The IBA 2011 NMD-Pride-Stealth Fronton Pro Trials and Round 1 complete
posted by Sacha Specker on 7th December 2011
Three time Australian Champion, Andrew Lester (Cronulla / AUS) has taken out the 2011 IBA NMD-Pride-Stealth Fronton Pro Trials in rampy 4-6 foot waves at El Fronton.
Lester required a third place finish or better in the Trials to secure his place on the 2012 IBA GSS Tour. In the final, Lester defeated Sergio Alonso (VEN) in second and fellow Australians Mitch Rawlins and Tom Rigby in third and fourth respectively, shifting him from 10th into second on the GQS.
"I just cannot believe it. It really hasn't sunk in yet...I'm just numb but excited", Lester elated.
When asked about his plans for 2012, Lester commented: "I'll have to start first working out my year. Definitely, I'll definitely need to start training. God, the thought of that is a bit daunting. I'll enjoy it now and worry about that in a couple weeks."
With the 2011 GQS complete the following eight GQS riders have cemented their places on the 2012 IBA GSS tour:
Alex Uranga (EUK)
Andrew Lester (AUS)
Chase O'Leary (AUS)
Sam Bennet (AUS)
Mitch Rawlins (AUS)
Yeray Martinez (CNY)
Roberto Bruno (BRA)
Thomas Rigby (AUS)
Round 1 of the GSS commenced shortly after the Trials final finished and was run to completion before the tide dropped too low, exposing the dangerous El Fronton reef.
Round 1 heat winners were:
Heat 1: Elliot Morales (CNY)
Heat 2: Guilherme Tamega (Copacabana / BRA)
Heat 3: Jared Houston (Cape Town / ZAF)
Heat 4: Jeff Hubbard (HAW)
Heat 5: Guillermo Cobo (Telde / ESP)
Heat 6: Dave Winchester (Mullumbimby / AUS)
Heat 7: Airam Cabrera (CNY)
Heat 8: Ryan Hardy (Margaret River / AUS)
Standouts of the day included Jared Houston, Dave Winchester and Guillermo.
Houston accumulated the highest total heat score of the day with an impressive 16.25 out of a possible 20 points. The 2010 rookie of the year had a show-stopping performance executing a variety of aerial maneuvers, topped off by a fully rotated Air-Reverse on a right-hander, earning him the highest wave score of the day with a near perfect 9.25 out of 10.
Winchesters experience paid off as he used his priority to pick off the best set waves from his fellow competitors. The Australian managed to gain an early lead in the heat and solidified his first position when he found a bowly right and launched a lofty invert into the flats.
Gillhermo Cobo was another standout. The high flying Spaniard showed excellent control in the barrel and launched massive Air-Roll-Spins over the shallow El Fronton reef, claiming his maiden Round 1 victory of 2011.
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