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Monday, 27 October 2008 10:49 |
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Following one of the most historic board meetings to date, the ASP has introduced the option for a new competition format to be implemented in ASP World Tour events in 2009. While the traditional 48-man format will still be available, events can elect to implement an altered 48-man format consisting of the following: two opening elimination man-on-man rounds. Round 1 will consist of 32 surfers, those rated 17 – 27 on the ASP World Tour, three Tour/Injury wildcards, the Top 15–rated surfers on the ASP WQS and three event wildcards. The seeding formula will remain the same as the traditional format, with the No. 17 seed up against the No. 32 seed in Heat 8, the No. 18 seed against the No. 31 seed in Heat 9, etc. After Round 1, all remaining competitors will be reseeded for Round 2. The Top 16 on the ASP World Tour are seeded directly in Round 2 where they will meet the 16 victors from Round 1 in the re-seeded draw. The Top 10 from the previous year’s Dream Tour will be guaranteed a Round 2 seed all year long, while the next 6 seeds have to maintain their seeded position and can be replaced by better performing back 32 surfers after the third ASP World Tour event of the year. This means that the Top 16 seeds in 2009 will remain unchanged until after the Billabong Pro Teahupoo. After Tahiti, only the Top 10 from the previous year will hold their spots (which is probably a good incentive to do Brazil and Pipeline this season), while the next 6 could be replaced if guys from the back 32 secure more seeding points. Seeding points going into Snapper will remain in effect. The new format has already been adopted by the Billabong Pro Teahupoo, the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, the Billabong Pro Mundaka and the Billabong Pipeline Masters. The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, the opening event of the 2009 ASP World Tour, has opted to run with the traditional format, and Rip Curl are undecided which format they will implement at their Bells Beach and Search events. |
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Monday, 27 October 2008 10:46 |
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Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA), 17, won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 4-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic in great four-to-six foot (2 metre) surf in front of his home crowd at Steamer Lane. Young defeated fellow finalists Chris Waring (Seal Beach, CA), 21, Granger Larsen (Lahaina, HI), 18, and Sean Moody (North Shore, HI), 25, and reclaimed the O’Neill Cold Water Classic title for the Santa Cruz locals in a close Final. The ASP WQS offers valuable ratings points towards qualification for the ASP World Tour. Each surfer looks to earn a top 15 position on the ASP WQS by year’s end in order to qualify for the ASP Dream Tour for the following year. Young came out on top after a nail-biting Final against his fellow competitors. The Steamer Lane local displayed some of the best backside surfing throughout the event and continued his amazing form to claim the O’Neill Cold Water Classic win. “I’m super excited,” Young said. “I lost in the junior’s and just wanted to do good in this. Just making the Final in this was good, and to win it…” Young’s Final berth came after a long day of competition. The goofy-footer won both his Quarterfinals and Semifinals heats in the last few minutes of each heat on the way to his event victory. Young ousted fellow Santa Cruz locals Jason Collins (Santa Cruz, CA), 34, and Randy Bonds (Santa Cruz, CA), 31, in his Semifinals heat, taking top honors over his local idols. “It’s been a long day,” Young said. “I’ve been in my wetsuit since about 7am and I squeaked through a couple of heats and made the Final and everyone was surfing so good.” |
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Monday, 27 October 2008 10:41 |
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Tim Boal (Anglet, FRA), 25, was crowned ASP European Men's Champion after his last title contender Marlon Lipke (DEU) was eliminated in the Quarterfinals of the ASP WQS 6-Star Estoril Coast Pro today. Boal, who clinches his maiden regional title, did not attend the event in Portugal due to a foot injury but adds another title to his stellar year after qualifying for next year’s ASP World Tour. Boal, who watched Lipke losing to Australian Dion Atkinson (AUS) via the webcast, had a tensed week seeing his closest followers Michel Bourez (PYF) and Glenn Hall (IRE) both suffering early eliminations and was relieved to eventually clinch the crown after a very consistent run on all WQS events this summer in Europe. "I am super stoked to get the title," Boal said. "I placed 2nd as a Junior, was the runner-up last year behind Aritz (Aranburu) as well as in the ISA European Surfing Games so it is great to grab that one, eventually." Boal, who is currently going through many medical tests because of his injury, will probably not be able to attend the last ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) events in Hawaii next month but is guaranteed a berth among next year’s ASP Top 45. "It has been a long year and I am happy I qualified early enough," Boal said. "The European title is the icing on the cake and motivates me even more. I wasn't expecting too much from the European race and I knew that Michel (Bourez) was in reach as well and that a 5th in Portugal would have guven him both the title and a spot for next year's ASP World Tour. That would have been great because we are really good friends. I am sure he will manage in Hawaii." |
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