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Flores and Aranburu Eliminated in Round 3 of Globe Pro Fiji

Posted on May 27, 2008 @ 3:04 PM

Photo: Miky Picon was stopped in Round 3 Monday, so were Jeremy Flores and Aritz Aranburu last night. All four Europeans place equal 17th in the Globe Pro Fiji.

Jeremy Flores and Aritz Aranburu were both eliminated in Round 3 of the Globe Pro Fiji last night, at the world class venue of Cloudbreak in Tavarua, Fiji. Flores and Aranburu, the last two of four Europeans in the event, were respectively defeated by Chris Ward (USA) and reigning ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS).

Jeremy Flores (FRA), 20, world No. 11 before the event and 2007 ASP Rookie of the Year, posted a surprising low score of 8.93 points (out of a possible 20) in a slow wave-starved heat. Flores, who started his 2008 campaign in superb form with a 3rd on the Gold Coast and a 9th at Bells Beach in Australia, suffers another early loss after his last place finish in Tahiti a couple of weeks ago. Flores, who had won his Round 1 heat over defending Globe Pro Fiji champion Damian Hobgood (USA) and ASP Top 45 rookie Daniel Ross (AUS), suffered a tough loss against Californian Ward and will now have to step up in the next event. He aims at improving his overall No.9 finish on the 2007 ASP World Tour ratings this year and will be much expected when the Dream Tour hits Jeffrey’s Bay in South Africa.

Aritz Aranburu (EUK), 22, who recently recovered from a broken meniscus and got back on tour in Tahiti only after missing the two first events of the year, lost as well in Round 3. Aranburu, who had an excellent start at Restaurants in Round 1 when he bested 2007 ASP World Tour No. 2 Taj Burrow (AUS), was defeated by Fanning who posted a near perfect 9.97 point ride (out of a possible 10) to finish with the second highest heat score of the day, an excellent 16.90 point tally (out of a possible 20). Aranburu, who is a rookie on this year’s ASP World Tour, betters the last place finish he got in Tahiti and seems to have recovered well but will now need to get confidence back against the world's best surfers.

Flores and Aranburu were not able to better fellow Europeans Picon and Pires and place equal 17th in the Globe Pro Fiji. Jeremy Flores (FRA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK), Tiago Pires (PRT) and Miky Picon (FRA) will now enjoy a month break before the tour hits South Africa for its fifth stop in July.

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