www.waxheads.com 5 4 09

Flores and European Contingent Set for Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Start

CAPBRETON, France (Saturday, April 4, 2009) - With only a few days remaining before the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach pres. by Snickers, second stop on this year's ASP World Tour, gets underway in Australia, all seven European representatives led by current world No. 9 Jeremy Flores (FRA) are getting ready for the competition. With the new format implemented for the event where the other six men will start in a sudden-death Round 1, 20-year-old Flores will be seeded straight into Round 2 along with last year's ASP World Tour Top 16 and will be chasing to better his 2008 result at Bells Beach, an equal 9th place finish after losing to other ASP Top 45 favorite Bobby Martinez (USA).

Flores, who has maintained himself in the ASP World Tour Top 10 for a couple of years now after earning the coveted ASP Rookie of the Year award for his first year as an elite surfer in 2007, opened his 2009 campaign with a 9th place finish on the Gold Coast of Australia and the young man residing in New Caledonia will be looking forward to a strong result at the world famous wave of Bells Beach.

Flores, who is seen as France and Europe's best hopes for a possible ASP World title in the next few years, said he would approach his third year on tour relaxed and keen on enjoying his time more than pursuing any specific goal. Since he started competing at 12-years-old, Flores has been travelling around the globe from event to event and confessed he needed to take the pressure off at the end of 2008, after he finished No. 10 in the world.

ASP World Tour experienced European surfers Tiago Pires (PRT) and Aritz Aranburu (EUK) will both surf in Round 1 respectively against Dustin Barca (HAW) and Jihad Khodr (BRA) while 2009 Dream Tour rookies Michel Bourez (PYF) and Marlon Lipke (DEU) will take on Roy Powers (HAW) and Kieren Perrow (AUS), leaving Miky Picon (FRA) and Tim Boal (FRA) clash in a 100% French battle for a spot into Round 2.

Picon's encounter with rookie Boal will be the second time ever two French surfers meet in a Man-on-man battle on the ASP World Tour after last year's Flores Vs Picon clash in the Semifinals of the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro in Brazil.

"It is a shame because we are four French surfers on tour and I would rather meet with the rest of the guys," Picon said. "It is a tough event and I have never had any good result there so I will have absolutely no pressure for that first heat."

Picon, who is in his third year as an ASP Top 45 surfer, will experience the new competition format for the first time as well.

"I am not so excited about the new format," Picon said. "It doesn't give time to really get into the event and it is like coming back to the ASP WQS formats. Fly to the other side of the world for a 30-minute heat... Not my favourite format for sure."

Boal, who started off his rookie campaign with a promising performance in the first event of the year placing equal 17th after besting Dream Tour solid members Fred Patacchia (HAW) and Micheal Campbell (AUS), will be surfing on his forehand if the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach starts at its main location.

Much expected for his start as an elite surfer, Michel Bourez's (PYF) high performance surfing should give great weapons on the long powerful open faces of Bells Beach legendary waves if the swell picks-up to the five foot range and above. The Tahitian, who confessed he was looking forward to the type of wave Bells Beach delivers, will have to get out of a tricky Round 1 battle against Hawaiian Roy Powers, a power-surfing heat that could witness a highscoring finish.

EUROPEANS' UPCOMING ROUND 1 HEATS

Heat 2: Roy Powers (HAW) Vs Michel Bourez (PYF)

Heat 6: Kieren Perrow (AUS) Vs Marlon Lipke (DEU)

Heat 7: Jihad Khodr (BRA) Vs Aritz Aranburu (EUK)

Heat 15: Tim Boal (FRA) Vs Michael Picon (FRA)

Heat 16: Dustin Barca (HAW) Vs Tiago Pires (PRT)

NB. Jeremy Flores is seeded straight into Round 2 where he will surf in Heat 12. His opponent will be known once Round 1 is completed

SPECIAL THANKS ASPWORLDTOUR.COM