French Team Quiksilver surfer, Jérémy FLORES, was last night officially awarded the title of “Rookie of the Year”, following the 10th and final leg of the ASP World Tour 2007 in Pipeline, Hawaii. The only European and the youngest member of the Men’s Top 44 since its creation, prodigy Jérémy Florès, at the tender age of 19, ends his first season on the elite tour in 8th place in the world rankings (with 4770 points), ahead of all the other promoted surfers. A considerable achievement.

During his first season on the ASP World Tour (formerly the WCT), Jérémy has shown remarkable consistency.

After a successful debut (9th place) at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast in March 2007, Jérémy followed up with a string of good performances.

He reached the quarter-finals of the Tahitian stage of the Tour, in May, after creating a shock by knocking out Kelly Slater. The ambitious youngster also fought his way through to the semi-finals at Trestles in California, and the quarter-finals of the Spanish leg in Mundaka last October.

With his 9th place in Pipeline, Jérémy fulfilled his unstated aim: to finish top of the rookies on the ASP World Tour 2007, and especially ahead of his great Australian rival Kai Otton (12th). Jérémy Florès has even managed the rare feat (along with Mick Fanning and Kelly Slater) of not getting a single 33rd place finish this season (his lowest result was 17th).

On top of that, the Frenchman produced a splendid performance on the WQS tour (double qualifying for the elite tour). He finished in 11th place in the final rankings after reaching the final of the WQS six star-rated Mr Price Pro in South Africa, and then at the prestigious US Open in July (WQS 6*), and also won the first competition of his career at Ericeira (WQS 6*).

The consistency and control Jérémy has demonstrated point to a fabulous year in store in 2008. Particularly as the Frenchman from Reunion will have three newly promoted Europeans alongside him: the young Basque surfer Aritz Aranburu (Team Quiksilver), Tiago Pires from Portugal, and his friend Mikael Picon (Team Quiksilver), back among the elite following his first qualification in 2006.

JEREMY FLORES

Country – France

Born : 27th april 1988 in La Reunion Island

Sponsors : Quiksilver, Evian

Career Highlights

2007 – ranked n°8 at ASP World Tour

Rookie of the Year 2007

2007 – Winner of WQS Ericeira (Portugal)

2006 – ranked n°1 of WQS Tour

2006 – Qualified for ASP World Tour

2005 – Pro-Junior European Champion

2005 – Team Junior World Champion

2000 and 2001 –Sydney Champion (Australia) – youth

2000 – France and Europe Champion – youth