PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Oaxaca (Saturday, November 15, 2008) - The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 3-Star PXM International Vans Pro completed another action packed day of competition at Puerto Escondido today and saw two of the top ASP North America Pro Junior Series surfers take advantage of the three-to-five foot (1 metre) surf on offer and advance into the Quarterfinals.
The ASP WQS offers surfers a chance to qualify for the prestigious ASP World Tour, with the ASP WQS’ top 15 seeds advancing on to the coveted tour each year.
Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), 19, who won the ASP North America Pro Junior Series this year, advanced into the Quarterfinals of the PXM International Vans Pro today. Arrambide has been taking advantage of the amazing surf on offer this week, claiming that the waves at Puerto Escondido have been the best waves he’s surfed in a contest.
“
These are the best waves I’ve ever had in a contest,” Arrambide said.
“Yesterday I got three barrels in one heat.”
The talented goofy-footer is using the PXM International Vans Pro as a warm up for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships held in Narrabeen, Australia this January, where he will tackle the world’s finest junior competitors in an attempt to take the title of ASP World Junior Champion.
“
I’m very psyched for that contest,” Arrambide said. “
I’m just surfing, training and getting my boards organized. That will be the biggest event of my career.”
Andrew Doheny (Newport Beach, CA), 16, finished third on the ASP North America Pro Junior series and will accompany Arrambide to the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships. The young Californian posted the day’s highest heat total of 15.50 out of a possible 20 by utilizing his polished barrel-riding skills in order to advance into the latter rounds of the ASP WQS event. The Quarterfinals berth for Doheny marks his personal best performance in an ASP WQS contest.
“
Puerto is a great wave and this is the farthest I’ve ever advanced in a WQS event,” Doheny said. “
My heat was kind of a flat heat. It was getting smaller at that point, but I got one of the only barrels and a mediocre back up.”
Blake Howard (Carpinteria, CA), 26, was also in form today, netting the day’s highest single wave score of a near-perfect 9.0 out of a possible 10.
Tomorrow’s action will conclude the ASP WQS 3-Star contest. To see who takes this year’s title of PXM International Vans Pro Champion log back in to
www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org tomorrow evening.
PXM International Vans Pro Round of 64 Results: (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 15: Kellen Ellison (USA) 1st, Andre DeMarco (ARG) 2nd, Kevin Kapsky (HAW) 3rd, Juan Berrera (ITA) 4th
Heat 16: Blake Howard (USA) 1st, Diego Medina (CHL) 2nd, Feliciano Munoz (MEX) 3rd, Fredrick Ortega (USA) 4th
PXM International Vans Pro Round of 32 Results: (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 1: Matt Mohagen (USA) 1st, Angelo Lozano (MEX) 2nd, Chris Abad (USA) 3rd, Pedro Aguiar (BRA) 4th
Heat 2: Rusty Long (USA) 1st, Chad Compton (USA) 2nd, Abel Estopin (MEX) 3rd, Matt King (USA) 4th
Heat 3: Gabriel Villaran (PER) 1st, Dean Brady (AUS) 2nd, Matt Johnson (USA) 3rd, Jason Miller (USA) 4th
Heat 4: Eric Ramirez (MEX) 1st, Cory Arrambide (USA) 2nd, Travis Mellem (USA) 3rd, Michael Bailey (USA) 4th
Heat 5: Ryan Turner (USA) 1st, Gabe Garcia (USA) 2nd, Jacob Kirschenbaum (USA) 3rd, Adam Virs (USA) 4th
Heat 6: Andrew Doheny (USA) 1st, Manuel Selman (CHL) 2nd, Magnum Martinez (VEN) 3rd, Andrew Gahan (USA) 4th
Heat 7: Brandon Ragenovich (USA) 1st, Andre DeMarco (ARG) 2nd, Diego Medina (CHL) 3rd, Javier Swayne (PER) 4th
Heat 8: Blake Howard (USA) 1st, David Rutherford (MEX) 2nd, Kellen Ellison (USA) 3rd, Tyler Smith (USA) 4th
