Aussie surfers dip out in South Africa
Australia's tilt at the latest round of the World Surf League in South Africa has ended in the quarter-final stage of the men's draw.
Owen Wright and Adrian Buchan both exited the J-Bay Open on Friday when as reigning world champion Gabriel Medina and American world No.2 Kolohe Andino advanced.
Wright eliminated home favourite and world No.3 Jordy Smith to make the quarters but the Brazilian proved too classy in 4-6 foot surf, edging the Australian with a two-wave score of 15.67.
Wright left his run late in the 35-minute heat, with his last two waves making up his score of 14.60.
Buchan made a strong start to his duel with Andino on the world-class right hand point break, with his first two waves comprising his score of 14.10.
However, Andino has the final say a 7.93 wave sealing his path to the semi-finals with a score of 15.43.
In the other quarter-finals Brazilian world No.3 Felipe Toledo (15.00) beat Hawaiian Sebastien Zietz (14.40) and Toledo's compatriot Italo Ferreira (15.53) upset Japanese world No.5 Kanoa Igarashi (12.37).
Meanwhile, Australia's Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the women's competition by American Caroline Marks and Malia Manuel (Hawaii) respectively on Thursday.
