ASP North America Updates
Gudauskas Takes Top Honors for North Americans in Spain
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 September, 2008 : - - Patrick Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 22, was a standout in this week’s Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 5-Star event, the Movistar O’Neill Pantin Classic, held in Pantin, Spain, finishing fifth overall.
The inaugural ASP WQS 2-Star Vans El Ponto Loco presented by Sun Diego also ran last week at Ponto beach in Carlsbad, California and saw Dillon Perillo (Malibu, CA), 18, earn a second place finish behind Hawaiian Casey Brown (Kona, HI), 20.
It is coming down to crunch time on the grind as the European leg of the ASP WQS begins to wrap things up. Gudauskas made sure to take his slice of the ratings points pie on offer in Europe, earning a second place finish in the Buondi Billabong Pro in Portugal and a fifth place finish at this week's Movistar O’Neill Pantin Classic, significantly helping his cause towards qualification for the ASP World Tour.
The San Clemente native led the ASP WQS ratings for the first half of the season, but slipped down a few notches to No. 10 after a slow start to the second half of the season. Guduaskas shook off the cobwebs and moved back up to speed, launching himself up to the No. 3 position amongst the world’s finest up-and-coming competitors after this week's result in solid six-to-eight foot conditions in Pantin, Spain.
"It was pretty fun out there and we are stoked to be through," Gudauskas said. "I got smashed pretty hard on one of the last waves of my heat but it is really good to eventually get bigger waves."
Gudauskas ousted younger brother Tanner Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 20, in the Round of 24 on the way to his Quarterfinals berth. Tanner, brother Dane Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 22, and Nathan Yeomans (San Clemente, CA), 27, finished equal 17th overall.
Meanwhile, Perillo was turning heads in Carlsbad, California at the inaugural Vans El Ponto Loco. Perillo earned the event’s highest heat total of an 18.25 out of a possible 20 point score in the Billabong Pro Junior, which ran in conjunction to the ASP WQS event. The young surfer from Malibu, California defeated former ASP World Tour surfer Shane Beschen (San Clemente, CA), 36, in Round of 32 and topped ASP WQS veteran Jason Collins (Santa Cruz, CA), 34, in the Final. Collins finished in third overall behind Perillo.
“This is the best result I’ve ever had,” Perillo said. “This feels better than winning at nationals and I’m stoked to have made the Final.”
Perillo’s first ASP WQS Final appearance marks the best result of his career. The young Californian has had a successful amateur career and seems to be making a smooth transition into the world of professional surfing. The talented regular-footer attributes his success to surfing in both the men’s and junior’s divisions of competition.
“Surfing in both divisions helps a lot,” Perillo said. “Surfing in the men’s helps me in junior’s and surfing in the junior’s helps me in men’s. I got all of my confidence for the junior heat from my win in the “QS heat. That heat was pretty gnarly, but I got lucky and got a few good waves.”
Brad Ettinger (Huntington Beach, CA), 24, finished fourth overall in the ASP WQS 2-Star event. The Huntington Beach talent was one to watch throughout the competition and took advantage of the local event after competing in the European leg of the ASP WQS.
“I was stoked when I got down here and saw that there were good waves,” Ettinger said. “It’s great to surf at home because there is so much pressure when you fly to an event. It’s nice to be able to drive to an event and I love Carlsbad, so it’s a good to have a reason to drive down here.”
The Rip Curl Pro Zarautz will host this week’s competition with an ASP WQS 5-Star event, running from September 9-14, 2008.
Also running this week will be North America’s only ASP World Tour event, The Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley, with a waiting period from September 7-13, 2008. The Boost Mobile Pro is held at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California and will be webcast LIVE at www.boostmobilepro.com
For additional information log on to aspworldtour.com or aspnorthamerica.org
ASP WQS Top 10:
1- Nathaniel Curran (USA) 13200 points
2- Chris Davidson (AUS) 12525 points
3- Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11438 points
4- Josh Kerr (AUS) 11325 points
5- Tim Boal (FRA) 10988 points
6- David Weare (ZAF) 10675 points
7- Yadin Nicol (AUS) 10500
8- Drew Courtney (AUS) 10475
9- Marlon Lipke (DEU) 10375
10- Pedro Henrique (BRA) 10263
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Dave Prodan
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ASP North America
Bobby Shadley
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Team - Surfersvillage
