The Relentless Boardmasters in association with Vans
ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 5-Star Mens Event
Event No. 5 of 11 on the 2009 ASP WQS European Series at Fistral Beach, Newquay / England 4th – 9th August 2009

Ross Wins Relentless Boardmasters

Friday 7th August 2009, 26 year old Daniel Ross (AUS), wins the ASP WQS Relentless Boardmasters beating 23 year old Txaber Trojaola (EUK), at Fistral Beach in Newquay, England.

Ross, who finished ahead of the 96-man field of competitors after posting several of the events best scores throughout the four-day competition. The 2000 ratings points virtually guarantee Ross qualification for the 2010 ASP World Tour with a record 14 975 points.

Its a pretty incredible feeling right now, Ross said. Its such a good year already and its got even better today so I guess that by putting everything together and doing the things I do, its paid off and its great. I am not sure what I am doing next, I havent been home at all this year and that result will make me think about my schedule.

This was the second win of the year for Ross, today after the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime at Margaret River in March, dominating the event with a series of consistent scores including an impressive 17.83 point heat score on Day 3.

I was pretty confident for my heats but stressed out a little against Wiggoly (Dantas), Ross said. I work with him and have been giving him a lot of the few things that work for me. The waves were smaller today and I had to adapt to the conditions and it went on perfectly.

Txaber Trojaola (Bakio, EUK) achieved his best result ever since he started touring on the tour. Surprising his opponents throughout the last day of competition with smart wave choice and heat tactics.

I am just over the moon right now and I cant believe Ive placed runner-up, Trojaola said. I never thought I would make the final, its my best result ever and I got through a few tricky heats. The truth is I had nothing to lose and took heat by heat and did not feel any pressure being the outsider. I had a gale plan and stuck to it, and its taken me to the final. It is pretty amazing.

Trojaolas result moves him to No. 3 on the ASP European WQS Series, a career best.

The 19 year Old Wiggoly Dantas (BRA) defending champion, 19, was placed equal 3rd, a second consecutive excellent result for the Brazilian surfer.

I am pretty happy with that result but the waves were not very good for the Semifinals, Dantas said. Daniel Ross got a few good ones but he is a friend and a coach in our team so we had a good time out there. Getting third is still a good result.

I dont want to put too much pressure on myself with the qualification, Dantas said. I am trying to surf my best and slowly get back into the race so I will stick to my plan and try and keep the feeling right. I feel I have improved from last year and I am looking forward to the next events.

Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing, Stop No. 4 of 7 on the 2009 ASP North America Mens Tour hosted at Huntington Beach, California USA, 20th – 26th July, 2009.

Hurley Announces $100k First Prize for ASP WQS 6-Star Hurley U.S. Open

Pictured: Rob Machado (USA), 35, former ASP World No. 2 and past winner of the U.S. Open, will be one of many high-profile athletes gunning for the historic $100k first prize at this seasons ASP WQS 6-Star Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing.
Credit: ASP/ CI/ ROWLAND via GETTY IMAGES

Even in our current economic climate Hurley have dug deep into their pockets and today Tuesday, 14th July, 2009 at Huntington Beach, California, made the unprecedented announcement that first place in the upcoming Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach will now be US$100,000, the biggest prize purse in professional surfings history.

Huntington Beach is ground zero for competitive surfing in mainland America, and on the 50th anniversary of major events at the Pier, were excited and honored to help bring surfing back to center stage at the U.S. Open, Evan Slater, Hurley Digital Marketing Manager, said. This includes attracting the worlds best surfers and making it the significant event it deserves to be.

The event, which runs at the historic Huntington Beach Pier from July 20 26, 2009, has attracted a bevy of the worlds best surfers from the prestigious ASP Dream Tour as well as the top ASP WQS seeds looking to gain valuable qualification points in their respective campaigns for an ASP World Tour berth in 2010.

Going back to the Op Pro days in the early to mid 80s, the event here at Huntington always seemed larger than life, Slater said. Where your heroes performed the unimaginable right in front of you. The waves werent the key factor; it was the atmosphere. At Rob Machados suggestion, who remembers those days clearly as a kid, he felt a first-place incentive like this would help rekindle that electric atmosphere.

Hurleys unparalleled financial incentive has caught the global attention of surfers, fans, industry powerbrokers and the ASP.

“Hurley already has a reputation with Hurley Pro Trestles in San Clemente, providing one of the best events on the planet for both surfers and fans, Brodie Carr, ASP International CEO, said. This year, we have started early with Hurley’s $100k 1st place prize purse at the upcoming U.S. Open the biggest winners prize in surfing history!”

Hurley is no stranger to financial contributions to the worlds best surfers; Bob Hurley, Founder and Chairman of Hurley International, famously upped first prize at last seasons inaugural Hurley Pro Trestles (an ASP World Tour event) from US$30,000 to US$75,000 moments before the Final. When asked if their prize money incentive at the upcoming ASP WQS meant the potential for an even bigger gesture at this years Hurley Pro Trestles in September, the industry power player remained guarded.

We cant comment on that now, Slater said. But lets just say that we like surprises.

The ASP World Qualifying Series 6-Star Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing will be held at Californias famed Huntington Beach Pier from 20th – 26th July, 2009.

ONeill Pro Cordoama pres. by Nissan
ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 1-Star Mens event
Stop No. 4 of 11 on the 2009 ASP European Tour
Cordoama, Algarve – Portugal
July 9 to 12, 2009

Fontaine Wins ASP WQS 1-Star ONeill Cordoama Pro pres. by Nissan in Portugal
Gordon Fontaine (FRA), 20, won his maiden ASP sanctionned event today in Portugal.

CORDOAMA, Portugal (Saturday, July 11, 2009) Gordon Fontaine (Brittany, FRA), 20, has won the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 1-Star ONeill Pro Cordoama Pro pres. by Nissan in Portugal today, the Frenchman besting fellow finalists Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU), Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) and Luka Guichard (DEN) to claim his maiden ASP title. Fontaine, who was a standout throughout the three-day event, managed to find his way through the Quarterfinals and Semifinals finishing his run with good 13.50 point heat score out of a possible 20.

Fontaine, a longtime ASP European Junior tour contender, was at ease in the three foot (one meter) waves on offer during the event, posting several high scores en route to the final. With great determination and heat tactics, Fontaine finished on top of 64-man field led by many of Europes best rising competitors.

I am so stoked, I dont really realize Ive won the thing, Fontaine said. I havent won an event in years and to get this one is really special. It was my first WQS final and to win it makes it just the perfect ending!

With significant points counting for the ASP European WQS ratings and great confidence for his summer start, Fontaine will be looking to confirming his stellar start and build on his performance, a premiere in his young career.

My focus this year remains the ASP European Junior tour as I want to qualify for the ASP World Junior Championships (WJC) and it means a Top 4 finish this year, Fontaine said. I surfed relaxed throughout the event after my Round 1 loss in the Pro Junior event at the beginning of the week and it worked out pretty well so I will try and approach the next events the same way.

Event runner-up Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU), 18, was surfing his first ASP WQS final as well, the German Algarve resident finishing just behind Fontaine after leading the exchange for most of the 30-minute decider. Von Rupp, who was looking to better his best result in Cordoama, a Semifinal finish, achieved his goal by placing second and will use his experience and confidence in the upcoming Under-21 events.

I borrowed a board this morning as I was not feeling good on mine and it took me to the final, Von Rupp said. The waves were very hard to surf but I made the final which is already a great result. I was close to winning the thing though.

Von Rupp, a former ASP European Junior No. 2, remains a serious Under-21 regional title contender and is focused on it for 2009. With an average start thus far, Von Rupp will be looking to build momentum from his excellent run in Portugal.

I am looking to get back to my best level and do well at the Pro Junior events, Von Rupp said. It is my main focus this year and I havent had a good start yet so this is my priority now. Hopefully things will work out.

Last years runner-up Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) came close to equaling and bettering his 2008 result, the Portuguese showing the same consistency and solid tactics throughout the event to reach 3rd place and be the best Portuguese competitor in the event. At 22 years of age, Fernandes rises as a promising regional surfer.

Visit www.aspeurope.com for results, photos and news of the ASP Grade-1 Buondi Pro Junior

ASP WQS 1-STAR ONEILL PRO CORDOAMA RESULTS

FINAL
1st, Gordon Fontaine (FRA) 13.50 pts
2nd, Nicolau Von Rupp (DEu) 11.83 pts
3rd, Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) 11.53 pts
4th, Luka Guichard (DEN) 9.80 pts

SEMIFINALS
Heat 1: Gordon Fontaine (FRA) 15.50 pts, Luka Guichard (DEN) 13.10 pts, Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 11.73 pts, Damien Chaudoy (REU) 7.88 pts
Heat 2: Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) 12.70 pts, Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU) 12.07 pts, Abdel El Harim (MAR) 12.00 pts, Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA) 8.43 pts

QUARTERFINALS
Heat 1: Damien Chaudoy (REU) 14.40 pts, Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 13.50 pts, Borja Agote (EUK) 11.50 pts, Alexandre Ferreira (PRT) 7.60 pts
Heat 2: Luka Guichard (DEN) 13.17 pts, Gordon Fontaine (FRA) 12.47 pts, Miguel Ximenez (PRT) 9.47 pts, David Luis (PRT) 5.40 pts
Heat 3: Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) 11.96 pts, Abdel El Harim (MAR) 11.63 pts, Miguel Mouzinho (PRT) 11.27 pts, Freddie Meadows (SWE) 10.13 pts
Heat 4: Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA) 16.33 pts, Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU) 11.06 pts, Mario Azurza (EUK) 7.44 pts, Mohamed Berrada (MAR) 4.93 pts

ONeill Pro Cordoama pres. by Nissan
ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 1-Star Mens event
Stop No. 4 of 11 on the 2009 ASP European Tour
Cordoama, Algarve – Portugal
July 9 to 12, 2009

Top Seeds Lead Charge Towards Finals of ONeill Pro Cordoama

[Photo credit: Aquashot/aspeurope.com] Gordon Fontaine (FRA) was the man of the day with the highest heat score, the 19-year-old Frenchman lookin forward to his possible first ASP sanctionned event win tomorow

CORDOAMA, Portugal (Friday, July 10, 2009) The ONeill Pro Cordoama pres. by Nissan got closer to its climax today in Portugal, the good two to three foot (0.5 to 1 meter) waves giving top seeds the ideal set-up to express their skills and get their Quarterfinals berth. With seven heats only remaining before the 2009 champion is crowned, tomorrows finals will bring pressure and upsets for an exciting finish.

The second day of competition was dominated by rising surfers Gordon Fontaine (FRA), 19, and current ASP European Junior ratings No. 5 Luka Guichard (DEN), 19, both men posting solid heat scores to advance through to the Quarterfinals of the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 1-Star event. Fontaine, who has been on the Pro Junior tour for several years now, came up with a series of finsout reentries and vertical turns showing his opponents he was at ease in the small conditions.

Its good to make the Quarterfinals after losing Round 1 in the ASP Grade-1 Buondi Pro Junior at the beginning of the week, Fontaine said. I felt comfortable in the water, got the better waves but was pretty focused on blocking my opponents. I surfed a lot of waves during that heat and it ended up well.

Fontaines 15.10 point heat tally (out of a possible 20) was todays best result, the Frenchman and Brittany resident grabbing a serious confidence boost before tomorrows showdown. Fontaine hasnt won an event yet in his young career and the expected similar conditions tomorrow could give the man a serious opportunity to clinch a maiden ASP event crown.

I think I have a good understanding of the contest area and it definitely helps out with confidence when paddling out, Fontaine said. I am taking it heat by heat and looking forward to competing tomorrow.

Portugal resident and Danish surfer Luka Guichard came close to Fontaines solid performance with a 14.73 point total. Guichard, whose twin brother Joachim currently leads the ASP European Junior ratings, used his explosive vertical attack to oust his heat opponents and advance confidently through to the Quarterfinals.

I am pretty stoked to be in the Quarters as this is one my home beaches, Guichard said. It wasnt an easy heat and I stressed out a little as the time was running but that one good wave came at the end and I was able to grab that qualification spot.

Guichard, who is in his last year as a Pro Junior surfer, is looking to build his seeding points and a big result here would give him both a first win in an ASP sanctioned event as well as a great boost for the ASP European WQS Tour.

There are a lot of good surfers in the event and I know it is going to be hard, Guichard said. I am going to give my best shot tomorrow and I hope it works out well. Ill see how it goes.

ASP Grade-1 Buondi Pro Junior runner-up Damien Chaudoy (REU), 19, showed he was not on a break after his excellent run in the Under-21 division and finished the day with the highest single wave score, an excellent 8.83 point ride out of a possible 10. Chaudoy, whose fresh progressive style seems to please the ASP judging panel this week, will be another dangerous title contender when the event resumes Saturday, July 11, along with event best scorer thus far Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA), 18, and last years runner-up Eduardo Fernandes (PRT).

Visit www.aspeurope.com for results, photos and news of the ASP Grade-1 Buondi Pro Junior

ASP WQS 1-STAR ONEILL PRO CORDOAMA QUARTERFINALS
Heat 1: Borja Agote (EUK), Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK), Alexandre Ferreira (PRT), Damien Chaudoy (REU)
Heat 2: Gordon Fontaine (FRA), Miguel Ximenez (PRT), Luka Guichard (DEN), David Luis (PRT)
Heat 3: Abdel El Harim (MAR), Eduardo Fernandes (PRT), Freddie Meadows (SWE), Miguel Mouzinho (PRT)
Heat 4: Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU), Mohamed Berrada (MAR), Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA), Mario Azurza (EUK)

ONeill Pro Cordoama pres. by Nissan
ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 1-Star Mens event
Stop No. 4 of 11 on the 2009 ASP European Tour
Cordoama, Algarve – Portugal
July 9 to 12, 2009

Big Scores and Progressive Surfing For ONeill Pro Cordoama Kick Off


[Photo credit: Aquashot/aspeurope.com] Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU), 18, was one of today’s top scorers, the Algarve resident showing superb surfing for the kick off of the O’Neill Pro Cordoama pres. by Nissan

CORDOAMA, Portugal (Thursday, July 9, 2009) The ONeill Pro Cordoama pres. By Nissan, an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 1-Star mens event, got underway in South Portugal today, the beautiful beach of Cordoama delivering clean two to three foot (0.5 to 1 meter) waves for the kick-off of the event. Following the Under-21 competition that saw Brazilian Thomaz Peterson (BRA), 19, get away with the title yesterday, the event crowd witnessed some intense action with several big scores being posted for Day 1, 18-year-old Pierre-Valentin Laborde (Hossegor, FRA) taking control in the second last heat of the day.

Laborde, who placed equal 9th in the Junior contest yesterday, came back with superb surfing for his ASP WQS start this year, the young French man dominating his three-man battle over last year runner-up Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) and Jose Ferreira (PRT) with an impressive 17.00 point heat tally out of a possible 20 to advance through to Round 3.

The waves were just so fun today, Laborde said. I felt just like at home on these small but fast lefthanders and I enjoyed my time in the water a lot. I had Eduardo (Fernandes) in my heat and he got the best score of the day so it was a high scoring heat and I am stoked to end up first with such a combination of high scores.

Laborde, whose heat result is the best of the week thus far at Cordoama, had to battle against an inform Fernandes, runner-up in both ASP Pro Junior and ASP WQS events last year at Cordoama, a serious threat for the French favorite in the event. Having no other goal than make it as far as possible, Laborde will be confident when he paddles out for Round 3 tomorrow.

I just want to take it by heat and get that kind of scores, Laborde said. I want to enjoy my upcoming heats as much as I enjoyed this one today and I hope it can take me to the end.

In an exact copy of the Pro Junior event opening three days ago, the other inform surfer of the day was Germanys and Algarve resident Nicolau Von Rupp (Algarve, DEU), 18, who came up with another solid start in the event posting 15.67 points out of a possible 20 to get his Round 3 berth and show his opponents he was hungry for a better result than in the Pro Junior event.

I was pretty nervous before my heat having in mind my early loss in the Pro Junior, Von Rupp said. Then I was the last to find a good set wave and had to catch up with the guys so I started off with an average but secure ride than tried to let my surfing speak and let the pressure go. I am stoked it went right in the end and I am really looking forward to bettering my best result here which is a semifinal a couple of years ago in this event.

Laborde and Von Rupps performances were closely followed by Fernandes remarkable assault, the 22-year-old Portuguese competitor finding his rhythm to score the best single ride of the day, a 9.33 out of a possible 10 that showed how strong he was in the waves of Cordoama.

With 32 men only remaining after todays eliminations, the next three days will allow organizers to use the best moments of the tide and give the title contenders some good scoring potential for an exciting finish planned on Sunday.

Tanner Gudauskas Wins ASP 6-Star Mr. Price Pro, Jumps to No. 6 on ASP WQS

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Sunday, July 5, 2009) Tanner Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 21, earned the best result of his professional career when he won the ASP 6-Star Mr. Price Pro Ballito in South Africa today over Australian James Taipan Wood, launching him from 20th to sixth overall on the ASP WQS, putting him in excellent on The Grind as the season approaches the halfway mark.

I just cant believe it, this is a personal best for me, Gudauskas said. Every night this week Ive been going to bed dreaming about winning this contest and putting myself up there where Pat (Tanners brother and ASP WQS No. 10 Patrick Gudauskas), and it came through today so Im fired up!

Gudauskas jumped out to an early lead in the Final, staying busy throughout the heats entirety and found the waves needed to claim the win over his ferocious Australian competitor. Gudauskas win was not only his first ASP WQS victory, but the significance of winning an ASP 6-Star event makes the win that much more prestigious due to the heightened ratings points on offer towards qualification for the ASP World Tour.

I just got into this mindset that when the surf got worse, I was going to get better and as the tide came up and it got less consistent, I just got more fired up and more pissed off, Gudauskas said. Its crazy because I can hardly remember half of it now, but my priority exchange worked out and it all came together and Im just super fired up!

The impressive victory came as a late gift to the young American, who celebrated his 21st birthday on July 4th, and was able to share the festivities with brothers Dane and Patrick, who carried him up the beach alongside his fellow American competitors.

When I came out of the water and saw my brothers and some of my friends all standing on the beach cheering for me I was almost in tears, Gudauskas said. We have a really strong crew from America right now and were all pushing as hard as we can to bust down the door and make the ASP World Tour and I think this year could be the year.

Tanner is now the highest rated American surfer on the ASP WQS after his victory, passing Brett Simpson (Huntington Beach, CA), 24, who is trailing Gudauskas in the No. 7 position, and older brother Patrick Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), who is sitting in the No. 10 spot.

Austin Ware (Solana Beach, CA), 28, also made a jump on The Grind when he finished ninth overall at the Mr. Price Pro Ballito. The North San Diego County local went on a tear in the South African event before falling to Matt Wilkinson (Copacabana, AUS), 20 and is now rated 11th.

The next stop on the ASP WQS will be the ASP 6-Star Maresia Surf International in Santa Catarina, Brazil from July 7-12, 2009.

Pat Gudauskas Sets Sights on South Africa After Rebounding to Seventh on ASP WQS

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Sunday, June 28, 2009) Patrick Gudauskas, 23, has been battling it out in the trenches on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) for years now and the San Clemente talent is devoted to earning his spot on the ASP World Tour.

Gudauskas just had an amazing run at the ASP 6-Star PRIME SriLankan Airlines Pro, launching him to seventh overall on The Grind and now the innovative regular-footer is out to carry his momentum to the ASP 6-Star Mr. Price Pro Ballito.

I think maldives was a big turning point in my season, Gudauskas said. I’ve got a lot of confidence in my surfing right now. I’ve got great equipment, and I think it was a huge booster to pull out some big moves over there. I’m hoping that momentum will carry over to this next leg. I’ve been surfing a ton and I’m looking for a win in South Africa.

Gudauskas clutch performance at the SriLankan Airlines Pro could not have come at a better time. After a booming season opening performance at the ONeill Cold Water Classic in Tasmania, Gudauskas had stumbled a bit and slipped down the ratings when he suffered an early round elimination in a stacked Round of 48 heat at his home break of Lower Trestles, but used his brother Tanners success to build his confidence back up for the Maldives event.

Lowers was a dissapointment for myself, Gudauskas said. I felt like I was surfing good, I even lost with a 16 point heat total. It was just one of those heats where Benny Bourgeois and Sebass (Sebastien Zietz) stepped up and took the heat. Tanner carried through to the quarters and that really got me heated up to do well in Maldives. It seems that I have had some close losses in the last couple of events, so I didn’t want to leave anything to chance in the Maldives. It’s a high-performance wave and I wanted to step up my level of surfing for it. Also I got onto a really good board, an Al Merrick Proton, the thing was magic carpet, and that made a huge difference in my confidence at that wave.

Gudauskas did more than just make the Final at the Premier event at Pasta Point, he managed to punt, and land, the first two inverted airs in ASP history.

It’s for sure been one of the new moves that all the progressive free-surfers have been doing, Gudauskas said. For me it started watching Aaron Cormican do one at trestles a couple of years back. I thought it was a really exciting and different move and wanted to master it. It seems like today a lot of people can do them, but it’s maybe one of those things that surfers would try 50 times and stick once or twice. I think that’s why to be completed in a heat is pretty radical. The chances of you sticking one in a 25 minute pressure cooker window of time are pretty slim.

The explosive talent is pushing the barrier of combining progressive free-surfing maneuvers while using them to his competitive advantage and finds his name alongside the likes of free-surfing magicians such as Jordy Smith and Dane Reynolds.

It’s really exciting to have my name up there with guys like Dane and Jordy, Gudauskas said. They’re definitely the most progressive surfers out there right now, and some of my favorite guys to surf with. I think that really pulling a rodeo in a heat is only a preview of things to come from our generation and younger. Guys like Dane and Jordy are pulling massive tricks and moves all the time in comps and in free-surfs. Hopefully it’s the evolution of competitive surfing to continue to grow in excitement. It’s a spectators sport, and I think people want to see exciting stuff.

Gudauskas will continue his ASP WQS campaign at the Mr. Price Pro Ballito, which runs from June 29 through July 5, 2009.

To watch the event live log on to www.mrpricepro.com

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Wednesday, March 18, 2009) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) is ready to kick off its first West Coast event of the year with the ASP WQS 2-Star Vans Pier Classic presented by Jack’s Surfboards which will be held at South Huntington Beach Pier from March 25-29, 2009. Running in conjunction with the event will be the ASP Grade-2 Ezekiel Pro Junior, also presented by Jack’s Surfboards.

The ASP WQS allows the top 15 seeds at year’s end to advance to the coveted ASP World Tour, where they earn the chance to battle the top 45 competitive surfers for the ASP World Title. The ASP North America Pro Junior Series acts as a qualifier for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships held in Narrabeen, Australia in January of each year. The event crowns the ASP World Junior Champion.

Shaun Ward (Huntington Beach, CA), 26, who is the reigning Vans Pier Classic champion, will be back this year in an attempt to take out the event at his home break. The talented regular-footer is looking to get the ball rolling for his 2009 ASP WQS campaign with a repeat victory on his stomping grounds.

“It’s really nice to have an ASP event right at home,” Ward said. “I don’t have a sponsor right now, so ill be ready! It would be amazing to keep the title in Huntington Beach and there are a lot of good guys in the event so I’m excited, plus I want to get another big Vans shoe for my house.”

The Huntington local has been working with a trainer in the off-season and improving his surfing for his attack on The Grind this year.

“I’ve been training with D.S.C, my training camp, and I’ve been surfing,” Ward said. “I’m just keeping things simple. I’m trying to improve my technique and work on my weaknesses a little bit, but mostly I’m just having fun with things because that’s when I surf the best.”

Micah Byrne (Huntington Beach, CA), 27, won the Vans Pier Classic in 2007 and will be out to battle Ward to take top local honors this year while taking advantage of the added benefits of competing in an event in his backyard.

“It’s nice to sleep at home and eat your own food,” Byrne said. “It’s great to get in your car and drive three minutes down the road to surf in an event.”

Byrne, who is a father of a one-year-old son and has a newborn on the way, works hard to keep his competitive skill at a top level while raising his young family.

“I don’t get to surf as much as before, but now I surf that much harder when I’m able to get in the water,” Byrne said. “I’m also that much more stoked to surf now that I can’t just go whenever I want.”

Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), 19, will look to defend his ASP North American Pro Junior Series title against the flurry of up and comers at the Ezekiel Pro Junior, which is this year’s season opener and the talented goofy-footer is out to start the year off on a positive note.

“I really want to back up my result from last year and defend my title,” Arrambide said. ” That’s my goal. I feel confident going into this year and it’s important to me to do well again.”

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.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Sunday, January 18, 2009) The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) North America hosted the first event of the 2009 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) season this week with the ONeill Sebastian Inlet Pro pres. by Ron Jon. The event saw reigning ASP WQS champion Nathaniel Curran (Oxnard, CA), 24, take out the event in an action packed final over Aaron Cormican (New Smyrna Beach, FL), 26, Blake Jones (Melbourne Beach, FL), 20, and Cory Lopez (Laguana Niguel, CA), 31. Aside from the obviously impressive performances donated by the event finalists, there were several other surfers who were standouts throughout the event.

The ASP WQS is a qualifier for the ASP World Tour, with the top 15 competitors on the series earning their chance to claim a title the following year.

Jesse Heilman (New Smyrna Beach, FL), 22, earned some of the events highest scores, including the highest single wave score of an 8.83 out of 10 until he was topped by Jones 9.63 score in the Semifinals of the event. The young Floridian defeated San Clemente standout Jason Miller (San Clemente, CA), 22, and Brian Toth (Isabella, PRI), 21, on the way to his Quarterfinals finish and was definitely one to watch throughout the event.

It builds my confidence to make it through a couple of heats, Heilman said. It was good going against the top seeds with a few heats under my belt.

Heilman, who spent several of his amateur years at Sebastian Inlet, put his knowledge of the famed Florida break to good use on the way to his 13th place finish.

Its pretty much a classic Sebastian contest day, Heilman said. When I began competing in amateur events the conditions would always be all north wind and nasty, so Im pretty used to it. Id rather have it be like this, than one-foot and everyone fighting for waves. Its definitely just you and the ocean out there.

Oliver Kurtz (Vero Beach, FL), 18, started in the opening round of competition and earned a respectable 17th place finish overall. The Sebastian Inlet local boasted notable results throughout the events entirety and topped regional standouts Chris Waring (Seal Beach, CA), 21, and Travis Mellem (San Clemente, CA), 23.

Brent Reilly (Carlsbad, CA), 18, also began in the opening round of competition at the ONeill Sebastian Inlet Pro and battled his way into the Quarterfinals, posting an impressive ninth place finish overall. Reilly defeated ASP WQS veteran Asher Nolan (Jacksonville, FL), 30, on the way to his impressive result.