Slater, Machado Shredding Through the World Tour Ranks

Kelly Slater is back! The current world champ and co-star of the TV series “Baywatch” recently took first in Japan at the Marui Pro on Oct. 10.

And, according to Rockin’ Fig, it was a long wait for Slater’s victory in the Assn. of Surfing Professionals (ASP), which sponsors the world tour.

Yeah, it’s been 10 months since he took a first on the world tour , Fig said . But the big news, I believe , is that Cardiff’s Rob Machado, enjoying his best year yet, made the semifinal in Japan and is now rated sixth on the ASP tour--the highest ranked Californian.

And Slater, Fig?

The win pops him into the Top 16 surfers of the world. He’s now 12th .

Fig, isn’t Machado also rated high on the U.S. Bud Tour?

Machado is ranked No. 1 on the U.S. Bud Tour.

Is he California’s big hope for a world tour victory? What about his ability in larger surf, such as tour events coming up in Hawaii?

That’s the thing: Machado is like a ripper of the small waves. But just being in the Top 10 in the world is fantastic. He rips it hard, like Slater. In fact, those two have got to be the best small-wave rippers on the tour.

Figgy recently saw Machado go one-on-one against San Clemente’s Shane Beschen in the final of the Body Glove Surfbout at Trestles. Machado lost but did all he could to win.

Hey, Trestles is one of Beschen’s home breaks.

Looking at the ASP’s rating sheet, it’s Martin Potter--or “Pottz”--in the No. 1 spot. Fig, what do you know about Potter, who is considered unpredictable?

Potter’s from Great Britain and took the ASP tour title in 1989. They call him the “Rad Man.”

Because of his surfing style?

Yeah. He’s really radical. And he is finally getting it together in his heats. He’s more focused, instead of having this attitude like, just free surfing.

Was he too relaxed? Or did he go for it?

Went for it. Sometimes the guy just went too Richter. If you’re making hot maneuvers and stuff, it looks hot. But throwing a big air (aerial) and then eating it, and not picking up the needed points, is not the way to win heats. If you do all your maneuvers and make it, then you’re going to get a big score.

Next in the ratings is Gary Elkerton from Australia.

Elkerton has been runner-up in the standings for some time (Elkerton has placed, beginning in 1987, second, fifth, sixth, second, 11th and sixth). But he’s a big-wave guy. Next in the current ratings is Damien Hardman, known as Mr. Consistent, who was world champ in ’87 and ’91. Then it’s two Hawaiians, Derek Ho and Sunny Garcia.

Fig, I thought Garcia had a good chance of pulling off the championship this year.

He’s been looking pretty solid. Currently rated No. 5, and with the tour headed for Brazil and Hawaii, Sunny is looking at a good shot at the title. In Hawaii, he made the final of every contest last season.

Derek Ho is a veteran and made the Top 16 for a few years. He’s following in his brother Michael’s footsteps, and Derek has been a triple crown winner, which is the big contest series in Hawaii. And, of course, since Derek’s a goofy-foot , he has an advantage at the Marui Masters, which is held at Pipeline in late November . (Marui Department store chain sponsors two contests--the Marui Pro and Marui Masters.)

Beschen is rated 14th.

That’s pretty happening. It’s nice, because he’s from San Clemente and part of the up-and-coming guard, and all of a sudden he’s in the Top 16! And Chris Brown of Santa Barbara was in the 22nd spot.

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ASP World Qualifying Series: Simon Law defeated fellow Australian Rob Bain, who took second at the first ever WQS event at Danang, Vietnam, on Oct. 10. Waves were excellent at six to seven feet. Flavio Padaratz of Brazil was third, and Vetea David of Tahiti, fourth.

Forecast: According to Sean Collins at Surfline/Wavetrak, that luscious Southern Hemisphere we all enjoyed last weekend tore parts of El Salvador apart with 30-foot waves! “My correspondent there said it knocked out a pier and the army was called out to patrol the beach, which was declared a national disaster,” Collins said. Locally, the swell’s dropping but he’s keeping an eye out for more Southern Hemi action next week. Sean: “It could be another good week of waves.”

Contests: Figgy, who put on his winter booties while announcing the Bud Tour contest at Ocean Beach in San Francisco last weekend, said the surf was good, four- to six-foot barrels. “A nice northwest and southwest combo in 56-degree water,” Fig said. Taking first place was Shawn Munro of Australia, followed by Laguna Niguel’s Pat O’Connell (who is also starring in the movie “Endless Summer II”) and Hawaii’s Ross Williams.