ASP Updates

Completion of Surfest in Merewether alters WQS ratings

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 7 April, 2008 : - - Into the thick of it now, having just completed Surfest in Merewether which saw an ASP WQS 4-Star men’s event as well as an ASP WQS 6-Star women’s event. Congratulations are in order for Adriano de Souza and Stephanie Gilmore who took down the MR Pro and Midori Pro respectively.

Certainly some movement in the ratings this week, and with the start of the Drug Aware Pro pres. by O’Neill at Margaret River just around the corner, expect to see some big shake-ups in the coming week.

The Mark Richards and Midori Pros at Merewether Beach in Newcastle, NSW, Australia have been completed with congratulations going to Dream Tour surfers Adriano de Souza (BRA) and Stephanie Gilmore on their great wins.

In the Mark Richards Pro, Adriano outscored fellow ASP Top 45 member Jeremy Flores (FRA) in the final and has moved into 38th spot on the ratings with this his only ASP WQS event this season. Jeremy is now 59th also with just one event score for the year.

At the top of the ratings are still Patrick Gudauskas (USA) and Nathaniel Curran (USA), but Hawaii’s T.J. Barron has jumped into 3rd place over Brett Simpson (USA) and Gabe Kling (USA).

The big movers this week were Shaun Gossman (AUS) into 7th from 31st, William Cardoso (BRA) from 46th to 13th and semifinalist Jarrad Sullivan (AUS) with a huge jump from 102nd to 17th. Unfortunately for Jarrad, he will not be able to capitalize on these points by adding to them from the Margaret River event, which starts tomorrow, as he did not enter due to lack of funds. Hopefully his $2,700 winnings will see him able to get into some more ASP WQS events during the year.

In the girls division, young Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), after coming 2nd in the Midori Pro to Stephanie Gilmore, has probably accumulated enough points now to be ensured a start on next season’s ASP Women’s World Tour. With just three events contested, Sally has racked up 6,150 points with wins at Phillip Island and Soldiers Beach and a 2nd at Merewether and only needs mediocre scores for fill up her best six total to make it.

Sally’s closest rivals are equal seconds Alana Blanchard (HAW) and Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)way back on 3,700 points. Rounding out the Top 5 in the girls is Laurina McGrath (AUS) on 3,690 and Bruna Schmitz (BRA) on 3,675.

The Drug Aware Pro at Margaret River got underway today with the trials and local surfers Jake Paterson and brother Paul, along with Jay Davies and Tom Innes advanced into the main event with Aussies Steve Noble, Mitchell Taylor, Owen Wright and Brazilian Stefano Dornelles rounding out the eight lucky trialists.

The surf apparently was in the 6-8 feet range and is predicted the same for tomorrow’s Round of 192, but is supposed to be huge on Tuesday perhaps in the 20 feet range. The only bummer is that the winds may not be favorable.

In any event, it looks like an exciting week at Margs and for sure being an ASP WQS 6-Star Prime event, major ratings changes will happen in the men and similar for the girls even though their event is only an ASP WQS 5-Star.

That’s all for now. Until next week. Regards, Al Hunt, ASP WQS Tour Manager

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Al Hunt

ASP Updates - Surfersvillage