BARRA DA TIJUCA, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Thursday, May 16, 2013) – Continued small surf in the one-to-two (0.5 metre) range has prompted Billabong Rio Pro event organizers to call the fifth, consecutive lay day today.

Stop No. 3 of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Billabong Rio Pro has completed Round 1 of competition on the opening day of the event window and will look to resume as soon as tomorrow.

“Small surf continues today and we have called competition off for the day,” Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge said. “The models are showing a swell arriving this evening and we anticipate more energy in the water for a possible recommencement tomorrow.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am to assess conditions for a possible 7:30am start. Organizers have placed Round 2 and the opening six heats of Round 3 on standby for a possible run tomorrow.

When competition resumes Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, will take on wildcard Gustavo Fernandes (BRA) Heat 1 of Round 2.

The Billabong Rio Pro will be webcast LIVE via http://wctbrasil.com/rio13

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Gustavo Fernandes (BRA)
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Messias Felix (BRA)
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA)
Heat 5: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 7: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 9: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 11: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 12: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Filipe Toledo (BRA)

PLAYA REVOLCADERO, Acapulco/Mexico (Tuesday, May 14, 2013) – For the second consecutive year, the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star Surf Open Acapulco will return to the punchy Mexican beachbreak of Playa Revolcadero, with the 2013 addition slated to unfold from July 2-7, 2013.

The confirmation of the Surf Open Acapulco further establishes the presence of Latin America on the ASP North America series, as the Mexican event represents the second of four contests slated to unfold between the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America this season.

“We are very pleased to announce the return of the Surf Open Acapulco,” Matt Wilson, SVP of Events and Regions said. “The development of events in the Central American and Caribbean regions has been a major focus for ASP North America in the last few years The return of the Surf Open Acapulco, in association with the addition of events in Cabo, Puerto Rico and the upgrade of El Salvador to a 6 Star, are all key measures of our development plan and importantly, provide increased opportunity for surfers throughout the region to compete on the ASP World Tour.”

The Surf Open Acapulco’s 4-Star status provides an excellent opportunity for budding young talent to establish a name on a global scale by earning points to compete in the highly regarded ASP 6-Star and Prime rated events. Tanner Hendrickson, defending Surf Open Acapulco champion, has taken the next step in his career following his inaugural ASP event victory in Acapulco and was quick to note the importance of the Surf Open Acapulco for up-and-coming talent.

“Winning Acapulco last year was a dream come true,” Hendrickson said. “I can’t wait to get back to there and compete in the event. Getting my first pro win has given me confidence in my surfing. As far as where it has taken my career, I’m still pushing my hardest to get on tour. I hope to be there soon, that’s the real dream.”

In addition to the action in the water, the Surf Open Acapulco will include Monster Energy freestyle motocross, music and more.

For additional information regarding the Surf Open Acapulco log on to www.aspnorthamerica.org or www.aspworldtour.com

BARRA DA TIJUCA, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Monday, May 13, 2013) – Small surf in the one-to-two foot (0.5) metre) range has forced event organizers to call another lay day for the Billabong Rio Pro.

The third stop of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Billabong Rio Pro completed Round 1 of competition on the opening day of the event window and will recommence once conditions improve.

“Small surf on offer this morning so we’ve called a lay day today,” Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge said. “We don’t have much forecast for the opening half of the week, but we’re tracking a swell that will be moving into the area in a few days time. We’ll be back tomorrow morning to make another assessment.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7:30am to assess conditions.

When competition resumes Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, will take on wildcard Gustavo Fernandes (BRA) Heat 1 of Round 2.

The Billabong Rio Pro holds a waiting period from May 8-19, 2013 and is webcast LIVE via http://wctbrasil.com/rio13

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Gustavo Fernandes (BRA)
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Messias Felix (BRA)
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (BRA) vs. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA)
Heat 5: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 7: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 9: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 11: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 12: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Filipe Toledo (BRA)

BARRA DA TIJUCA, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Friday, May 10, 2013) -The Colgate Plax Girls Rio Pro completed a massive opening day of competition, running through four rounds of competition to decide the Quarterfinalists in peaky two-to-four foot waves at Barra Da Tijuca.

Stop No. 5 of 7 on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT), the Colgate Plax Girls Rio Pro saw dominant performances from the event’s top seeds, tightening up an already exciting ASP World Title Race as the world’s best surfers move through the back half of the season.

Carissa Moore (HAW), 20, 2011 ASP Women’s World Champion, displayed an amazing variety of power and progression to open her Colgate Plax Girls Rio Pro campaign. Moore dominated both her Round 1 and Round 3 affairs today, securing her Quarterfinals berth.

“It feels good to move onto Quarterfinals,” Moore said. “With a beachbreak situation it can be tricky and random so it’s a relief to skip that Round 4.”

Moore, current frontrunner for the 2013 ASP Women’s World Title Race, is out to further the gap over the field in Rio in hopes of securing a second crown, but knows this year’s race is far from over.

“I’m not thinking about the world title when I’m in the water, but I’ve definitely thought about it and I’m excited to be in the race,” Moore said. “My whole family is behind me, but I’ve got a long road ahead of me and still have a lot of work to do.”

Tyler Wright (AUS), 19, was another ASP World Title contender to standout in the shifty Barra Da Tijuca beachbreak today. Wright was responsible for the day’s highest scores including a 9.27 for a barrel-to-turn combo as well as a 17.04 heat total and eventually found her way to the Quarterfinals, topping Coco Ho (HAW), 22, in Round 4.

“I felt in my last heat that I didn’t get started at all and I hate losing like that,” Wright said. “I wanted to make sure I caught a lot of waves in that heat. I knew Coco (Ho) had a 6 and a 7 so I knew I was going to have to catch a lot of waves. I was frustrated with my last heat and I really wanted to push my turns.”

Wright, current No. 2 on the ASP Women’s WCT, is well within the hunt for a maiden ASP Women’s World Title, but the Australian remains casual in her approach for the frontrunner position.

“I’m not paying attention to the World Title at all,” Wright said. “All I want to do is surf. I’m having fun, surfing is what I love doing and I have a good board. I’ve just surpassed my best result in Rio and there’s no sense in thinking about the numbers for the World Title because in the end it just makes you come undone.”

Lakey Peterson (USA), 18, current No. 6 on the ASP WCT, was lethal on the opening day of competition, taking commanding Round 1 and Round 3 wins with some of the day’s top scores. Peterson wasted little time in her Round 3 bout, notching an 8.97 and 7.17 within the first 10 minutes to leave Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 22, and wildcard Alessa Quizon (HAW), 19, chasing massive scores for the remainder of the heat.

“It’s always nice when you get two great waves sent to you,” Peterson said. “It was looking really small for Round 2 and it’s picked up again for Round 3. I’m just having fun and although I had the early lead there was 20 minutes for the other girls to get back in to it, so I was watching them too. It was a good heat for me and it’s always nice to skip Round 4.”

Malia Manuel (HAW), 19, was in deadly form throughout the day despite being relegate to Round 2 in a heated exchange with Tyler Wright (AUS), 19, in Round 1. The talented Hawaiian built momentum throughout the rounds, eventually advancing to the Quarterfinals with a convincing Round 3 heat win in a rematch against Wright.

“I saw these rights that keep peeling down the beach, but my highest score was on a left,” Manuel said. These beachbreak conditions change so much with the tide and different swells so you just have to trust your instincts and move around if it’s not working for you.Tyler and I had a good battle this morning and that round was good payback for me.”

Courtney Conlogue (USA), 20, took an impressive buzzer-beating heat win in Round 3 to earn her Quarterfinals berth. In need of a solid score in the dying seconds, Conlogue unleashed a series of committed backhand turns on a racing lefthander, earning a 7.33 ride and the heat win over Pauline Ado (FRA), 22, and Coco Ho (HAW), 22.

“That last heat was a battle,” Conlogue said. “It was more a battle against myself in that heat though. I was feeling off in that heat with the conditions, there was chop and I was catching my edge everywhere. With 15 seconds left I thought I’ll just give it a shot and milk it to the beach. It ended up being a good wave and I’m happy to get through.”

When competition resumes, up first will be Lakey Peterson (USA), 18, up against Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 22, in Quarterfinal 1.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:15am for a possible 6:30am start.

Highlights from the Colgate Plax Girls Rio Pro will be available via http://wctbrasil.com/rio13

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

COLGATE PLAX GIRLS RIO PRO ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) 14.04, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 12.34, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 9.33
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.27, Sage Erickson (USA) 12.83, Paige Hareb (NZL) 12.20
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.74, Alessa Quizon (BRA) 11.63, Silvana Lima (BRA) 6.70
Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS) 17.04, Malia Manuel (HAW) 16.77, Phillipa Anderson (AUS) 7.77
Heat 5: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 11.77, Laura Enever (AUS) 9.20, Alize Arnaud (FRA) 7.93
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW) 16.30, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 8.00, Pauline Ado (FRA) 7.06

COLGATE PLAX GIRLS RIO PRO ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 13.60 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 12.47
Heat 2: Laura Enever (AUS) 15.77 def. Sage Erickson (USA) 15.13
Heat 3: Alessa Quizon (HAW) 13.60 def. Alana Blanchard (HAW) 12.83
Heat 4: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 14.84 def. Phillipa Anderson (AUS) 9.57
Heat 5: Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.37 def. Alize Arnaud (FRA) 10.23
Heat 6: Pauline Ado (FRA) 14.77 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 11.43

COLGATE PLAX GIRLS RIO PRO ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) 16.14, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.77, Alessa Quizon (HAW) 13.03
Heat 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.20, Laura Enever (AUS) 10.33, Paige Hareb (NZL) 9.34
Heat 3: Malia Manuel (HAW) 15.90, Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.30, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 5.20
Heat 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.50, Pauline Ado (BRA) 13.20, Coco Ho (HAW) 11.73

COLGATE PLAX GIRLS RIO PRO ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) def. Paige Hareb (NZL)
Heat 2: Laura Enever (AUS) 15.10 def. Alessa Quizon (HAW) 12.10
Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) 17.00 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 14.60
Heat 4: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 10.77

COLGATE PLAX GIRLS RIO PRO QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
QF 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Laura Enever (AUS)
QF 3: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
QF 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF)

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Gustavo Fernandes (BRA)
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Messias Felix (BRA)
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (BRA) vs. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA)
Heat 5: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 7: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 9: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 11: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 12: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Filipe Toledo (BRA)

BARRA DA TIJUCA, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Thursday, May 9, 2013) – Round 1 of the Billabong Rio Pro was completed today in three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves at the primary site of Barra da Tijuca with the world’s best surfers navigating the at-times challenging barrels on offer and thrilling the crowd on the beach.

Stop No. 3 of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Billabong Rio Pro continues this year’s campaign for the world surfing crown and the perennial threats were in form on the opening day of competition.

Kelly Slater (USA), 41, 11-time ASP World Champion and current ASP WCT No. 1, returned to Rio de Janeiro today after a 2012 absence due to a foot injury.

“Based on the years prior, I thought last year was going to be turns and maneuvers and there were a lot of barrels,” Slater said. “I had stitches in my heel last season and could probably have attended if it was just barrels, but I couldn’t really do turns with the stitches in my heel. Lesson learned and I’m here this year.”

The iconic natural-footer was completely dominant in his Round 1 bout this morning, threading a number of impressive forehand barrels to collect a 16.30 out of a possible 20 heat total and advance directly into Round 3.

“I saw a bunch of good waves down the beach and just kept that to myself,” Slater said. “You can take off on that foam ball out the back on the reef and get one or two turns and you’ve already got as good a score as you can get on some of the ones on the right side of the scaffolding. Most of the waves this morning have been closeouts, but I figured at some point today it’s going to get good. There were some unbelievable barrels down the beach.”

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 32, reigning ASP World Champion, opened up the 2013 season with a runner-up finish to Slater on the Gold Coast before an uncharacteristic Equal 13th at Bells Beach. Currently sitting at No. 5 on the ASP WCT rankings, Parkinson is further focusing his efforts on defending the ASP World Title.

“I’ve had a little time to reflect on the world title but it’s only a few months break and once this year started it was game on again,” Parkinson said. “I enjoyed it for sure. Nothing was going to wipe the smile off of my face. I just cruised it and didn’t surf for about three weeks. Once the bug came back though I was just pumped. It’s one thing to win your first one, it’s an entirely different beast to defend one. The fact that the performance level on tour has never been higher doesn’t make it any easier.”

Parkinson was joined by Gold Coast stablemate and current ASP WCT No. 2 Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, in Round 1 victories today.

Adriano de Souza (BRA), 26, winner of the previous event at Bells Beach and current ASP WCT No. 4, continued his 2013 momentum on home soil today, netting a solid Round 1 win over Australians Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 24, and Yadin Nicol (AUS), 27.

“I’m so happy to be back in Brazil and have all the support of my friends and family,” De Souza said. “The waves are challenging out here today but I’m fit and I’m motivated to do well. Winning Bells was a huge confidence for me – to be the first Brazilian male to win it. I came home and then went to the Mentawais after and have been training very hard for this event. The world title is the goal and hopefully I can bring one home to Brazil.”

Gabriel Medina (BRA), 19, complimented De Souza’s win this morning with a Round 1 victory of his own, posting the day’s high heat-total, 18.00 out of a possible 20, for a series of excellent backhand tube rides. Following an injury at the opening event of the season on the Gold Coast and a less-than-successful run at Bells Beach, Medina now appears fit and focused at home in Brazil.

“After Bells Beach, I came home and worked with lots of doctors and rested for this event,” Medina said. “It’s home in Brazil for me and I want to do well in front of my family and friends. I’m feeling pretty good – getting stronger every day. Stoked to get a win in Round 1 and hope I can keep going throughout the event.”

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, current ASP WCT No. 7, long-heralded as one of the premiere surfers on the planet, has been in blistering form in 2013 and opened up his Billabong Rio Pro campaign with an impressive 16.94 out of a possible 20 showing today to advance directly into Round 3.

“I just started the year off at home,” Smith said. “I wanted to let last year go. I have incredible people around me at the moment from my friends to my girlfriend. I also did a trip and I felt like I’d been behind the speed bump and couldn’t get past my injury. I was still feeling one step behind and then I went on a trip to Mozambique with my best friend and it changed everything for me. It got me over that hump and put a smile on my face again. It got me stoked again and I’m pumped.”

Rounding out today’s action was a stellar showing from the 2013 rookie class with Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 25, Glenn Hall (IRL), 31, and Nat Young (USA), 21, all posting Round 1 wins.

When competition resumes, up first will be Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, and Gustavo Fernandes (BRA) in the opening heat Round 2 of the Billabong Rio Pro.

Highlights from the Billabong Rio Pro and Colgate Plax Girls Rio Pro will be available via http://wctbrasil.com/rio13

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.50, Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.27, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 1.40
Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.07, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 7.56, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 1.83
Heat 3: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 15.66, Ricardo dos Santos (BRA) 8.93, Taj Burrow (AUS) 8.67
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.20, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 8.27, Jack Freestone (AUS) 7.96
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.34, , Messias Felix (BRA) 9.83, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 2.47
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.30, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 4.63, Gustavo Fernandes (BRA) 1.46
Heat 7: Glenn Hall (IRL) 15.46, Travis Logie (ZAF) 10.00, Julian Wilson (AUS) 1.46
Heat 8: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 18.00, Dusty Payne (HAW) 7.26, Damien Hobgood (USA) 4.04
Heat 9: Nat Young (USA) 11.46, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 9.74, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 9.37
Heat 10: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.94, Adam Melling (AUS) 12.44, Kai Otton (AUS) 5.53
Heat 11: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.27, Michel Bourez (PYF) 9.77, Brett Simpson (USA) 9.27
Heat 12: Kolohe Andino (USA) 12.43, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 8.56, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 7.43

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Gustavo Fernandes (BRA)
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Messias Felix (BRA)
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (BRA) vs. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA)
Heat 5: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 7: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 9: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 11: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 12: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Filipe Toledo (BRA)

COLGATE PLAX GIRLS RIO PRO ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA), Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL), Sage Erickson (USA)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Silvana Lima (BRA), TBD
Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS), Malia Manuel (HAW), Phillipa Anderson (AUS)
Heat 5: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Laura Enever (AUS), Alize Arnaud (FRA)
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW), Alana Blanchard (HAW), Pauline Ado (FRA)

BARRA DA TIJUCA, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Thursday, May 9, 2013) – The Billabong Rio Pro, Event No. 3 of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), has been called on this morning in clean three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves at the primary site of Barra da Tijuca.

Round 1 will commence at 7:30am, immediately following the one-heat Trials which will run at 7am. Round 1 of the Colgate Plax Girls Rio Pro has been placed on standby for a possible start this afternoon.

“Good surf and clean winds on offer this morning and we’ve called Round 1 of the men’s on at 7:30am,” Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge, said. “We have placed Round 1 of the women on standby for a possible run this afternoon and will monitor conditions throughout the day and make adjustments as necessary. Good luck to all our competitors today.”

Up first this morning will be Josh Kerr (AUS), 29, Alejo Muniz (BRA), 23, and Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 27, in the opening heat of the Billabong Rio Pro.

The Billabong Rio Pro and Colgate Plax Girls Rio Pro will be webcast LIVE via http://wctbrasil.com/rio13

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Josh Kerr (AUS), Alejo Muniz (BRA), Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Ricardo dos Santos (BRA)
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Messias Felix (BRA)
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Gustavo Fernandes (BRA)
Heat 7: Julian Wilson (AUS), Travis Logie (ZAF), Glenn Hall (IRL)
Heat 8: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Damien Hobgood (USA), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 9: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Nat Young (USA), Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 10: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Kai Otton (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 12: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Kolohe Andino (USA)

COLGATE PLAX GIRLS RIO PRO ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA), Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL), Sage Erickson (USA)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Silvana Lima (BRA), TBD
Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS), Malia Manuel (HAW), Phillip Anderson (AUS)
Heat 5: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Laura Enever (AUS), Alize Arnaud (FRA)
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW), Alana Blanchard (HAW), Pauline Ado (FRA)

Kolohe Andino will surf in Heat 12 of Round 1 when Billabong Rio Pro competition begins.

BARRA DA TIJUCA, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Wednesday, May 8, 2013) – Event organizers have called lay days for both the Billabong Rio Pro and the Colgate Plax Girls Rio Pro, citing poor winds and opting for improved conditions projected in the coming days.

Event Nos. 3 and 5 respectively on the 2013 ASP World Championship and Women’s World Championship Tours, the Billabong Rio Pro and Colgate Plax Girls Rio Pro resumes this year’s hunt for the world surfing crowns and the best surfers on the planet will battle it out once competition commences.

“After assessing conditions throughout this morning, we’ve opted to call a lay day for competition today,” Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge, said. “We anticipate conditions to improve over the next several days and will return again tomorrow morning to make another call.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 7am start.

The Billabong Rio Pro and Colgate Plax Girls Rio Pro will be webcast LIVE via http://wctbrasil.com/rio13

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Josh Kerr (AUS), Alejo Muniz (BRA), Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), TBD
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS), Filipe Toledo (BRA), TBD
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Miguel Pupo (BRA), TBD
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA), Kieren Perrow (AUS), TBD
Heat 7: Julian Wilson (AUS), Travis Logie (ZAF), Glenn Hall (IRL)
Heat 8: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Damien Hobgood (USA), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 9: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Nat Young (USA), Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 10: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Kai Otton (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 12: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Kolohe Andino (USA)

COLGATE PLAX GIRLS RIO PRO ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA), Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL), Sage Erickson (USA)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Silvana Lima (BRA), TBD
Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS), Malia Manuel (HAW), Phillipa Anderson (AUS)
Heat 5: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Laura Enever (AUS), Alize Arnaud (FRA)
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW), Alana Blanchard (HAW), Pauline Ado (FRA)

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Tuesday, May 7, 2013) - Nat Young (USA), 21, has made a serious impression while opening up his rookie year on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT). Following his 13th place on the Gold Coast, Young’s road to the Final at Bells Beach launched him to No. 6 on the ASP WCT rankings and placed him as the frontrunner among his rookie class. After a brief return home following Bells, Young traveled to Tahiti for the first time to initiate himself with the terrifying barrel before heading to Brazil for this week’s Billabong Rio Pro. Surfline.com was there to catch all of the action at Teahupo’o. This… is their story…

Did your hefty training schedule help redirect your focus away from the media bombardment?
Honestly, when I got home I just did what I normally do, nothing more: train, surf a lot and just stay busy. Then I went to Tahiti to get some practice for the event there. So it’s all been about preparation and keeping focused. I’m excited for the rest of the year. I want to do well.

Was the decision – going to Tahiti to prepare for the event after next, rather than getting to Brazil early—influenced by the Red Bull project or was it more aligned with your vision for long-term success on tour?
The reason I went to Tahiti over Brazil is because Brazil’s a beachbreak, so it’s gonna be changing no matter what. Once I get there I’m just gonna have to adjust to it. Even if I went to Brazil last week, there would probably be completely different conditions for the contest. But Teahupo’o is probably the gnarliest wave on tour. I didn’t want to show up there for that event and have it be 10 feet without ever having surfed there. It wasn’t all about practicing for the event either. Honestly, I just wanted to go surf some fun waves without a jersey on. All of my trips have been for contests lately.

For the full Tahitian photo feature and interview with Nat log on to surfline.com

Watch Young take on Jeremy Flores (FRA), 25, and Raoni Monteiro (BRA), 31, in Heat 9 Round 1 of the Billabong Rio Pro, which commences May 8th.

CARLSBAD, California/USA (Thursday, May 2, 2013) – Lakey Peterson (USA), 18, has had a busy start to the 2013. While competing in back-to-back events on the ASP Women’s WCT, Peterson launched her first movie, Zero to 100, which captures her life story. While competition and the new movie has surely kept her busy, the Santa Barbara surfer makes sure to do plenty of philanthropic work and her latest effort was to stop by Keep a Breast to have a mold cast to raise breast cancer awareness. Transworld SURF caught up with Ms. Peterson to get her personal breakdown on the year thus far, and went alongside Lakey to Keep a Breast. This… is their story…

LOS CABOS, Baja California Sur/ Mexico (Thursday, April 25, 2013) – The Inaugural Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star Los Cabos Open of Surf is set to unfold at the iconic Mexican surf destination of Zippers from June 17-23 and the Los Cabos Tourism board is currently offering a free trip for two via their ‘Jump on Board to Cabo’ campaign.

By liking the Los Cabos Tourism page on facebook, you will be entered in a random drawing for a free two-person trip during the Los Cabos Open of Surf waiting period. In addition to the free vacation, the winner will receive complimentary perks with the package including VIP passes to events, concerts and additional festivities unfolding during the upcoming surf festival.

To enter for the free Jump on Board to Cabo trip become a fan of the Los Cabos Tourism page at www.facebook.com/loscabostourism from now until May 20.

The Los Cabos Open of Surf represents the second stop on the 2013 ASP North America regional series and is the first of two events scheduled to unfold in Mexico this year. In addition, the Cabo event’s ASP 6-Star status offers crucial points towards surfers’ ASP WCT qualification campaigns and will draw premier surfing talent from around the globe.

LIVE webcast of the Los Cabos Open of Surf will be available via www.aspnorthamerica.org