Globe Pro Fiji

ASP World Tour event # 4
Namotu Tavarua Fiji
25 May - 6 June 2008

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Globe Pro Fiji To Start Tomorrow Slater Draws Another Local Wildcard

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 May, 2008 : - - Tavarua -- Current ASP World Tour No. 1 Kelly Slater (USA) will meet another local wildcard when competition for the Globe Pro Fiji commences at Restaurants tomorrow. That local is Isei Tokoea (FIJ) who beat five of his fellow Fijians in today’s Globe Pro Fiji Trials to earn his spot into the main event. Slater, Taylor Knox (USA), and Tokoea are in Heat 8 of Round 1.

Tokoea, who has won the trials to earn ASP World Tour wildcards twice before, started surfing 10 years ago when he took a job as a boat driver on Tavarua – one of the islands hosting the world’s best surfers during the Globe Pro Fiji. He is 31-years-old.

“This is my third time to surf in this event,” Tokoea said. “I am excited and have been training. I have surfed here five days a week since I taught myself to surf 10 years ago. The waves are good right now.” Fijian Prime Minister Fijian Josaia Bainimarama was on hand to congratulate Tokoea – the dignitary made a special visit to the Globe Pro Fiji opening ceremony to officially proceedings open.

“It is a huge honor to have an event of this magnitude in Fiji,” Bainimarama said. “To have a wildcard surfing in the Globe Pro Fiji is a huge inspiration for all of the Fijian people and I hope that surfing will grow in the Fijian culture. May the best wave rider win.”

Former ASP World Champion Mark Occhilupo (AUS) and Globe teamrider Yadin Nicol (AUS) are also competing as wildcards in the Globe Pro Fiji. Occhilupo won the inaugural ASP World Tour event held in Fiji in 1999 – the same year he won his ASP World Title.

Defending champion Damien Hobgood (USA) is the only multiple winner of the Globe Pro Fiji. Hobgood won the event in 2006 and 2004 – the last two times he surfed in the event. The Globe Pro Fiji was not held in 2007 and Hobgood withdrew from the competition in 2005 citing injury.

An official call on competition will be made tomorrow, Sunday, May 25, 2008, at 7am. A LIVE webcast of the Globe Pro Fiji will be available on aspworldtour.com and globeprofiji.com.

Globe Pro Fiji Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 2: Bobby Martinez (USA), Luke Munro (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS), Ben Dunn (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Damien Hobgood (USA), Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW), Neco Padaratz (BRA), Ricky Basnett (ZAF)
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Bruce Irons (HAW), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), Taylor Knox (USA), Isei Tokoea (FIJ)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Tim Reyes (USA), Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
Heat 10: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 11: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Roy Powers (HAW), Chris Ward (USA)
Heat 13: Dean Morrison (AUS), Mikael Picon (FRA), Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 15: Dane Reynolds (USA), Daniel Wills (AUS), Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 16: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Ben Bourgeois (USA), Michael Campbell (AUS)

Top 10 ASP World Tour Rated Surfers going into the Globe Pro Fiji:
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 2810 points
2. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 2340 points
3. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 2318 points
4. Andy Irons (HAW) 2196 points
5. Mick Fanning (AUS) 1989 points
6. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 1932 points
7. Taj Burrow (AUS) 1886 points
8. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 1874 points
9. Kai Otton (AUS) 1800 points
10. Dane Reynolds (USA) 1742 points

Check the Globe TV Video Promo
Check where the Globe Pro Left Off

Previous reports:
# 1 : Globe Pro Fiji returns to ASP Men's World Tour May 2008
# 2 : The Globe Pro Fiji will return to the Dream Tour this May
# 3 : Globe Pro Fiji could kick off on first day of waiting period
# 4 : Epic conditions forecast for Globe Pro Fiji 2008 kick off...  

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www.globeprofiji.com/
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