Fat cheque for Adriano De Souza

The 3^rd stage of the ASP World Tour came to an end over the weekend with local Brazilian hero Adriano de Souza claiming the top spot in Rio and in the overall ASP World Title Rankings. The twenty-four year old beat veteran Taj Burrow (AUS) in the final at Barra Da Tijuca, in just two to three foot waves.

The Billabong Pro Rio got off to a slow start which saw a week’s worth of lay days and then varied, challenging conditions at the two breaks of Arpoador and the tricky beach break of Barra Da Tijuca, the competition being pushed through four consecutive days in the end.

For Billabong surfer Taj Burrow it was another frustrating end to an ASP stage, he has now come painfully close to the top spot twice this year having been defeated by Kelly Slater (USA) on the Gold Coast on the first stop and now again in Brazil.

Obviously disappointed, “I’m pretty devastated right now, but eventually I’ll be able to smile about it,” Burrow said. “Two seconds is good, but I didn’t want to lose that one, I wasn’t planning on losing that one.”

Frenchman Jeremy Flores came in 3rd

Frenchman and Quiksilver surfer Jeremy Flores, 23, came in an impressive equal 3^rd place after beating current no.2 Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, in their semi-final heat. He had been suffering with a pretty bad knee injury but has recovered well and was pleased with his performance in his first event of the year. Bede Durbidge (AUS), 28, was his equal in third.

Josh Kerr (AUS) took home the prize in the Nixon Winner-Takes-All event and claimed victory for “Biggest Air” during Nixon’s first WTA stop of the year. Next stop is another Billabong Pro in J-Bay, South Africa, July 14^th – 24^th where the highest heat score will win. Check out Kerr’s full rotation front-side 360 indy grab which bagged him the $10,000 USD watch…

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Top 10 on the ASP World Title Series After the Billabong Rio Pro:

1. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 20,500
2. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 19,200
3. Kelly Slater (USA) 16,950
4.Taj Burrow (AUS) 16,500
5. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14,750
6. Owen Wright (AUS) 12,150
7. Michel Bourez (PYF) 12,000
8. Mick Fanning (AUS) 11,500
9.Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11,000
9.Tiago Pires (PRT) 11,000

Billabong · Competition · Surfing

Alongside the main event in the surf calendar the ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) World Tour, our friends at Nixon are running a Winner Takes All competition, The Nixon WTA, on four stops along the way. The first stop of the 2011 WTA series is taking place as we speak in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the Billabong Pro Rio where the first day’s action commenced yesterday.

Typical Taj Burrows

So what does the winner take? Well, basically a very fat, flash and expensive, one-of-a-kind Nixon watch worth over $10,000 USD with custom features, sapphires and diamonds here there and everywhere! We’d settle for that!

Taboo from the Black Eye Peas sporting a 51-30!

There are various challenges to complete on each of the different stages and the winner bags the watch should they smash the Biggest Air in Rio or the Heaviest Wave in Teahupoo, Tahiti. The two other stages will take place in Jeffreys Bay, SA (where Taj Burrow won last year’s round) and Oahu in Hawaii.

This year marks the 5^th year of the Nixon WTA and once again ensures Nixon’s status as a super premium watch brand not only in the action sports world but in the wider world of fashion too. Check out our extensive collection at

http://www.twoseasons.co.uk/mall/departmentpage.cfm/TwoSeasons/_121870/1/Nixon

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