Sunset Surf

Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro
Stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour
Santa Catarina, Brazil
June 27 – July 5, 2009

ASP Dream Tour Euro Contingent to Start Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro Saturday

Jeremy Flores

Photo: Jeremy Flores (FRA) will be looking to better his runner-up finish from last year when he competes in the 2009 Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro from tomorrow Saturday, aiming at a possible first ASP World Tour event win

CAPBRETON, France (Friday, June 26, 2009) – Europe’s seven representatives on this year’s ASP World Tour, led by current World No. 17 Jérémy Flores (FRA), 21, will start their Brazilian campaign tomorrow in the fourth event of the year. With longtime ratings’ favorites Joel Parkinson (Gold Coast, AUS) and Taj Burrow (Western Australia, AUS) currently leading the ASP Top 45 respectively in first and second position, the battle for the title will resume in the Brazilian waves of Santa Catarina, the seven Europeans surfers all looking to grab valuable points to climb up the ratings.

Flores, who has dropped out of the ASP Top 15 after the last contest in French Polynesia, will be much awaited for his start in the event where he placed runner-up in 2008 to event winner Bede Durbidge (Gold Coast, AUS). Flores, who turned 21 in April, remains Europe’s best competitor on the ASP Dream Tourwith several big results including three semifinals (two at Trestles and one on the Gold Coast in the last couple of years) and has the potential to post a second consecutive solid performance in Brazil, the New Caledonian resident confidently pursuing his career.

“I am feeling good at the moment and I believe that my surfing is getting better eventhough the results are not showing it so far this year,” Flores said. “I feel I’ve improved a lot from last year and I think it is the most important.”

Flores, who will surf in Heat 15 of Round 1 when competition gets underway at Santa Catarina for a first match-up against Australian experienced surfer Chris Davidson and fellow European solid surfer Tiago Pires (Ericeira, PRT). Flores and Pires last encounter was at Bells Beach in 2008, where the French wunderkind took the best out of their battle.

Only Basque representative among the ASP Top 45, Aritz Aranburu (Zarautz, EUK), 23, will be looking to confirm his recent exceptional performance in the Billabong Pro Tahiti where he placed 3^rddefeating reigning and nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (Florida, USA) and 2008 ASP Rookie of the Year Dane Reynolds on his way. Aranburu, whi is on his second year as a full-time ASP World Tour competitor, is currently rated No. 19, his best ranking ever which makes him the second best European on tour at this stage, a status that should give him confidence for his Brazilian run.

ASP World Tour rookie and current best European rookie Tim Boal (Anglet, FRA), 25, will be one to count with when he paddles out for the opening heat of the event against South African athletes Jordy Smith (Durban, ZAF) and tour veteran Greg Emslie (Durban, ZAF). Boal, who is ranked equal No. 25, will be looking to better his three consecutive 17^th places at the first events of the year to rise in the international ratings and confirm his unquestionable talent. Boal, whose surfing should fit well in the beachbreaks of the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro, will still have to pass one of the inform men of the moment, the talented Jordy Smith.

Looking to secure their first big result this year will be ASP Dream Tour rookies Marlon Lipke (Faro, DEU) and Michel Bourez (Tahiti, PYF) and experienced surfer Michael Picon (Capbreton, FRA) who haven’t been able to shine in 2009 against the world’s best surfing athletes. Much expected as a potential Rookie of the Year since he qualified, Bourez will be focused on a first big result when he paddles out against Australian representatives Kieren Perrow and Drew Courtney for his start in the event. Last but not least to fly the yellow star banner will be Portuguese surfer Tiago Pires, currently sitting on the requalifying bubble at No. 30 and definitely in form to express his classic powerful surfing.

HANG LOOSE SANTA CATARINA PRO, EUROPEANS’ ROUND 1 HEATS
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Tim Boal (FRA), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 2: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Josh Kerr (AUS), Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA), Tim Reyes (USA), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS), Aritz Aranburu (EUK), Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 12: Kieren Perrow (AUS), Drew Courtney (AUS), Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 15: Jérémy Flores (FRA), Chris Davidson (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)

ASP WORLD TOUR EUROPEANS’ RATINGS
No. 17, Jérémy Flores (FRA), 1420 pts
No. 19, Aritz Aranburu (EUK), 1326 pts
No. 25, Tim Boal (FRA), 1230 pts
No. 30, Tiago Pires (PRT), 1045 pts
No. 35, Michel Bourez (PYF), 860 pts
No. 35, Marlon Lipke (DEU), 860 pts
No. 43, Michael Picon (FRA), 675 pts

For more on the seven European surfers of the 2009 ASP World Tour, check outwww.aspworldtour.com and www.aspeurope.com