Surfing: Wildcard Quinn causes upset at world series

LA GRAVIERE, FRANCE - NewZealand surfer Maz Quinn showed that he can mix it with the best when he upset leading Australian Trent Munro in the second round of the Quicksilver Pro today.

Quinn, who had been relegated to surfing in the second tier world qualifying series for the past few years, beat Munro 8.93 to 4.40 in this world championship tour event.

"It was hard out there," the Gisborne surfer said.

"I couldn't get any decent waves at the start. It was sort of a fool's gold heat where waves looked really good but weren't. I'm really tired after that effort but I'm just so happy to get through to the next round."

The other top Australian to crash today was Mick Fanning.

World No 3 Fanning and No 4 Munro held only slim hopes of capturing the title coming into this ninth round of the 11-event tour.

But their early exit in France to a pair of wildcards confirms the championship will be a two-horse race, with American Kelly Slater favoured to claim the world crown over Hawaiian Andy Irons.

Fanning lost to wildcard Jeremy Flores of Reunion Island 16.23 to 12.67 in his sudden-death second round meeting.

- NZPA