World surfing champ ousted

World surfing champ ousted

JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Jye Gofton from Australia
failed to make it to the semifinal of the world surfing
championship at Sorake in Nias, off northern Sumatra, on Friday.

Gofton was thrown off one of Sorake's waves, which can be up
to four-meters high. His board was thrown four meters away from
him and he was left with only 12 minutes to repeat and finish the
fifth-heat routine, an impossible task.

Those going to the semis are: Ward Chris of the United States,
five Australian surfers, Winkler Lee, Bannikter Mark, Margienson
Brendor, Ward Paul, Emerton Beau, 17-year-old talent Mikayama of
Brazil and Vetes David of Tahiti. The championship offered a
prize of US$44,000. (arf)