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British number one showing good form
by George Mojo
22/04/2007:// British number one Russell Winter is showing good form going into the defence of his O'Neill Highland Open title in Scotland.
The 31-year-old finished inside the final top 30 at the World Qualifying Series Quiksilver Pro Africa missing out on a fifth round place at the New Pier, Durban, by just three and half points.
The Newquay surfer started strongly in his four-man heat against Australian's Luke Stedman and Cory Zeims and Hawaiian TJ Barron in quality 4 to 6 foot waves.
Winter's first wave scored 5.5 points from the judging, putting him into third place behind Zeims who got off to a flying start with 7.67 wave score.
From then on the England international struggled to play catch up with his other scoring wave a 5.37 not enough to book a place in the last 24.
Stedman and Barron went on to take first and second in the heat respectively.
Winter's efforts earnt 975 pro tour rankings points and putting him in a fairly strong position going to Thurso, in the North of Scotland.
The draw for the Highland Open has yet to be finalised, Winter is seeded into the round of 96 as one of the top 28 WQS seeds.
The British "Bulldog's" (Winter's nickname) will be looking to emulate his peformance in the barrels during last year's final at Brimms Ness. There is a lot at stake at the 6star event. Not only has Winter got his title to hang on to, but the dream of reaching the premiere World Championship Tour in 2008 could falter if his performance is anything but top notch.
The Open has been newly upgraded to in recognition of its status as one of the most progressive events in competitive surfing.
The promise of consistent overhead swells and a prize purse totaling some 125,000 US Dollars will give a nice edge to the Thurso contest.
Lying at a spine-chilling 59 degrees north, the mythical reef break of Thurso East will play official host to the event, while a mobile contest format will guarantee competitors and spectators with the best possible surfing conditions in the region.
The winner will pick up the second edition of the already legendary Highland Open sword trophy and one of two qualification spots to the second edition of O'Neill The Mission, scheduled to unfold in the warm waters of Tahiti in June.
Winter will have plenty of support at what is Scotland's richest pro contest. with four other Britons competing in the pro tour's most northernmost venue.
Long-time friends Sam Lamiroy, from Perranporth, Newquay's Alan Stokes and Johnny Fryer, from the Isle of Wight, along with fellow WQS stalwart this season Oli Adams should give the UK a strong voice at the competition which boasts strong Australian, Hawaiian, Brazilian and American contingents.
The British quartet will have local knowledge on their side - the famed reefbreak at Thurso has been there focus in the past - as well as being used to surfing heats in colder water than many of those taking part.
Europe has a great chance of taking top honours if the Brits take a dive as Portugal's Tiago Pires, Spaniard Aritz Aranburu and Frenchman Tim Boal are currently leading the WQS rankings after 12 events.
The contest is being staged from April 24th to May 1st.
[Carissa Moore (in yellow) receiving the winner's prize]
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[Pablo Gutierrez winner of the Superbock Pro]
Hawaiian Carissa Moore won the Roxy Pro Junior surfing in her first ever contest in France
ASP International has announce the inception of their fourth regional branch, ASP Australasia
Twenty-six-year-old Pablo Guitierrez took top honours in the Superbock Pro in Portugal after defeating fellow Portugeuse surfer Eduardo Fernandes in the final
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