Patrick Beven (FRA) won the third 6 Star PRIME World Qualifying Series of the year today in Lanzarote. Ranked 51st before his victory and the 3000 points coming with it, Beven achieved an amazing result for his comeback amongst the possible qualifiers for next year’s Foster’s ASP World Tour. Having to win four heats today to make it, the frenchman showed how fit and ready he was as the tour is reaching his end with only three major events only remaining on the schedule.

Taking control of the messy wind-blown conditions for the last heat of the event, Beven kept on using same tactics when he waited patiently for the fewer sets breaking, not missing any of the best potential waves to defeat Shaun Cansdell (AUS) and seize the precious US$ 15 000 winner’s prize.

Looking to throw away a low 675 points result on the ratings, Beven just went for the top and showed throughout the week he had all the skills to take the trophy home. Raised by the french crew up to the award ceremony, the triple winner even shed in tears with friend and surfer Miky Picon (FRA), realizing he accomplished one of the biggest comebacks of the tour.

“I just don’t know what to say… This is more than a dream. I was in form, I never stopped believing I could be back strong but eventhough I love this wave, I never thought I could win a 6 Star Prime after thwo months away,” started Beven.

“I want to thank Pierre Agnes, the whole french contingent especially Miky and Jeremy and my brother Yannick for taking me to this point. They helped me work my mental and I’m just back for good and will move forward to Brazil confidently.”

Shaun Cansdell (AUS) finished second of the event, getting back in the race on the ratings thanks to this second great result on the WQS after his win in the Rip Curl Pro Super Series. “I’m happy with this finish. Three months ago I wasn’t able to think of anything regarding ratings but with this one I know it’s going to push way closer to the top and I’ll be ready to surf hard and requalify.”

ASP World Tour Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) got his second best result of the year on the WQS today in Lanzarote, almost securing his requalification for next year’s elite top 45. Facing an unstoppable Patrick Beven (FRA) in semifinal #2, Dornelles could do nothing but accept the frenchman’s domination, still ripping to finish with a solid 14.06 pts total.

“I love Lanzarote, I’ve had good results here and this ones means a lot for me as it secures me another year in the top 45. I’m glad to finish this way still, and I know Patrick had a lot to win for his comeback here so I’ll share this good time with him. I’ll be back in this event eventhough we weren’t lucky with the waves, but the potential is here…”

Twenty-fourth before the Santa Pro 6 Star Prime WQS event, Royden Bryson (ZAF) surfed his way up to the semifinals, stopped by Cansdell but still securing 2250 ratings’ points and US$ 4 450 for his result, a deserved equal 3rd. Out of rythm in his heat, Bryson couldn’t find anything more than a two-wave combined total of 9.27 points.

Asked about this result, Bryson answered : “I’m stoked with this result. I came here to get rid of this 800 pts result I had and I’ve done the right way; this will get me back seriously into a requalification for next year. I’m still doing okay on both tours so this event gives me confidence before the brazilian stop of the Foster’s ASP World Tour.”

Keeping his seat firmly on top of the WQS, Jordy Smith (ZAF) failed to readh the semifinals, letting go an opportunity to extend his strong lead. At 19-years-old, Smith dominated the World Qualifying Series this year since the Quiksilver Pro Africa in Durban last April and is now moving to Hawaii for the showdown.

“I’m pretty bumped my boards got stolen the other day and I had to surf with this old one. But it’s not a reason… I didn’t get any of the better waves in these tricky conditions and my main focus is now on Hawaii. Being the WQS world champion is my goal now so I’ll move confidently there. I love big waves!” finished the undisputed leader of the year.

Fouteenth before this event, Miky Picon (FRA) had a lot to lose here knowing this event could take him much closer towards a requalification for next year’s ASP World Tour. Suffering from a back injury since the beginning of the week, Picon managed to rush into the quarters but ended losing to current top 45 surfer Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA).

“I got my qualification for the top 45 here in 2005 and I felt like I could do something big here. These precious points are going to help me a lot to requalify and I’m glad I managed to surf with no pressure. Rodrigo just got the two good waves in the beginning and I kept running after the scores for the whole battle.”

Thanks to this equal 5th place, Miky Picon secured 1950 points and jumps over the 11000 points range, getting him one big step closer to next year’s ASP World Tour where he could join at least Jeremy Flores (FRA) and Tiago Pires.

Finishing his canarian path with an equal 5th and US$ 2600 was outsider Clancy Dawson (Sydney, AUS), achieving his best result ever in the 6 Star Prime event. At 22 years of age, Dawson managed to get through five rounds and eliminate amongst others current WQS #4 Ben Bourgeois (USA) and Daniel Ross (AUS) before failing against ASP World Tour member Royden Bryson (ZAF).

“It’s the best result of my life so I’m stoked to make the quarters. It’s a bummer I couldn’t keep going but this will give me great confidence and hopefully an opportunity to be full time around the WQS events next year,” confessed Dawson.

Reaching the quarterfinals in one of his favourites venues, former regional champion and runner-up in 2005 here Justin Mujica (PRT) was stopped by Shaun Cansdell (AUS) in the first battle. In same messy however still consistent waves, Mujica struggled to catch up with the ASP World Tour surfer but could not find sufficient ride.

“I feel like I could have done better but these waves were hard to catch… Well, it’s still my best result of the year and I am glad to see the europeans in the quarterfinals. After this injury, I did good in Gran Canaria last week and now I feel like I can be on a good roll so I’ll keep going to the next events with the same feeling,” said Mujica.