Rip Curl Pro Search Day 8: No Competition Today

Photo: ASP/ CI/ Cestari via Getty Images

The competition was called off today due to a thick fog that settled into the lineup, making up for bad visibility and forcing organizers to call a lay day. Jordy Smith (pictured above) faces former World Champ CJ Hobgood on the first heat of Round 3, when the event restarts.

The fourth stop of the Women's World Tour is also all ready to go and this is the first time that the ladies participate at a "Search" event... Next call will be tomorrow at 8am local time, at Supertubos. With another solid swell on the horizon, the rest of the waiting period is looking pretty promising.

Stay tuned because FUEL TV's live HD webcast kicks off on the first heat of Round 3! The best surfers in the world, "searching" for valuable points and aiming for the world title... And we've got you covered, bringing all the drama to your computer in Hi Def!

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BELGAS, Peniche/Portugal (Monday, October 26, 2009) – Both the Rip Curl Pro Search and the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search have been called off today due heavy fog and lack of visibility.
 
Event No. 9 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search has completed the opening two rounds of competition, and was prepared to begin Round 3 this morning before being called off due to fog. Event No. 4 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search began its waiting period today, but suffered the same fate at the ASP Top 45.
 
“It’s been very frustrating for us today,” Damien Hardman, Rip Curl Pro Search Contest Director, said. “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. What we don’t want to do is start the round and have to call it because of lack of visibility so we’re off for the day. Next call is 8am tomorrow at Supertubes.”
 
When men’s competition resumes, up first will be former ASP World Champion (2007), C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, battling Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, in Heat 1 of Round 3.
 
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 8am tomorrow morning at Supertubes.
 
Highlights from past days’ Rip Curl Pro Search are available via http://live.ripcurl.com.
 
The Rip Curl Pro Search is partnered regionally by RTP, Eurosport, Fuel TV and ESPN Brazil, who will all be broadcasting live from Peniche throughout the event. For more information on these live television broadcasts, please visit http://live.ripcurl.com.
 
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com.
 
RIP CURL PRO SEARCH ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 2: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 4: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
Heat 5: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 6: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
Heat 2: Melanie Bartels (HAW), Samantha Cornish (AUS), Alana Blanchard (HAW)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Amee Donohoe (AUS), Pauline Ado (FRA)
Heat 4: Silvana Lima (BRA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Megan Abubo (HAW)
Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Heat 6: Paige Hareb (NZL), Coco Ho (HAW), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)