Machado's the Man at US Open

Mike Losness busts loose.

Jeremy Flores (Reunion Island), 18, surfed brilliantly all week but failed to advance past Powers in the semifinals. Competing in his first event ever in Huntington Beach, his third-place finish rockets him to fifth on the WQS ratings and puts him in excellent position to qualify for next year's elite tour.

"I'm pretty young - I just turned 18 two months ago so I have no pressure to qualify for the World Tour," Flores said. "I have a lot of time ahead of me. I'll be stoked if I qualify this year but if I don't I'm sure I will within a few years. I'm dedicating this year to surfing contests so we'll see how it goes."

Michael Campbell (Port Macquarie, AUS) was on fire this morning securing the only perfect 10-point ride of the event before coming up short against Losness. His equal fifth-placing today bolsters his rating to 11th on the WQS.

Many ASP World Qualifying Series campaigners will go directly from Huntington to Japan and England for high-rated events commencing tomorrow.

The Lost Pro Junior, an ASP $10,000 grade-two event, saw Ben Dunn (Old Bar, AUS) tear through the final this afternoon. Dunn, who's done extremely well in the junior series this year, is also enjoying immense success on the WQS and at an elite-level having surfed as a wildcard in three of six events on the Foster's Men's World Tour this year.

"My main focus has been the WQS this year and the juniors have been a little side thing that I've used to get some heat practice out of," Dunn, 20, said. "Although this is my last year on the ASP Pro Juniors (only surfers 20 and under are eligible) so I certainly want to do well. Even if I qualify for the World Tour in 2007, I'll still be competing in the World Junior Championships in January."