Photo: [O'Neill] Joao Guedes (Porto, PRT) was one European to lose in Round 2 of the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania

CAPBRETON, France (Thursday, March 26, 2009) - Europe's top ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) soldiers are currently competing in the first ASP WQS 6-Star rated event of the year, the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania, and with three days only remaining in the waiting period, things will soon heat-up for the remaining six representatives still in contention for the crown.

Patrick Beven (Biarritz, FRA), 29, a veteran on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), easily won his first encounter against ASP World Tour rookie Nic Muscroft (AUS) and top junior surfer Tonino Benson (HAW), the Frenchman advancing with a promising 16.07 point heat tally (out of a possible 20) to secure his Round 3 berth ahead of former Dream Tour member Cory Lopez (Florida, USA). Beven, who has been training on the Gold Coast of Australia with ASP Top 45 Europeans Miky Picon (Capbreton, FRA), Tiago Pires (Ericeira, PRT) and Jeremy Flores (New Caledonia, FRA), netted two good scores during his battle in the cold conditions including an excellent 9.00 point ride to open his 2009 campaign.

Gony Zubizarreta (Vigo, ESP), 23, who suffered an injury at the end of the 2008 ASP season after achieving his best performances on tour ever, was another inform European to advance through to Round 3 of the O'Neill Cold Water Classic. Zubizarreta, who got back to competition in January in Florida, ended up winning his first heat in the event with a solid 15.34 point heat score (out of a possible 20) including an 8.17 point ride. The young Spaniard from Western Spain will face Dream Tour member Josh Kerr (Gold Coast, AUS), and former elite surfer Jay Thompson (Gold Coast, AUS) and Cory Lopez (USA) when competition resumes.

Apart from these two stellar performers, Canarian ripper Jonathan Gonzalez (Tenerife, CNY) as well as ASP Top 45 member Basque Aritz Aranburu (Zarautz, EUK) and French "grinders" Joan Duru (Ondres, FRA) and Hugo Savalli (REU) managed to qualify for Round 3 of the ASP WQS 6-Star event.

Savalli, who achieved his career best result in the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime O'Neill Cold Water Classic Scotland in 2008 where he placed 3rd, will now face Australian Luke Dorrington (Gold Coast, AUS) and Masatoshi Ohno (JPN) along with Duru for a spot in Round 4, the 3-man heats round. Savalli, O'Neill teamrider, secured several solid results last year including a 5th in the ASP WQS 4-Star Protest Vend e Pro and the Reunion Island born competitor has confirmed his potential to create some serious upsets when he takes his level to its best.

With six European surfers remaining in the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania, hopes are possible to see one of them start his 2009 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) campaign with a keeper counting for a possible year-end qualification for next year's ASP World Tour.

Visit www.oneill.com/cwc for the daily highlight shows and all latest news, videos ad photos from the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania


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About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing's undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women's World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world's best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.
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