Parkinson marches on

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Current ASP No.1, Joel Parkinson, made the most of testing conditions at Bell Beach to move through to the quarter finals of the Rip Curl Pro 09.

Parkinson's extended his recent strong form to eliminate fellow Aussie Kai Otton, with an high-scoring 9.00 for a deep barrel that was followed by a series of rail-carves.

"That was a tough heat. Probably one of the toughest I have surfed this year because of the elements," said Parkinson after his Round 3 victory.

"That wind was hard. I had one wave that blew me off the back, but there are some good waves out there.

"My 9.00 was more just a little barrel; it was a really hard wave to surf.

"You are almost just holding on for dear life because of the wind."

Parko's progression at the Rip Curl was doubly sweet thanks to the earlier demise of his perceived challengers for the world crown.

Reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater, Bede Durbidge and Taj Burrow were all eliminated from competition in the opening rounds, to hand Parkinson a chance to put a decent gap on the pack behind the series leader.

Naturally, the man himself was wary of counting his chickens too early.

"Everyone has talked it up, with the hype of Kelly, Bede and Taj being knocked out (but) this isn’t a sprint," said Parkinson.

"It is a marathon, so there is no point getting caught up in it.

We are still eight events to go, and still eight months to go, so there is no point in worrying what is happening at this event. Those guys are going to come out more hungry next time."

If Parkinson is to secure further advantage he first must defeat former ASP World Champion C.J. Hobgood when competition resumes.

Also still up-and-standing in the chase to ring the bell is South African whiz kid Jordy Smith who ended the giant-killing run of Aussie wildcard Owen Wright, in arguably the most exciting encounters of the day.

Afterward Smith was relieved to have held sway.

"That's probably the biggest heat I have had, nerves-wise, this whole event," said Smith.

"I keep getting the wildcards and they are the best guys, as they have nothing lose.

"I'm stoked to get that out of my way. Owen (Wright) is a great surfer. I kind of just got lucky and had the first wave and that allowed me to control the heat from there."

The win earned Smith a quarter final berth against Mick Fanning.

Also appreciating the waves at Winkipop were Hawaiians Kekoa Bacalso and Fredrick Patacchia.

Bacalso, an ASP Dream Tour rookie and stocky natural-footer was in-synch with the swell to blast past fellow rookie Drew Courtney.

"I'm super stoked that the contest director moved the event down here. The waves are cranking!" exclaimed Bacalso after his victory.

"I just found the number and dialled it in. What do you know? Four bomb waves or something."

Performance of the day belonged to Patacchia, who posted the day's highest heat total (17.57) with a series of powerful backhand blasts that tamed Winkipop and Dean Morrison.

"The waves just started getting better and better and I just got a few perfect ones." said Patacchia of his win.

"Kekoa has been ripping. Actually, he has been really showing me up so I had to step it up in my heat."

Pattachia will take on ASP Dream Tour veteran Kieren Perrow in the final quarter final, following Bacalso's battle with Aussie Adam Robertson.

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Rip Curl Pro 09 - Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.17 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 13.00
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.57 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 9.63
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.26 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 3.43
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.84 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 13.67
Heat 5: Adam Robertson (AUS) 15.50 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 13.13
Heat 6: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 17.34 def. Drew Courtney (AUS) 11.17
Heat 7: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.50 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 9.00
Heat 8: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 17.57 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 13.64

Rip Curl Pro 09 - Quarter finals:
QF 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
QF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
QF 3: Adam Robertson (AUS) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
QF 4: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)