Round 2 of the Billabong Pro J-Bay started in shoulder to head-high one metre waves at Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay this morning. Organisers deliberated from first light until 9 am before giving the go-ahead to recommence the event at 9.45 am.
Each heat has been extended to 35 minutes owing to the inconsistency of waves and to ensure that each pair of contestants has an opportunity to choose and ride several waves with better scores. The competitor recording the highest two wave total wins the heat and advances to Round 3 while the loser is eliminated from the event in equal 25th spot, taking home US $7 000.
Heat 1 of the round was to have featured a match-up between top seed and 10-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (US) and local Sean Payne (St Francis Bay) who earned a wildcard by winning the VonZipper Superheat last Thursday. However, Slater has not yet arrived in Jeffreys Bay and his place has been taken by Durban’s Travis Logie, the current ASP World No 45 and a former five year veteran of the Dream Tour.
Bobby Martinez (US) is also not in J-Bay and he will be replaced by wildcard Shaun Joubert, 20, from Mossel Bay, ranked No. 67 and the runner-up in the VZ Superheat.
Organisers are hoping to run at least six of the Round 2 heats either side of the low tide which is at approximately 11.30 am, but will continue for as long as the waves are deemed contestable.
All the action from the Billabong Pro J-Bay, including news, scores, images and video-on-demand footage of every heat is available via www.billabongpro.com.
A daily 15 minute TV highlights package from the event will be broadcast on the channels of SuperSport with the premiere at 7.45 daily and multiple repeats. Most of the shows are on SS5 with others on SS6 and SS7.
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