Meet your Billabong Pro, Rio quarterfinalists

The swell stuck around at Barra Da Tijuca today for rounds three, four and five of the Billabong Pro, Rio. In fact, it cleaned up nice and pretty and really, kinda turned on. The quarterfinalists were decided in four-ish feet barrels and some of the best match-us of the year went down (Taj, Johnny and Jules? Woah!).

Joel Parkinson bounced back after losing in round four, scooping two round five barrels and the day’s highest heat total of 18.33, eliminating Jordy Smith. “It was just one of those heats where I waited for a while and got one good one and thought, that could be amazing, just that one wave,” Joel said. “Then I got another one. Poor Jordy really got nothing. It was a lot like home, the good ones have a really nice draw on the water off of the bank. It’s really dumpy, so you air drop into it and it’s hard to find a rail. Who would have thought you’d come to Brazil and get two 9s getting barrelled?” It’s a good question. And, the rivalry between Joel and Jordy is now totally official! “I think there is a rivalry,” said Joel. “We don’t talk about it, but we just keep catching each other. We’ve had three events and it’s four times that we’ve surfed against each other and it’s been back and forth.”

Josh Kerr, 28, Australian and dangerous, was unstoppable. He clocked another of the days’ highest combined totals of 17.84, pushing Adriano De Souza into round five. But it was Ads’ 10-pointer that got Josh’s blood rushing. “I saw Adriano’s wave go down and we were sitting in a different spot than everyone else,” said Josh. “We were getting nines and 10s and I feel bad for Adriano. I wasn’t expecting a little backdoor shootout and I’m stoked to get some good waves.” Despite the loss, Adriano bounced back in round five. “I was focused on the right,” he said. “But I knew there was a little channel and I went over to the left. Luck is really going my way and I’m stoked. The waves were really hard and I’m stoked to make it through this heat.” Josh and Adriano will face off again in the fourth quarter.

Another of the days’ biggest standouts was John Florence. He beat Miguel Pupo in round three, then took down Julian Wilson and Taj Burrow in round four. “It was Taj and Julian and those are two guys you never want to have in a heat,” Johnny said. “It was windy when I first paddled out and I was trying to do airs and have fun with it. Then the wind stopped and I got the one in the middle of the heat that was a pretty decent barrel. I finally got that last one and there was only 10 seconds left. I wasn’t even sure I had gotten the score when I hit the beach. I’m stoked to make the Quarters here in Brazil. For me to be able to make Quarters here is amazing.”

Watch the replays or tune in for the live show here.

BILLABONG RIO PRO QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
QF 2: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)
QF 3: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
QF 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.33 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 7.00
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.00 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 7.20
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.43 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.77
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.73 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 7.90

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.40, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.67, Michel Bourez (PYF) 7.50
Heat 2: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.90, Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.43, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.73
Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW) 17.73, Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.50, Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.20
Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) 17.84, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.10, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 5.97

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.37 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 6.33
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.00 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 4.17
Heat 5: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.34 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 8.50
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.07 def. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 12.67
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.50 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.70
Heat 8: John John Florence (HAW) 16.23 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 14.14
Heat 9: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.90 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.94
Heat 10: Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.73 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 7.33
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.33 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.17
Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.10 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 11.77