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[Jens]

Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by the Maldives
ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) Men's 6-Star Prime event
Pasta Point, Maldives
9-15 June 2008
Europeans Ready for Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by the Maldives



Photo: Michel Bourez (PYF), who placed equal 5th in the O'Neill Highland Open by Swatch, will be one of Europe's best hopes in the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro

CAPBRETON, France (Wednesday, June 4, 2008) - The European contingent of the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) will soon hit the crystal clear waters of the Maldives for the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by the Maldives, an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Prime event. The Sri Lankan Airlines Pro, which has become one of the few Prime rated events in the world, will once again produce great action from the best qualifying surfers and Europe's representatives are ready for some big results on the world famous lefthander at Pasta Point.

Michel Bourez (PYF), 22, current ASP WQS No. 15 and best European on tour, will lead a solid contingent of 26 surfers including three of the four ASP World Tour Europeans Tiago Pires (PRT), Aritz Aranburu (EUK) and Miky Picon (FRA). Bourez, who has been a full-time WQS soldier for a couple of years now, placed 5th in the last ASP WQS 6-Star Prime O'Neill Highland Open in Scotland and stands as a favorite towards a possible win. Bourez is chasing a third big result, at least over 1300 points, to keep his ASP World Tour qualification hopes alive and will be at ease on the long lefthand pointbreak similar to his home waves of Tahiti.

Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY), 27, who has achieved his best start ever on the ASP World Qualifying Series this year, is currently No. 19 on the international ratings and remains one of Europe's best hopes towards a possible qualification for the 2009 ASP World Tour. Gonzales, who placed equal 3rd in the ASP WQS 5-Star Prime Hang Loose Pro in Brazil and equal 9th in the O'Neill Highland Open, has been on a good roll since the 2008 season kicked off and will be another serious contender for the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro crown. With two solid results already counting for his best seven this year, Gonzalez has yet to confirm his impressive start but seems in excellent form.

Hugo Savalli (REU) has jumped to 33rd on the ASP WQS ratings and is on the rise. Savalli, 24, a goofy footer from Reunion Island, posted back-to-back solid results including an equal 5th in the ASP WQS 4-Star Vendee Pro and an equal 3rd in the O'Neill Highland Open in April. Savalli, who is used to hollow reef point breaks, will be another leading European member in the event and is looking forward to surfing in the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro.     

Coming from the South Pacific reefs of Tahiti and Fiji where they attended stops No. 3 and 4 of the ASP World Tour, Tiago Pires (PRT), Aritz Aranburu (EUK) and Miky Picon (FRA) will be Europe's other master pieces in the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro and are in good form.

Pires, who placed equal 17th in the last two events, brought great levels of surfing and posted a perfect 10 in Tahiti eventhough he could not get passed Round 3 but will definitely be a strong asset for the Euroforce. Pires, who placed equal 3rd in the only ASP WQS event he attended this year - the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime Quiksilver Pro Africa - will be a threat to all title contenders and has all the potential to clinch the winner's valuable 3000 ratings' points.

Aranburu, 22, who endured a knee injury that kept him out of the water for two months, is back in good form and is now confident after his equal 17th place in the Globe Pro Fiji where he lost to reigning ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS). Aranburu, who missed the two first events of the 2008 Dream Tour, will surf his first WQS event this year in the Maldives and will be chasing a big result to definitely leave his injury and last place finish in Tahiti behind him. 

With top Europeans Tim Boal (FRA), Marlon Lipke (DEU), Gony Zubizarreta (ESP), Jose Maria Cabrera (CNY) and young guns Joan Duru (FRA) and Romain Cloitre (REU), Europeans have all the skills to keep rising as one of the world's leading surf contingents and why not see one of them seize the crown in the Maldivian archiplegao.

The Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by the Maldives will be webcast LIVE at www.aspworldtour.com
CURRENT ASP WQS TOP EUROPEANS
No. 15, Michel Bourez (PYF), 5163 points
No. 19, Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY), 5025 points
No. 26, Tim Boal (FRA), 4588 points
No. 27, Marlon Lipke (DEU), 4563 points
No. 31, Gony Zubizarreta (ESP), 4375 points
No. 33, Hugo Savalli (REU), 4350 points
No. 43, Jose Maria Cabrera (CNY), 3917 points
No. 50, Glenn Hall (IRE), 3731 points

[Jens]

Marlon Lipke hat übrigens heute seinen Lauf easy mit zwei Scores in den 8er gewonnen

[Jens]

Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by Maldives
ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) Men's 6-Star Prime event
Pasta Point, Maldives
9-15 June 2008

Europe's Last Eight Surfers Ready to Battle in Sri Lankan Airlines Pro



Photo: Hugo Savalli (REU) was stopped in Round 2 of the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by the Maldives [Copyright: ASP/Robertson]

CAPBRETON, France (Tuesday, June 10, 2008) - The Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by the Maldives has not been kind to Europeans since it started. Despite the pumping conditions on offer in the four to five foot (1.2 to 1.5 meter) range, some of Europe's leaders suffered early losses in Round 2 despite posting solid performances on the opening day. Halfway through Round 2, nine European representatives only out of 22 remain in contention for the prestigious ASP World Qualifying Series 6-Star Prime crown: Tahiti's Michel Bourez (PYF) and Alain Riou (PYF), Spain's Eneko Acero (EUK), Aritz Aranburu (EUK) and Gony Zubizarreta (ESP), Portugal's Tiago Pires (PRT), France's Romain Laulhé (FRA) and Christophe Allary (REU) and Ireland's Glenn Hall (IRE)

Aritz Aranburu (EUK), 22, and Tiago Pires (PRT), 26, current ASP World Tour rookies are yet to surf in the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro and will be serious contenders for a possible title. Aranburu, who has now recovered from a serious knee injury, will surf against fellow ASP Top 45 surfer Leonardo Neves (BRA) in Heat 24 of Round 2. Pires, who had an excellent start on the ASP WQS when he reached semifinals in Durban's 6-Star Prime event, will surf in Heat 18 to try and advance through to Round 3.

Michel Bourez (PYF), 22, a former ASP European Pro Surf Tour Champion, will in the last heat of Round 2 when competition resumes and aims at confirming his solid start this year. Bourez, who placed equal 5th in the previous 6-Star Prime event, was ranked No. 15 before coming to the Maldives and hopes to leave the archipelago with another big result.

Marlon Lipke (DEU), who posted an impressive 16.56 point heat tally (out of a possible 20) in Round 1, placed 4th in his Round 2 encounter and was eliminated at the famous lefthander of Pasta Point. So were favorites Tim Boal (FRA), young gun Joan Duru (FRA) and recent European performer Hugo Savalli (REU) who was ranked No. 31 before the event. Savalli (pictured), placed equal 3rd in Scotland's 6-Star Prime event and was in good from before the event but failed to advance against Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) and Damian Fahrenfort (ZAF)

The European contingent will see its masterpieces get a start in the Sri Lankan
Airlines Pro very soon. Great surf and weather are expected over Pasta point for the week and the world's best surfers including current ASP World Tour campaigner Micheal Campbell (AUS) will soon battle for crucial ratings' points.

The Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by the Maldives will be webcast LIVE at
www.aspworldtour.com

UPCOMING EUROPEANS' ROUND 2 HEATS
Heat 15: Nathan Hedge (AUS), Glenn Hall (IRE), Paul Fisher (AUS), Dale Lovelock(AUS)
Heat 18: Nathan Yeomans (USA), Tiago Pires (PRT), Yadin Nicol (AUS), Lincoln Taylor (AUS)
Heat 19: Adam Robertson (AUS), Gabe Kling (USA), Alain Riou (PYF), Antonio Bortoletto (ZAF)
Heat 20: Brett Simpson (USA), Eneko Acero (EUK), Teppei Tajima (JPN), Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 21: Michel Bourez (PYF), Simao Romao (BRA), Gony Zubizarreta (ESP), Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 23: Jean Da Silva (BRA), Kirk Flintoff (AUS), Romain Laulhé (FRA), Christpohe Allary (REU)
Heat 24: Leonardo Neves (BRA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK), Parrish Byrne (AUS), Dusty Payne (HAW)

[Jens]

Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by Maldives
ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) Men's 6-Star Prime event
Pasta Point, Maldives
9-15 June 2008



Beven Leads European Pack in the Maldives' Sri Lankan Airlines Pro

Photo: Alain Riou (PYF) will be one of four Europeans to surf in Round 3 when competition resumes, and will try and join Patrick Beven (FRA) who already qualified for Round 4 today [Copyright: ASP/Robertson]

CAPBRETON, France (Wednesday, June 11, 2008) - It was another tough day for Europeans at the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro, and five out of the eight still in contention after Day 2 remain in the event. Michel Bourez (PYF), current best European WQS surfer, was elminated in Round 2 of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Prime event in pumping five to six foot (1.5 to 2 meter) waves. Patrick Beven (FRA) put on a strong performance in the second last heat of the day and has already secured his Round 4 spot.

Tiago Pires (PRT), Alain Riou (PYF), Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) and Romain Laulhé (FRA) will all surf in tomorrow's Round 3 heats to try and join Beven who found an excellent 8.50 point ride (out of a possible 10) in the last three minutes of his heat to advance ahead of former ASP Top 45 surfer Shaun Cansdell (AUS) and Matt Wilkinson (AUS).

Tiago Pires (PRT), 26, currently on his rookie season among the ASP Top 45, managed to advance through to Round 3 with a second place finish in Round 2 and seems to be in rhythm in the Maldivian lafthanders. Pires, a fantastic ASP WQS surfer who finished No. 4 on the ratings last year to qualify for the 2008 ASP World Tour, will surf against top WQS surfers Raoni Monteiro (BRA) and Adam Robertson (AUS) when competition resumes.

Alain Riou (PYF), 24, who has had an average start on this year's World Qualifying Series, will be a serious contender in Round 3 with his perfect styled forehand attack and hollow reef point break experience. Riou, who has been a Top 100 WQS surfer for several years, is still chasing his first win in a major ASP WQS event and remains a solid asset for the European team.

Romain Laulhé (FRA), 22, who won the ASP WQS 4-Star Vendee Pro France in April -his maiden WQS win- has been in good form in the past couple of months. Laulhé, whose career best result is an equal 17th in the 2007 Rip Curl pro Super Series, will have to get a second place at least in Heat 11 of Round 3 against Brazilian surfers Hizunome Bettero and Miguel Pupo. Laulhé, who won the Vendee Pro thanks to his strong backhand powerful assaults, should be at ease in the crystal clear Maldivian waters of Pasta Point.

Gony Zubizarreta (ESP), who put on an impressive performance in Round 2 against fellow European surfer Michel Bourez (PYF), will be the last representative to surf in Heat 12. Zubizarreta, who posted a solid 15.97 point heat score (out of a possible 20) in Round 2, will now meet former ASP World Tour campaigner Kirk Flintoff (AUS), current ASP Top 45 member Leonardo Neves (BRA) and top WQS performer Drew Courtney (AUS).

Round 2 was wrapped up earlier today and the upset of the European contingent came when Aritz Aranburu (EUK), current ASP World Tour rookie, was eliminated in Heat 24 by fellow ASP Top 45 surfer Leonardo Neves (BRA). Aranburu, who was much expected in the long lefthanders, was not able to catch the better waves and will not make any use of this early elimination result.

The Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by the Maldives is webcast LIVE at
www.aspworldtour.com

UPCOMING EUROPEANS' ROUND 3 HEATS
Heat 9: Mitchel Coleborn (AUS), Nathan Yeomans (USA), Alain Riou (PYF), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Anthony Petruso (USA), Tiago Pires (PRT), Adam Robertson (AUS), Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 11: Miguel Pupo (BRA), Hizunome Betterp (BRA), Romain Laulhe (FRA), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 12: Gony Zubizarreta (ESP), Drew Courtney (AUS), Kirk Flintoff (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA)

UPCOMING EUROPEANS' Round 4 HEATS
Heat 1: Micheal Campbell (AUS), Sunny Garcia (HAW), Patrick Beven (FRA)

[Jens]

Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by Maldives
ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) Men's 6-Star Prime event
Pasta Point, Maldives
9-15 June 2008

Pires Survives Disastrous Day for Europeans in Sri Lankan Airlines Pro



Photo: Tiago Pires (PRT) is the last European in the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by the Maldives and he will face Adam Robertson (AUS) tomorrow. [Copyright:ASP/Robertson]

CAPBRETON, France (Thursday, June 12, 2008) - Tiago Pires (PRT), current ASP World Tour rookie and best Portuguese professional surfer ever, was the only one of five Europeans still in contention in the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by the Maldives to find his way out of Round 4. Pires, who got through a couple of rounds today with two solid wins in the excellent five to six foot (1.5 to 2 meter) waves on offer, will now face Adam Robertson (AUS) in his first man-on-man heat of the event, and keeps flying the European flag at Pasta Point, home break of the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro.

Tiago Pires (PRT), 26, started his rookie campaign among the ASP Top 45 with two last place results but has been stepping up from the bottom of the ratings in the past few weeks with two equal 17th finishes in Tahiti and Fiji after winning both Round 1 heats with excellent surfing.

Pires, who will now use his man-on-man battle experience to try and defeat recent ASP WQS 6-Star Prime O'Neill Highland Open winner Adam Robertson (AUS), is a favorite for a possible win in the Maldivian event. Pires surfed one WQS event only this year - the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime Quiksilver Pro Africa - and finished equal 3rd, an excellent motivation booster for both ASP World Tour and WQS goals.

Patrick Beven (FRA), who was the other European in Round 4, was eliminated in Heat 1 by current ASP Top 45 member Micheal Campbell (AUS) and former ASP World Champion Sunny Garcia (HAW) who keeps going on his ASP World Tour requalifying campaign. Beven, who had an average start this year, secured 1350 points that should count in his best seven result total at the end of the year for a possible Dream Tour ticket.

Romain Laulhé (FRA), Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) and Alain Riou (PYF) were all eliminated  in Round 3, all three placing last in their respectve heats. Riou, who was much awaited at the perfect lefthand point break of Pasta Point, was defeated by former ASP Australasia Top Junior surfer Mitchell Coleborn (AUS) and rising American Nathan Yeomans (USA). He secures his best result of the year with 975 ratings' points.

The Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by the Maldives is webcast LIVE at
www.aspworldtour.com

UPCOMING EUROPEANS' HEATS
Round 5, Heat 7: Tiago Pires (PRT) Vs Adam Robertson (AUS)

[Jens]

Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by Maldives
ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) Men's 6-Star Prime event
Pasta Point, Maldives
9-15 June 2008

Pires Places Equal 5th in Sri Lankan Airlines Pro for Best European Result



Photo:[Copyright:ASP/Robertson] Tiago Pires (PRT) was stopped in the Quarterfinals of the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by the Maldives

CAPBRETON, France (Mondday, June 16, 2008) - Tiago Pires (Ericeira, PRT) was eliminated in the Quarterfinals of the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro pres. by the Maldives this weekend, securing precious 1950 ratings' points. Pires, who went down to Brazilian powerhouse Leonardo Neves (BRA) in a disappointing heat where he ended with a low 5.00 point tally (out of a possible 20), was the best European in the event and secured another solid result that will count towards the end of the year ratings.

Pires, 26, who defeated Adam Robertson (AUS), Drew Courtney (AUS) and Raoni Monteiro (BRA) on his way to the Quarterfinals, showed he was in excellent form and brought some exciting surfing throughout the event including an excellent 16.67 point heat score (out of a possible 20) in Round 4. Pires, who placed equal 3rd in the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime Quiksilver Pro Africa and equal 25th in the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime O'Neill Highland Open, secured another solid result under his belt in the Maldives and will now enjoy a break at home.

Pires, who is a rookie on this year's ASP World Tour, has been on a promissing roll since the Billabong Pro Tahiti in May and will be one to watch when the ASP Top 45 hit South Africa's legendary righthand point break of Jeffery's Bay. With two equal 17th in the two last events of the Dream Tour and an equal 5th in the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro, Pires stands as a serious contender at every event he will attend next.

Pires, who chose to run both ASP World Tour and World Qualifying Series this year to secure all chances of maintaining his ASP Top 45 spot for 2009, has climbed up in the ratings of both tours in the past month and has gained confidence before moving into the second half of the year.

NEXT ASP WORLD TOUR STOP
Billabong Pro, 10-20 July 2008, Jeffrey's Bay - South Africa

NEXT ASP WQS STOPS
5-Star rated Billabong ECO Surf Festival, 17-22 June 2008 - Praia do Forte, Bahia - Brazil
5-Star rated Local Motion Surf Pro, 24-29 June 2008 - Guaruja, Sao Paulo - Brazil

ASP WQS EUROPEANS TOP 5
21st, Michel Bourez (PYF), 5838 points
30th, Gony Zubizarreta (ESP), 5350 points
32nd, Tim Boal (FRA), 5338 points
33rd, Tiago Pires (PRT), 5250 points
34th, Marlon Lipke (DEU), 5238 points