Let’s start with the good news, for the first time ever we will have two europeans on the Foster’s ASP world tour next year, jeremy Flores currently 7th of the top45, is certain to requalify without his WQS rating. He will be joined by Ericeira powerhouse Tiago Pires who secured his qualification last august in continental Europe. After failing to qualify in the past years by a couple of places, Tiago fully deserved his spot on the elite tour for the quality of his surfing as well as his dedication and fierceness.

Then we have Aritz Aranburu (12th on the current rating before the lanzarote event who needs to get rid of a 919) and Miky Picon (14th), both surfers are in the top 15 qualifing spots but are at risk with the potential come back of surfers such as Kieren Perrow, Neco Padaratz, Hedgey or Flintoff and a few more still in the hunt. One in particular has been in great form lately, eliminationg 8 times world champ Slater during the Quik Pro France and reaching the finals in the last canarian event, tahitian barrel master Michel Bourez (currently 32nd).

Therefore la Santa Pro and its precious rating points will give the upper hand to top finishers in lanzarote, while early exiters will fly to hawaii with increasing pressure on their shoulders. Knowing that Haleiwa or Sunset aren’t contests where europeans are usually gaining some extra points, it is pretty much now or never for them.

having started with agood news, I’ll finish with another: Jeremy Flores, CJ Hobgood and Rodrigo Dornelles will qualify directly through the top 45, so we can go down 3 spots on the ladder of the WQS rating, that’s just extra chances to see more than two europeans in the Foster’s ASP world tour next year….good luck to all of them..