Quiksilver Pro Takes ASP Top 45 to Duranbah for Sizzling Season Opener

DURANBAH BEACH, Australia (Saturday, February 28, 2009) – The opening day of the 2009 ASP World Tour season got underway this morning, with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by LG completing Round 1 in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at the backup venue of Duranbah Beach.

Event No. 1 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast opted to mobilize from the primary site of Snapper Rocks to nearby Duranbah Beach this morning to take advantage of the increased wave heights on offer, and despite conditions being challenging at times, the world’s best surfers delivered an explosive opening day of competition.

Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning and nine-time ASP World Champion, took to experimenting with his equipment during Round 1, opting to ride an unconventional self-shaped, 5’4” round-tail quad en route to victory over Dayyan Neve (AUS), 30, and Daniel Wills (AUS), 33.

“I am surfing a little 5’4” – a board I made actually – a pretty drastic change to what I normally ride but the tail is very similar,” Slater said. “This is the step I wanted to take when I went [to shorter boards] last year from 6’1” to 5’10” and I thought I was kind of stopping there but we’ll see. 5’4” is too short and I might end up with a 5’6” or a 5’7”.”

Historically candid about his intentions to compete full-time on the ASP World Tour, Slater has since committed to his interest in acquiring a 10th world crown, albeit with guarded apprehension.

“It looks good on paper but honestly I am not that consumed about it,” Slater said. “The only time I talk about is when people ask me. It’s just a nice round number, double digits, and it’s rare for people to get that in sports so it will be nice to make it.”

Julian Wilson (AUS), 20, gained entry into the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast as a wildcard, and went on to cause one of the biggest upsets of the day, defeating current ASP World No. 2 Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, and Mikael Picon (FRA), 29, in Round 1 of competition.

“I had a little bit of pressure before that heat,” Wilson said. “I was anxious to get out there and get it done. But when I walked down before my heat, I saw my friends and family so I kind of relaxed and then went out there and got a couple of waves and made it. I haven’t made it passed the third round so I am really fired up to getting pass that round. I’ll probably get Kelly (Slater) in the third round so I’ll see what happens.”

Riding a fluorescent pink surfboard to raise awareness about breast cancer, Wilson’s progressive approach saw him execute a number of technical aerials and fin-free maneuvers before breaking his equipment in half during the latter stages of the heat.

“I just didn’t want Bede to get another wave so I took and tried a big air, snapped my board on the landing,” Wilson said. “It’s okay because I have a backup, but that was a really good board.”

Damien Hobgood (USA), 29, current ASP World No. 5, punctuated an otherwise mediocre-scoring day of competition with some scintillating backhand exhibitions, netting the highest heat total of the day, a 17.50 out of a possible 20, to defeat ASP Dream Tour sophomore Aritz Aranburu (EUK), 23, and twin brother, former ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 5, C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, in Round 1 of competition.

“Obviously it was fun for me,” Hobgood said. “A lot of the waves came towards me, but C.J. and I were stoked because no one loses and it gives us a chance to loosen up a bit and not care as much. D’Bah is like Huntington where you paddle out there and it seems like all the waves are running away from you. I was lucky. I was in position for a lot of the sets.”

Once a perennial Top 10 finisher, Hobgood has seen recent seasons marred by injury. Now healthy and back to 100%, the Floridian goofy-footer will look to rebound in 2009.

“I haven’t been injured in a while so it feels really good,” Hobgood said. “I’ve been spending a lot of time in the water and on my boards. It’s good, I feel really comfortable.”

Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, took top honors for the 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookies today, netting the event’s highest single-wave score of a 9.33 out of a possible 10 to defeat Chris Davidson (AUS) and Kai Otton (AUS), 29.

“He [Chris Davidson] came out guns blazing,” Bacalso said. “I kept getting the first waves and he would get the second a smoke me on the exchange. I had my back against the fence and knew I had to bring out something special. I thought about Round 2 and did not want to be surfing in it, that’s everyone’s worst nightmare.”

Bacalso led fellow 2009 ASP World Tour rookies Tim Boal (FRA), 25, and Nic Muscroft (AUS), 26, in Round 1 victories. All surfers will advance directly to Round 3.

Jay Thompson (AUS), 25, caused another massive upset today, defeating heavily-touted local Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, and veteran power surfer Taylor Knox (USA), 37, in Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

“Surfing at home in front of the local crowd is just amazing,” Thompson said. “When you are a bit tired, you automatically get back out there with the support of the fans. It definitely makes a big difference.”

An ASP Dream Tour rookie in 2008, Thompson failed to requalify for the ASP World Tour this season, but entered into the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast as an alternate for the injured Luke Stedman (AUS), 32, who is out with broken toes.

“The position of being the replacement surfer does take a lot of pressure off me,” Stedman said. “I had such a terrible year last year and had a few criticisms and a few injuries but you see a lot of rookies in that position and they fall off first year and they come back hungrier so that’s the path for me hopefully. If I don’t get in all the events, it still is experience for 2010 so that’s why I will take it. But if there is a chance to surf a lot of events, I am going to surf hard and requalify through the ASP World Tour.”

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.67, Dustin Barca 11.87, Dean Morrison (AUS) 9.70
Heat 2: Tiago Pires (PRT) 12.00, Bobby Martinez (USA) 12.00, Roy Powers (HAW) 7.27
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.83, Ben Dunn (AUS) 11.37, Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 8.76
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.80, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.00, Drew Courtney (AUS) 8.57
Heat 5: Heitor Alves (BRA) 13.67, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.30, Marlon Lipke (DEU) 10.27
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) 17.50, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.83, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 4.93
Heat 7: Jay Thompson (AUS) 13.67, Taylor Knox (USA) 12.67, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.00
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) 12.17, Dayyan Neve (AUS) 11.00, Daniel Wills (AUS) 10.67
Heat 9: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.10, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.73, Mikael Picon (FRA) 9.06
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.50, Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.23, Corey Ziems (AUS) 8.80
Heat 11: Tim Boal (FRA) 15.84, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.94, Mick Campbell (AUS) 13.06
Heat 12: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 13.66, Nathaniel Curran (USA) 8.67, Chris Ward (USA) 8.50
Heat 13: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 17.33, Chris Davidson (AUS) 15.84, Kai Otton (AUS) 9.83
Heat 14: Nic Muscroft (AUS) 15.33, Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.90, Tim Reyes (USA) 9.57
Heat 15: Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.50, Gabe Kling (USA) 11.07, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.60
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.60, Jihad Khodr (BRA) 9.61, David Weare (ZAF) 9.34

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Daniel Wills (AUS)
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Corey Ziems (AUS)
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 4: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 6: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 7: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Dustin Barca (HAW)
Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 9: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 11: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 12: Michael Picon (FRA) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 13: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 14: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
Heat 16: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)

Quiksilver Pro Round 1 Relocates to Duranbah Beach for 7:30am Start

DURANBAH BEACH, Australia (Saturday, February 28, 2009) – Event organizers at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile, event No. 1 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, have elected to relocate from the primary venue of Snapper Rocks to nearby Duranbah Beach for the commencement of Round 1, beginning at 7:30am.

“The surf is a bit small today on the points and the forecast for the coming days isn’t looking too promising,” Rod Brooks, Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Contest Director, said. “We’ve decided to run Round 1 of the men’s competition at Duranbah Beach this morning beginning at roughly 7am or 7:15am. There are some beautiful, little two-to-three foot waves rolling in at D’Bah and we look forward to a full day of competition.”

Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast will provide the platform for a bevy of exciting and dramatic match-ups.

Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning and nine-time ASP World Champion, will begin his campaign for an unprecedented 10th Title at Duranbah Beach today. Slater will face Dayyan Neve (AUS), 30, and Daniel Wills (AUS) in Round 1 of competition.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 27, former ASP World Champion and two-time winner of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, will look to make it a hometown hat trick this season, beginning his ‘09 assault against Ben Dunn (AUS), 23, and Phillip MacDonald (AUS), 29, in Round 1 today.

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Dean Morrison (AUS), Dustin Barca
Heat 2: Bobby Martinez (USA), Roy Powers (HAW), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS), Ben Dunn (AUS), Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Damien Hobgood (USA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Taylor Knox (USA), Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Daniel Wills (AUS)
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Mikael Picon (FRA), Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Dane Reynolds (USA), Corey Ziems (AUS)
Heat 11: Luke Stedman (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Mick Campbell (AUS), Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 13: Chris Ward (USA), Nathaniel Curran (USA), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 14: Kai Otton (AUS), Chris Davidson (AUS), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 15: Tim Reyes (USA), Michel Bourez (PYF), Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 16: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Gabe Kling (USA), Josh Kerr (AUS)

Emotional Evening for World’s Best at ASP World Champions’ Crowning

COOLANGATTA, Australia (Friday, February 27, 2009) – The world’s best surfers congregated at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre last night for the ASP World Champions’ Crowning.

Surfing’s “night of nights”, the ASP World Champions’ Crowning would prove an emotional evening, with a final farewell from a sporting icon and the acknowledgement of two surfing dynasties.

Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew (AUS), 54, will be stepping down from his post as ASP International President at the end of March, and last night’s ASP World Champions’ Crowning would prove a fitting farewell for the legendary sportsman. As Bartholomew finished a heart-warming diatribe chronicling the rise of professional surfing, the former world champion received a raucous standing ovation by the 600 strong in attendance.

Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning ASP World Champion, was awarded with a phenomenal ninth World Crown, and thanked his fellow athletes for pushing the high-performance boundaries of competitive surfing as well as announcing his intentions for a tenth ASP World Title campaign in 2009.

Other ASP World Tour athletes awarded last night were 2008 ASP World Tour Runner-Up Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, Rookie of the Year Dane Reynolds (USA), 23, and a tie for Most Improved’ with Adrian Buchan (AUS), 26, and Adriano de Souza (BRA), 22.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, was both articulate and poignant in her acceptance speech for her second consecutive ASP Women’s World Title, and her professionalism, both in the water and in front of the microphone, was heralded by audience members throughout the evening.

Other ASP Women’s World Tour athletes awarded last night were 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour Runner-Up Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, Rookie of the Year Nicola Atherton (AUS), 22, and Most Improved’ Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26.

Bonga Perkins (HAW), 36, and Joy Monahan (HAW), 22, took home the ASP World Longboarding and ASP Women’s World Longboarding Titles respectively, while Nathaniel Curran (USA), 24, and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18, received honors for ASP WQS No. 1 finishes in 2008.

Kai Barger (HAW), 19, and Pauline Ado (FRA), 18, were crowned ASP World Junior Champions and are now recognized as being leaders in the assault of the next generation.

Taylor Knox (USA), 37, a veteran of the ASP Dream Tour for 15 years, was honored with the prestigious Peter Whittaker Award, while Alexander Fontes (BRA), 49, a ten-year tour judge of over 225 events, received the ASP Service to the Sport Award.

The ASP World Champions Crowning marks the official end of the 2008 ASP World Tour seasons and with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast and Roxy Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Mobile preparing for starts tomorrow, 2009 is well underway.

Awards Recipient List:

2008 ASP World Champion: Kelly Slater (USA)
2008 ASP Women’s World Champion: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

2008 ASP World Tour Runner-Up: Bede Durbidge (AUS)
2008 ASP Women’s World Tour Runner-Up: Silvana Lima (BRA)

2008 ASP World Tour Rookie of the Year: Dane Reynolds (USA)
2008 ASP Women’s World Tour Rookie of the Year: Nicola Atherton (AUS)

2008 ASP World Tour Most Improved’: Adrian Buchan (AUS) and Adriano de Souza (BRA)
2008 ASP Women’s World Tour Most Improved’: Melanie Bartels (HAW)

2008 ASP World Longboard Champion: Bonga Perkins (HAW)
2008 ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion: Joy Monahan (HAW)

2008 ASP World Junior Champion: Kai Barger (HAW)
2008 ASP Women’s World Junior Champion: Pauline Ado (FRA)

2008 ASP WQS No. 1: Nathaniel Curran (USA)
2008 ASP WQS Women’s No. 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)

Peter Whittaker Award: Taylor Knox (USA)

ASP Service to the Sport: Alexander Fontes (BRA)

COOLANGATTA, Australia (Friday, February 27, 2009) – Marlon Lipke (DEU), 24, the first German surfer ever to become a member of the ASP World Tour, will paddle out tomorrow for his first heat against some of the world’s best surfers for the first round of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast at Snapper Rocks. Lipke, who will be surfing on his backhand on the world famous righthanders of Coolangatta, will meet former ASP World Champion CJ Hobgood (USA) and Dream Tour veteran powersurfer Taylor Knox (USA). The German man, who has made the trip to Australia with his younger brother Melvin to train and get ready for his grand start, sent us his thoughts as a rookie prepared to enter the arena of elite professional surfing. Check it out…

“Snapper Rocks… I have been coming here for almost ten years now so I know the place and the wave quite well but I think I’ve only managed to catch ten waves with all this crowd in the water… Hahaha… No seriously, I know the wave but probably not enough to know which set will be better and which waves will offer better scoring potential on a difficult day. However, I think it is a good wave for goofyfooters and I had some sick rides a week ago and it definitely gave me confidence.

Can’t wait to get things started, being part of this big European group is really great, they are all amazing surfers and great people so I am looking forward to spending my time on tour with the rest of the crew.
I don’t really know what to expect from the tour this year and that’s why I am not feeling 100% confident but I know after a few events I will have some good experience and will find my cruising speed. I am still the same mellow guy that was on the WQS last year and there’s no big change on my personal approach so I am excited to get on with some new experiences. Being a newcomer amongst all the best surfers of the planet makes me happy and I fell like I have nothing to lose. I will take my time to find out my strenghts on tour and possibly establish myself. Compared to what I have been through on the WQS, I feel there’s a lot less pressure now and everything is bonus.

Speaking about my training for the start of the tour, I don’t have the best training facilities where I live but I trained a lot at the gym with my brother Melvin and I am definitely physically fit. Mentally, I am just going to use the same tactics as I did last year on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), take as it goes, go with the flow and have as much fun as possible to enjoy that unique opportunity. Looking at my equipment, I spent a lot of time working on the boards for the different venues of the tour and I believe my Shaper Nick from Semente Surfboards has come up with some really good stuff for me.

Since Hawaii and the nerve testing finish there, I travelled a bit around Europe and in Portugal where I live. I went to Munich in Germany to surf the famous river wave there which was super fun despite the ice floating around and the freezing weather. Then I went to France to get some waves and start training and we got some good swells but it was very cold as well. In January and at the beginning of February, I drove to Lisbon and Ericeira as much as possible to surf different waves and be there for every swell. I had really good waves for the first week but then the weather went crazy and I had to stay at home in the South of Portugal. But I had a good winter.

With all the travel coming up, I will try and have some friends and family with me as much as possible. My brother and two friends have made the trip to Australia, we have been having a great time with a stopover in Frankfurt in Germany for my birthday on the way and my manager Quirin Rohleder is here as well. It’s great to have them around. But I can’t wait to get back to some events with my other friends who are still on the WQS like Gony (Zubizarreta), Hodei (Collazo), Justin (Mujica), Jonathan (Gonzalez) and Pablo (Gutierrez).”

COOLANGATTA, Australia (Wednesday, February 25, 2009) – With only three days remaining before the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. By LG launches the 2009 ASP World Tour launches, our European bloggers are currently training at Snapper Rocks. Tim Boal (Anglet, FRA), 25, will be one of three European rookies in Round 1 of the first event and could bring some good surprises if clean waves start rolling over the Superbank. Boal, who suffered a foot injury for three months this winter, has been training on the Gold Coast for a couple of weeks now and it seems like the French Basque surfer is definitely ready to compete against the world’s best. Check out Boal’s thoughts…

“After a long winter and two months away from the ocean, I had a lot of time to think and do other stuff and I must say I had a good time. Being away from contests and surfing has been good, and it made so much happier to get back to work and restart surfing and training. I am definitely feeling good right now after the winter and happy to be back into shape. I feel refreshed and am looking forward to competing again. My foot is 100% back to normal and I have been surfing a couple of times every day since I got to the Gold Coast.

I have been at Coolangatta for almost two weeks now and had already one excellent swell. I surfed with Aritz (Aranburu) and a few other friends that have come early as well. We had some really good barrels and the sandbank looks very good at the moment. The swell has dropped now but I cannot wait to put that contest rashguard on and surf out there with one other guy only. I have been trying some new boards as well and I should have the right weapon for the start of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

First year on the ASP World Tour… I am looking forward to improving and surfing with the rest of the guys and I will try my best for sure. I have great support from all my sponsors and all my friends and family so I feel like things are going really well so far. I have been part of the Red Bull training program for a year already and it is back on for 2009 which is really good for me. Having Andy “Kingy” King, my fitness trainer, parents, friends and my girlfriend supporting me is all I need, and it feels like a there is a team spirit.

Being part of this unprecedent 7-man contingent from Europe is another special thing this year. It is such a great feeling to see Michel (Bourez), Aritz (Aranburu) and Marlon (Lipke) all on tour because we started our Pro Junior careers together a few years ago and there we are, all on tour. I expect to see some great surfing from everyone this year and hopefully we get good waves at all events. Can’t wait to get on with it al

ASP Top 45 Ready for 2009 Kickoff at Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast

COOLANGATTA, Australia (Thursday, February 26, 2009) – The world’s best surfers are gearing up for the opening event of the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile, at Snapper Rocks from February 28 through March 11, 2009.

Event No. 1 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast will see the return of reigning and nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 36, in his bid for an unprecedented tenth crown, but a swath of the world’s top talents will be standing in his way.

Taj Burrow (AUS), 30, current ASP World No. 3, is one of the few on a short list of favored athletes who could potentially usurp Slater, and Burrow’s reputation in righthand pointbreaks such as Snapper Rocks is unrivaled by most.

“The first couple of weeks I was having a hell time and enjoying the summer, but beginning in January, I’ve been training full on,” Burrow said. “I’ve been working with Johnny Gannon, and he’ll be traveling the season with me. We’ve been training harder than ever before and I’ve been working on my flexibility and fitness and I feel like I’m surfing better than ever before.”

With his progressive bag of tricks and his penchant for lightning-fast surfing, Burrow enters into Snapper Rocks as one of the favorites, and will look to kick off his 2009 ASP World Title campaign at the opening event.

“I think my surfing certainly suits warm water righthand pointbreaks and I’m always excited for the opening event of the season,” Burrow said. “To get to surf Snapper Rocks with only one or two guys out is really special and I hope we get waves. I don’t plan on changing too much in terms of my game plan this season. I felt like I was surfing really well last year and made few mistakes. Kelly (Slater) was just in really scary form last season so we’ll see what happens.”

Burrow will open up his 2009 season against Mikael Picon (FRA), 29, and one of the event wildcards in Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, current ASP World No. 4 and former Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast winner (2002), is excited to start off the 2009 season at home on the Gold Coast.

“I can’t wait,” Parkinson said. “I’m excited for another good year and hopefully we get really good waves. It’s such a bonus to start the season here at home where I’m familiar with everything and know the banks really well. I’m really excited.”

Parkinson has long been heralded as one of the leading contenders for the ASP World Title, but a career-high Runner-Up finish in 2002 and 2004 is as close as he has gotten.

“I’ve just been surfing a lot and training a lot,” Parkinson said. “Just trying to get everything sorted before the season starts. In regards to Kelly (Slater), I haven’t really figured that one out yet. You just have to be bigger, stronger, faster and more determined. I’m hungry this season though.”

Parkinson will battle Dane Reynolds (AUS), 23, and Aritz Aranburu (EUK), 23, in Round 1 of competition when the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast commences.

Jeremy Flores (FRA), 20, current ASP World No. 10, will enter into his third season on the ASP Dream Tour in 2009, and after two Top 10 finishes, the prodigious natural-footer is emerging as one of the dominant surfers of the new class.

“I don’t have any specific goals for this season,” Flores said. “I am very happy with the way my past two years have gone, finishing in the Top 10, and I’m only 20, so I’m just taking it in, gaining experience and training hard. Maybe in a couple of years I will go for the ASP World Title, but until then, I am just living the Dream.”

Flores will face Roy Powers (HAW), 28, and Tim Boal (FRA), 25, in the opening heat of competition when Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast competition commences.

The 2009 ASP Top 45 will kick off this season’s Dream Tour at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, which boasts a waiting period from February 28 – March 11, 2009.

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast is a mobile event, with Snapper Rocks serving as the primary venue, but utilizing nearby Duranbah Beach, Greenmount, Kirra, Burleigh Heads and as far north as Stradbroke Island should conditions call for it.

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Roy Powers (HAW), Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 2: Bobby Martinez (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS), Dustin Barca (HAW)
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Heitor Alves (BRA), Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Damien Hobgood (AUS), Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Taylor Knox (USA), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Dane Reynolds (USA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), Kieren Perrow (AUS), TBA
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS), TBA
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Mikael Picon (FRA), TBA
Heat 11: Luke Stedman (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Mick Campbell (AUS), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 13: Chris Ward (USA), Nathaniel Curran (USA), Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 14: Kai Otton (AUS), Chris Davidson (AUS), Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 15: Tim Reyes (USA), Michel Bourez (PYF), David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 16: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Gabe Kling (USA), Jihad Khodr (BRA)

World’s Best Assemble on Gold Coast for ASP World Champions’ Crowning

COOLANGATTA, Australia (Tuesday, February 24, 2009) – The ASP World Champions’ Crowning is set to commence this Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre beginning at 6:30pm.

Surfing’s “night of nights”, the ASP World Champions’ Crowning, is a gala event, hosting the world’s best surfers as well as distinguished figures from the surfing industry in honor of the 2008 ASP World Champions.

Kelly Slater (USA), 36, reigning and nine-time ASP World Champion, will accept his unprecedented ninth ASP World Title award on Thursday, days before beginning his hunt for an incredible 10th Crown at the upcoming Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion, receives her second consecutive ASP Women’s World Title cup, and the young natural-footer will soon embark on a campaign to make it a three-peat in 2009. Gilmore will begin this weekend at the opening event of the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour season, the Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile.

Other ASP Dream Tour athletes to be recognized will be respective Runner-Ups Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, and Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, as well as Rookies of the Year Dane Reynolds (USA), 23, and Nicola Atherton (AUS), 22.

Bonga Perkins (HAW), 36, and Joy Monahan (HAW), 22, will take the ASP World Longboarding and ASP Women’s World Longboarding Titles respectively, while Nathaniel Curran (USA), 24, and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18, will take home hardware for their respective No. 1 finishes on the ASP World Qualifying Series last season.

In addition to honoring the champions from 2008, the ASP World Champions’ Crowning will also recognize athletes who have yet to be announced, those earning the 2008 ASP World Tour Most Improved’, the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour Most Improved’, the ASP Service to the Sport Award and the prestigious Peter Whittaker Award.

The 2008 ASP World Champions’ Crowning will begin at 6:30pm on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Awards Recipient List:

2008 ASP World Champion: Kelly Slater (USA)
2008 ASP Women’s World Champion: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

2008 ASP World Tour Runner-Up: Bede Durbidge (AUS)
2008 ASP Women’s World Tour Runner-Up: Silvana Lima (BRA)

2008 ASP World Tour Rookie of the Year: Dane Reynolds (USA)
2008 ASP Women’s World Tour Rookie of the Year: Nicola Atherton (AUS)

2008 ASP World Tour Most Improved’: TBA
2008 ASP Women’s World Tour Most Improved’: TBA

2008 ASP World Longboard Champion: Bonga Perkins (HAW)
2008 ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion: Joy Monahan (HAW)

2008 ASP World Junior Champion: Kai Barger (HAW)
2008 ASP Women’s World Junior Champion: Pauline Ado (FRA)

2008 ASP WQS No. 1: Nathaniel Curran (USA)
2008 ASP WQS Women’s No. 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)

New Faces Poised to Shake Up Establishment at Roxy Pro Gold Coast

COOLANGATTA, Australia (Monday, February 23, 2009) – The 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour season is just days from commencing with the Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile scheduled from February 28 through March 11, 2009.

Event No. 1 of 8 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour season, the Roxy Pro Gold Coast will see the return of such high-profile athletes as reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, defending Roxy Pro Champion Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 25, among others, but the new faces this season have been generating a bit of buzz themselves.

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18, 2008 ASP WQS No. 1 finisher, made history last season, wrapping up her Dream Tour qualification well before the halfway mark. Now a full-fledged ASP Women’s World Tour campaigner, Fitzgibbons enters into the Roxy Pro Gold Coast as the No. 1 rookie.

“I’m really excited to be competing in my first competition as a full-time ASP Women’s World Tour member,” Fitzgibbons said. “I’ve had a bit of experience as a wildcard at this level, but I’ve narrowly missed out as a trialist at Snapper the last couple of times so to be in the main event. Snapper Rocks is one of my favorite waves and to have the opportunity to surf it with just one other person will be incredible.”

Despite unprecedented success at the ASP WQS level, Fitzgibbons remains guarded about her transitional efforts to the elite level of competition, but the prodigious natural-footer is sure to make an impression in the coming weeks.

“The main difference between the WQS and the ASP Women’s World Tour is probably going to be the venues,” Fitzgibbons said. “We get to surf such great locations on tour and the events take really good care of us. It will definitely be an interesting year with Layne (Beachley) off tour and Steph (Gilmore) looking to grab her third consecutive ASP Women’s World Title. With have five new rookies on this season and that will be exciting to see them shake things up.”

Firzgibbons will face Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, and Megan Abubo (HAW), 31, in Round 1 of competition when the Roxy Pro Gold Coast commences.

Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 25, former ASP Women’s World Champion, has returned this season as the ASP wildcard, following a one-year sabbatical where she had daughter Meika. Hedges was awarded the ASP Wildcard for 2009 and will begin her comeback on the ASP Women’s World Tour at home on the Gold Coast for the Roxy Pro.

“I’m just excited to be back in competition and to get to surf a heat again,” Hedges said. “It’s so nice to come back here at home at start the season off at Snapper Rocks. Since having Meika, I’ve had to rebuild my core strength and I have been training quite regularly at CHEK with Jan Carton and I’ve been surfing a lot. I feel about as ready as I’ll ever be.”

Since stepping away from the ASP Women’s World Tour in 2007, Hedges has been absent for some major transitions on the Dream Tour: the acquisition of a second consecutive ASP Women’s World Title by Stephanie Gilmore, the semi-retirement of former seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, etc.

“It’s amazing how much the tour seems to have changed in just one year,” Hedges said. “It was really exciting to watch online last year and see some of the new girls really pushing the sport. Sally (Fitzgibbons) will be really one to watch and Steph (Gilmore) is always the girl to beat. I feel very fortunate that I’ll be on tour this season with all the new girls and I’m excited to push my surfing and try a few new maneuvers.”

Hedges will face defending Roxy Pro Gold Coast Champion Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 25, and 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour rookie Coco Ho (HAW), 18, in Round 1 when competition commences.

The Roxy Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Mobile boasts a mobile venue, and while the primary site will be the world-famous Snapper Rocks, the event will be able to utilize the nearby breaks of Duranbah, Greenmount, Kirra, Burleigh Heads and as far north as Stradbroke Island should conditions call for it.

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL)
Heat 2: Amee Donohoe (AUS), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Alana Blanchard (HAW)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), TBA
Heat 4: Silvana Lima (BRA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Megan Abubo (HAW)
Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Coco Ho (HAW)
Heat 6: Melanie Bartels (HAW), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Bruna Schmitz (BRA

Cory Arrambide Preps to Defend ASP North America Pro Junior Series Title

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Sunday, February 22, 2009) – Reigning Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) North America Pro Junior Champion Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), 19, is preparing to defend his regional title against the rest of the up-and-coming talent that make up the finest American Junior competitors during his final year as an ASP Pro Junior surfer.

The explosive goofy-footer kicked off his season last year by claiming the opening event of the year, the Billabong Pro Junior at Sebastian Inlet, Florida, and then managed to snag two additional event victories including the Arnette Pro Junior in Newport Beach, CA and the Oakley Pro Junior in Sea Isle City, NJ en route to claiming his maiden ASP North America Pro Junior Title. Arrambide’s taste of success last year has made him hungry to back up his amazing performance by attempting a repeat regional championship.

“I really want to back up my result from last year and defend my title,” Arrambide said. ” That’s my goal, but I don’t feel too much pressure. I feel confident going into this year and it’s important to me to do well again.”

The competitive Californian has been dedicating his time in the off season to training, free-surfing and making adjustments to his equipment that will better prepare him for his 2009 ASP North America Pro Junior Series campaign.

“I’ve been focusing on making changes to my boards right now,” Arrambide said. “I’m growing and have been working on making the necessary adjustments to my equipment. I’ve also been surfing as much as possible.”

In addition to dedicating his time to dialing in his equipment, Arrambide has been surfing in some ideal locations around the world which have helped him improve upon his already impressive skills while preparing for the upcoming season.

“I’m in Hawaii right now and I also went to Australia for the ASP World Junior Championships,” Arrambide said. “I also surfed a lot at home as well.”

The reigning ASP Regional Junior Champion utilized his time in Australia to benefit all aspects of his surfing outside of the competition held in Narrabeen. Arrambide feels that free-surfing with the stack of international talent that make up the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships has improved all aspects of his surfing, which will make him that much more of a competitive threat this year.

“My time in Australia has definitely helped me step up my surfing,” Arrambide said. “All of the international guys helped me improve my free-surfing and the trip has made me more well rounded.”

SYDNEY, Australia (Sunday, February 22, 2009) – At 27-years-old, Tiago Pires (Ericeira, PRT) a.k.a Sacca is a national hero in Portugal since he became the first Portuguese surfer ever to qualify for the ASP World Tour in 2008. Pires, who ended his rookie season outside the requalifying squad despite some stellar performances throughout the year, still managed to regain his ticket for the elite division thanks to an ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) campaign and will be in the starting blocks when the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast starts next week. He is the third man of the unprecedent 7-European team on tour to give us pieces of life since we left him in Hawaii after he pulled out from the Billabong Pipeline Masters. After a deserved winter break and tough training sessions, Portugal’s undisputed surf leader sends some news from Sydney…
“This winter was divided in two for me! The first two or three weeks I went on a vacation away from the ocean, to visit some nice cities like Oslo and Moscow! I could not surf so it was being a bit frustrating to stay at home and watch perfect pits going by. The second part of my winter was pretty much an intense recovery program, in which I had to spend a lot of time in physiotherapy before I started to train at the Gym. I an now part of a new training group led by the Portuguese Rugby Team Coach and the result of this new partnership is that I have never been so stoked and so motivated to improve my fitness! Apart from that, I also enjoyed spending time at home with my family and friends… It was weird to spend two months at home actually, I started to feel like a normal person!

Since I pulled out from the Billabong Pipeline Masters last December, I have only been surfing for a week and I think I have almost recovered 100% from my injury in Hawaii. I still feel a bit of pain on my neck/back but it’s much more a residual pain now, something that does not scare me like before. Some doctors told me that neck injuries can last six months so I am not expecting anything better in the near future.

For now I am in Sydney in Australia and spending time with my shaper Chilli from Chilli surfboards. We have been working a lot on my new quiver for the first event on the Gold Coast. The waves there are fast and demanding so I need to make sure I am taking the right weapons. I will be at the Superbank around the 23rd, just five days before the waiting period kicks off. With all the experience gained last year on tour, all the different moments I went through in 2008 from serious doubts to amazing heats like in Tahiti and Fiji or my semifinal in Bali, I feel a lot more mature than last year at the start of the tour. I think I will be able to let the pressure go and show more of my potential. However, I feel a little anxious about the first event. I know that I will not be 100% ready for it, but I am really hungry to put that competition rashguard on and start the year again. We will see how I can present myself to the world in 2009. What is sure is that I won’t feel the rookie butterflies in my stomach anymore!

I must say that whatever happens, Europe is witnessing some great moments of its short surfing history and the seven guys on the 2009 ASP World Tour are all excellent surfers capable of causing some serious damage. So I am really curious about how things will go this year. We have power surfers like Marlon (Lipke) and Michel (Bourez), very smart competitors like Tim (Boal) and Aritz (Aranburu), and of course Miky (Picon) and Jeremy (Flores) that already proved themselves amongst the very best.”