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TOP 45 REVIEW QUALIFIERS
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They came from the ’QS and they might be back there next year…but then again, they might not. We’ll see how they go. |
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36. Jay Thompson 25, Burleigh Heads, Australia
Standing at 6’2” and near 180 lbs., Jay “Bottle” Thompson’s a formidable
figure on land, but put him at a right-hand point and the lad’s downright
terrifying. For his size, Thompson is remarkably light on his feet, drawing
comparisons to fellow Aussie, Luke Steadman. Having honed his surfing at
Burleigh, the regularfooter’s forehand has become his biggest asset. 2008
will be Thompson’s rookie year on the World Tour and although he has yet to
be thoroughly tested in solid surf at the elite level, his performance at
Sunset during the Triple Crown hinted at brilliance in waves of
consequence. Look for Bottle to make his charge at Snapper and J-Bay while
possibly struggling at locales like Teahupoo and Tavarua.
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37. Tiago Pires w 27, Ericeira, Portugal
The only Portugese surfer on the ’CT, Tiago led the 2007 ’QS season for the majority of the year only to be overtaken by the likes of Dane Reynolds, Jordy Smith, and a few others, eventually ending his WQS campaign at a very respectable fifth. Ridiculously talented in small-wave conditions and a fiery competitor, Tiago could do some damage on his maiden year on tour. Definitely a spoiler. |
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38. Aritz Aranburu 22, Zarautz, Spain
Basque sensation Aritz Aranburu finished his 2007 season on the WQS with a sixth place finish. Younger than all the other Euros on tour except for Flores, Aranburu has the time to bounce back if things don’t go his way during 2008, his rookie season. While some say he may have a hard time re-qualifying through World Tour competition alone, last year, Jeremy Flores proved that Europeans are quite capable of forgoing an investment in WQS insurance. Whether the same model applies to Aranburu remains to be seen, but it might be prudent to save a slot for him on your Fantasy Surfer roster when the tour takes its annual trip to the Continent. |
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39. Ben Bourgeois 29, North Carolina, USA
Ben B has been on the World Tour before. He’s a seasoned contest vet, a good traveler, and a surfer with the perseverance to make it back to the big leagues after several heartbreakingly close, but failed, re-qualification bids. He finished the WQS season in 8th place, just behind Adrian Buchan and just ahead of Jihad Khodr. He’s a tactician, he’s motivated, and at certain venues, against select foes, these traits will work in his favor. However, pitted against arguably the most competitive lineup the World Tour has ever seen, it’s likely Bourgeois will struggle. Last year, Fanning proved that focus can go a long way, and Ben shouldn’t have trouble with that. Instead, his Achilles heel is simply the company he’s in. |
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40. Jihad Khodr 24, Curitiba City, Brazil
Jihad had a few standout performances last year on the ’QS where he finished ninth overall. Breaking the Brazilian small-wave stereotype, Jihad also won the Nose Guard Rookie of the Vans Triple Crown. It seems that in 2007, getting through customs proved to be more difficult for Jihad than getting through a heat. |
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42. Roy Powers 26, Hanalei, Hawaii
Despite hailing from the land of hollow barrels, it seemed that Roy’s surfing was better suited for the shoulder-high beach breaks that the ’QS is renowned for rather than the heaving waves that tend to dominate the WCT—or so we thought. After crushing his competitors in heavy Haleiwa during the Triple Crown, Powers proved that when push comes to shove, he is more than capable of handling himself in heavy-water conditions. This year, Powers is focused and dedicated to not repeat the same mistakes that befell him on his maiden year on tour in 2006. Regarded by many as a “girlfriend guy” on the tour, Roy opts to spend most of his free time with his lady, which tends to bode well for a surfer’s stability. Roy is not a title contender, but as long as he remains confident in his abilities and realizes that he deserves to be there, he’ll cause the occasional upset in ‘08. |
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43. Heitor Alves 25, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Heitor Alves made his debut on the World Tour this year at Snapper by besting Pancho Sullivan and Ricky Basnett in his opening heat. Heitor’s got the progressive surfing thing pretty wired with an aerial repetoire and a respectable frontside gouge that are definitely up to snuff. This is his rookie year on tour, so there’s not a whole lot expected of him. Heitor’s not a highly coveted pick for Fantasysurfer.com, which means in the right conditions, if you’re looking for a spoiler, he could bode well for your team.
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44. Mikael Picon 28, Cabreton, France
Picon tested the World Tour’s waters in 2006 and only lasted a year. But after a season on the WQS, he bounced back and rejoined the 2008 tour. With more Europeans in the Top 45 than ever before, Picon will find himself in familiar company on the road. However, how he’ll hold up in heats is still unclear. If he learns from his mistakes in ’06, he could be the next Euro success story. If he doesn’t, well, there’s always the exciting potential of another pass through the WQS |
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45. Daniel Ross 25, New South Wales, Australia
Dan Ross earned his spot on tour via a gutsy performance during the last event of the WQS season at maxing Sunset. Big carves in big rights seemed to suit his style well, and, obviously, since he managed to march through the ’QS, he has the ability to grovel. How he’ll fare, however, at the variety of venues on tour, and against the likes of the rest of the top 45, is still a question, but don’t be surprised if you find him quietly succeeding somewhere beneath the Jordy and Dane hype. |
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