The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover, the opening stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, was back on today with the elimination Round 2 completed in clean three-to-four foot (1 metre) conditions at Snapper Rocks.
Jeremy Flores (FRA), 23, snuck through a tight heat against Jadson Andre (BRA), 21. Flores and Andre both pulled into multiple tubes but failed to find exits, until Flores threaded a classic behind-the-rock barrel to score an 8.17 (out of a possible 10) and take the win.
"I knew there was going to be some barrels on the low tide," Flores said. "I wanted to get barrelled, I got a few and was so close to coming out and didn't make any except the one. Maybe it was the pressure. I'm feeling a lot of pressure at this event, like I'm a rookie again. I don't know why, this is my sixth year on tour. I'm only 23-years-old, but kind of feel like an old guy with all these rookies. It's good it makes us work more. I've been trying to push myself and do some turns that I haven't done before."