Durbidge and Bobby Martinez Tumble Out of Quiksilver Pro France Round Two

During a day where the
conditions were very tricky and tide affected, the winner of the last event
on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour, Bede Durbidge (AUS) was a shock
elimination and will take no further part in the Quiksilver Pro France
presented by Evian.

The quiet spoken natural foot surfer was knocked out by tour rookie Adrian
Buchan (AUS) in a very close affair.

The two were struggling to find big-scoring waves throughout the encounter
and were left drifting in the shifty lineup at Les Culs Nus for quite some
time.

And while Buchan held the lead Durbidge only needed a small score to come
from behind to take the gong.

But his luck from his victory in California ran out today as a huge set of
waves washed through the event arena leaving Durbidge without the score he
needed to win.

Buchan meanwhile, in only his second event after returning from an ankle
injury which sidelined him for over six months, had done enough and he now
is anxiously awaiting his next top tour challenge – a third round duel with
three-time Quiksilver Pro winner and three-time world champion, Andy Irons
(HAW).

“You just have to back yourself,” said Buchan. “I’m really looking forward
to surfing against him (Irons). You come here to surf against the world’s
top guys… that’s what it’s all about.”

Buchan also didn’t seem too fazed about his lack of time in the water of
late showing plenty of confidence and enthusiasm.

“I feel pretty comfortable,” said Buchan. “When you’re injured you have
everything taken away from you. It makes you really appreciate being on the
tour and being in France in September is always good!”

Also claiming a major scalp in Bobby Martinez (HAW) was 2007 Foster’s ASP
Men’s World Tour recruit Jeremy Flores (REU).

The youngster is always exciting to watch and last year he turned many heads
when he almost took seven-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA) out of the
event.

Drawing on the huge crowd support he dug deep to come from behind in the
dying seconds to win against Martinez who has been one of 2006′s hottest
prospects.

It was a hard heat,” said Flores. “I can’t say it was an exciting heat to
watch really, the waves were really difficult. I’m just happy I made it, but
I hope that in the next round I get to show more of my surfing, cause I
couldn’t really show anything out there.”