Photo above: Jeremy Flores (FRA) qualified for Round 6 today ahead of Josh Kerr (AUS), Alain Riou (PYF) and James Athorn (AUS)

Europe’s World Qualifying Series (WQS) soldiers are currently fighting in the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star Prime Drug Aware Pro in Western Australia, facing the world’s best surfers in Margaret River.

Jeremy Flores (FRA), current ASP World tour No. 4, posted a strong win over former ASP Top 45 surfer Josh Kerr (AUS), eliminating fellow European Alain Riou (PYF) who placed 3rd in Heat 1 of Round 5 of the Drug Aware Pro.

Flores, who ended runner-up to Adriano De Souza (BRA) last week in the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 4-Star event in Merewether Beach, has opened the year with several big results in Australia, including a 3rd place finish in the first event of the 2008 ASP World Tour on the Gold Coast a month ago.

Flores will meet again with fellow ASP Top 45 member De Souza as well as ASP World Tour rookie Jay Thompson (AUS) in Round 6 of the Drug Aware Pro pres. by O’Neill.

Lee-Ann Curren (FRA), 2007 ASP European Women’s Pro Surf Tour champion, posted a solid win in Round 1 of the ASP Women’s WQS 5-Star event with a 14.00 point heat total and will surf against fellow French surfer Charlotte Caton (FRA) when competition resumes.

Former ASP Women’s World Tour surfer Caroline Sarran (FRA) lost in Round 2 to ASP Top 17 veteran Megan Abubo (HAW).

Top European surfers including 2006 ASP European Pro Surf Tour champion Michel Bourez (PYF) and 2007 ASP European Women’s Pro Surf Tour champion Lee-Ann Curren (FRA) will soon hit the water and battle for valuable points towards the qualification for the 2009 Dream Tour.

Tim Boal (FRA), current WQS No. 12 after his quarterfinal finish in Brazil’s ASP WQS 5-Star Prime Hang Loose Pro, Gony Zubizarreta (ESP), Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY), Marlon Lipke (DEU), Jose Maria Cabrera (CNY), Hugo Savalli (REU) and Charlotte Caton (FRA) are the remaining European surfers in the event.