Young Leads Americans in Portugal

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Sunday, April 26, 2009) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) completed an action packed week of competition yesterday with the culmination of the ASP 6-Star PRIME Quiksilver Pro Durban in South Africa and the ASP 6-Star Estoril Quiksilver Pro in Portugal. Americans Brett Simpson (Huntington Beach, CA), 24, and prodigious talent Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA), 17, led the nation in each respective event.

The ASP WQS acts as a qualifier for the prestigious ASP World Tour, with the series’ top 15 finishers earning a berth on to the prestigious ASP Dream Tour the following year where they earn the chance to take the title of ASP World Champion.

Simpson continued to lead mainland American competitors on The Grind once again this week when he finished in ninth place overall at the ASP 6-Star PRIME Quiksilver Pro Durban. Simpson tackled some of the finest up-and-coming talent including Australian standout Adam Melling (Lennox Head, AUS), 24, in the premier event to claim the valuable ratings points towards his qualification campaign for the ASP Dream Tour.

The talented Californian is now rated fourth overall on the ASP WQS and is a top seed entering next week’s ASP 6-Star PRIME 6.0 Lowers Pro.

Young, who finished second last year on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series, finished in a respectable 17th place finish in the ASP 6-Star Estoril Quiksilver Pro. The Santa Cruz local’s impressive performance saw the goofy-footer top some of Europe’s finest surfers including ASP World Tour campaigner Aritz Aranburu (Zarautz, ESP), 23.

“The wave has been really fun,” Young said. “We had to move to the backup location because there wasn’t enough swell to hold it at the regular break. It was like Newport. It was kind of hollow and there were fun peaks that were mostly lefts.”

Young is now traveling back his home state to compete at the upcoming 6.0 Lowers Pro and knows that he has his work cut out for him.

“I received a wildcard from Nike into the Round of 96, so I’ll be competing against some of the best surfers in the event,” Young said. “I want to make it, but I don’t feel that much pressure because I’m going against the world’s best.”

Young will also carry the confidence earned from his success in Europe over to the ASP Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior, which will run in conjunction with the 6.0 Lowers Pro. The regional standout will be kicking off his ASP Pro Junior campaign at the Oakley Pro Junior and is looking to start the year off strong.

“I’ll be bringing some confidence from Europe over to Trestles,” Young said. “I also know that all of the junior surfers are really good though and I don’t approach those heats any differently than a QS heat. The Junior surfers are capable of doing well on the ASP WQS.”

ASP WQS action will continue to pump next week with two ASP 6-Star PRIME events, the 6.0 Lowers Pro, which will run from April 28-May 2, and the O’Neill Highland Open from April 27-May 2.

ESTORIL, Carcavelos, Portugal (Saturday, April 25, 2009) – Brazil’s wunderkind Alejo Muniz (BRA) won the ASP WQS 6-Star Estoril Quiksilver Pro 2009 event today finishing on top of the final encounter against fellow finalist Masatoshi Ohno (JPN), clinching crucial 2500 ratings’ points and a US$ 25.000 cheque, the richest winner’s prize of the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS). Muniz, who went through five rounds today defeating favorites and ASP Dream Tour members Tim Boal (FRA) and Marlon Lipke (DEU) on his way to the final, secured his best result to date in Portugal and gets his 2009 ASP season going with a significant confidence boost.

Muniz, 19, whose talent and performances already rocketed him to the status of Braziliam surfing’s next best thing, dominated the Estoril Quiksilver Pro 2009 througout the week coming out on top of the pack with a couple of 9.60 point rides and an impressive 18.60 point heat combination on Day 3 of competition. Despite the tricky conditions of the final day, Muniz not only showed technical skills but came-up with solid tactics and maturity using his natural talent to defeat two of the world’s best surfers.

“I am just so happy I cannot even realize what I have done right now,” Muniz said. “My only wish coming here was to have fun as much as I could and enjoy my surfing in any kind of waves. It is the perfect day for me and I managed to get the best out of these conditions so I could not have hoped for anymore.”

Muniz, who will be surfing a few ASP WQS events this year, remains focused on his preogression as a junior surfer still and will use the precious 2500 points to build his seeding for 2010 where he shall be a serious contender towards a possible ASP World Tour qualification in the near future. Muniz finishes the Estoril Quiksilver Pro with six of the best 10 results under his belt, a good sign of his potential.

“Defeating Tim (Boal) and Marlon (Lipke) is something I will remember for some time,” Muniz said. “I felt a bit of pressure facing such good surfers but I really thought that focusing on my pleasure and having fun could get me somewhere. I think that’s my biggest lesson from this event.”

Fellow finalist Masatoshi Ohno (JPN), 27, became the first Japanese ever to make the final of an ASP WQS 6-Star event, the experienced competitor being another great surprise in the event after he defeated favorites Joan Duru (FRA) and Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) on his run to the final, two of Europe’s best chances for an ASP Top 45 inception. Ohno, who was running out of energy in the 30-minute decider, heads to Scotland with another keeper for his ASP World Tour qualification.

“I wanted to win and I lacked this last section on my final wave to grab the 6.00 points I needed to get back in the lead,” Ohno said. “It is my best result ever and I am so happy to do well here in Portugal, one of the European countries I like most. Alejo (Muniz) was impressive for sure but I was not far from clinching that crown. Definitely an excellent finish before the next event and a keeper for my main goal which is the ASP World Tour.”

Ohno, who was coming from an equal 5th place finish in Tasmania, leaves Portugal’s surf coast of Estoril with valuable 2188 ratings’ points and will be much expected in the upcoming events where he can certainly cause some damage.

Romain Cloitre (REU), 20, got his best result ever today by reaching the Semifinals of the ASP WQS 6-Star event, the Reunion island born surfer and former ASP European Junior champion confirming his rise in the last couple of years. Cloitre, whose best result was an equal 17 in the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime event in France last year, managed to defeat one of the event’s inform men Heat Joske (AUS), 20, in Round 5 before bettering Morocco’s representative Abdel El Harim (MAR) in the Quarterfinals.

“It’s been a tough week with the waves and I am a bit disappointed not to make the final,” Cloitre said. “Masatoshi (Ohno) definitely got the better waves and surfed them well and I think I lacked a bit of luck during the heat and did not have a great wave choice so I did not deserve to win that one heat.”

Cloitre, who used his renowned tactics and great competitive abilities to make it all the way through to the final four, heads to Scotland with a serious confidence boost and will be much expected on the hollow reefbreaks of Thurso’s area next week.

“It is my best result ever and I am stoked with this equal 3rd still,” Cloitre said. “It’s been a year only since I am full time on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) and eventhough it is sometimes hard to get eliminated first heat, it seems like the experience is paying off. I hadn’t had any big result yet and it is just great for my confidence for this year.”

Other Semifinalist to miss out on the final today was ASP World Tour member and first German ever to qualify for the elite Marlon Lipke (DEU). Lipke, who was ousted by 19-year-old phenomenon Muniz in a wave-starved heat, left the water disappointed with his Semifinal run.

“I wish I could have got just one good wave to express my surfing and defend my chances,” Lipke said. “It’s been a good week with a great day at Guincho and I had good fun watching my friends Tim (Boal, equal 5th) and Joan (Duru, equal 9th) surf so well. I think Joan is the revelation this year.”

The ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) now move to Scotland for the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime rated competition will start April 29, 2009

ESTORIL QUIKSILVER PRO FINAL
1st, Alejo Muniz (BRA), 13.00 pts
2nd, Masatoshi Ohno (JPN), 12.37 pts

ESTORIL QUIKSILVER PRO SEMIFINALS
Heat 1: Masatoshi Ohno (JPN) 15.67 pts Def. Romain Cloitre (REU) 8.83 pts
Heat 2: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.83 pts Def. Marlon Lipke (DEU) 11.73 pts

ESTORIL QUIKSILVER PRO QUARTERFINALS
Heat 1: Romain Cloitre (REU) 13.00 pts Def. Abdel El Harim (MAR) 9.67 pts
Heat 2: Masatoshi Ohno (JPN) 15.67 pts Def. Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 12.00 pts
Heat 3: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 14.93 pts Def. Tim Boal (FRA) 11.57 pts
Heat 4: Marlon Lipke (DEU) 11.57 pts Def. Renato Galvao (BRA) 8.40 pts

ESTORIL, Carcavelos, Portugal (Friday, April 24, 2009) – The expected new swell has not reached Carcavelos yet and the on-shore wind at Guincho is way to strong to get anything started today.

The ASP WQS 6-Star Estoril Quiksilver Pro 2009 is thus OFF for today and the remaining seventeen heats will run this weekend with some exciting off-shore three to four foot (1 to 1.2 meter) waves expected to break at Carcavelos’ renowned beachbreak.

Officials will reconvene Saturday, April 25, at 7.30 AM and make a call to finish the last couple of heats of Round 4 before things heat up with Man-on-man battles from there until the grand final.

The Estoril Quiksilver Pro offers US$ 145.000 up for grabs with US$20.000 going to the winner plus an extra US$5.000 coming on top of the winner’s cheque, making the ASP WQS 6-Star event the richest one of this year’s ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS).

ESTORIL QUIKSILVER PRO ROUND 5 UPCOMING HEATS
Heat 1: Romain Cloitre (REU) Vs Heath Joske (AUS)
Heat 2: Frederic Robin (REU) Vs Abdel El Harim (MAR)
Heat 3: Marco Giorgi (URY) Vs Gony Zubizarreta (ESP)
Heat 4: Joan Duru (FRA) Vs Masatoshi Ohno (JPN)
Heat 5: Tim Boal (FRA) Vs Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY)
Heat 6: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) Vs Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 7: TBA
Heat 8: TBA

ESTORIL QUIKSILVER PRO ROUND 4 REMAINING HEATS
Heat 7: Marlon Lipke (DEU), Nat Young (USA), Renato Galvao (BRA)
Heat 8: Charles Martin (GLP), Igor Morais (BRA), Pablo Gutierrez (ESP)

ESTORIL, Guincho, Portugal (Thursday, April 23, 2009) – The ASP WQS 6-Star Estoril Quiksilver Pro 2009 moved closer to its business today as Guincho’s consistent beachbreak delivered some excellent three foot (one meter) waves allowing organisers to wrap up Round 3 and six heats of Round 4, event outsiders creating major upsets for an exciting day of world class surfing. While current ASP Top 45 surfers Tiago Pires (Ericeira, PRT) and Michael Picon (Capbreton, FRA) suffered early eliminations, ASP WQS rising campaigners stole the show to advance through to the first Man-on-man heats of the event planned to kick off tomorrow at Carcavelos, main location of the Estoril Quiksilver Pro.

Marco Giorgi (URY), 21, flew the South American colours today, the newcomer dominating Day 3 of the Estoril Quiksilver Pro 2009 with exceptional surfing. Giorgi, who placed equal 5th in the recent ASP WQS 4-Star event in France, was unstoppable throughout the day netting an near perfect 9.83 point ride (out of a possible 10) on his way to Round 5.

“I have been having a great time so far in Europe, in or out of the water,” Giorgi said. “The waves were great all day and I am just trying to stay calm. It seems like things are definitely going my way and to get such high scores is definitely a great boost for my confidence before I get to surf my second Man-on-man heat ever.”

Giorgi, whose trip to Europe has been successful so far, will be a serious threat to his next opponent and ASP WQS No. 9 Gony Zubizarreta (Vigo, ESP) when competition resumes possibly tomorrow.

“I feel like I have nothing to lose and everything is bonus from now on,” Giorgi said. “I am just starting my WQS career so I am not expecting any huge result but I will take that one and try and go further of course. I am so stoked to finish the day on top when there is such a high level.”

Several big performances were displayed in the clean sometimes exceptional conditions breaking at Guincho. The incoming tide made the set-up close to perfect giving any surfer the chance to express his skills.

Other South American performer Alejo Muniz (BRA), 19, struck again with his impressive progressive surfing and breath-taking attacks, the rising star showing rare talent to take control of his Round 4 battle easily. Muniz, who secured a 9.00 point ride (out of a possible 10) and a 9.60 point score earlier in the day, showed he could flare in the conditions suiting his surfing and finishes the day with a new favourite status.

“It was such a fun day and I am so happy to keep things up this way before surfing in Round 5,” Muniz said. “I just had fun today and tried to show what I could do on my surfboard. Getting these scores is definitely another good step for me in this event.”

Muniz, who is considered one of surfing’s best rising talents by many, will now meet with other young man and promising talent from France Vincent Duvignac (Mimizan, FRA), 22, in Heat 6 of Round 5.

Yesterday’s inform man and former ASP Australasia Junior series No. 2 Heath Joske (AUS) confirmed his hot start in the Estoril Quiksilver Pro by escaping from two rounds to reach his first Man-on-man round ever on an ASP WQS 6-Star event. Joske (New South Wales, AUS), 20, who posted the event’s third best heat result on Day 2, came up with solid skills again to best Romain Cloitre (REU) in Round 3 before placing second to Moroccan competitor Abdel El Harim (MAR) in Round 4, enough to secure his ticket for another round.

“The waves were not big but gave enough quality to find a few little barrels and it was a lot better than I thought out there,” Joske said. “It’s my first time in Portugal and in this event so I am taking it heat by heat and hopefully I can get a big result.”

Favorites and much expected surfers Tim Boal (Anglet, FRA) and Joan Duru (Ondres, FRA) flew the French flag both men advancing to the Man-on-man finals confidently. Duru, whose impressive 9.50 point ride from Day 2 was still in everyone’s mind, repeated his good form with several solid scores including an 8.00 point ride whil Boal’s 15.83 point heat result was rocketing him in the final eight-man contingent.

ESTORIL QUIKSILVER PRO ROUND 5 UPCOMING HEATS
Heat 1: Romain Cloitre (REU) Vs Heath Joske (AUS)
Heat 2: Frederic Robin (REU) Vs Abdel El Harim (MAR)
Heat 3: Marco Giorgi (URY) Vs Gony Zubizarreta (ESP)
Heat 4: Joan Duru (FRA) Vs Masatoshi Ohno (JPN)
Heat 5: Tim Boal (FRA) Vs Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY)
Heat 6: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) Vs Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 7: TBA
Heat 8: TBA

ESTORIL QUIKSILVER PRO ROUND 4 RESULTS
Heat 1: Romain Cloitre (REU) 12.06 pts, Frederic Robin (REU) 11.26 pts, Jorge Spanner (BRA) 10.17 pts
Heat 2: Abdel El Harim (MAR) 12.34 pts, Heath Joske (AUS) 11.57 pts, Jack Perry (AUS) 8.06 pts
Heat 3: Marco Giorgi (URY) 16.10 pts, Joan Duru (FRA) 14.00 pts, Justin Mujica (PRT) 7.40 pts
Heat 4: Masatoshi Ohno (JPN) 15.17 pts, Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 12.50 pts, Madison Williams (AUS) 9.17 pts
Heat 5: Tim Boal (FRA) 13.16 pts, Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 11.80 pts, Eric Rebiere (FRA) 8.50 pts
Heat 6: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 16.67 pts, Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 12.13 pts, Jose Maria Cabrera (CNY) 5.43 pts
Heat 7: Marlon Lipke (DEU), Nat Young (USA), Renato Galvao (BRA)
Heat 8: Charles Martin (GLP), Igor Morais (BRA), Pablo Gutierrez (ESP)

ESTORIL, Guincho, Portugal (Wednesday, April 22, 2009) – The second day of the Estoril Quiksilver Pro 2009 saw some spectacular action take place at Guincho, back-up beach of the ASP WQS 6-Star event, with three foot (one meter) greeting top seeds for their start of their Portuguese campaign. The international field of contestants displayed a variety of classic and progressive surfing throughout today’s twenty heats with most of the favourites finding their way out of Round 2 and secure their spot in the last 48-man pack.

Dominating by far proceddings today was 19-year-old Brazilian wunderkind Alejo Muniz (BRA) with impressive levels of surfing combining solid classic re-entries with flying maneuvers in the tricky fast-breaking waves of Guincho. Muniz, who has been rising on the international surfing stage for a couple of years now since he won the Under-16 Quiksilver King of the Groms event in France, clearly expressed his building confidence besting ASP Dream Tour Michael Picon (Capbreton, FRA), 29, with an explosive 18.60 point heat result (out of a possible 20) to advance through to Round 3 and secure the event’s highest result thus far.

“I just tried to enjoy myself and have fun out there because I knew it would be a tough heat,” Muniz said. “Surfing against Michael (Picon) who is an ASP Top 45 member was not going to be easy so I had nothing to lose and just let my surfing speak for me. I was a little b it nervous before paddling out but I got those good waves and I am stoked to make it through today.”

Muniz, who netted 9.00 and 9.60 point rides in twenty minutes, left the water with one minute remaining only, confident with his performance knowing he was guaranteed to move forward in the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star competition. Muniz, with his run today, leads all statistics with both best single wave and heat scores before the event reaches its business end where big scores will be expected.

“It gives good confidence to win a heat like that and especially against good surfers,” Muniz said. “I don’t have any specific goal here and I am hoping to go as far as possible but there isn’t any pressure as I am not focusing on the WQS yet. I just want to better my seeding and get points for next year.”

Fellow Quiksilver team riders Masatoshi Ohno (JPN) and Joan Duru (FRA) came-up with equivalent surfing, the 19-year-old Frenchman keeping-up his last-couple-of-weeks excellent form to post a 9.50 point ride (out of a possible 10) and remain confident towards his target. Duru, who ended up with a promising 14.93 point heat score in Heat 11, will now face outsiders Tinguinha Lima (BRA), Estoril B! Pro Junior runner-up Joaquim Guichard (DNK) and Madison Williams (AUS).

“I am pretty happy with that first run today and it is definitely a relief to get out of Round 2 with a big score,” Duru said. “I was pretty relaxed but was not feeling too comfortable on my board and fell quite a few times. I was surfing the board I had in the ASP WQS 4-Star Protest Vendee Pro and things went well so I am happy.”

Duru, who made the Quarterfinals of the ASP Grade-2 Estoril B! Pro Junior last Sunday, is targeting a qualification for next year’s ASP World Tour and will be aiming at a big result this week in the Estoril Quiksilver Pro 2009.

“I entered the Pro Junior event to get used to the waves and got through a few heats so I am happy with that event,” Duru said. “However, my main goal is to qualify for the Dream Tour this year and I am definitely focused on the major events of the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) to achieve my goal.”

Yesterday’s high scorer and ASP Top 45 rookie Tim Boal (Anglet, FRA) managed to advance along with other big names Eric Rebiere (FRA), Justin Mujica (PRT) and Japan’s only representative Masatoshi Ohno (JPN) who ended the day with a solid 15.66 point heat result.

“I like coming to Europe and Portugal, people are so nice and I am having a good time here,” Ohno said. “I surfed well enough to win the heat and I am happy with this start as I hope to get a second good result for my overall ratings’ total.”

Ohno, who placed equal 5th in the ASP WQS 6-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania last month, will be aiming at another solid finish to keep his Dream Tour qualification hopes alive and become the first ever Japanese surfer to enter the elite of the sport.

ESTORIL QUIKSILVER PRO ROUND 3 HEATS
Heat 1: Tiago Pires (PRT), Rudy Marechal (FRA), Frederic Robin (REU), Jack Perry (AUS)
Heat 2: Will Tant (USA), Jorge Spanner (BRA), Rhys Bombaci (AUS), Abdel El Harim (MAR)
Heat 3: Heath Joske (AUS), Romain Cloitre (REU), Luis David (PRT), Txaber Trojaola (EUK)
Heat 4: Gony Zubizarreta (ESP), Simon Marchand (FRA), Mark Matthews (AUS), Marco Giorgi (URY)
Heat 5: Masatoshi Ohno (JPN), Justin Mujica (PRT), Nick White (NZL), Matt Keenan (USA)
Heat 6: Tinguinha Lima (BRA), Joaquim Guichard (DNK), Madison Williams (AUS), Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 7: Alejo Muniz (BRA), Tim Boal (FRA), Marc Lacomare (FRA), Robson Santos (BRA)
Heat 8: Michael Picon (FRA), Vincent Duvignac (FRA), Jano Belo (BRA), Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY)
Heat 9: Leonardo Neves (BRA), Eric Rebiere (FRA), Jose Maria Cabrera (CNY), Hodei Collazo (EUK)
Heat 10: Jay Davies (AUS), Luka Guichard (DNK), Marlon Lipke (DEU), Charles Martin (GLP)
Heat 11: Zahn Foxton (AUS), Brett Barley (USA), Igor Morais (BRA),
Heat 12: Eneko Acero (EUK), Pablo Gutierrez (ESP), Renato Galvao (BRA),

ESTORIL QUIKSILVER PRO ROUND 2 RESULTS
Heat 1: Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.34 pts, Will Tant (USA) 8.53 pts, Frederico Morais (PRT) 7.67 pts, Manuel Selman (CHL) 5.40 pts
Heat 2: Rudy Marechal (FRA) 13.50 pts, Jorge Spanner (BRA) 12.34 pts, Ruben Gonzalez (PRT) 11.00 pts, Andrew Bennett (USA) 8.87 pts
Heat 3: Rhys Bombaci (AUS) 12.50 pts, Frederic Robin (REU) 9.93 pts, Brent Reilly (USA) 8.90 pts, Omer Bar (ISR) 5.20 pts
Heat 4: Abdel El Harim (MAR), Jack Perry (AUS), Alek Parker (USA), Cesar Rosa (PRT)
Heat 5: Heath Joske (AUS) 17.10 pts, Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 10.90 pts, Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 9.50 pts, Luis Castanheira (PRT) 5.50 pts
Heat 6: Romain Cloitre (REU) 13.24 pts, Simon Marchand (FRA) 8.90 pts, Liam McNamara (HAW) 7.17 pts, Norman Landa (EUK) 6.06 pts
Heat 7: Mark Mathews (AUS) 13.00 pts, David Luis (PRT) 10.26 pts, Miguel Ximenes (PRT) 7.57 pts
Heat 8: Marco Giorgi (URY) 12.40 pts, Txaber Trojaola (EUK) 10.50 pts, Hugo Savalli (REU) 9.00 pts, Geoffroy Henno (FRA) 8.83 pts
Heat 9: Masatoshi Ohno (JPN) 15.66 pts, Tinguinha Lima (BRA) 10.83 pts, Romain Laulhe (FRA) 10.20 pts, Matt Mohagan (USA) 7.50 pts
Heat 10: Justin Mujica (PRT) 13.73 pts, Joachim Guichard (DNK) 12.77 pts, Patrick Beven (FRA) 12.10 pts, Damien Chaudoy (REU) 11.63 pts
Heat 11: Madison Williams (USA) 14.16 pts, Nick White (NZL) 12.27 pts, Rowan Aish (NZL) 8.90 pts, Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) 5.83 pts
Heat 12: Joan Duru (FRA) 14.93 pts, Matt Keenan (USA) 10.73 pts, Joao Guedes (PRT) 10.00 pts, Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 6.10 pts
Heat 13: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 18.60 pts, Michael Picon (FRA) 14.27 pts, Oliver Kurts (USA) 11.83 pts, Richard Christie (NZL) 11.67 pts
Heat 14: Tim Boal (FRA) 14.23 pts, Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 13.17 pts, Dale Lovelock (AUS) 9.94 pts, Peter Mel (USA) 7.27 pts
Heat 15: Jano Belo (BRA) 13.16 pts, Marc Lacomare (FRA) 12.67 pts, Dillon Perillo (USA) 10.47 pts, Kieran Horn (USA) 6.70 pts
Heat 16: Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 12.77 pts, Robson Santos (BRA) 11.47 pts, Antonio Marques (CNY) 8.83 pts, Matt Pagan (USA) 8.50 pts
Heat 17: Leonardo Neves (BRA), Oli Adams (GBR), Jay Davies (AUS), Agustin Mario Ruiz (ARG)
Heat 18: Eric Rebiere (FRA) 12.73 pts, Luka Guichard (DNK) 12.00 pts, Christophe Allary (REU) 11.56 pts, Roland Lefeuvre (FRA) 7.03 pts
Heat 19: Marlon Lipke (DEU) 14.83 pts, Jose-Maria Cabrera (CNY) 12.77 pts, Geronimo Vargas (BRA) 10.43 pts, Clancy Dawson (AUS) 8.86 pts
Heat 20: Charles Martin (GLP) 12.10 pts, Hodei Collazo (EUK) 10.64 pts, Nicolasu Von Rupp (DEU) 9.40 pts, Jayce Robinson (GBR) 8.93 pts
Heat 21: Zahn Foxton (AUS) 15.16 pts, Eneko Acero (EUK) 13.50 pts, Andre Silva (BRA) 13.30 pts, William Pasquet (REU) 9.50 pts
Heat 22: Brett Barley (USA) 11.04 pts, Pablo Gutierrez (ESP) 9.33 pts, Dylan Melamed (HAW) 9.30 pts, Jean-Sbastien Estienne (BLM) 7.70 pts
Heat 23: Renato Galvao (BRA) 9.47 pts, Igor Morais (PRT) 8.50 pts, Diego Rosa (BRA) 8.17 pts, Miguel Mouzinho (PRT) 6.23 pts
Heat 24: Lincoln Taylor (AUS) 12.84 pts, Nat Young (USA) 11.50 pts, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 9.34 pts, Alan Stokes (GBR) 8.44 pts

Dream Tour Surfers Unleash World Class Level

ESTORIL, Guincho, Portugal (Tuesday, April 21, 2009) – The Estoril Quiksilver Pro 2009, an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Men’s rated event, kicked-off today in Portugal with Round 1 and four heats of Round 2 being held in consistent wind-blown three to four foot (1 to 1.2 meter) waves at Guincho, back-up venue of the 2009 edition running until Sunday, April 26, 2009. The first day of competition witnessed world class action with ASP World Tour rookies Tim Boal (FRA) and Marlon Lipke (DEU) and Portuguese favourite Tiago Pires (PRT) taking control of proceedings with style.

Tim Boal (Anglet, FRA), 25, who had to surf in Round 1 due to entering late in the event, came-up with impressive carves and vertical committed maneuvers to easily lead and win Heat 10 against outsiders Dillon Perillo (USA), Nuno Telmo (PRT) and Ricardo Lange (DEU). Boal, who is currently rated No. 24 in the world, was surfing his first ASP WQS of the year and looked very comfortable during the 25-minute battle scoring an excellent 17.27 point result (out of a possible 20), enough to join fellow top seeds in Round 2 tomorrow.

“The waves were fun and I felt pretty relaxed out there,” Boal said. “The wind didn’t affect the conditions too much and things went pretty well for me. I broke my leash halfway through the heat but still managed to get a second good ride so I am pretty happy with that start.”

Boal, who has been travelling through Australia and Tahiti for a couple of months since the start of the ASP World Tour in February, decided to drive down to Portugal and enter the ASP WQS 6-Star event a few days ago only.

“I needed to test a few new boards and the weather and waves in France were not that good,” Boal said. “I saw there were some available spots in the event and now I am here so hopefully I can get a result before heading back to Trestles next week then Tahiti for the ASP World Tour.”

Boal will meet with Californian big wave legend Peter Mel (USA), France’s rising star Vincent Duvignac (FRA) and Dale Lovelock (AUS).

Dream Tour surfers’ domination was confirmed by fellow rookie Marlon Lipke (Faro, PRT), 24, the German surfer netting a 16.23 point score (out of a possible 20) finishing his run with an 8.50 point ride (out of a possible 10) to secure his Round 2 ticket. Lipke, who has had a tough start for his rookie season with two last-place results in Australia, unleashed his powerful attack to get out of Round 1 and get on with his Estoril Quiksilver Pro campaign.

“The waves were definitely contestable and we surfed at a good time of the day with the right tide,” Lipke said. “It was a good day and there had been lots of good scores before my heat so I was relaxed and just looked for the better waves. It’s a great feeling to surf in an event in Portugal after all that travel in the past two months.”

Lipke, who will travel to California next week and join Boal and the rest of the European Dream Tour contingent in Tahiti after that, is a former winner in the Estoril Quiksilver Pro (2007) and will be looking to better his equal 5th place finish from last year this week.

“I have no pressure and I really enjoying the bit of time in Portugal while I can,” Lipke said. “I am surfing here with nothing to lose and I am having a good time surfing a WQS event with this state of mind. Compared to last year when every heat could make a difference, it is really pleasant to paddle out here relaxed with absolutely no pressure.”

Last but not least Dream Tour surfer to compete today was Portugal’s star Tiago Pires (PRT) who opened Round 2 with a solid win pleasing his fans and sponsors for his return to Portugal. Pires, who bested American Will Tant (USA) in Heat 1 finishing with a 13.34 heat result, left the water relieved.

“I am happy to get that heat out of the way today,” Pires said. You never want to lose first round so that is done and I am relieved. It is the first time we have a WQS event at this time of the year at home, in between ASP World Tour events and it’s a good training for me. I have my family on the beach and it is a pleasure for me show up here and share some time with the supporting crowd and for my sponsors.”

With Round 1 favorites confirming their status, low seeds had to push their level further to try and impress the ASP judging panel in order to advance and secure another surf when Round 2 resumes. ASP Grade-2 Estoril B! Pro Junior runner-up Joachim Guichard (DNK) was one of today’s leaders the 18-year-old Danish surfer residing in Portugal going over the significant 15.00 point mark in Heat 7, a solid win that rocketed him through to Round 2 where he will now face longtime ASP WQS campaigners and former ASP European Champions Patrick Beven (Biarritz, FRA) and Justin Mujica (Estoril, PRT)