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Flores and Aranburu to Surf Round 3 at Globe Pro Fiji, Picon and Pires Out

Posted on May 25, 2008 @ 7:51 AM

The four European representatives of the ASP Top 45 went through a couple of heats at the Globe Pro Fiji during the first two days of competition, and even though Miky Picon (FRA) and Tiago Pires (PRT) are already eliminated from the event, they both managed to avoid a last place finish and are on an improving roll since the beginning of the year.

Picon, who posted his best result ever in Tahiti ten days ago when he reached Round 4, put on a stunning performance in the Fijian barrels when he defeated longtime Dream Tour competitor Bruce Irons (HAW) in Round 2 of the Globe Pro Fiji. Picon, who posted a solid 16.17 point heat tally (out of a possible 20) to best Irons’ 12.23 pts, showed he was confident and at ease in the hollow lefthanders but was stopped later in Round 3 by Luke Stedman (AUS). Picon, who was an ASP World Tour surfer in 2006, seems to be finding his rhythm among the ASP Top 45 for his second year among the elite and aims at a requalification at the end of the year. He places equal 17th for the second time this year.

Tiago Pires (PRT), a rookie on this year’s ASP World Tour, had a tough start among the world’s best surfers with two last place finishes in Australia, but has stepped up in the past two weeks. Pires, who finished equal 17th in Tahiti after a strong Round 1 win and a perfect 10 (out of a possible 10) before losing in Round 3, came up with a good performance at Tavarua last night but could not counter Taj Burrow’s (AUS) perfect 10.00 point ride and 17.00 point heat tally in Round 3. Pires, who won his Round 1 battle over Bobby Martinez (USA) on Day 1 of competition, posted a solid 15.17 point heat score (out of a possible 20) in Round 3 but was defeated by last year’s ASP No. 2 Burrow and places equal 17th as fellow European surfer and friend Picon.

Jeremy Flores (FRA), 20, current ASP World Tour No. 11 and Europe’s best perfomer on this year’s ASP World Tour, won his Round 1 heat over defending champion Damian Hobgood (USA) and ASP Top 45 rookie Daniel Ross (AUS). Flores, who was eliminated in Round 2 in Tahiti two weeks ago for his worst result ever, came back in form in the pumping conditions and will now face talented Californian surfer Chirs Ward (USA) when competition restarts. Flores, 2007 ASP Rookie of the Year, opened his 2008 campaign in excellent form getting a 3rd and a 9th at the two first events of the year and will be chasing another excellent result at the Globe Pro Fiji.

Aritz Aranburu (EUK), the other European rookie on tour, will surf in Round 3 as well. Aranburu, who missed the two first events of the 2008 ASP World Tour due to a broken meniscus, got back on tour in Tahiti where he placed equal 33rd but has now fully recovered and will face reigining ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) in Round 3. Aranburu, who avoided Round 2 – the sudden death round – by winning his Round 1 heat over Taj Burrow (AUS) and Dayyan Neve (AUS), is looking forward to securing his first good result this year and will have nothing to lose against Fanning who got equal 33rd as well in Tahiti.

Flores and Aranburu will surf Round 3 of the Globe Pro Fiji when competition resumes.

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