As a massive weather front and storms hit the Gold Coast this weekend our Surf Web Series operations team, and judges, from locations across the world had no respite, as they went to work on heat videos, promotions and highlights to decide the 8 surfers that will now progress to the Quarter Finals.
HEAT 1 featured Korbin Hutchings, Brent Dorrington, Jaggar Bartholomew, and Marlon Harrison in the first of the 4 man heats and yet again, Dorrington showed his mastery of the snapper lineup, as he finished first in the heat followed by Korbin Hutchings posting a long Kirra double barrel, that typical of Kirra went on and on. Unfortunately as the judges came to their decision we lose Jaggar Bartholomew and Marlon Harrison as the competition and quality of waves moved into overdrive.
HEAT 2 standouts were Thomas Carvalho with a fine Snapper barrel followed by some smooth flowing turns and combinations as he took top spot in the heat. Runner up in the heat was Reef Heazlewood with 2 powerful lip punches before going to the air and landing perfectly on another of his Perigian practice ground waves. Despite more strong waves from Aidan Lewand-Parsons and the very consistent Billy Kean the judges determined that they bow out at this stage.
HEAT 3 saw Jordy Turansky, Liam O’Brien and Dylan Moffat in a very competitive heat, but the judges were in total agreement on this one with Dylan Moffat being marked in 3rd place as O’Brien and Turansky went through to the quarter final draw. Liam O’Brien in particular posting another strong wave and showing the consistency that has seen him qualify in first place in every round so far.
HEAT 4 the final one of the round had Matt Banting, Sheldon Simkus and Sammy Lowe battling it out for the last 2 places to qualify before we move to man on man format. At 13 years old and the youngest surfer in the contest Sammy has just come off a very strong Aussie Titles showing and has done himself proud in the last few weeks, but Banting and Simkus both posted very strong waves which sees Sammy having to leave us at this juncture.
Jordy Turansky the only teenager left in the event after a strong showing in R4
So the Quarter Final Draw of 4 man-on-man heats is as follows:
H1: Thomas Carvalho v Jordy Turansky
H2: Matt Banting v Sheldon Simkus
H3: Brent Dorrington v Korbin Hutchings
H4: Liam O’Brien v Reef Heazlewood.
The videos are in the can and we have 4 amazing shootouts in prospect.
The draw, made by pulling the names of all 4 first place finishers from the previous round followed by the runners-up was made once the results were announced, and despite being in the same heat in the previous round we see Matt Banting and Sheldon Simkus drawn together, and the same situation unfolds for Brent Dorrington and Korbin Hutchiings.
The Surf Web Series format requires surfers to submit 7 videos of themselves riding waves up to 8ft faces, as moderated by our judges, anywhere in Australia during the 2020 calendar year and we are consistently seeing the fruits of all their work in their local breaks from this crop of surfers. Jordy Turansky is one of those benefiting so far from all the local knowledge around his home break of Cronulla and at 17 he is the last teenager left in the competition at 17 years old, so hopefully he can continue his strong showing with a bomb wave in a tough heat against a very consistent Tommy Carvalho.
All 8 surfers now know that success in this heat gets them qualification to the Surf Web Series Global FInals in 2021 surfing against qualifiers from Japan, South Africa, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Spain, the U.S. and Hawaii as well as guaranteeing one of the cash prizes sponsored by major sponsor Addo Animus.
The fans continue to benefit in a big way as they vote on Surf Web Series heats, and with great giveaway prizes and promotions from event sponsors there is every motivation to keep voting and commenting.
The prizes only get bigger and better from this point onwards for the surfers and the fans. As we move into the man-on-man format, we know that in previous Surf Web Series contests the fan votes have been critical, it is really important to get behind your favourite surfers and tag sponsors to go into any of the amazing giveaway promotions SWS run throughout the event.
Remember: Go to @surfwebseries on INSTAGRAM to vote!
The highlights of Round 4, the judges and fans scoring and the official heat announcement for R5 Quarter Finals are now posted to the website and @surfwebseries on Instagram so make sure to check them out.
Engagement from the audience is an exciting and key feature of SWS events, as fans are encouraged to vote for the winners of each heat via social media commentary on the Surf Web Series’ Facebook and Instagram pages. The surfers and sponsors are also encouraged to rally their fans to vote as they play a very important role as a fifth Judge in the very tight heats.
The Surf Web Series format requires surfers to submit 7 videos of themselves riding waves up to 8ft faces, as moderated by our judges, anywhere in Australia during the 2020 calendar year. Once the clips have been registered with SWS, the heats are drawn, then the surfer decides which one of their 7 waves they want to use in that particular heat. The videos are then edited into a competitive heat format by SWS and released on social media. Heat results are released 24 hours later after the judging panel decisions and fans votes are calculated.
The top four finalists of the 2-week event will earn a spot in 2021’s epic final, as the SWS World Championship Final invites the globe’s top ranking surfers to battle it out on a world stage in April of the coming year. All four semifinalists of the Surfboard Empire E-Pro Australia will represent their country against participating nations.
The event features prizes of $6,000 (AUD) for the champion, $2,500 (AUD) for the runner-up, $250 (AUD) for semifinalists. Additional spot prizes for the voting fans had massive incentive for the fans to get involved and support their surfer of choice in each round.
Surfboard Empire are naming rights title sponsor of the E-Pro Australia, in addition to key partnerships with: Surfing Life Magazine, Addo Animus Pty Ltd, Ryan Softboards, Getagrip Surf Wax,
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES FOR SPECIALIST CATEGORIES ARE STILL AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE EVENT!
Contact australia@surfwebseries.com for details.
The #EProAustralia is made possible thanks to support from:
SURFBOARD EMPIRE—Australia's biggest surfboard store, stocking: Lost, Mayhem, Firewire, Sharpeye, Pyzel, LSD, MR, Channel Islands, JS, and more.
RYAN SOFTBOARDS -- Gold Coast based Ryan Softboards have donated equipment and prizes for competitors and fans of the #EProAustralia, with voting fans going into the draw to win a brand new board from the Ryan Softboards quiver.
ADDO ANIMUS — Addo Animus Pty Ltd are Australian distributors of the Blazepod Reactive Training System. A specialist digital video analysis and sports tech company. Blazepods are a great addition to your home or professional training set up, and ideal for improving speed and reaction to help your general fitness and surfing performance.
GET A GRIP SURF WAX— Regular surf wax contains harmful petrochemicals that harm our oceans and marine life. As surfers we have a responsibility to help keep our oceans clean and that's why we created GETAGRIP Natural Surf Wax, an environmentally friendly surf wax that is sticky and long lasting. Our 100% natural surf wax is made in small batches at home on the Mid North Coast, NSW Australia. Do mother nature a favour and start making a difference by switching to an all natural surf wax!
SURFING LIFE MAGAZINE— Australia’s Favourite Surf Magazine publishes 6 issues based on the 6 pillars of the surfing experience - Surf Travel, Surf Culture, Waves, Technique, Surfboards and Surfer - each issue dedicated to that subject alone, providing the substance, depth and authority that will have a direct impact on your surfing. Surfing Life is active across six media channels (print, social, online, e-newsletters and events), making it one of the most influential, relevant and in-demand surf brands in Australia.
SURF OPEN LEAGUE—an international platform dedicated to promoting the sport of surfing and its many beaches around the world, founded in México in 2005.
