BEN BOURGEOIS CLAIMS 6.0 LOWERS PRO AND TAKES RATINGS LEAD
ON MACY'S
CALIFORNIA TRIFECTA SURF SERIES
 SAN CLEMENTE, California (Saturday, May 3, 2008) -
Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Top 45 member Ben Bourgeois
(Wrightsville Beach, NC to Carlsbad, CA) took down the 2008 6.0 Lowers
Pro in pumping three-to-four foot surf at Lower Trestles over fellow
finalists Fredrick Patacchia (North Shore, HAW), Joel Centeio (North
Shore, HAW) and Patrick Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA). The ASP World Qualifying
Series (WQS) 4-Star event wrapped up a week's worth of competition
this afternoon with Bourgeois showcasing the form that has taken him
to the most elite level of competition in the world.
The powerful natural-footer nailed a 7.83, an 8.33, a 7.53, an 8.83 and
a 7.53 throughout the 30-minute final in a staggering display of consistency
and ability, leaving his fellow finalists in a combination situation
and unable to surpass.
"In the last two heats, the quarters and the semis, I was just
able to squeak through, and everything was going my way that final," Bourgeois
said. "I'm stoked, it's always good to get a win, and
all those guys in the final are good friends of mine. My last win was
in England, and Lowers is always a great event.
Bourgeois now joins the prestigious list of competitors who have proven
victorious at Lower Trestles, including eight-time ASP World Champion
Kelly Slater (Cocoa Beach, FL), Shane Beschen (San Clemente, CA), C.J.
Hobgood (Melbourne Beach, FL) and Tom Curren (Santa Barbara, CA), amongst
others.
"Everyone wants to surf Lowers with only three other guys out,
and I'm living in Carlsbad now so it's right up the street," Bourgeois
said. "It's an honor to come away with the win and
I'm super pumped."
In addition to taking the 6.0 Lowers Pro Title, the healthy prize purse
and valuable ASP WQS ratings points, Bourgeois also takes the lead in
the 2008 Macy's California Trifecta Surf Series (an ASP North America
Specialty Series). With two more events taking place in September
and October of this season, Bourgeois remains the marked man from here
out.
"I haven't put much thought into continuing the Trifecta
Series at this point," Bourgeois said. "However it
is nice to be in the lead, but I'm just going to see how it goes."
Patacchia, current No. 29 on the elite ASP World Tour, was another who
displayed preternatural talent and incredible competitive savvy throughout
the 6.0 Lowers Pro. Although unable to best Bourgeois in the final,
the powerful Hawaiian racked up a solid result on the ASP WQS as well
as some beneficial practice time at the venue for when the Dream Tour
comes to Lower Trestles in September.
"It's always fun to come to Lowers and surf with just a few
more guys out," Patacchia said. "I'm a bit disappointed
that I couldn't come out on top in the final, but Ben (Bourgeois)
was surfing really well. Still though, great result and a good
way to get some heat practice in before we come here in September."
Centeio, current No. 122 on the ASP WQS, will take his third-place finish
at the 6.0 Lowers Pro and increase his current rating on the hunt to
qualify for the ASP World Tour. Centeio who has nearly qualified
for the Dream Tour the past several years will hope that 2008 will be
his season.
"Benny was just really in rotation, and it seemed like he was on
every good wave, and he ended up taking it, so that's just how
it goes sometimes," Centeio said. "It's a good
result for me and hopefully I can put it together the rest of the season."
With his fourth-place finish at the 6.0 Lowers Pro, Gudauskas has reclaimed
the ratings lead on the ASP WQS, and will look to hold on through the
remainder of the season in hopes of qualifying for the prestigious ASP
World Tour in 2009.
"It feels really good to be back on top with another result," Gudauskas
said. "It's a long season, but hopefully I can keep
putting away results and stay consistent throughout the season."
With the completion of the 6.0 Lowers Pro, the next stop on the Macy's
California Trifecta Surf Series is the Oakley Newport Beach Pro held
in September.
The next stop on the 2008 ASP North America Tour is the ASP WQS 1-Star
Koastalkaos.com Pro in Oceanside, CA from May 10-11, 2008.
For more information about the 6.0 Lowers Pro, go to www.nike6lowerspro.com
www.nike6lowerspro.com
RESULTS – Day 5
6.0 Nike Pro – ASP WQS 4-Star
Final
1 – Ben Bourgeois (USA)
2 – Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
3 – Joel Centeio (HAW)
4 – Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Semifinals: 8 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance)
SF 1: Joel Centeio (HAW) 16.76, Ben Bourgeois (USA) 16.00, Kiron Jabour
(HAW) 15.66, Dusty Payne (HAW) 7.40
SF 2: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 17.10, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 16.47,
Kieran Horn (USA) 14.67, Cory Lopez (USA) 11.87
Quarterfinals: 16 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance)
QF 1: Joel Centeio (HAW) 13.44, Kiron Jabour (HAW 11.27, Shaun Ward (USA)
10.50, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 9.27
QF 2: Ben Bourgeois (USA) 16.30, Dusty Payne (HAW) 14.50, Asher Nolan
(USA) 14.16, Adriano De Souza (BRA) 13.70
QF 3: Cory Lopez (USA)16.44, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 16.26, Federico
Pilurzu (CRI) 13.83, Chas Chidester (HAW) 12.34
QF 4: Kieran Horn (USA) 16.67, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.03, Taylor
Knox (USA) 12.40, Jarrad Sullivan (AUS) 6.67
All 6.0 Lowers Pro and Oakley Pro Junior action is being webcast LIVE
via HYPERLINK "%22http://"www.nike6lowerspro.com
In addition to title sponsor Nike 6.0, the 6.0 Lowers Pro is happy to
have support from Red Bull, Oakley, SURFER, SURFING, WaveWatch and FUEL
TV. |
