Morrison 100303.shtml - Latest News & Updates

This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

28 October 2014

	BBC Homepage

»	BBC Local Devon Things to do People & Places Nature History Religion & Ethics Arts and Culture BBC Introducing TV & Radio Sites near Devon Cornwall Dorset Somerset Related BBC Sites England
	Contact Us

Monday 10th March 2003
MORRISON IS EARLY WCT LEADER

Dean Morrison winner of the opening WCT event.
Picture courtesy ASPTostee

Home advantage proved invaluable for Dean Morrison as the rising star defeated ex world champion Mark Occhilupo to win the opening World Championship Tour event of the season. BBC Devon Surfing Correspondent Simon Alexander reports from the line-up.

SEE ALSO

Latest surfing conditions for Devon and Cornwall

Latest surfing conditions for UK coast

WEB LINKS

Surfing Magazine
One Stop Surf
A1Surf

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.

CURRENT WCT STANDINGS

AFTER 1 EVENT:

1 Dean Morrison
(Australia) 1,200 points 2 Mark Occhilupo
(Australia) 1,032pts
3 Mick Fanning
(Australia) 876pts
3 Pat O'Connell
(USA) 876pts
5 Joel Parkinson
(Australia) 732pts
5 Taj Burrow
(Australia) 732pts
5 Jake Paterson
(Australia) 732pts
5 Neco Padaratz
(Brazil) 732pts

PRINT THIS PAGE

View print friendly version of this page..

Morrison's victory in the final of the Quiksilver Pro puts the 22-year-old in the driving seat at the top of the pro rankings.

Morrison, who was granted a full-time wildcard position on this year's WCT following a severe head injury at the end of last season in Hawaii, surfed with great confidence in perfect 3-4ft waves at Snapper Rocks to overcome Occy by 18.96 points to 12.84.

"I don't want to go to sleep 'cause I think when I wake up this would be a dream," said a stoked Morrison.

Snapper Rocks: Going Off!
Picture courtesy ASPTostee

"It's unbelievable. I was just stoked about my first heat. I was up against Kelly Slater and to make the quarters was the best result I'd ever had.

"Then I got through and was up against Mick Fanning in the semifinals. He's my good mate, so I was thinking at least one of us was going to make the final.

"Then I went out there then and it was just like a dream. I got three waves off the bat. I didn't think they were so high, but when I heard, it was just a dream."

Occhilupo, who seemed invincible en-route to the final, later acknowledged surfing four heats at Snapper had taken its toll.

While he still executed some amazing backhand re-entries, Occy fell a number of times and the title slipped from reach. In the end, the 36-year-old required a combination of scores.

The beaten semi finalists were Fanning and American Pat O'Connell. World champion Andy Irons was stopped in the fourth round by Jake Paterson and finished in equal 9th place.