World Tour Stop No.3, Brasil

ARPOADOR, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Wednesday, May 9, 2012) – The 2012 Billabong Rio Pro, Stop No. 3 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, kicked off competition at the secondary venue of Arpoador this morning and the event’s top seeds dominated the clean two-to-four foot (1.5 metre) lefthanders on offer for Round 1.

Fox Pro Surfer Bede Durbidge (AUS) was first cab off the rank in heat 1 against fellow Aussie Josh Kerr (AUS) and Brazilian local Jadson Andre (BRA).
It was a close battle with Kerr, going wave for wave with Josh just coming out on top by less than .6 of a point.
Bede will move into the second round where he will face Fred Patacchia (USA)

Fellow FOX Surfer Damien Hobgood (USA) had a tough first round heat against an inform and Bells champ Mick Fanning (AUS) and Travis Logie (ZAF).
Damo put in a great performance catching the first 3 waves of the heat but just couldn’t contain Fanning.
Hobgood moves in to round 2 where he will face good mate and fellow American Pat Gudauskas (USA).

Catch all the action live @ Check it out live here for the webcast
or alternatively on FUEL TV.