Day one of the Rip Curl Search Pro, San Francisco

“It’s hard because you can’t hear any scores out there,” said Matty Wilko of the Rip Curl Search, San Fran today. “There’s a ton of paddling but it’s super fun out there and it’s worth it.” Round one and a little of round two were run today in shifting beachbreaks and, if organisers get through round three tomorrow, something very significant will happen. Kelly Slater will win his eleventh world title, and it will be on the one-year anniversary of Andy Irons’ death.

“I’m going to try and just be relaxed about it because it’s a situation where you could feel tense in and want to get it over with it,” Kelly said. “The reality of it is the other guys have to win both events with my last heat win so the pressure is on them. I don’t feel like I can relax though because the guys now have to focus and that’s when they could do something magic. That’s how it goes in competition and I don’t doubt that that’s a possibility. It is close. I just need to catch four good waves in this event to win the title. Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of Andy’s passing away and it’s going to be a sad and happy day in remembering him and if Ironically I can win the world title on that day it’d be secondary to the memory of Andy.”

The other interesting thing today was Dusty Payne’s shark sighting. “I was sitting out there and saw something in the lineup,” Dusty said. “I’ve seen dolphins before and that wasn’t a dolphin. That’s the biggest fin I’ve ever seen in my life and it came straight for me. The waves are terrible so I just opted to stay in instead of deal with the shark.”

Jadson Andre lost out to fellow Brazilian Adriano De Souza, but managed to beat Dane Reynolds. Photo: ASP/Cestari

Dane went for broke but didn’t stick. He came damn close, though. Photo: ASP/Cestari

Taj Burrow beat Johnny Florence and Daniel Ross. Hello round three. Photo: ASP/Cestari

Johnny’ll face Tiago Pires in round two. Photo: ASP/Cestari

Jordy Smith beat Dusty Payne and Tom Whitaker. Photo: ASP/Cestari

Owen Wright fell to Freddie Patacchia in round one, but then beat fellow Rip Curl teamer Dean Brady in round two. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Kelly Slater beat Kai Otton and Dean Brady. One more heat win and it’s title number 11 in the bag. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Julian Wilson was beaten by Patty Gudang in round one, but won in round two against Taylor Clark. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Gabs Medina won his round one heat against Miguel Pupo and Kieren Perrow. Next please. Photo: ASP/Cestari

Miguel Pupo will surf against Kai Otton in round two. Photo: ASP/Cestari

Ace Buchan took down Bede Durbidge and Trav Logie. He was kinda blistering. Photo: ASP/Cestari

Trav Logie will surf against Josh Kerr in round two. Photo: ASP/Cestari

Chris Davidson won his round one heat against Damo Hobgood and Mick Fanning. He’s pure energy. Photo: ASP/Cestari

Mick Fanning will face Kieren Perrow in the second heat of round one. Photo: ASP/Cestari

Alejo Muniz beat Josh Kerr and Brett Simpson. How good’s the kid? Photo: ASP/Cestari

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH SAN FRANCISCO ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Adam Melling (AUS) 12.50, Taylor Knox (USA) 10.80, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.50
Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.60, Jadson Andre (BRA) 11.43, Dane Reynolds (USA) 9.00
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.67, John John Florence (HAW) 10.67, Daniel Ross (AUS) 7.00
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.10, Dusty Payne (HAW) 7.87, Tom Whitaker (AUS) N/S
Heat 5: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.67, Owen Wright (AUS) 6.10, Dillon Perillo (USA) 4.86
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.03, Kai Otton (AUS) 10.90, Dean Brady (AUS) 9.97
Heat 7: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 15.10, Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.43, Tiago Pires (PRT) 9.33
Heat 8: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 16.53, Michel Bourez (PYF) 16.23, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 9.77
Heat 9: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.50, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 11.10, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 9.77
Heat 10: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 16.40, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 16.33, Travis Logie (ZAF) 10.37
Heat 11: Chris Davidson (AUS) 16.10, Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.26, Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.10
Heat 12: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.10, Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.77, Brett Simpson (USA) 9.30

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH SAN FRANCISCO ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 11.16 def. Dean Brady (AUS) 8.07
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 8.60 def. Dillon Perillo (USA) 6.50
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.57 def. Taylor Clark (USA) 8.76
Heat 4: Daniel Ross (AUS) 14.00 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.00

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH SAN FRANCISCO REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 8: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 9: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Kai Otton (USA)
Heat 10: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 11: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. John John Florence (HAW)
Heat 12: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)