The big names of skate throw down on Day 8

As if the idea of having a 12-foot skate bowl on Manly Beach isn’t crazy enough, Brazilians Pedro Barros and Bob Burnquist launched an aerial assault of epic proportions on the Australia Open of Surfing air space.

While 16-year-old Curren Caples slid the rail pad-less and helmet-free, and was unlucky to miss out on a finals berth in the Men's Pro, Barros and Burnquist left their rivals speechless and sent the crowd into the type of frenzy that could only be described as rabid. Mctwists, 540 stale fish, kick-flip indies, back-to-back 540s, switch-tricks and huge lien airs ... nothing was off limits in the final heat of the day.

Burnquist qualified second for the men’s final, with crowd favourite Barros topping the scoresheets with a series of back-to-back 540s, kick-flip indies and some serious air-time.

More than 1,000 fans packed the skate stadium, while thousands more lined the sand in an effort to get a look at the action.

“My heat was insane. No one fell off until three-quarters of the way through,” said Renton Millar, who qualified fifth for the final behind a vintage Bucky Lasek and Rune Gilfberg.

“When you’re in a skate comp everyone pushes harder and harder as the comp progresses. The usual suspects Bob, Rune, Bucky and Pedro were pushing the limits.

“I was a bit nervous with a star-studded cast and all the young talent. No one gets a free pass to the finals, everyone had to step up. Tomorrow will be insane.”

Burnquist gave a shout-out to Caples for his heroics sans pads but saved his greatest praise for Barros, Lasek and the type.

“I’m surprised I actually qualified so high to be honest,” Burnquist said.

“It was crazy out there. I couldn’t believe some of the stuff I was seeing.”

Americans Josh Rodriguez, Josh Stafford and Kevin Kowalksi rounded out the final eight.

The Men’s Pro Beach Bowl final will kick off Sunday at 2.30pm with two practice sessions earlier in the day.

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