Potential Changes On-Deck for Next Year’s Dream Tour!

Several of surfing’s biggest names got together two weeks ago on Australia’s Gold Cost for a two-day meeting, dubbed “Rabbit Camp 2009” (after former ASP President Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew’s annual strategy sessions) where event licensees, surfer’s representatives and ASP administrators discussed several key ideas which would change the face of next year’s ASP Dream Tour and the future of surfing. Although finalization of these new ideas discussed at the meeting will not be voted upon until October, there is a solid chance for some exciting changes for next year’s finest ASP competitors.

Women’s Finest Prep for Action

After a lengthy break from competition, the finest crop of competitive female talent are heading back to Australia to do battle at this year’s Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic, which will host a waiting period from September 30 through October 5 in Sydney at Dee Why Point. You’ll want to see what unfolds at the third of seven stops on the Women’s ASP Dream Tour as reigning two-time Women’s World Champ and current ratings leader Stephanie Gilmore, 21, will be working towards her third title and youngster Tyler Wright, 15, who won the Beachley Classic last year, will definitely be out to reclaim her event throne

C.J. Hobgood Scrapbook by ESPN

C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, current ASP World No. 2, has been on a tear this season, collecting three 5ths, a 3rd and a 9th during the first half of the year. Looking phenomenally fit and having been an historic doom-bringer during the back half of the ASP Dream Tour schedule, it would appear that Mr. Hobgood is sitting in a pretty good position. However, things weren’t always this good, and the soft-spoken Floridian recently opened up about life on the road with Eastern Surf Magazine. This…is their story…

Cardoso Bests Andre to Claim Azores Islands Pro

The inaugural ASP WQS 6-Star Azores Islands Pro presented by Nissan saw an all-Brazilian Final which saw young Brazilian William Cardoso, 23, defeat current ASP WQS No. 2 Jadson Andre to claim the crucial qualification points towards the ASP Dream Tour, while Andre’s runner-up finish solidifies him as a top threat on The Grind. Cardoso’s break-through victory launched him up the ladder in to the No. 14 seat amongst the finest up-and-coming competitive global talent and puts him in good position for a slot on next year’s ASP World Tour.

Fantasy Surfer: Trestles Time!

The Hurley Pro Trestles is set to host mainland America’s only stop on the ASP Dream Tour at the premier wave of Lower Trestles and Hurley is about to unleash a sick prize pack for Fantasy Surfer fanatics. So, who are you banking on for the Upcoming event? Will Parko’s reign on the 2009 season continue? A Mr. Kelly Slater has quite the history at the famed cobblestone reef, so will you lead with him? Maybe there will be a breakthrough performer at this year’s Hurley Pro Trestles, so start plotting out your team while there’s still time by logging in to FantasySurfer.com 

Women’s Finest Prep for Action

After a lengthy break from competition, the finest crop of competitive female talent are heading back to Australia to do battle at this year’s Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic, which will host a waiting period from September 30 through October 5 in Sydney at Dee Why Point. You’ll want to see what unfolds at the third of seven stops on the Women’s ASP Dream Tour as reigning two-time Women’s World Champ and current ratings leader Stephanie Gilmore, 21, will be working towards her third title and youngster Tyler Wright, 15, who won the Beachley Classic last year, will definitely be out to reclaim her event throne

C.J. Hobgood Scrapbook by ESPN

C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, current ASP World No. 2, has been on a tear this season, collecting three 5ths, a 3rd and a 9th during the first half of the year. Looking phenomenally fit and having been an historic doom-bringer during the back half of the ASP Dream Tour schedule, it would appear that Mr. Hobgood is sitting in a pretty good position. However, things weren’t always this good, and the soft-spoken Floridian recently opened up about life on the road with Eastern Surf Magazine. This…is their story…

Cardoso Bests Andre to Claim Azores Islands Pro

The inaugural ASP WQS 6-Star Azores Islands Pro presented by Nissan saw an all-Brazilian Final which saw young Brazilian William Cardoso, 23, defeat current ASP WQS No. 2 Jadson Andre to claim the crucial qualification points towards the ASP Dream Tour, while Andre’s runner-up finish solidifies him as a top threat on The Grind. Cardoso’s break-through victory launched him up the ladder in to the No. 14 seat amongst the finest up-and-coming competitive global talent and puts him in good position for a slot on next year’s ASP World Tour.

Fantasy Surfer: Trestles Time!

The Hurley Pro Trestles is set to host mainland America’s only stop on the ASP Dream Tour at the premier wave of Lower Trestles and Hurley is about to unleash a sick prize pack for Fantasy Surfer fanatics. So, who are you banking on for the Upcoming event? Will Parko’s reign on the 2009 season continue? A Mr. Kelly Slater has quite the history at the famed cobblestone reef, so will you lead with him? Maybe there will be a breakthrough performer at this year’s Hurley Pro Trestles, so start plotting out your team while there’s still time by logging in to FantasySurfer.com

Romain Cloitre

[Photo section: Aquashot/aspeurope.com] Romain Cloitre (REU), 20, was in good form today opening his Sooruz Lacanau Pro campaign with an excellent 16.34 point heat score. Cloitre eliminated current ASP Top 45 Nic Muscroft (AUS) and won the heat ahead of Miguel Pupo (BRA)

LACANAU OCEAN – France (Thursday, August 20, 2009) – The ASP WQS 6-Star Sooruz Lacanau Pro experienced another short day of competition as three heats only were completed during the outgoing tide at Lacanau this morning. Some two to three foot (0.5 to 1 meter) waves allowed the twelve getting their chance to surf today to show some good surfing, former ASP European Junior champion Romain Cloitre (REU), 20, impressing the ASP judging panel to net a 16.34 point combination, the sixth best score of the event thus far.

Cloitre, who surfed against fellow top seed and ASP World Tour member Nic Muscroft (Victoria, AUS), experienced a tough heat not finding any decent ride for the first ten minutes of the heat before coming back in the race to oust Muscroft and Brad Ettinger (USA) and advance through to Round 3.

“I was really nervous at the start of that heat and already thinking of my coach watching me and stressing out,” Cloitre said. “Then I got that first wave, it took me a bit of time to find a second ride but it was the best wave of the heat and that 9.17 definitely relieved the pressure. I am happy to make it through and get to surf in the expected better waves.”

Cloitre, who got in the spotlights in 2007 after dominating the ASP Pro junior tour in Europe winning three out of five events including the biggest one against superstar Julian Wilson (AUS), has stepped up this year touring on the Grind, the Reunion island born surfer getting two excellent results in the ASP WQS 6-Star event in Portugal last April where he placed 3^rd, and in the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime event in the Maldives with a 5^th.

The event was put on hold by event officials after Heat 11 of Round 2 was completed, Gony Zubizarreta (Vigo, ESP) advancing through with a win ahead of Austin Ware (California, USA) and joining other standout today Dusty Payne (HAW).

The expected new swell has been confirmed by official reporter Surf-report.com and tomorrow will see loads of action as no less than twenty heats are scheduled, the first call being made at 7 AM by contest director Cyril Camu along with ASP Head Judge Iain Buchanan and Surfer’s Representative Michael Picon.

Visit www.aspeurope.com and www.sooruzlacanaupro.com for results, photos and news of the ASP WQS 6-Star Sooruz Lacanau Pro

SOORUZ LACANAU PRO ROUND 2 RESULTS
Heat 1: Tim Boal (FRA) 17.17 pts, Charles Martin (GLP) 12.60 pts, Richard Christie (NZL) 11.17 pts, Alex Gray (USA) 10.00 pts

Heat 2: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 15.66 pts, Luke Munro (AUS) 13.20 pts, Daniel Redman (ZAF) 11.17 pts, Mark Mathews (AUS) 9.57 pts

Heat 3: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.50 pts, Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 9.98 pts, William Cardoso (BRA) 9.66 pts, Shaun Ward (USA) 8.77 pts

Heat 4: Owen Wright (AUS) 13.00 pts, Nat Young (USA) 11.20 pts, Hodei Collazo (EUK) 10.94 pts, Masatoshi Ohno (JPN) 8.43 pts

Heat 5: Dylan Graves (PRI) 14.10 pts, Jihad Khodr (BRA) 11.67 pts, Paulo Moura (BRA) 10.07 pts, Che Stang (USA) 8.70 pts

Heat 6: Eric Geiselman (USA) 13.07 pts, Travis Logie (ZAF) 11.07 pts, Marco Polo (BRA) 10.67 pts, Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 7.73 pts

Heat 7: Blake Wilson (AUS) 13.67 pts, Leonardo Neves (BRA) 12.80 pts, Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 9.07 pts, Brent Dorrington (AUS) 8.90 pts
Heat 8: Medi Veminardi (REU) 14.00 pts, David Weare (ZAF) 13.60 pts, Pablo Paulino (BRA) 7.33 pts, Damien Chaudoy (REU) 6.66 pts
Heat 9: Romain Cloître (FRA) 16.34 pts, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 14.74 pts, Nic Muscroft (AUS) 12.26 pts, Brad Etinger (USA) 12.16 pts

Heat 10: Dusty Payne (HAW) 15.34 pts, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.00 pts, Romain Laulhe (FRA) 9.66 pts, Jarrad House (AUS) 4.87 pts

Heat 11: Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 11.67 pts, Austin Ware (USA) 10.77 pts, Christophe Allary (FRA) 9.34 pts, Rowan Aish (NZL) 3.62 pts

Wiggoly Dantas

[Photo credit: Aquashot/aspeurope.com] Wiggoly Dantas (BRA), 19, was in superb form for his start in the Oakley Pro Junior today, the Brazilian standout posting the days highest scores to advance through two rounds and join event top seeds in Round 3

LACANAU OCEAN – France (Thursday, August 13, 2009) – The ASP Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior got underway at Lacanau today, the men’s division kicking-off in tricky two foot (0.5 meter) clean waves for an action-packed day of surfing and two rounds being completed. From international representatives to regional event low seeds, numerous summer crowds witnessed intense battles take place and Brazil’s Wiggoly Dantas (BRA), 19, taking control of proceedings.

Dantas, who just got back from England where he placed equal 3^rd in the ASP WQS 5-Star event, paddled back out with his competition rash vest on to destroy the small waves on offer and post the day’s highest heat score, an impressive 17.16 point tally including a 9.33 point ride (out of a possible 10).

“The waves were okay and fun enough during my heat,” Dantas said. “I just went out there relaxed to try and get the better set waves and I managed to do well so I’ m happy to get through Day 1. I am still learning a lot and competing on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) so that event is another good training.”

Dantas, who is one of Brazil’s leading representatives on the WQS, was able to advance through two rounds today, the 19-year-old competitor advancing through to the event’s top seeds round where he will meet regional top competitors Dimitri Ouvre (FRA) and Edouard Delpero (FRA).

“It wasn’t easy to surf well in the small surf but I am happy with my scores,” Dantas said. “That event is a good training to get used to the place before the WQS contest so I will go heat by heat and enjoy myself without pressure.”

While Dantas was easily taking a commanding lead over the rest of today’s competitive field, several exciting heats got place throughout the day with most of today’s favorites advancing through to Round 3 of the ASP Grade-2 event. Fifth event on this year’s ASP European Pro Junior tour, the Oakley Pro Junior is a crucial step in the regional ratings’ race and pressure already settled over the competitors’ area as Day 1 was coming to an end.

Starting today along with the low seeds was ratings’ front runner Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA), the 18-year-old Hossegor resident having to get through two rounds today to join his peers in Round 3. Laborde, who has had a solid start on this year’s ASP European Junior tour, came up with excellent surfing to advance and avoid an upset elimination. Still in contention for a first regional crown, Laborde showed he was ready to step-up and reach his best level this week.

“It’s good to get through those two rounds and get to surf in Round 3 where I should have started,” Laborde said. “The waves were pretty small but I managed to catch a couple in each of my heats and I am now focused on Round 3 where things will get tougher.”

Other top seed to surf early today due to a late entry was current ASP WQS No. 10 Joan Duru (FRA), 19, the renowned competitor and current best European on the WQS escaping the first two rounds of competition to join Oakley Pro Junior top seeds and keep his title hopes alive.

Contest director Cyril Camu along with ASP Head Judge Iain Buchanan had to stop the event after the completion of round 2, deciding of an early check-in for Friday to take advantage of the incoming tide.

“The forecast is pretty small so we want to use most of the better tide moments,” Camu said. “The sand banks are excellent and any small push will give decent surf so we want to give the top seeds some contestable waves and tomorrow morning should be clean.”

All Round 3 competitors will start their ASP Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior campaign tomorrow, once the call is made at 7 AM.

Visit www.aspeurope.com for results, photos and news of the ASP Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior