Another punting power play

Despite claiming to Stab last month that waves such as Margaret River would stymie progressive surfing in the competitive arena, Josh Kerr won Rusty’s Drug Aware Pro over the weekend with a brimming new school repertoire. For the second time in as many months, Josh’s progressive approach earned him a top two finish in a WQS. This time, beating fellow prog-surfing exponent Taj Burrow (17.03 to Burrow’s 16.50 out of 20)  in the final of Rusty’s Drug Aware Pro, Margaret River. Last month, the same two surfers used their patented mix of explosive finners and aerials to place first and second at the Burleigh Breaka Pro. That time Taj won with Josh second. The West Australian would go on to win the Quik Pro with a similar strategy the following week. After the Burleigh event, Josh had told Stab “you’ve gotta have the waves to be blowing up and generally with the tour you don’t get the waves to do it.” His one/two finish with Taj at Margarets, a wave traditionally more suited to power surfers, would suggest surfers are growing in their ability to consistently stomp progressive moves on less than ideal canvasses (though Margarets did have a very tasty sideshore and some dream punt sections on the final day). It’s also further evidence of the ASP judging panel’s willingness to reward futuristic moves. A trend that will favour Taj in his bid for a maiden World Title and Josh in his attempt to requalify for the World Tour. That is if he chooses to contest the Qualifying Series, which he told Stab in the same interview that he would not be doing this year.