1998 RIP CURL PRO HOSSEGOR, FRANCE

[Peking Duck Surfboards]

AUSTRALIAN DOUBLE IN FRENCH RIP CURL PRO HOSSEGOR
Australian Damien Hardman, 32, broke a five year victory drought in this,
his retirement year from the ASP World Championship Tour, when he stormed
to victory over Californian Pat O'Connell in the French Rip Curl Pro
Hossegor today. In the women's division, fellow Sydney-sider Layne Beachley
moved within a whisker of wrapping up the 1998 Kahlua ASP women's world
title with a white-wash win over Prue Jeffries (Aus). Beachley now only
requires a quarter final showing in next week's Kana Beach Lacanau Pro to
officially take the crown.
For both Hardman and Beachley it was their second French Rip Curl Pro
title, the win more nostalgic for Hardman as his last victory was here at
the Rip Curl Pro in 1993. In winning today, Hardman equaled Australian
Barton Lynch and Hawaiian Johnny 'Boy' Gomes' record as the oldest event
champion at age 32. He dedicated the win to his late father and former ASP
Media Manager, Brian Hardman, who passed away in 1995.
Using his trademark vertical backhand re-entries and powerful bottom turns
to full effect, Hardman, a 'veteran' after 14 years on the ASP world tour,
was quick out of the blocks, posting two solid wave scores of 8.50 and 7.00
in the first ten minutes of the final. O'Connell, who surfed the heat of
his life to beat four time world champion Kelly Slater (USA) in the
semi-finals, answered back with two strong rides (two 7.75 rides) but fell
short of the mark when he failed to post a high scoring third wave.
"Shortly before my father passed away I said to him that I would win one
more event just for him," said an emotional Hardman from the winner's
podium. "I waited a long time for this special moment and I am happy with
the way things turned out."
Added Hardman, who jumped up from 25th to eighth on the ASP WCT rankings:
"For some reason I always seem to do well here at Hossegor, the wave is
predominantly a right hander and I think my surfing suits this type of
wave. I was also lucky the way things turned out in the final with me being
able to catch three good waves early in the heat." Hardman has also
finished runner-up twice in this event.
"Shortly before I left Australia one of my friends said to me that I
shouldn't retire until I became the oldest surfer to ever win an ASP event.
Well I've done that and I still feel that I have it in me to do well in
future events. I get really motivated surfing against the younger surfers."
For O'Connell, his runner-up placing today also saw him fly up the ratings
from 24th place to 11th. The Rip Curl Pro Hossegor is his second final
appearance for 1998, the other coming in the Australian Billabong Pro in
March.
"I was really happy to make my second final this year, after having never
made one before," said an ever-smiling O'Connell. "I started to feel as
though I was coming on in the final but just couldn't find a good last
wave. I waited and waited, the tide filled up, and I just couldn't get a
wave that would allow me to score a 6.51 ride."
"I must admit that I made a mistake in the final by allowing Damien to take
his first ride. It was still early in the heat and I didn't realise how
good his wave was."
Finishing in equal third today were losing semi-finalists Australian Mick
Campbell and Kelly Slater. Campbell lost out to Hardman by 0.15 of a point
with Slater losing to O'Connell by half a point. Slater and Campbell now
fill second and fourth places respectively on the 1998 ASP WCT rankings.
Despite a third round loss to French wildcard Mical Picon, ratings leader
Daniel Wills (Aus) still fills the top spot - 378 points separating he and
Slater. Third on the ratings is Shane Beschen (California, USA), and Mark
Occhilupo (Aus) brings up the top five.
"I felt good out there today even though I dropped out in the semi-final,"
said five-times and reigning ASP world champion Slater. "I felt as though I
got my contest act back together again this event. My surfboard is working
well, I moved up on the ratings, and it was definitely a positive event all
round for me."
The women's final was a completely one-sided affair with Beachley wiping
out Jeffries. Beachley caught every good set wave in the final and surfed
brilliantly to record scores of 8.40, 8.25 and 7.25. The final points
reflected Beachley's domination - 23.90 points to 9.75 points. Beachley's
win has her 2200 points clear of Hawaiian Rochelle Ballard on the world
ratings, and she will be looking for a fifth or better next week to win her
maiden world title.
"No final is ever easy to win and today was no different," said Beachley.
"There was actually quite a strong current out there and it was difficult
to paddle against it. However I was in rhythm with the waves and I'm happy
with the way things turned out. I have had five wins in eight events so far
this year... all the years of hard work have finally paid off."
When asked if things were made easier with four time ASP world champion
Lisa Andersen missing from the line-up (due to a back injury) Beachley
said: "It really hasn't been made any easier without her. The rest of the
girls have all surfed well this year and even they have posted wins over
her."
Jeffries, who won the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in April this year,
literally fell to pieces when she struggled to find her form in the final.
"I didn't think that being nervous would be a problem this time but I did
the Bells thing again and got shaky legs and didn't surf like I normally
surf."
"However I've improved a lot this year on tour, I've made more finals and
won contests, and am hoping for a top five finish," added Jeffries who is
currently in sixth place on the Kahlua Womens WCT rankings.
The losing semi-finalists in equal third today were Australian Serena
Brooke and Hawaiian Rochelle Ballard who now fill sixth and second place
respectively on the Kahlua WCT rankings.
Next up on the ASP World Tour is the Kana Beach Lacanau Pro in France from
August 26-31. Defending event champions Australian Shane Powell and
Hawaiian Rochelle Ballard will both be in the line-up to defend their
titles.