FANNING CLAIMS QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE CROWN; CAN CLINCH TITLE NEXT WEEK

SEIGNOSSE, France (Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007) –Mick Fanning (AUS) the newly crowned 2007 Quiksilver Pro France Champion, is mathematically capable of clinching his maiden Foster's ASP World Title in Mundaka, Spain next week. Fanning beat South Africa's Greg Emslie, in three to five foot (one to one half meter) surf at Les Bourdaines this afternoon.

"I'm just so stoked to have another win under my belt," Fanning, who also won the first event of the year on the Gold Coast of Australia, said. "I'm pumped! After the semis I really realized that you had to have the best waves to win, so that's what I did. I just sat and waited for the whole time."

Fanning caught four waves to Emslie's 12, but garnered his winning heat total of 18.43 (out of 20.00) with his first two rides – the second of which he scored a near perfect 9.93 (out of 10) for.

"That wave just sat up really, really nicely and I was able to get some good turns off," Fanning said. "I'm just stoked, that's about all I can say."

Fanning could clinch the title with a win in Spain should his closest threats, reigning World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) and Taj Burrow (AUS), not make it to the Semifinals. If he finishes 2nd in Spain, Slater and Burrow have to post a 5th place or better to keep their title aspirations alive.

"There's no pressure at all in Mundaka for the title," Fanning said. "I'm just doing what I've been doing, taking it heat by heat. You can't win in the final if you don't win the first round, so yeah, you've just got to take it heat by heat."

Emslie's final berth against Fanning's was not only the best result of his eight-year elite-tour career, it was also the first Foster's ASP World Tour final a South African has made in 20 years. Emslie surfed amazingly through out the event, but was no match for the current World No. 1.

"It was pretty tough out there," Emslie said. "I could see that Mick was in a good rhythm and I just didn't know how I could break it. There weren't too many set waves and the tide was coming in. When you've got an in form surfer like Mick getting the set waves, it's hard to come back. Either way it was a fun final. Mick is ripping and I recon he's going to be world champ this year for sure."

Emslie, who sits 27th in the ratings after his 2nd place finish, beat current World No. 4 and defending Quiksilver Pro France Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS) in the Semifinals.

"I had a great event, I really enjoyed it," Emslie said. "It was just great with all the different mix of waves this week that I managed to pull through to the final. I'm pretty happy with the fact that I kept consistent throughout all the different waves."

Fanning beat fellow Australian Troy Brooks in the Semifinals. Brooks had the lead with six minutes to go, but Fanning scored an 8.00 and 9.67 in quick succession to leave Brooks needing a 9.18 he never found.

"I finally got a few good ones out there," Brooks said. "I sort of put the pressure on Mick, but that's why he's No. 1 I guess, because he came out of it and smashed me."

Previous to the last two events, Brooks had four 33rds and one 17th place finish. His Quarterfinal berth in California and equal 3rd this event have moved him to 28th in the ratings. The Top 27 guys on the World Tour automatically requalify at the end of the year.

"It doesn't really guarantee my requalification for next year," Brooks said. "This just moves me on the borderline. At this moment I shouldn't be in this spot as it is, but with this little roll, as long as I keep going, I should be alright. Hopefully I do well in Mundaka next week and then in Brazil since I've always gotten a result there. Hawaii has a bit of juice which I'm used to coming up from Bells. So who knows."

The next Foster's ASP World Tour event, Stop. 8 of 10 on this year's tour, begins in Mundaka, Spain on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007.

Quiksilver Pro France Final Results:
Final: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.43 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 11.63

Quiksilver Pro France Semifinal Results:
Heat 1: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 17.43 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.97
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.67 def. Troy Brooks (AUS) 15.40

Foster's ASP World Tour Ratings after Event No. 7 of 10, the Quiksilver Pro France:
1. Mick Fanning (AUS) 6470 points
2. Kelly Slater (USA) 5450 points
3. Taj Burrow (AUS) 5243 points
4. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 4905 points
5. Andy Irons (HAW) 4741 points
6. Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 4062 points
7. Damien Hobgood (USA) 4049 points
8. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 3692 points
9. Dean Morrison (AUS) 3658 points
10. Taylor Knox (USA) 3392 points

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE TO CROWN CHAMP THIS AFTERNOON

HOSSEGOR, France (Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007) –The 2007 Quiksilver Pro France Champion will be decided at Les Bourdaines in Seignosse this afternoon. Only three heats – two semifinals and a final – remain to be surfed before one of the four remaining Foster's ASP World Tour surfers take top honors in France.

Defending Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS) will take on Greg Emslie (ZAF) in Semifinal 1. World No. 1 Mick Fanning (AUS) will take on Troy Brooks (AUS) in Semifinal 2.

Surfing will commence at roughly 3:10pm. The Final is tentatively slated to hit the water between 4:15 and 4:45. The official presentation will be held at the Plaze de Landais by Rockfood at 6pm.

Quiksilver Pro France Semifinal Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)

PARKINSON BEATS BURROW TO EARN SEMIFINAL BERTH IN QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE

HOSSEGOR, France (Friday, Sept. 28, 2007) –Defending Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS) beat World No. 3 Taj Burrow in the Quarterfinals to become one of four surfers through to the Quiksilver Pro France Semifinals today.

Held in three foot (one metre) waves at La Graviere, the 'heat of the day' saw Parkinson and Burrow trade barrels and airs throughout their 30-minute duel.

"Taj put on quite a performance out there, he was on fire," Parkinson said. "I was watching his air reverses from the back and I just kept thinking, 'Oh here we go, he's going to get me again.' I was just lucky to get that really good one that was able to just get me the heat."

Parkinson's 'really good one' was a deep tube followed by a 360 air for a 9.50 ride.

"It was one of the biggest waves to come through this morning and I was in the right spot," Parkinson said. "It looked just like a perfect little Snapper barrel, like at home. It ran off perfect and I just sat there in a perfect little spot and was able to get that little air section at the end."

The early elimination of Burrow, Kelly Slater (USA) and Andy Irons (HAW) has created an opportunity for World No. 5 Parkinson to gain some ground in the ratings.

"I'm where I want to be," Parkinson said. "It'd be better if Mick would have lost also, but heats go on and maybe I'll meet him in the final and have the same result as last year."

World No. 1 Mick Fanning (AUS), who sits on the opposite side of the draw from Parkison, showed no signs of slowing down in his Quarterfinal heat against Neco Padaratz (BRA). Padaratz posted huge scores throughout the early rounds of the event but Fanning's 9.50 and 8.17 wave scores left him needing a combination of excellent wave scores to win.

"Neco is a great competitor, he always gives it his all and he has just been surfing great this event," Fanning said. "I think he's had a 9.0 in every heat. I knew he was going to be very tough, especially in these conditions so I was just stoked to get a good start and keep working on that."

Fanning's World Title run has seen him finish in the Quarterfinals or better in five of six events this year. He will meet fellow Australian Troy Brooks in the Semis.

"Yeah Brooks is on the cusp, he's been surfing great, really going for it," Fanning said. "It's going to be fun, he's a good friend too."

Brooks beat Brazil's Rodrigo Dornelles in conditions Brazilian surfers typically thrive in. His upcoming Semifinal berth is the best result Brooks has had on the Foster's ASP World Tour.

"I've had a few quarterfinals, but have never advanced out of them like this one," Brooks said. "To finally do it against Rodrigo, in these waves is pretty exciting."

Brooks is also excited about his upcoming heat against Fanning.

"I'm definitely looking forward to surfing against Mick next heat," Brooks said. "It's always good to go up against the best, because it lifts your surfing as well. Tomorrow we're going to have the pick of the tides and sort of play it by ear, depending on what's happening up and down the beach, so hopefully we'll get the right waves and have a good end to this event."

South Africa's Greg Emslie edged out Raioni Monteiro (BRA) in their Quarterfinal clash. Monteiro has surfed extremely well throughout the event, but failed to find the 8.17 he needed to change the situation this afternoon. Emslie advanced out of the Quarterfinals for the second time in his career.

"To win that heat was great for sure," Emslie said. "Each heat I'm just enjoying myself more and more. I'm starting to think about it more in my head. I'm a lot more calm and enjoying myself. I'm stoked to have beaten Raoni, he's been in form. I'm just glad and hope things can continue to go my way."

Emslie, who is currently rated 35th, will meet Parkinson in Semifinal 1. Despite the daunting draw, Emslie is taking it all in stride.

"Once you get down to the quarterfinals and semis I think you just go out there and free surf," Emslie said. "You've got to really blow up to win a contest these days so you can't be going out feeling nervous you have to be pumped and relaxed. That's what I'm going to do, go wait for good waves and free it up."

A call on finishing up the final three heats of the event will be made at La Graviere at 11am. The contest will either wrap up tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 29th or Sunday, Sept. 30th.

Quiksilver Pro France Quarterfinal Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.33 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.70
Heat 2: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 14.00 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 10.10
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.67 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 10.66
Heat 4: Troy Brooks (AUS) 11.10 def. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 8.06

Quiksilver Pro France Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 11.27 def. Phillip Macdonald (AUS) 8.23
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.17 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 11.14
Heat 3: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 14.50 def. Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 9.16
Heat 4: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 16.33 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 6.80
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.84 def. Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 6.50
Heat 6: Neco Padaratz (BRA) 16.67 def. Bernardo Miranda (BRA) 4.47
Heat 7: Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 12.16 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 7.83
Heat 8: Troy Brooks (AUS) 14.84 def. Dayyan Neve (AUS) 10.10

Quiksilver Pro France Semifinal Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)

ROUND 4 QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE UNDERWAY; ONLY 13 HEATS LEFT

HOSSEGOR, France (Friday, Sept. 28, 2007) – Heat 3 of Round 4 of the Quiksilver Pro France paddled out at La Graviere at 9:40am today. Swell at the spot has eased to a clean three feet (one metre). Conditions will be reassessed after Round 4 to see if competition will continue. Only 13 heats remain.

"We are trying to finish the rest of Round 4 today and we will reassess conditions for the Quarterfinals and beyond after that," Contest Official Matt Wilson said. "We are receiving conflicting reports on conditions for tomorrow so we want to finish Round 4 to buy ourselves some breathing room if we do decide to run the last seven heats tomorrow, which we'd do on better tides like we will do today."

The first Quarterfinal stage was set when Heats 1 and 2 of Round 4 ran yesterday. Defending Quiksilver Pro Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS) will take on World No. 3 Taj Burrow (AUS) in Quarterfinal 1.

Logon to www.aspworldtour.com and www.quiksilverlive.com to watch it LIVE.

Upcoming Quiksilver Pro France Round 4 Match-Ups:
Heat 3: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 4: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) vs. Michel Bourrez (PYF)
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Ricky Basnett (ZAF)
Heat 6: Neco Padaratz (BRA) vs. Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
Heat 7: Luke Munro (AUS) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 8: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)

Quiksilver Pro France Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 11.27 def. Phillip Macdonald (AUS) 8.23
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.17 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 11.14

SLATER AND IRONS MAKE ROUND 3 EXITS FROM QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE

HOSSEGOR, France (Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007) – Today's Quiksilver Pro France competition saw the whole of Round 3 and the first heat two heats of Round 4 completed in four to six foot (one to two metre) surf at La Graviere. Foster's ASP World Title contenders and former World Champions Kelly Slater (USA) and Andy Irons (HAW) made Round 3 exits while Mick Fanning (AUS), Joel Parkinson (AUS) and Taj Burrow (AUS) advanced to Round 4 and beyond.

Parkinson, the defending Quiksilver Pro France champion, earned himself a Quarterfinal berth when he eliminated Phil Macdonald (AUS) in the first heat of Round 4 – the second to last heat of the day.

"I went down after Phil caught that first one, down toward the end to try and find couple that I had seen before when I was watching," Parkinson said. "Priority isn't something you really want to have out there, you want to be moving a lot and getting a lot of waves so I just tried to do that."

Parkinson is currently rated World No. 5 and should gain ground on Irons and Slater in the race for his maiden World Title now that he is through to the Quarters. Still, he's hesitant to think about the ratings too much.

"It's hard to think about that, you don't want to," Parkinson said. "It's screwed with me a few times before. I just need to take heat by heat."

Current World No. 3, Burrow, will meet Parkinson in Quarterfinal 1 after his Round 4 victory in the last heat of the day. His win over South Africa's Royden Bryson (ZAF) was the most convincing of the victories he's had thus far at the Quiksilver Pro.

"I felt a lot better after that heat just because I felt like I surfed better and won the heat a little bit more convincingly that the other ones for sure," Burrow said. "I just spent a little time warming up, I have kind of a sore knee, but it's feeling good now. I've never had to deal with a sore knee before and it has been kind of toying with my confidence, at Lowers especially. It's hard to get you head to want it to go different directions, but it's feeling a lot better now. Even my first few heats here I was just a little bit tentative, not just really confident. I've been free surfing as much as I can to get my knee feeling good. That heat made me feel like it was working properly.

Burrow is the only surfer with two wins in his scoreline and, as a two-time World Title runner-up, is really hoping to take it all the way this year.

"I've got my eyes on the number one position for sure, and I couldn't help but smile a little bit when Slater and Andy Irons went down," Burrow said. "But still, it's not even worth worrying about what everyone else is doing, it's just try to do your own thing really. I'm just totally focused on winning another contest."

Eight-time World Champion Slater's exit was shown to him courtesy of Tahitian wildcard Michael Bourez. Slater posted an uncharacteristically low heat total of 9.13 after failing to find a 6.18 scoring ride even though there were 10 minutes left on the clock. Bourez advanced and will now meet Raioni Monteiro (BRA) in Round 4.

"I just feel great, it's amazing, I just did my job today, that's it," Bourez said. "I felt pretty lucky because the conditions weren't that good and it was really hard to catch good waves. I was just waiting and waiting for the good ones. I'm just so happy. Beating Kelly Slater was definitely the biggest thing that has ever happened to me, for sure."

Current ratings leader Fanning beat former Top 45 competitor and wildcard Mikael Picon (FRA) just after Slater was eliminated by Bourez.

"Yeah, that was a pretty big heat," Fanning said. "It's tricky going up against wildcards, especially at their home break. I saw Mikael catch that last wave and heard the crowd go crazy, I was just lucky time had ran out. The wave looked perfect for him. I just plan to keep the ball rolling. I tried to get a busy start out there and improve on every wave I caught, just trying to get the job done. I'll continue to just surf heat but heat."

The day's highest heat total, 15.67 out of 20.00 went to Neco Padaratz, who along with fellow Brazilians Raoni Monteiro, Bernardo Miranda, and Rodrigo Dornelles, will now feature in Round 4. Both Padaratz and Miranda scored 9.00 tube rides today.

"My 9.0 was a really great wave," Padaratz said. "I saw the wave coming and just got in it and was covered up, I just felt really lucky. I feel that when you get a good start you gain more confidence for the rest of the heat. I knew I just needed to get a second good wave to top that, because I knew that Bobby would come back."

South African surfers also fared well in Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro France. Greg Emslie eliminated France's Jeremy Flores, Royden Bryson beat Adrain Buchan (AUS) before losing to Burrow in Round 4 and Ricky Basnett overcame Leonardo Neves (BRA) to break the string of 17th places he's posted in every single event on the 2007 tour until today.

"It feels great to finally get out of the 17ths… I feel like I just won the World Title," Basnett said. "It's pretty tough conditions out there and you really just have to try and get two quick ones under you belt. It worked out for me, so I'm really happy. All of us South Africans are in the fourth round so, we haven't had that for quite a while, hopefully it carries on."

A call on competition status will be made at La Graviere at 8am tomorrow. Heat 3 of Round 4 featuring Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF) is up next.

Quiksilver Pro France Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 11.27 vs. Phillip Macdonald (AUS) 8.23
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.17 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 11.14

Quiksilver Pro France Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.33 def. Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 7.33
Heat 2: Phillip Macdonald (AUS) 14.66 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 9.77
Heat 3: Royden Bryson (ZAF) 12.33 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 8.84
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 10.17 def. Trent Munro (AUS) 6.77
Heat 5: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 10.50 def. Victor Ribas (BRA) 6.10
Heat 6: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 12.17 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.67
Heat 7: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 13.67 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 8.84
Heat 8: Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.00 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 9.13
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.06 def. Mikael Picon (FRA) 7.27
Heat 10: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 14.73 def. Leonardo Neves (ZAF) 12.50
Heat 11: Neco Padaratz (BRA) 15.67 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 6.80
Heat 12: Bernardo Miranda (BRA) 15.50 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.67
Heat 13: Luke Munro (AUS) 10.83 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 4.00
Heat 14: Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 12.16 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 8.00
Heat 15: Dayyan Neve (AUS) 13.17 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 10.87
Heat 16: Troy Brooks (AUS) 11.50 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 5.57

Upcoming Quiksilver Pro France Round 4 Match-Ups:
Heat 3: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 4: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) vs. Michel Bourrez (PYF)
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Ricky Basnett (ZAF)
Heat 6: Neco Padaratz (BRA) vs. Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
Heat 7: Luke Munro (AUS) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 8: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 3 IN THE WATER AT LA GRAVIERE

HOSSEGOR, France (Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007) – Painted skies and six foot (two metre) perfection greeted the world's best surfers at Hossegor this morning and Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro France has been called on.

The first heat of the day will commence at 8:30am and Australians and French flatmates Joel Parkinson and Mark Occhilupo. France's Jeremy Flores will go up against Greg Emslie of South Africa in Heat 6 and World No. 1 Mick Fanning (AUS) will meet French wildcard and former Foster's ASP World Tour competitor Miky Picon in Heat 9.

Logon to www.aspworldtour.com and www.quiksilverlive.com to watch it all LIVE!

Upcoming Quiksilver Pro France Round 3 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
Heat 2: Cory Lopez (USA) vs. Phillip Macdonald (AUS)
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Trent Munro (AUS)
Heat 5: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 6: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Michel Bourrez (PYF)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 10: Ricky Bassnett (ZAF) vs. Leonardo Neves (BRA)
Heat 11: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 12: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
Heat 13: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 15: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 16: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 3 IN THE WATER AT LA GRAVIERE

HOSSEGOR, France (Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007) – Painted skies and six foot (two metre) perfection greeted the world's best surfers at Hossegor this morning and Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro France has been called on.

The first heat of the day will commence at 8:30am and Australians and French flatmates Joel Parkinson and Mark Occhilupo. France's Jeremy Flores will go up against Greg Emslie of South Africa in Heat 6 and World No. 1 Mick Fanning (AUS) will meet French wildcard and former Foster's ASP World Tour competitor Miky Picon in Heat 9.

Logon to www.aspworldtour.com and www.quiksilverlive.com to watch it all LIVE!

Upcoming Quiksilver Pro France Round 3 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
Heat 2: Cory Lopez (USA) vs. Phillip Macdonald (AUS)
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Trent Munro (AUS)
Heat 5: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 6: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Michel Bourrez (PYF)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 10: Ricky Bassnett (ZAF) vs. Leonardo Neves (BRA)
Heat 11: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 12: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
Heat 13: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 15: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 16: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 3 OFF; FIAT EXPRESSION SESSION AT 11

HOSSEGOR, France (Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007) – The Quiksilver Pro France, stop No. 7 of 10 on the Foster's ASP World Tour, will not run today. Three to five foot (one plus metre) peaky conditions have prompted Contest Director Rod Brooks to send out a FIAT Expression Session at 11am.

"Today we will be running the FIAT Expression Session which offers $10,000 dollars prize money," Brooks said. "We're waiting for low tide when the waves get a lot bigger, and peakier out the front. We've got some jet skis coming around to tow the surfers out into the big outside peak. We're expecting some big airs and exciting maneuvers, because the wind will be sideshore. Sideshores you don't tend to get good barrels, or very good conditions for competition, but you get really good conditions for an air show. So we're having a specialty event today and it should be fun!

When Round 3 resumes World No. 5 Joel Parkinson (AUS) will take on the legendary Mark Occchilupo (AUS) in Heat 1.

Transcribed athlete quotes, downloadable .wav files and complimentary hi-resolution images from earlier rounds are available in the Press Room on www.aspworldtour.com

Upcoming Quiksilver Pro France Round 3 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
Heat 2: Cory Lopez (USA) vs. Phillip Macdonald (AUS)
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Trent Munro (AUS)
Heat 5: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 6: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Michel Bourrez (PYF)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 10: Ricky Bassnett (ZAF) vs. Leonardo Neves (BRA)
Heat 11: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 12: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
Heat 13: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 15: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 16: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 2 WRAPPED UP IN CAPBRETON

HOSSEGOR, France (Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007) –The last nine heats of Round 2 of the Quiksilver Pro France were wrapped up at a mobile event site in nearby Capbreton today. The first six heats of Round 2 were run on Sunday at La Graviere, Heat 7 was run before conditions deteriorated yesterday, and the final eight heats were held in four to six foot (one to two metre) waves at a beachbreak known as Santosha this morning.

Jeremy Flores (FRA) beat Australian Shaun Cansdell in the first heat of the day. Flores admitted to having some local knowledge under his belt.

"I've been surfing this wave since I was 8-years-old, so I kind of know where the breaks are good," Flores said. "I think that Shaun might have stayed in the middle too much, but he still got some pretty good waves, he's a very talented surfer. He won the biggest WQS event here in Hossegor, so I knew it was going to be a very hard heat. I just went out there and thought about my heat and nothing else."

Flores, the only European surfer on the 2007 Foster's ASP World Tour, has had a beach full of expectations to exceed and is feeling the weight.

"I do feel a little bit of pressure surfing here, Flores said. "Everyone is expecting me to win, which is okay… I'm just trying to do my best. I've had a good year so far so it's just a bonus every heat after. Every heat I make I still feel like I'm learning. That's what I have to keep in my mind and not to get too nervous. It's exciting for me this whole experience, and to be here in front of my home crowd. I'd love to get a good result here to give back."

Josh Kerr's (AUS) result was the highest of Round 2. Kerr is famous for the aerial prowess he let fly today – his two huge aerial maneuvers heralded two huge scores, an 8.67 and 9.67.

"I did an alley-oop the wave before my 9.67 and the judges rewarded me with a good score," Kerr said. "I had had a slow heat before that wave. I knew they were my kind of conditions out there and I wanted to try and prove that. The next wave probably had the best ramp section I've had in a long time, I just tried to go huge and I pulled it so I'm stoked."

Raoni Monteiro (BRA) was another standout performer today. Monteiro was beating Bruce Irons (HAW) well before he sealed the deal with a 9.00 ride at the end of their heat.

"I was trying to focus that heat on catching a good wave," Monteiro said. "I had three good waves with three good scores. I got a 9.0 on my last wave so that really helped me. I feel really good right now because Bruce Irons is a really good surfer. It's really hard to beat those guys. I'm just really happy."

Kai Otton (AUS) eliminated Adriano de Souza (BRA) in the final heat of the round. Round 3 competition was called off just prior to Heat 16 of Round 2 paddling out.

"The contest director came up to me right before the heat and asked if I wanted to surf," Otton said. "It looked pretty bad and I wanted to surf over at La Graviere the next day, so I was thinking about calling it off. Adriano already had his rash guard on and wanted to go so I was like, 'we'll just do it'. Lucky enough I just got little one under priority and it was a pretty good score."

Otton is currently rated 18th, and is the second highest rated rookie after Flores who sits in 9th. Both are gunning for ASP 'Rookie of the Year' honors.

"That 'Rookie of the Year' title is one of my goals still," Otton said. Jeremy and I were pretty close but then he got away at Trestles so he put a bigger gap on us. I hope to just keep making heats and give myself a chance. Anything can happen going into Pipeline, so we'll just have to see what happens."

A call on Round 3 will be made at 8am at La Nord tomorrow. Heat 1 will feature Australians Joel Parkinson versus Mark Occhilupo.

Transcribed athlete quotes, downloadable .wav files and complimentary hi-resolution images are available in the Press Room on www.aspworldtour.com

Today's Quiksilver Pro France Round 2 Results:
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.00 def. Shaun Cansdell (AUS) 11.60
Heat 9: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 14.34 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.23
Heat 10: Bernardo Miranda (BRA) 14.67 def. Daniel Wills (AUS) 10.17
Heat 11: Troy Brooks (AUS) 15.16 def. Chris Ward (USA) 7.83
Heat 12: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 17.00 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 8.03
Heat 13: Josh Kerr (AUS) 18.34 Fred Pattachia (HAW) 10.23
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) 16.27 def. Michael Campbell (AUS) 14.93
Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.40 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 10.60
Heat 16: Kai Otton (AUS) 15.60 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.97

Upcoming Quiksilver Pro France Round 3 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
Heat 2: Cory Lopez (USA) vs. Phillip Macdonald (AUS)
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Trent Munro (AUS)
Heat 5: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 6: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Michel Bourrez (PYF)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 10: Ricky Bassnett (ZAF) vs. Leonardo Neves (BRA)
Heat 11: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 12: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
Heat 13: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 15: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 16: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 2 GOES MOBILE TO CAPBRETON

HOSSEGOR, France (Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007) – The Quiksilver Pro France has packed up and gone mobile to the break of Santosha, in Capbreton this morning. The first heat of the day will feature Frenchman Jeremy Flores vs. Australia's Shaun Cansdell.

Eight heats of Round 2 remain to be run, and contest officials will aim to complete those heats and more today. Go online at www.quiksilverlive.com and watch the live webcast for more details!

Remaining Quiksilver Pro France Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Shaun Cansdell (AUS)
Heat 9: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 10: Daniel Wills (AUS) vs. Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
Heat 11: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)
Heat 12: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 13: Fred Pattachia (HAW) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 14: Michael Campbell (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 15: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 16: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 2 CALLED OFF AFTER ONE HEAT

HOSSEGOR, France (Monday, Sept. 24, 2007) –Only one heat of Quiksilver Pro France competition was held this morning before the wind swung onshore and immediately deteriorated conditions. The next heat, which was to feature France's Jeremy Flores and Australia's Shaun Cansdell, was called off along with the remainder of competition for the day.

Pancho Sullivan (HAW), who entered the Quiksilver Pro France fresh off a Semifinal finish at the Foster's ASP World Tour event in California earlier this month, beat Mick Lowe (AUS) in the trying surf at La Graviere.

"The waves looked really good out there before the heat, so I was pretty excited to surf," Sullivan said. "Then within a matter of minutes the wind came onshore and I think the tide was bottoming out and it just tore that sand bar to bits. Unfortunately we were underway already so there was nothing we could do but surf out the heat."

Lowe led the heat with five minutes to go, but relinquished his lead to Sullivan at the end of the heat.

"I definitely didn't feel like I put on a strong performance, but sometimes you've just got to compete and try and squeeze through," Sullivan said. "I'm definitely happy to live and fight another day. I know that the forecast doesn't look great as far as the conditions but at least the swell will be bigger and those are the conditions that I really thrive on. Hopefully just getting through will give me a bit of momentum."

According to Ben Matson, of swellnet.com, the official surf forecaster of the Quiksilver Pro, there is a significant swell forecasted for the next couple of days, but the winds are expected to be unfavorable.

"A succession of powerful swells are expected to provide large surf at Hossegor on Tuesday and Wednesday," Matson said.

Event organizers are currently entertaining ideas about taking the event mobile should that be necessary. The next call on competition status will be made tomorrow morning at 8am at La Nord.

Logon to www.aspworldtour.com and www.quiksilverlive.com to watch it all LIVE!

Today's Quiksilver Pro France Round 2 Result:
Heat 7: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 10.07 def. Michael Lowe (AUS) 9.17

Remaining Quiksilver Pro France Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Shaun Cansdell (AUS)
Heat 9: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 10: Daniel Wills (AUS) vs. Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
Heat 11: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)
Heat 12: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 13: Fred Pattachia (HAW) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 14: Michael Campbell (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 15: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 16: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 2 RECOMMENCES AT LA GRAVIERE

HOSSEGOR, France (Monday, Sept. 24, 2007) –Round 2 of the Quiksilver Pro France will recommence at 8:30am at La Graviere today. The first heat in the water will be Pancho Sullivan (HAW) versus Mick Lowe (AUS).

Contest Director Rod Brooks decided to call the contest on at first light citing the excellent conditions on offer this morning.

"Today we've got slightly smaller conditions than we had yesterday, but actually it's very good," Brooks said. "The wind is offshore, the waves are very straight. I would say three to four foot, and perfect right now."

It will take four and half hours to wrap up Round 2, and conditions permitting, contest officials will endeavor to run as many heats of Round 3 as possible.

"We're expecting onshore winds towards the middle of today and then light onshore and onshores for the next four days, so it's important to get going for such good conditions as we have now. We expect to run into some onshore conditions during the day on a high tide. Starting earlier will be good because you've got the low tide and the ideal conditions."

Logon to www.aspworldtour.com and www.quiksilverlive.com to watch it all LIVE!

Remaining Quiksilver Pro France Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 7: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Michael Lowe (AUS)
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Shaun Cansdell (AUS)
Heat 9: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 10: Daniel Wills (AUS) vs. Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
Heat 11: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)
Heat 12: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 13: Fred Pattachia (HAW) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 14: Michael Campbell (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 15: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 16: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)

TITLE CONTENDERS INTO QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 3

HOSSEGOR, France (Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007) – The Top 5 rated surfers on the Foster's ASP World Tour have advanced to Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro France, but Taj Burrow (AUS), Andy Irons (HAW) and Joel Parkinson (AUS) had to negotiate Round 2 before earning their berths today. Heats 7-12 of Round 1 and Heats 1-6 of Round 2 were run in favorable six foot (two metre) conditions at La Graviere.

Reigning World Champion Kelly Slater and current World No. 1 Mick Fanning (AUS) made things less stressful on themselves when they won their Round 1 heats.

Slater trailed wildcard Aritz Aranburu (ESP) for most of the heat, but posted a 9.43 at the end of their clash to defeat him and Fredrick Patacchia (HAW).

"There are some amazing waves out there today, someone's going to score a 10.0 today," Slater said. "I couldn't quite find them and I didn't quite squeak out of a few of the ones I did have. I was playing catch up most of that heat."

Fanning scored a 10.00 at the exact moment Slater made that comment and backed it up with a 9.43 to post an impressive 19.43 out of 20.00 heat total.

"I saw the wave before the one I caught and it was nice," Fanning said. "Then I saw mine coming, I was just thinking how I had to get into that wave. I got into and saw the line just race off, I just pumped out as hard as I could and it let me out, I was stoked."

World No. 7 Bede Durbidge (AUS) scored a Perfect 10 in Round 2, but still came up short against Mark Occhilupo (AUS). The tour veteran won his first heat since Bells Beach, Australia today.

"Bede has been on such a roll, and I've been having such bad luck," Occhilupo said. "When he was paddling for his 10.0, I knew it was going to be a 10.0. Somehow I just got lucky and got a wave, so it's a happy days for me. At least it ended my streak of bad luck so I'm pretty stoked to get through that pretty tight heat."

Occhilupo, the 1999 World Champion, was emotional with the win.
"I'd lie if I didn't say I had a tear in my eye," Occhilupo said. "Twenty years I've been competing and that's the worst run I've had, so obviously I had a bit of emotion there. I'm just stoked. I've been really concentrating on this event and really trying my best. It seemed to pay off."

Parkinson, the defending Quiksilver Pro Champion, overcame Gabe Kling (USA) 15.10 to 10.84 in Round 2 after finishing 3rd in his Round 1 heat held two days ago.

"I was definitely relieved to make it through that round, I hate the second round," Parkinson said. "That's the stressful part of our job and I'm glad its over.

Dropping to 5th on the ratings after losing in Round 2 at the last Foster's ASP World Tour event in California, Parkinson was relieved with his win at La Graviere.

"That event was a year ago," Parkinson said. "But I definitely need to draw on the confidence I had last year. I don't think I found it out there then, but that's what I was trying to think about. The determination was 100%, but the confidence just didn't show yet."
World No. 3 Taj Burrow barely scraped through his heat against Marlon Lipke (DEU), the first ever German surfer to compete in a Foster's ASP World Tour.

"I knew if I lost that one that my hopes would be all over for finishing No. 1 on the World Tour," Burrow said. "I'm just going to have to improve from here."
Former Foster's ASP World Tour surfer and Quiksilver Pro France wildcard Mikael Picon (FRA) beat Burrow in Round 1. French fans erupted in cheers when Picon posted one of the day's highest scores, a 9.83, for a deep barrel.

"The first wave I dropped in on, the sun was in my eyes and I couldn't really see the lip – I just grabbed the rail and said I'm not going to fall." Picon said. "I've been surfing everyday here and down south since I found out that I got the wildcard and that paid off. It's weird, when I was on the World Tour I never won a heat."

3X Quiksilver Pro France winner Irons tied Picon's 9.83 in Round 2 when he emerged from a seemingly un-makeable barrel.

"The conditions were pretty touch and go," Irons said. "The tide got really high and there were not many good scoring waves out there. I think I had a 3.0 and a 4.0 with eight minutes to go and Aritz had some big scores in the first round so I knew it would be hard."

Another call on competition status will be made tomorrow morning at 8:00. There is a strong likelihood Heat 7 of Round 2 will kick off soon thereafter.

Visit the Press Room on www.aspworldtour.com for surfer quotes, downloadable audio files and hi res images.

Today's Quiksilver Pro France Round 2 Heat Results
Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) 16.16 def. Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 6.50
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 9.30 def. Marlon Lipke (DEU) 8.73
Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.10 def. Gabe Kling (USA) 10.84
Heat 4: Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 15.67 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.50
Heat 5: Dean Morrison (AUS) 14.16 def. Tim Reyes (USA) 12.07
Heat 6: Victor Ribas (BRA) 11.00 def Taylor Knox (USA) 8.70

Today's Quiksilver Pro France Round 1 Heat Results:
Heat 5: Cory Lopez (USA) 11,27, Gabe Kling (USA) 10.83, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.50
Heat 7: Mikael Picon (FRA) 12.60, Kai Otton (AUS) 10.80, Taj Burrow (AUS) 7.50
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA)17.76, Aritz Aranburu(ESP) 17.27, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 5.50
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS) 19.433, Michael Campbell (AUS) 7.38, Marlon Lipke (DEU) 1.33
Heat 10: Michel Bourrez (PYF) 12.27, Andy Irons (HAW) 11.17, Ben Dunn (AUS) 8.77
Heat 11: Neco Padaratz (BRA) 13.50, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.60, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 5.60
Heat 12: Leonardo Neves (BRA) 11.30, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 7.07, Victor Ribas (BRA) 3.17
Heat 13: Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 10.33, Daniel Wills (AUS) 9.50, Michael Lowe (AUS) 4.77
Heat 14: Royden Bryson (ZAF) 15.53, Shaun Cansdell (AUS) 10.40, Chris Ward (USA) 9.40
Heat 15: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 14.83, Bruce Irons (HAW) 12.83, Greg Emslie (ZAF) 3.80
Heat 16: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 10.14, Bernardo Miranda (BRA) 7.74, Troy Brooks (AUS) 6.87

Remaining Quiksilver Pro France Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 7: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Michael Lowe (AUS)
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Shaun Cansdell (AUS)
Heat 9: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 10: Daniel Wills (AUS) vs. Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
Heat 11: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)
Heat 12: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 13: Fred Pattachia (HAW) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 14: Michael Campbell (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 15: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 16: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 1 RESUMES; ROUND 2 LIKELY

HOSSEGOR, France (Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007) – Four to six foot (two metre), offshore conditions at La Graviere have prompted Quiksilver Pro France officials to call competition on today. The remainder of Round 1 will be completed, and should conditions hold, Round 2 could be started as well.

"If we wrap up the 16th heat of Round 1 today, it is more than likely that we will go straight into Round 2," Contest Director Rod Brooks said. "The reason for that is that we are expecting onshore winds from midday tomorrow, and onshore, variable winds for the rest of the week. It's quite possible the next two days will boast the best surf of the event window."

Heat 5 of Round 1 will paddle out at 10am today. The resurf between Bede Durbidge (AUS), Cory Lopez (USA) and Gabe Kling (USA) will be followed by heavy hitting heats featuring Taj Burrow (AUS) in Heat 7, Kelly Slater (USA) in Heat 8, Mick Fanning (AUS) in Heat 9 and Andy Irons (HAW) in Heat 10.

Logon to www.aspworldtour.com and www.quiksilverlive.com to watch it all LIVE!

Quiksilver Pro France Remaining Round 1 Heat Match-Ups:
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Cory Lopez (USA), Gabe Kling (USA) - Resurf
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Aritz Aranburu (ESP)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Michael Campbell (AUS), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 10: Andy Irons (HAW), Ben Dunn (AUS), Michel Bourrez (PYF)
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Raoni Monteiro (BRA), Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 12: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 13: Daniel Wills (AUS), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA), Michael Lowe (AUS)
Heat 14: Chris Ward (USA), Royden Bryson (ZAF), Shaun Cansdell (AUS)
Heat 15: Bruce Irons (HAW), Phillip MacDonald (AUS), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 16: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Troy Brooks (AUS), Bernardo Miranda (BRA)

Quiksilver Pro France Round 1 Heat Results:
Heat 1: Dayyan Neve (AUS) 12.50, Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.74, Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 8.40
Heat 2: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 11.50, Tim Reyes (USA) 11.33, Taylor Knox (USA) 10.46
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA)15.16, Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 14.17, Luke Stedman (AUS) 11.00
Heat 4: Trent Munro (AUS) 15.33, Dean Morrison (AUS) 14.00, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.56
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Cory Lopez (USA), Gabe Kling (USA) - Resurf
Heat 6: Luke Munro (AUS) 16.17, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.50, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.07

NO OFFICIAL COMPETITION AT QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE TODAY

HOSSEGOR, France (Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007) – No official Quiksilver Pro France competition was held in the six to eight (two-plus metre) waves at La Graviere today, but the Foster's Surf Showdown did the job of delighting the thousands of fans on the beach instead.

Team Hawaii, comprised of Andy Irons and Fred Patacchia overcame Team Australia – Bede Durbidge and Dean Morrison – in the final to pocket the US$4000 prize. Currently sitting in last place on the Foster's Surf Showdown ratings, Hawaii has a lot of ground to make up if they want to win the platinum keg on offer at the end of the year.

"We're counting on the back half, we're going to come back strong," Irons said.

Current Foster's Surf Showdown Ratings
1st - USA - 7092 pts
2nd - Australia - 6624 pts
3rd - Foster's Rookies - 6615 pts
4th - Brasil - 5484 pts
5th - South Africa - 4803 pts
6th - Hawaii - 4644 pts

A call on competition status for the remainder of Round 1 will be made tomorrow morning at 8:00.

Quiksilver Pro France Remaining Round 1 Heat Match-Ups:
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Aritz Aranburu (ESP)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Michael Campbell (AUS), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 10: Andy Irons (HAW), Ben Dunn (AUS), Michel Bourrez (PYF)
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Raoni Monteiro (BRA), Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 12: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 13: Daniel Wills (AUS), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA), Michael Lowe (AUS)
Heat 14: Chris Ward (USA), Royden Bryson (ZAF), Shaun Cansdell (AUS)
Heat 15: Bruce Irons (HAW), Phillip MacDonald (AUS), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 16: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Troy Brooks (AUS), Bernardo Miranda (BRA)

Quiksilver Pro France Round 1 Heat Results:
Heat 1: Dayyan Neve (AUS) 12.50, Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.74, Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 8.40
Heat 2: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 11.50, Tim Reyes (USA) 11.33, Taylor Knox (USA) 10.46
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA)15.16, Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 14.17, Luke Stedman (AUS) 11.00
Heat 4: Trent Munro (AUS) 15.33, Dean Morrison (AUS) 14.00, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.56
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Cory Lopez (USA), Gabe Kling (USA) - Resurf
Heat 6: Luke Munro (AUS) 16.17, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.50, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.07

ROOKIES WIN ROUND 1 HEATS AT QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE HELD AT LA GRAVIERE

HOSSEGOR, France (Friday, Sept. 21, 2007) – Foster's ASP World Tour rookies, Luke Munro (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS) and Ricky Basnett (ZAF) have yet to advance from Round 3 this year, but each are seeded directly into that round after winning their Round 1 Quiksilver Pro France heats today.

Heats 1 through 6 of Round 1 ran in two to four foot (one metre) conditions at La Graviere with Munro beating out reigning Quiksilver Pro France Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS) in the last heat of the day. Munro, who is rated equal 43rd, also posted the highest heat total of the day, 16.17 out of 20.00 possible points.

"It's tough being a rookie, especially for me being the lowest seed," Munro said. "Each time I come into a competition I draw one of the Top 5 guys, so it makes it tough going up against Kelly, Taj, Mick, Joel or Andy each first heat. I'm really keen to get a few points and get out of that Top 5 bracket. When I drew Joel, I really didn't want to go up against him, but now I'm fortunate to get a win out of him."

Neve, World No. 41, advanced straight to Round 3 for the first time in his elite tour career with a last minute victory over Josh Kerr (AUS) and Pancho Sullivan (HAW).

"I needed a 5.0 something and Kerr was in 1st; he was sticking to me like glue and wasn't really letting me get any waves," Neve said. "Luckily I started drifting down the beach a bit, saw a wide peak and caught a really good wave. I got two really good turns in and then my back foot fell off a bit and I was thinking, 'Oh no you've blown it again.' Thank goodness the judges liked those first two turns and I was able to score high enough to put me in the lead."

Neve, like Munro, aren't likely to requalify via the Foster's ASP World Tour, but both have strong campaigns on the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and could qualify via that tour.

"I feel amazing, I'm so stoked, I haven't won a first round heat all year," Neve said. "I've had a really bad year this year but I feel as though I've learned a lot. I've had some really good results this year in the WQS so hopefully I'll earn enough points to stick around next year."

Basnett has avoided Round 2 on several occasions this year but has yet to advance to Round 4.

"I've probably won three or four first round heats during my rookie year," Basnett said. "I win the first one and now I've got to make it out of the next one. I'm definitely looking to do that this contest for sure."

Bobby Martinez (USA) beat Mark Occhilupo (AUS) and Luke Stedman (AUS) in shifting conditions to avoid the first elimination round in Heat 3.

"It was hard because it is such a big area, there are waves everywhere, and it's really hard to read them," Martinez said. "This place is weird because it looks like it looks now and then in a half an hour it can totally change – the tide can be doing something completely different and it's so dramatic. You never know what this place is going to do, there may be lefts one heat and rights the next, it's just a hard place to figure out."

Trent Munro (AUS) beat Dean Morrison (AUS) and Adrian Buchan (AUS) in Heat 4, despite Morrison posting a 9.17 in the final seconds.

Munro missed qualifying for the 2007 Foster's ASP World Tour when he finished one spot outside the Top 27 who automatically requalify via the elite tour at the end of the season. However, as 1st replacement and citing Tim Reyes' injury the first six events of the year and the withdrawl of Damien Hobgood, Munro has had the opportunity to follow the tour full time.

"I had a terrible year last year, it's one I really want to bypass," Munro said. "This year I'm having a great year in general, I'm happier than ever. I'm just enjoying my surfing and trying not to take the contest thing too hard and just letting my surfing do the talking. I love surfing at home and I've stayed at home a lot this year, I'm not competing on the WQS this year so we'll just see what happens. If it's my last year, it's my last year."

Heat 5 of Round 1 was unofficially won by Bede Durbidge (AUS) over Cory Lopez (USA) and Gabe Kling, but do to special circumstances regarding the nature of the heat, the heat will be resurfed first up when competition commences.
A call on competition status for the remainder of Round 1 will be made tomorrow morning at 8:00.

Quiksilver Pro France Round 1 Heat Results:
Heat 1: Dayyan Neve (AUS) 12.50, Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.74, Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 8.40
Heat 2: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 11.50, Tim Reyes (USA) 11.33, Taylor Knox (USA) 10.46
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA)15.16, Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 14.17, Luke Stedman (AUS) 11.00
Heat 4: Trent Munro (AUS) 15.33, Dean Morrison (AUS) 14.00, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.56
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Cory Lopez (USA), Gabe Kling (USA) - Resurf
Heat 6: Luke Munro (AUS) 16.17, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.50, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.07

Quiksilver Pro France Remaining Round 1 Heat Match-Ups:
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Aritz Aranburu (ESP)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Michael Campbell (AUS), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 10: Andy Irons (HAW), Ben Dunn (AUS), Michel Bourrez (PYF)
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Raoni Monteiro (BRA), Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 12: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 13: Daniel Wills (AUS), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA), Michael Lowe (AUS)
Heat 14: Chris Ward (USA), Royden Bryson (ZAF), Shaun Cansdell (AUS)
Heat 15: Bruce Irons (HAW), Phillip MacDonald (AUS), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 16: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Troy Brooks (AUS), Bernardo Miranda (BRA)

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 1 IN THE WATER AT LA GRAVIERE

HOSSEGOR, France (Friday, Sept. 21, 2007) – The first heat of Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro France, Stop No. 7 of 10 on the 2007 Foster's ASP World Tour, hit the water at La Graviere at 4:30pm today.

Clean two to three foot (one metre) conditions, will see event officials endeavor to run the first six heats of the round before sunset. Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Josh Kerr (AUS) and Dayyan Neve (AUS) will paddle out first.

The 2007 Quiksilver Pro France features five European surfers in World No. 9 Jeremy Flores (FRA) and wildcards Mikael Picon (FRA), Aritz Aranburu (ESP), Marlon Lipke (DEU) and French Polynesian Michel Bourrez.

Timmy Reyes (USA), who has been injured all season, will surf in his first Foster's ASP World Tour event of the year in France this week. Damien Hobgood (USA) and Travis Logie (ZAF) are not competing citing injuries.

Watch it all live on www.aspworldtour.com and www.quiksilverlive.com.

Quiksilver Pro Round 1 Heat Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Josh Kerr (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 2: Taylor Knox (USA), Ricky Basnett (ZAF), Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Luke Stedman (AUS), Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
Heat 4: Dean Morrison (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Trent Munro (AUS)
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Cory Lopez (USA), Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Aritz Aranburu (ESP)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Michael Campbell (AUS), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 10: Andy Irons (HAW), Ben Dunn (AUS), Michel Bourrez (PYF)
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Raoni Monteiro (BRA), Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 12: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 13: Daniel Wills (AUS), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA), Michael Lowe (AUS)
Heat 14: Chris Ward (USA), Royden Bryson (ZAF), Shaun Cansdell (AUS)
Heat 15: Bruce Irons (HAW), Phillip MacDonald (AUS), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 16: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Troy Brooks (AUS), Bernardo Miranda (BRA)

NO OFFICIAL QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE COMPETITION TODAY – TRIALS ON

HOSSEGOR, France (Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007) – Though the official waiting period for the Quiksilver Pro France, Stop No. 7 of 10 on the 2007 Foster's ASP World Tour, begins today, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, no official competition will be held at La Nord in Hossegor.

With nine more days in an event waiting period which stretches from Sept. 20-30, 2007, contest officials have opted to use the first day of the event window to run the Quiksilver Pro Trials at Grand Plage in nearby Biarritz instead.

The surfers competing in the trials are: Tom Curren (USA), Tamaroa McComb (PYF), Michel Bourez (PYF), Clay Marzo (AUS), Dylan Graves (PRI), Alain Riou (PYF), Joan Duru (FRA), Tiago Pieres (PRT), Fred Robin (REU), Patrick Beven (FRA), Nikolaus Von Rupp (GER), Marlon Lipke (DEU) and Marc Lacomare (FRA). The winner of the Quiksilver Pro Trials will earn the third and final wildcard into the main event.

Former Foster's ASP World Tour surfer Miky Picon (FRA) and World Qualifying Series No. 12, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) received automatic wildcards into the Quiksilver Pro France. A complete Quiksilver Pro draw will be available when the third and final wildcard is decided.

Though no official Foster's ASP World Tour competition will run today, several of the Top 45 will likely paddle out to participate in the 'Kelly Experiment,' an overlapping heat format conceptualized by current reigning World Champion and current World No. 2 Kelly Slater (USA). Should the format prove successful, it will likely be used at Pipeline in Hawaii (as an alternative to the current four-heat format) this December.

FLORES TO HEADLINE EUROPEANS FEATURED IN QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE

HOSSEGOR, France (Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007) –Jeremy Flores (FRA) will head into Stop No. 7 of 10 on the 2007 Foster's ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro France, the highest rated rookie of the year thus far. Fresh off a Semifinal finish at last week's World Tour event in California, Flores now sits 9th in the ASP ratings.

"I'm very excited for the competition in France; it's going to be fun," Flores said. The waves have been really good for the contest the past two years and it's my first time, officially, to surf with there on the World Tour so I'm really excited. It's going to be cool, there are going to be so many fans at home cheering for me so it should be good. I can't wait."

Flores is one of three, and possibly four, European surfers competing in the Quiksilver Pro France. Former Foster's ASP World Tour surfer Miky Picon (FRA) and Spaniard
Aritz Aranburu have been given wildcards into the main event. Aranburu currently sits 12th on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), Picon 13th. The Top 15 surfers on the WQS at the end of the year earn spots on the elite Foster's ASP World Tour.

The third wildcard spot will be given to the winner of the Quiksilver Pro Trials to be held tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 20th, the first day of the official 10-day waiting period that stretches from Sept. 20-30, 2007. The surfers competing in the trials are: Tom Curren (USA), Tamaroa McComb (PYF), Michel Bourez (PYF), Clay Marzo (AUS), Dylan Graves (PRI), Alain Riou (PYF), Joan Duru (FRA), Tiago Pieres (PRT), Fred Robin (REU), Patrick Beven (FRA), Nikolaus Von Rupp (GER), Marlon Lipke (DEU) and Marc Lacomare (FRA).

No official Foster's ASP World Tour competition will run tomorrow, though several of the Top 45 will likely paddle out to participate in the 'Kelly Experiment,' an overlapping heat format conceptualized by current reigning World Champion and current World No. 2 Kelly Slater (USA). Should the format prove successful, it will likely be used at Pipeline in Hawaii (as an alternative to the current four-heat format) this December.

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE UP NEXT ON FOSTER’S ASP WORLD TOUR

HOSSEGOR, France (Friday, Sept. 14, 2007) –With only one day of Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley competition remaining, 32 of the Top 45 surfers have been eliminated at Lower Trestles and have turned their attention to Stop No. 7 of 10 on the Foster's ASP World Tour – the Quiksilver Pro France.

Held in Hossegor, France from Sept. 20-30, the Quiksilver Pro will be the next opportunity for world title contenders Mick Fanning (AUS), Taj Burrow (AUS) and Andy Irons (HAW) to strike. Currently rated 1st, 2nd and 3rd on the Foster's ASP World Tour respectively, all three bowed out of the Boost Mobile Pro uncharacteristically early.

Burrow, who is the only surfer with two elite tour wins in his 2007 scoreline, knows his equal 17th result at Trestles is a throwaway (the surfers drop their two worst results of the year) and has now turned his attention to the beach breaks of South Western France.

"I just want to put my head down and aim for a win in Europe of course," Burrow said. "I'm definitely really devastated with the loss at Trestles, but yesterday kind of panned out pretty well, considering my result. Besides Kelly still being in the event, it's like this event never happened. It's really coming down to crunch time for someone to get on a roll, so I'm just looking to get loose in Europe."

Reigning and 8X World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) is the only surfer in the Top 10 still factoring in the Lower Trestles draw. With a win in California and a strong European leg, Slater knows that title No. 9 could be within his grasp.

"France has always been a good event for me and Trestles has always been a good event for me, so hopefully I come out of California with a good result and then I have a chance," Slater said. "In theory, if I get a really good result here in the USA, potentially a win, I could get back up into the lead in Europe. That would be a surprise to me since I haven't had a stellar year so far, but I turned it around in JBay and this week is shaping up to be a pretty good one."

Joel Parkinson (AUS) who was rated 5th prior to the Boost Mobile Pro, is the defending Quiksilver Pro France champion. World No. 3 Irons won the event the three years prior. The Foster's ASP World Tour ratings will be adjusted after the mainland USA event wraps up tomorrow, but one thing is certain, the race for the 2007 World Title is shaping up to be the most exciting in years.