Round three of the Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast is set to kick off this morning. According to the release (below), “An increase in swell to three-to-four foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves at Snapper Rocks has prompted event organizers to call Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover ON this morning, with the opening heat hitting the water at 7:30am.” Check out all the details below!

Pictured: Owen Wright (AUS), 20, 2010 ASP World Tour rookie, will take on current ASP World No. 4, Taj Burrow (AUS), 31, in Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover
(Photo: ASP/SCHOLTZ)

###

PRESS RELEASE:
SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland/Australia (Wednesday, March 3, 2010) – An increase in swell to three-to-four foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves at Snapper Rocks has prompted event organizers to call Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover ON this morning, with the opening heat hitting the water at 7:30am.

Stop No. 1 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour season, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast has already seen landmark performances from the ASP Top 45, and today’s match-ups promise to deliver some of the most exciting pairings in the history of the event.

“We have an increase in swell today and we’ll be getting underway at 7:30am with men’s Round 3,” Rod Brooks, Quiksilver Pro Contest Director, said. “We’re expecting good conditions all day and are very exciting about the match-ups we’ll be seeing.”

Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, reigning two-time ASP World Champion, will face 2010 ASP World Tour rookie Brett Simpson (USA), 25, in a re-match of last year’s US Open Final in Huntington Beach, where the young Californian took down the champ in front of a packed hometown crowd. The two will do battle in Heat 8 of Round 3.

Kelly Slater (USA), 38, former nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, will take on compatriot and 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 24, in Heat 15 of Round 3.

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, 2009 ASP World Runner-Up and defending event champion, face 2010 ASP World Tour rookie Dusty Payne (HAW), 21, in Heat 9 of Round 3. The two last did battle in the 2008 Pipeline Masters where Parkinson ousted the young Hawaiian with a perfect 20 heat total.

Taj Burrow (AUS), 31, current ASP World No. 4, will take on highly-touted 2010 ASP World Tour rookie Owen Wright (AUS), 20, in Heat 4 of Round 3.

Up first this morning will be current ASP World No. 5 Adriano de Souza (BRA), 23, up against compatriot and 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie Jadson Andre (BRA), 19, in the opening heat of the morning at 7:30am.

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover will be webcast LIVE via www.quiksilverpro.com.au

For the first time in the events’ storied nine-year history, the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast events are being televised LIVE on FUEL TV in Australia, beaming the world’s best surfing right into your living room.

To find out how you can watch the world’s best surfers in one of the world’s most iconic pointbreaks LIVE on FUEL TV, check out www.foxsports.com.au/fueltv

From the Quarterfinals onward, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast will also be broadcast LIVE via ESPN in Brazil.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 2: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 3: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Andy Irons (HAW)
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 7: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 9: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 10: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 11: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 12: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 13: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 14: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 16: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)

ROXY PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Coco Ho (HAW) vs. Amee Donohoe (AUS)
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
Heat 3: Paige Hareb (NZL) vs. Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
Heat 5: Silvana Lima (BRA) vs. Lee Ann Curren (FRA)
Heat 6: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
Heat 7: Melanie Bartels (HAW) vs. Jessi Miley-Dyer (HAW)
Heat 8: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)