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

Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro to Crown Champion by Days End





Pictured: Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, current ASP World No. 1, will look to pick up another strong result today as the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro comes to an end. The Australian will face 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, in Round 4 this morning.

Credit: ASP/ CI/ CESTARI via GETTY IMAGES

IMBITUBA, Santa Catarina (Friday, July 3, 2009) The Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro is underway as the final day of competition will hit the three-to-four foot (1.5 metre) waves on offer at Praia Vila with Round 4 beginning at 7:30am.

Stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro has enjoyed a variety of conditions as the event narrowed the competitive field down to the final 16 surfers, and with the ASP World Title race on the line as well as ASP Dream Tour requalification campaigns, todays finale is sure to be a dynamic affair.

The surf has dropped slightly but there are still very contestable waves coming through so well be getting underway with the final day of competition beginning at 7:30am, Perry Hatchett, ASP Head Judge, said. Weve got 15 heats to complete as well as a break between the Semis and Final, so if conditions hold, were looking to crown a winner by days end.

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, current ASP World No. 1, will look to pick up another strong result today as the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro comes to an end. The Australian will face 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, in Round 4 this morning.

Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 25, has already secured his best result of the season with his Round 4 berth and will look to salvage his year in Brazil, first facing current ASP World No. 8 Tom Whitaker (AUS), 29, in his opening heat of the day.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, former ASP World Champion (2007) and two-time past winner of the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro (2006, 2007), will look for his third win in Brazil as well as an improvement upon his current ASP World No. 3 rating as he starts todays campaign against Chris Ward (USA), 30.

Up first this morning will be defending Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro winner Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, up against another past winner in Brazil (2005), Damien Hobgood (USA), 29, in the opening heat of Round 4.

The Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro will be webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.com beginning at 7:30am.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

HANG LOOSE SANTA CATARINA PRO ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)

Heat 2: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)

Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Dustin Barca (HAW)

Heat 4: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)

Heat 5: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)

Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)

Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)

Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Chris Ward (USA)