Team News

Yeomans and Gudauskas Lead Local Contingent at 6.0 Lowers Pro

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 May, 2009 : - - Mainland America just completed its first Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star PRIME event yesterday with the 6.0 Lowers Pro at the premier location of Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California. Local talents Nathan Yeomans (San Clemente, CA), 27, and Tanner Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 20, led the contingent of ASP WQS talent looking to qualify for next year’s ASP World Tour and finished third an fifth respectively.

Both Yeomans and Gudauskas significantly improved their standing on the ASP WQS due to the 6.0 Lowers Pro’s ASP 6-Star PRIME status, which offers the maximum amount of ratings points available towards qualification for the ASP World Tour.

Yeomans used the support of his local crowd to top some of the world’s finest surfers including 2001 ASP World Champion and current ASP World Tour No. 5 C.J. Hobgood (Melbourne, FL), 29, aerial specialist Dane Reynolds (Ventura, CA), 23, and Nic Muscroft (Victoria, AUS), 26.

“It’s insane that Nike 6.0 stepped up and made this contest a 6-Star PRIME,” Yeomans said. “To be at home and get that many points is great and I think this is going to be a huge confidence booster and a good one for the rest of the year.” Yeoman’s impressive third place finish at the premier event launches him from No. 21 to No.6 on the ASP WQS.

Gudauskas surfed amazingly in front of his home crowd and battled against some of the world’s finest surfers on the way to his solid result. The San Clemente native ousted top talents such as ASP World Tour surfers Heitor Alves (Rio De Janiero, BRA), 27, and Aritz Aranburu (Zarautz, EUK), 23, as well as 2008 ASP World Tour campaigner Jay Thompson (Burleigh Heads, AUS), 25, on the way to his Quarterfinals berth.

“I’m just taking it one heat at a time, I guess,” Gudauskas said. “Every heat I’ve had has been really tough and I didn’t really look past it. I just came out on top in that one. I knew Jay (Thompson) was going to be gnarly.”

The fifth place result earned by the standout goofy-footer at the ASP 6-Star PRIME event will play a crucial role in his attempt at qualification for next year’s ASP World Tour. Gudauskas is hungry to qualify for the ASP World Tour and the result launches him from 35th to 10th overall.

“I’m making a push to qualify this year,” Gudauskas said. “I’m stoked to get a good start and I have a couple of 1200 pointers, so this one will help even them out.” Tanner earned the best result of his older brothers and travel partners Patrick and Dane. The Gudauskas Trio give each other constant support, relying on each other for video coverage and feedback from each of their heats.

“I think between the three of us, we don’t really look at the points,” Gudauskas said. “There are no real battles between us. We try and help each other out. They’re down here with the video camera supporting me and I do the same for them.”

To check out the highlights from 6.0 Lowers Pro competition log on to nike6lowerspro.com

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