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TOP SEEDS IN ONBONGO PRO SURFING

Top Seeds Battling for WCT Positions in Onbongo Pro Surfing

UBATUBA, Brazil (Friday, October 27, 2006) – Title defender Heitor Alves advances to round 5 and keeps going in the ONBONGO PRO SURFING 2006, with more chances do get his WCT 2007 slot. Some other Brazilian competitors, like Leonardo Neves and Rodrigo Dornelles, are also fighting for their WCT slots; same situation for the aussies Ben Dunn, Luke Munro, Troy Brooks and some other athletes in mathematical chances to get into the Top list.“I´m tense. It´s a decisive moment in my carrier”, confessed Brazilian Leonardo Neves, ranked in 15th. “I´m in a very good moment, happy, my whole family is here; my friends giving me all support they can; good equipment, but it´s a tense mo-ment. I was lucky catching two good waves, ´cause they are very difficult. I decided to take off every wave I could, to get a stronger competition feeling. There are good surfers coming along very well since the contest opening and I´m entering just now.”, told Léo, also praising the ONBONGO PRO SURFING move to Ubatuba.

“I like here very much, it´s a beautiful place. The crowd here brings a lot vibe to the competitors. I already won a contest here before, and that was a decisive time too, ´cause I was battling for the Brazilian title. It´s a spot that is in my life, in my heart. I started getting my titles here. I think São Paulo is the axis for brazilian surfing and a World tour event was missing here and in Rio de Janeiro. Unfortunately it´s a shame not having an event in Rio. State government and Rio City hall don´t give enough support for our sport and that´s too bad, ´cause there are awesome waves and those places live surfing each day.”, regrets Leonardo Neves, who meets reigning 2006 ASP WQS leader Jeremy Flores, current Brazilian Champion Jihad Kohdr and local Saulo Júnior one of the surprises in the ONBONGO PRO SURFING 2006.

Jihad Kohdr advanced to round 4 taking the second, in heat 18, with Spanish Aritz Aranburu in first. Aussie Kai Otton was Kohdr´s straight opponent after a WCT slot and took the third. “It´s very difficult. That guy scored a 9, but then I got an 8 to qualify. This contest is very important for me and surfing calm and focused is the greatest deal. Brazilian title is mine and now I have to keep surfing hard to get my chances to the WCT and decide everything in Hawaii”, plans Jihad Kohdr.

Jeremy Flores, 18, is the newest WCT rookie. “ I need to get better, ´cause there are good surfers here and you gotta be 100%. I´m still in the 50% and good enough to win. It would be great confirming the world title here, but it´s not in my thoughts right now. I´ve got be focused, that´s what I need to do.”, spoke Jeremy Flores.

Current ASP WQS World Champion, Adriano de Souza, enter the heat 21 and took the second, defeating Brazilian friend Bruno Moreira and aussie Ryan Campbell, with Gabe Kling in first.

“I had too many mistakes in the heat. I chose the wrong waves and almost lost in the end. I´m happy to advance in second, keeping in the event. I have to take it more serious from now on, getting the contest feeling and stay focused to improve. I feel more comfortable here, at home actually. I competed here for a long period of my life and that helps me to get calmer.”, confessed Adriano “Mineirinho” de Souza.

Souza is already in the WCT tour. In the other hand, Brazilian Rodrigo Dornelles is fighting for his WCT slot recover-ing at the ONBONGO PRO SURFING. Dornelles started winning his heat this Friday. “The important thing is not get pres-sured, keep calm and the result will come.i hope the waves keep like that, so I can concentrate and surf after my goal,; getting back my WCT slot.”, spoke Dornelles, who also may take the leading in the South-american ASP rating, ´cause reigning # 1 Victor Ribas is already out of the contest.
Brazilian and local Odirlei Coutinho – second in the Canary WQS event – is very cheerful to compete at home and also may get into the list of the 15 to enter the WCT 2007.

“Luckily I caught two good waves, ´cause the conditions are very hard. I´m still very stoked with that second in the Canaries; I could win if I didn´t fall off my board, but here is a 6 star and I know I have to win this evento to get to try a chance among the 15 to the WCT net year. I´m focused, trying to keep calm to get my goal.”, spoke Odirlei Coutinho.

Presented by Nova Schin, and sponsored by ONBONGO PRO SURFING 2006, São Paulo Government Ubatuba City Hall; co-sponsored by KYW, Potencia, Surf Trip, Tent Beach, Krokodilu’s, Surf X-Press, Island Shore, Econos, Gati, Barragge, Sunset, Ophicina and Dimarck-D2; supported by Local Motion, Itamambuca Eco Resort and Sociedade Amigos de Itamambuca (SAI). This is the last 6 star WQS event before the hawaiian events. It´s organized by ASP South America, chanceled by Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) and supported by Federação Paulista de Surf (FPS), Associação Ubatuba de Surf (AUS) e Con-federação Brasileira de Surf (CBS). Divulgação: SPORTV, Revista Fluir, Rádio 89 FM and live in website http://waves.terra.com.br/ and www.aspsouthamerica.com.br .