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Eric Taylor Wins KOP!

Thu Nov 08, 2007 at 09:47AM

Tags: quiksilver, king, of, The, Peak, kop, surf, surfing, PRO, contest, Sebastian, Inlet, florida, 2007

 

KING FOR A DAY:
Eric Taylor Wins QUIKSILVER KOP


By: Matt Kechele

Photos & Captions by: Mez/ESM

November 6, 2007

 

The stage was set. 92 of the best surfers from up and down the Eastern Seaboard showed up ready to battle for the $11,400.00 Skin Purse and a $700 "ESM" Air Show check. But the real kicker was the solid surf in the five-to-six foot range. It all came together for the 13th Annual Quiksilver King of the Peak skins event on November 3rd and 4th.

The East Coast ultimate fighting arena is the Sebastian Inlet Coliseum and the KOP skins event has seen many of the best in the east take the throne and stake claim to the crown. Now Eric "E.T." Taylor joins a historic list of names that includes Kelly Slater, C.J. Hobgood, Bill Hartley, Brian Hewitson, Jeremy Johnston, Todd Morcom, and David Speir.

Taylor's surfing was power-punctuated and rock-solid with a brilliant, strategic approach to each heat. He even showed a bit of cut-loose, reckless abandon on a few backhand through-the-lip power gouges. This falls into the "go for broke" and "claim your one wave" criteria that make the Quiksilver King of the Peak's format very popular.

 

It was E.T.'s day from the start. First, out of the hat draw and into the first heat of the day. Which if you're up to the challenge of being on the front lines of the battlefield can give you the kind of momentum to catapult you to the "King's Throne" along with a fat wallet or leave you in the trenches to be trampled over amongst the battle field. E.T. showed he wanted to be a leader and won seven straight skins on Day One, which was good for $1,680.00.

 

Another shining knight in battle for the Sebastian Hierarchy was a very noble Sir Asher Nolan -- trampling a strong forward charge, nabbing three Skins. Cocoa Beach's Chris Duff got the barrel of the day with a nice pigdog to a clean doggy door exit. Duff's glory didn't last long, though. Cody Thompson decided that maybe Asher "The Slasher" Nolan isn't the only guy that could vie for bringing the Crown to Jacksonville Beach.

 

ET's run was finally stopped by one of Quiksilver's best surfing sales reps, Kenny Kozack. Davey Awbrey, Nick Guilarte, Alek Parker, and Shane Murray all swung a mighty sword, but each proved only short flurries that were good for only one skin. Caleb Johnston got courageous and fought through a few heats for two skins. At the end of day one, Sean Poynter and Brian Hewitson, were the last men standing at the conclusion of Round One of the 23 skins heats!

 

On Day Two, the draw was flipped upside down, and Gary Wheeler nabbed the first skin. While former King, Brian Hewitson saw the opportunity before him to potentially go "Brave Heart", and take out everyone as he had 12 skin battles that lay before him. Brian captured five skins until horseman, Chris Duff, hooked into yet another nice barrel. Another charger winning multiple skins was Travis Beckmann with some solid aerial assaults and clean barrels gaining him three skins and $720.00. Matt Bender stopped Todd Holland's charge and kept last year's King Jeremy Johnston at bay. Another former King, Kyle Garson grabbed one and was looking to start campaigning, until Puerto Rico's Dylan Graves decided he wanted a few skins to bring back to P.R.

 

 

Dylan and Philip Goold also went on a skins run. Dylan claimed four and Philip (who had surfed for three) was stopped by King E.T. -- who decided he was going to be greedy and grab the final skin of the day in Heat 23. E.T. certainly put an exclamation mark on his campaign for the crown by winning the first and the last skin's heat of the event, good for $1,920.00.

 

E.T. -- who has had his nose in the books at college up in North Florida the last few years -- just wanted to remind all the boys at the Inlet that he's not going to give up his slot at the peak just yet.

 

Hail to the King...King E.T. aka "Eric Taylor".

 

 

Skins Placings and Earnings

1. Eric Taylor, eight skins, $1,920

2. Brian Hewitson, six skins, $1,440

3. Dylan Graves, four skins, $960

4. Travis Beckmann, three skins, $720

4. Phillip Goold, three skins, $720

4. Asher Nolan, three skins, $720

5. Chris Duff, two skins, $480

5 Caleb Johnston, two skins, $480

6. Cole Anderson, one skin, $240

6. David Awbrey, one skin, $240

6. Todd Holland, one skin, $240

6. Ron Keindl, one skin, $240

6. Bryce Cohn, one skin, $240

6. Alek Parker, one skin, $240

6. Matt Bender, one skin, $240

6. Cody Thompson, one skin, $240

6. Davey Awbrey, one skin, $240

6. Sean Poynter, one skin, $240

6. Zander Morton, one skin, $240

6. Gary Wheeler, one skin, $240

6. Nick Guilarte, one skin, $240

6. Shane Murray, one skin, $240

6. Kenny Kozack, one skin, $240

6. Kyle Garson, one skin, $240

 

ESM Air Show

1st Ryan Helm $425

2nd Cody Thompson $150

3rd Travis Beckamn $75

4th Evan Thompson $50

 

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