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)