The Rip Curl Pro Search has positioned itself as one of the most exciting and highly anticipated events on the ASP World Tour since its inception in 2005.

After three successful installments in Reunion Island, Mexico and Chile respectively, the legacy is set to continue when Rip Curl and the ASP take the World’s Top 45 ranked surfers somewhere new and exotic for 2008.

“This year’s Rip Curl Pro Search could be one of those ‘best ever’ achievements we’re always striving for,” claims Andy Higgins, Rip Curl Event Manager. “The wave can be perfect, the place is amazing and the surfers are frothing, so if all the stars align and elements come together, it’s going to be one unbelievable spectacle.”

The location for this year’s Rip Curl Pro Search is still yet to be announced, with Rip Curl and the ASP instead opting to publish “Somewhere…” as the location and release a variety of different event advertisements to keep the public guessing until July.

“We really want to keep the location a secret and have asked all those involved with the event or knowledgeable about the location to please do likewise,” Higgins said. “It’s not just a Rip Curl choice, it’s an agreement with the local community, the country and the ASP. That’s why we’ve tagged it with ‘Somewhere…’ and that’s why we’ve made different posters that suggest it could be anywhere.”

Although the mystery surrounding the Rip Curl Pro Search makes it unusual and somewhat difficult for Rip Curl to market, Group Marketing & Advertising Chairman Neil Ridgway enjoys the secrecy and obscurity of hiding the whereabouts of the ASP World Tour’s youngest event.

“It’s The Search! The event’s unique floating license gives us a brilliant opportunity to add some mystery and spice to the ASP World Tour and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do,” Ridgway said. “Sure, it would be easier to just tell everyone where we’re going, but that’s not part of our philosophy.”

“We want to take the world’s best surfers to new waves and we will definitely be broadcasting the entire event live around the world on a ripcurl.com webcast, so we’re actually giving sport fans a free trip there – like a mystery flight.”

The official contest waiting period for the 2008 Rip Curl Pro Search – the 6th of 11 events on the 2008 ASP World Tour – runs from July 30 to August 10. Stop No. 4, the Globe Pro Fiji, starts this Sunday, May 25, 2008.