Praia Grande, Sintra, Portugal (Tuesday, Aug 23, 2011) – Adam Morley (Mossel Bay, ZAF) has taken out the 2011 Sintra Portugal Pro trials in very contestable 1.5 meter waves at Praia Grande. Morley managed to link up clean air-roll-spin to roll combinations throughout the day, securing him a well deserved 2000 points towards his 2012 Grand Slam qualification campaign. Morley is looking good to qualify for the 2012 GSS, requiring only one good result in a standalone GQS event, very achievable at the next Qualifying IBA event in early September at Ferrol, Spain.
Morley commented: “I am so stoked to win today’s trials, but now the real work starts. Morley added, “It will be epic to have three South African’s in a Grand Slam event. I look forward to surf against and with Jerry and Ben in my first heat.”
Morley will face fellow South African, Jared Houston, 2x World Champion, Ben Player (Avalon/AUS) and trials runner up, Kevin Orihuela (CNY) in heat 3 of the Grand Slam event.
2011 IBA Wildcard, Mitch Rawlins (AUS) will not be competing in the Sintra Portugal Pro, making an extra slot available in the main event.
Taking the nine available slots in the GSS main event, will be the top 7 placed riders of the trials and the 2 wildcards.
Trialists:
1. Adam Morley (ZAF)
2. Kevin Orihuela (CNY)
3. Airam Cabrera (CNY)
4. Sergio Alonzo (VEN)
5. Roberto Bruno (BRA)
6. Jones Russel (AUS)
7. Luis Villar (BRA)
Wildcards:
1. Julien Miramont (FRA)
2. Goncalo Faria (POR)
Sintra Portugal Pro Round 1 match-ups:
Heat 1: Amaury Lavernhe (REU), Uri Valadao (BRA), Eder Luciano (BRA), Jones Russel (AUS)
Heat 2: Pierre-Louis Costes (FRA), Mike Stewart (HAW), Lucas Nogueira (BRA), Roberto Bruno (BRA)
Heat 3: Jared Houston (ZAF), Ben Player (AUS), Adam Morley (ZAF), Kevin Orihuela (CNY)
Heat 4: Jeff Hubbard (HAW), Damien King (AUS), Gastao Entrudo (POR), Goncalo Faria (POR)
Heat 5: Guilherme Tamega (BRA), Jake Stone (AUS), Diego Cabrera (CNY), Julien Miramont (FRA)
Heat 6: Magno Oliveira (BRA), Dave Winchester (AUS), Yeray Martinez (CNY), Airam Cabrera (CNY)
Heat 7: Mark McCarthy (ZAF), Dallas Singer (AUS), Guilherme Cobo (ESP), Sergio Alonzo (VEN)
Heat 8: Ryan Hardy (AUS), Michael Novy (AUS), Manuel Centeno (POR), Luis Villar (BRA)
