Kelly Slater : photo Kirstin/ASP Covered Images

Team News

Slater Consolidates at Jeffreys Bay and ASP WQS Heats Up in Huntington Beach

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 21 July, 2008 : - - Huntington Beach -- The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour moved one step closer to the half way mark of the season with the completion of the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay on Thursday, July 17, 2008. Kelly Slater (Cocoa Beach, FL), 8x ASP World Champion and current ratings leader on the 2008 ASP World Tour, clinched his fourth victory this season out of the five events held thus far.

"I didn't realize I was going to be overwhelmed by it, but I haven't been in this position before, at this point of the year, with this many wins," Slater said. "There are great things going on in my life so I'm just trying to soak it up and be appreciative."

Slater's victory at Jeffreys Bay makes him the only member of the ASP Top 45 with an event win in 2008, with Billabong Pro Teahupoo Trialist Bruno Santos (BRA) claiming the event in Tahiti. With Slater's commanding 1,262 point lead over current ASP World No. 2 Joel Parkinson (Coolangatta, AUS), North American surfers will be battling for the No. 2 position on the ASP Dream Tour.

C.J. Hobgood (Melbourne, FL), finished a respectable 5th at the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, bumping his ranking up to No. 7 on the ASP World Tour, placing him in second behind Slater as far as North American surfers are concerned. The former ASP World Tour Champion (2001) was defeated in the Quarterfinals by event finalist and reigning ASP World Tour Champion. Mick Fanning (Tweed Heads, AUS).

Bobby Martinez (Santa Barbara, CA) follows closely behind Hobgood in the No. 9 spot overall, making him the third highest-rated North American surfer on the ASP World Tour. Martinez put on an strong backhand performance on the righthanders on offer at Jeffreys Bay, claiming a perfect 10-point ride in his Round 2 heat, before losing out to Brazilian standout Adriano De Souza (Guaruja Sao Paulo, BRA) in Round 4.

"It's definitely a hard wave for us (goofy footers)," Martinez said. "I look at it as having an advantage when you have a goofy footer in your heat. I'm not trying to change that as much as I'm just trying to do my best."

Timmy Reyes (Huntington Beach, CA), currently rated No. 14 on the ASP World Tour, finished a disappointing 33rd place in South Africa when he was eliminated by South African Travis Logie (Durban, ZAF) in Round 2. Reyes will stop in his hometown to compete in the ASP WQS 6-Star Honda U.S. Open of Surfing pres. by O'Neill before departing for Stop No. 6 on the 2008 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search "Somewhere".

Dane Reynolds (Ventura, CA) lost his lead on the 2008 ASP World Tour Rookie of the Year position, as his 33rd place finish knocked him down to ASP World No. 19, allowing South African Jordy Smith (Durban, ZAF) to overpass with an equal 9th place finish moving to No. 16 on the ASP World Tour ratings.

Taylor Knox (Carlsbad, CA) made Jeffreys Bay history with the highest total heat score ever with a 19.70 out of a possible 20, was unable to put together a repeat performance, losing his Round 3 heat to Tom Whitaker (Sydney, AUS) and drops him to No. 23 overall on the ASP World Tour.

Chris Ward (San Clemente, CA) and Ben Bourgeois (Wrightsville Beach, NC) were unable to escape Round 3 as well. Both surfers were eliminated in the early rounds of competition at the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, earning them less than desirable finishes.

Both Ward's and Bourgeois' equal 17th place finishes in South Africa see them move to No. 31 and No. 34 respectively on the ASP World Tour ratings heading into the upcoming Rip Curl Pro Search "Somewhere" event running from July 30, August 10, 2008.

Damien Hobgood (Satellite Beach, FL), who sustained a shoulder injury before event No. 3 on the the 2008 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Teahupoo, struggled at Jeffreys Bay, finishing equal 33rd and dropping to No. 25 on the ASP World Tour ratings.

While the Dream Tour takes a quick breather, the ASP North America Tour is back in full swing with its biggest event of the year, the GO211 Live featuring the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing pres. by O'Neill. The event plays host to men's and women's ASP WQS 6-Star venues, as well as ASP Grade-2 men's and women's ASP Pro Junior events and a regional men's ASP Longboard event.

The ASP WQS 6-Star event will be an excellent opportunity for North American surfers to solidify their standings on the ASP WQS on home soil before departing to Japan and Europe for the upcoming legs.

Look for native ASP WQS North American competitors such as current ASP WQS ratings leader Patrick Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), Nathaniel Curran (Oxnard, CA), Nathan Yeomans (San Clemente, CA), Austin Ware (Solana Beach, CA), Brett Simpson (Huntington Beach, CA) and Shaun Ward (Huntington Beach, CA) to put in solid efforts in hopes of solidifying their qualification campaigns in Huntington Beach this week.

For all of your GO211 Live featuring the Honda U.S. Open presented by O'Neill needs, check out usopenofsurfing.com. For other ASP inquires, log on to aspworldtour.com and aspnorthamerica.org

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