For Patrick Gudauskas and Brett Simpson, the third-round draw for the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast in Australia could not be more challenging.
They are the two remaining ASP World Tour rookies from Southern California who are still in contention at the season-opening contest at Snapper Rocks in Queensland.
Gudauskas, of San Clemente, goes up against nine-time world champion Kelly Slater when the contest resumes, perhaps later today (Wednesday morning in Australia).
Simpson, of Huntington Beach, faces defending champion Mick Fanning, who also won the title in 2007.
The other two Southland rookies, Tanner Gudauskas and Nathan Yeomans of San Clemente, were eliminated in the second round.
Also still in contention is Hawaii's Andy Irons, a three-time world champion who is back on tour after a one-year hiatus. Of the competition atmosphere and media attention, he said: "Everyone’s really nice and cool and really supportive. So yes [it’s great to be back], and with all the fans, you know it means the world to me."It just makes me really want to come back and do well, and not just come back just to be here. It’s definitely nerve-wrecking, though, to be around all the media. It’s not normal, at all. But I used to do it a lot, so I should be able to get a hang of it pretty quick, but it hasn’t happened yet. So hopefully in a couple more days I’m still in the contest and I get used to it, and hope that the waves get bigger."
Waves have been small and for the most part wind-blown and sloppy, making it difficult for most competitors to find clean barrels and register high scores.
Irons will face Bobby Martinez of Santa Barbara in the third round.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Australia's Dean Morrison, a former winner of the Quiksilver Pro, in action during the second round. Credit: © ASP / CESTARI
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