Drug Aware Pro Margaret River
Presented by O’Neill

Men's 6 Star Prime WQS Event #8
Women's 6 Star Prime WQS Event #5
Surfers Point, Margaret River
7 - 13 April 2008

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

MARGARET RIVER MISSION FOR WORLD CHAMPION GARCIA

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 21 March, 2008 : - - Former World Champion surfer Sunny Garcia is one of a host of big names leading the annual pilgrimage to Western Australia’s picturesque South West for the 2008 Drug Aware Pro Margaret River presented by O’Neill, April 7 to 13.

Garcia, 38, won the world surfing crown back in 2000 and his appearance at this year’s Drug Aware Pro is part of a grand comeback plan for the Hawaiian natural-footer.  He is considered a hot favourite in the contest, with his surfing perfectly suited to the Hawaiian-style power of Margaret River’s Main Break.

Garcia will line up in the Round of 192 Men in the 6-Star ‘Prime-Rated’ World Qualifying Series (WQS) contest, which boasts AUD$168,750 (US$135,000) in prize money.  In the 5-Star Women’s event, 60 surfers will contest a AUD$37,500 (US$30,000) prize purse.

Garcia said he was focused on regaining a position on the ASP World Tour for 2009 and planned to use the Margaret River event as a launching pad for his year ahead on the WQS. “There’s a lot of really talented young guys out there now, but I feel I’m ready to take them on.  I’m up for the challenge and I’m quite happy to put in the hard work.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be an easy year and I’ll be seriously disappointed if I don’t requalify.  But it’s going to be a lot of fun for me too.  Unlike others, I don’t have anything to prove. “A lot of the old guys are backing me all the way and want to see me do it.  And then there are others who don’t think I can.  But people doubted me before and I ended up winning the world title!  I’m ready to prove the sceptics wrong.”

Garcia will make the journey to Western Australia’s South West with his fiancée Colleen, where the two will spend time touring the renowned Margaret River region. Joining Garcia is 42-year-old 1999 World Champion, Mark Occhilupo (QLD), who created history in 2006 when he claimed the Margaret River contest title at the age of 40, more than 20 years after he won the first-ever event at Surfers Point.

Other big names include current World Number 3 Jeremy Flores (France), current World Number 5 Adrian Buchan (NSW), and Drug Aware Pro reigning champion, former World Number 6 Kieren Perrow (NSW). West Australian competitors include local legend Jake Paterson (Yallingup) and his brother Paul Paterson, Ry Craike (Kalbarri), Jay Davies (Yallingup), and Margaret River locals Yadin Nicol and Tom Innes.

In the Women’s contest, 18-year-old Bethany Hamilton (Hawaii), who lost her left arm in a savage shark attack in 2003 and is remarkably ranked second on the WQS, will make her Margaret River debut at the Pro.  She will compete alongside 2007 ASP World Junior Champion and current WQS leader, 17-year-old Sally Fitzgibbons (NSW).

Experienced ASP Women’s World Tour campaigners Melanie Redman-Carr (Dunsborough) and Claire Bevilacqua (City Beach) will represent their home state, up against many of the world’s Top 17 women, including Samantha Cornish (QLD), Amee Donohoe (NSW), Rebecca Woods (NSW), Megan Abubo (Hawaii), plus 2007 Drug Aware Pro Women’s Champion Jacqueline Silva (Brazil) and Runner-up Jessi Miley-Dyer (NSW).

As well as intense action in the surf, Saturday, April 12 features a massive ‘Party on the Point’, with live bands throughout the afternoon, plus adrenaline-pumped aerial stunts by pro-skaters on a giant vert ramp overlooking the ocean at Surfers Point.

Major sponsors of the 2008 Drug Aware Pro Margaret River include Healthway / Drug Aware, EventsCorp and O’Neill.  Support sponsors include SupaShake by Brownes, Nova 93.7, Department of Sport & Recreation, Surftech Australia, Odyssey 2020, The Sunday Times, Margarets Beach Resort, Leeuwin Estate, Corona, Pump Water, MR Law, Tracks Magazine, Shire of Augusta Margaret River, Tracks, Surfersvillage.com, Surfing WA and ASP Australasia.

Entry is free all week and just $5 per person on the Finals weekend (April 12 and 13).  Admission is free for children 12 and under.  Free bus transfers available to and from Surfers Point. For travel, accommodation and visitor information, contact the Margaret River Visitor Centre on (08) 9757 2911, email welcome@margaretriver.com or visit www.margaretriver.com.

www.margaretriver.com
www.drugawarepro.com

Previous reports:
# 1 : Bethany Hamilton set for Drug Aware Pro Margaret River
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon    
 

 
  O'Neill TV | Events | Team | News | Downloads  

More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts

New! B2B News ASBE-Surf   |  Receive News-Alerts

Julie Lynch

WQS Contests - Surfersvillage