Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro

Stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour

Imbituba, Santa Catarina, Brazil

June 27 July 5, 2009


Worlds Most Elite Surfers Ready for Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro Battle
Pictured: Taj Burrow (AUS), 31, current ASP World No. 2, will look to improve his 2009 bid for the ASP World Title with a big result at the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro.

Credit: ASP/ CI/ TOSTEE via GETTY IMAGES


IMBITUBA, Santa Catarina (Friday, June 26, 2009) The worlds most elite surfers are one day away from commencing the waiting period for the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro and throngs of South American fanatics are descending upon the tiny Brazilian town of Imbituba for a glimpse at some of the best surfing on the planet.

Stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro, which has been moved from second-to-last to fourth on the ASP World Tour schedule, will utilize the traditional competition format, allowing the worlds best surfers a minimum of two opportunities to surf before elimination.

Taj Burrow (AUS), 31, current ASP World No. 2, is having a sterling year on the ASP World Tour with an equal 3rd from the Gold Coast and a runner-up finish from Tahiti (as well as an uncharacteristic 17th from Bells) tallied into his score line. Ever consistent in the punchy beach breaks of Brazil, Burrow is one of the event favorites heading at the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro.

I’m really happy with my season so far, Burrow said. I was upset with a 17th at Bells, but really stoked to make the Final at Teahupoo thats a really hard place to get a result. I’m now so excited to take on what are probably my stronger events on tour Brazil, Jeffreys, Trestles and then Europe.

Citing the rescheduling of the event as well as the reversion to the traditional competition format, Burrow foresees additional flare and value at this seasons event.

I think the change in the time of year is fine, Burrow said. I’m curious to see if the waves will be any different. I think I prefer the traditional format better as it’s good to get a second shot after traveling halfway around the world. You need to adjust to certain countries, the climate, your boards and the waves. One shot is kind of brutal so Ill be excited to compete in the traditional format here in Brazil.

Burrow will face replacement surfer and current ASP World No. 13 Jay Thompson (AUS), 26, and wildcard Gustavo Ferreira (BRA) in Round 1 of the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro.

Adriano de Souza (BRA), 22, current ASP World No. 5, is another contender for the 2009 ASP World Title. Holding a runner-up finish from the Gold Coast and a 5th from Tahiti (as well as a 17th from Bells) in his pocket, the former ASP World Junior Champion will look to climb even higher on the ASP Dream Tour ratings during his fourth season amongst the elite.

This has been my best year so far, De Souza said. Im currently in the Top 5, and I feel like I have a good chance for a result in Brazil. Im feeling fresh this year and a lot of things are going my way. Im really looking forward to the event here.

As the highest-rated Brazilian on the ASP World Tour, the hopes of a nation rest upon the young natural-footers shoulders. Although having a less-than-ideal history at the event, De Souzas consistent and ever-impressive improvement amongst the worlds best gives the local contingent confidence in a potential Brazilian victory.

It does feel different competing in my home country, De Souza said. I kind of feel like every Brazilian will be counting on me, and although I think I have a good chance here, its too early to tell. Joel (Parkinson) and Mick (Fanning) are surfing so well so theyll be difficult to stop. Also, I havent ever done well here Ive never got past Round 3. However, I think I have a good opportunity to improve on that this year.

De Souza will take on 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, and replacement surfer Neco Padaratz (BRA) when Round 1 of the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro commences.


This years Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro will play a crucial role in the hunt for the 2009 ASP World Title with current ASP World No. 1 Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, and perennial threats Burrow, Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, and others all looking to consolidate on already-solid season openings.

Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion, will look to rebound at the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro in Brazil after three consecutive equal 17th place finishes in 2009 his worst run ever on the ASP World Tour. Slater will face fellow American Tim Reyes (USA), 27, and 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Marlon Lipke (DEU), 25, in Round 1 of competition.

The Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro will begin its waiting period tomorrow, Saturday, June 27, 2009, and run through July 5, 2009.

All the event action will be webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

HANG LOOSE SANTA CATARINA PRO ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Tim Boal (FRA), Greg Emslie (ZAF)

Heat 2: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Josh Kerr (AUS), Michael Picon (FRA)

Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Jihad Khodr (BRA), Phillip MacDonald (AUS)

Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA), Tim Reyes (USA), Marlon Lipke (DEU)

Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS), Aritz Aranburu (EUK), Nathaniel Curran (USA)

Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Ben Bourgeois (USA)

Heat 7: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Neco Padaratz (BRA)

Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Guilherme Ferreira (BRA)

Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS), Jay Thompson (AUS), Gustavo Fernandes (BRA)

Heat 10: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Bernardo Miranda (BRA)

Heat 11: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Dane Reynolds (USA), Nic Muscroft (AUS)

Heat 12: Kieren Perrow (AUS), Drew Courtney (AUS), Michel Bourez (PYF)

Heat 13: Taylor Knox (USA), Heitor Alves (BRA), Roy Powers (HAW)

Heat 14: Damien Hobgood (USA), Chris Ward (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS)

Heat 15: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Chris Davidson (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)

Heat 16: Mick Campbell (AUS), David Weare (ZAF), Dustin Barca (HAW)

Goodrum is Top American in Brazil, Erickson Finishes Fifth in Australia

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Sunday, February 15, 2009) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) has just completed a busy week, with American surfers competing in both the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 5-Star Hang Loose Pro in Brazil and the Billabong Pro Junior at Coffs Harbor, Australia.

All surfers competing in the ASP WQS 5-Star Hang Loose Pro were hungry to take advantage of the valuable ratings points on offer towards qualification for the ASP World Tour. The ASP WQS acts as a gateway for the ASP Dream Tour, with the top 15 surfers at year’s end earning their chance to claim the title of ASP World Champion the following year.

Darrell Goodrum (Leucadia, CA), 24, took advantage of the pumping barrels on offer at the Brazilian contest and was the top American finisher in the first ASP 5-Star event of the year. The San Diegan garnered a solid ninth place finish amongst the stack of local talent that made up the majority of the Hang Loose Pro.

“This is the third time that I’ve competed here, but I had never seen waves so good,” Goodrum said. “I try to enjoy every moment here in this beautiful island and I hope to get a nice result and continue surfing well until the end of the year.”

Goodrum defeated Brazilian standouts such as Wiggoly Dantas (Ubatuba, BRA), 18, on the way to his impressive result and is now rated second overall on the ASP WQS.

“I was very lucky in the end, when Jano Belo failed to turn the heat in his last wave,” Goodrum said. “I saw his wave and surfing against three Brazilians is really hard, I thought I would lose, but in the end was all right. Today the waves are smaller but better. They are not closing too much, which allows for better performance.”

The ASP WQS will continue on March 18-22, 2009 with the ASP WQS 2-Star MR Pro held in Merewether, Australia.

In other ASP news, the American ladies also posted a few impressive results at the ASP Grade-1 Billabong Pro Junior held at Coffs Harbour in Australia. Sage Erickson (Ojai, CA), 18, finished fifth overall while Orange County native Sarah Taylor (Huntington Beach, CA) finished seventh amongst the tough international competition.

The ASP Pro Junior Series acts as a qualifier for the prestigious Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, with the top surfers from each respective region receiving a chance to earn the title of ASP World Junior Champion. Since there were American surfers competing in the Australian based junior event, they will not garner the points needed to qualify for the ASP World Junior Championships based on the fact that the event is out of their respective region, but they do earn the valuable experience that international competition brings to the competitive table.

Erickson, who represented the U.S. at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships this
year, applied the heightened competition she has become familiar to at the ASP World Junior Championship level to the ASP Grade-1 Billabong Pro Junior, and the strategy helped carry her to a fifth place finish.

“I feel as though the World Juniors really gave me a good idea of the level that I have to surf up to and compete in,” Erickson said. “Surfing against girls from only North America doesn’t really help prepare me for the future and that’s why I did Coffs.”

Erickson’s Quarterfinals berth was no easy feat, as she had to tackle several young Aussies throughout the event to earn the result. The international experience gained at the ASP Pro Junior level is extremely valuable to the young regular-footer and Erickson is hoping to apply her newly-found confidence in other global events this year.

“I feel like the competition is harder here,” Erickson said. “I really enjoy surfing against girls like Laura (Enever) and Tyler (Wright) because they both give me that same competitive edge that I get from surfing against Courtney (Conlogue) back home. I think international surfers are more intimidating and it’s all in experience that you get over the intimidation.”

The next women’s international ASP Pro Junior event will be the Arnette Pro Junior from March 12-15, 2009 in Merewether, Australia.