Rip Curl Pro Search surfing contests get mired in Portugal's fog
Fog has forced postponement of the Rip Curl Pro Search and the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search in Peniche, Portugal.
The men's event has completed two rounds with the most notable heat involving nine-time world champion Kelly Slater losing to wild card Owen Wright, 19, of Australia. It is the ninth of 10 ASP World Tour contests, and Slater is out of title contention. Wright is ranked third on the ASP's World Qualifying Series tour and will be a rookie on next year's world tour.
The women's event - -the fourth of seven Women's World Tour contests -- began its waiting period today.
“It’s been very frustrating for us,” said Damien Hardman, the contest director. “The waves this morning were a bit tough, and then they improved and the sun came out. We got ready to go, and the fog came back in."
The top three on the women's tour are Stephanie Gilmore of Australia, Silvana Lima of Brazil and Sofia Mulanovich of Peru.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: South Africa's Jordy Smith, ranked No. 12 on the ASP World Tour, will take on fourth-ranked C.J. Hobgood when the Rip Curl Search resumes. Credit: ASP/ CI/ Cestari / Getty Images
