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HUNTINGTON
BEACH, California (Sunday, November 09, 2008) – The Association of
Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Longboard Tour (WLT) Completed the
2008 season at San Onofre State Beach in San Clemente, California this
past week with the Oxbow World Longboard Tour event. Bonga Perkins
(North Shore, HI), 36, claimed this year’s title, making him a two-time
ASP World Longboard Champion, while several local San Onofre State
Beach surfers turned heads as well.
The ASP WLT includes two
events, the first held in Anglet, France, with the top seed at the
series’ end claiming the coveted title of ASP World Longboard Champion.
Josh
Baxter (San Clemente, CA), 38, was the top performer for Americans with
a fifth place finish amongst the international contingent competing at
his home break. The result was a relief for Baxter due to his 33rd
place finish in France, which made a stellar performance necessary for
the veteran’s 2009 ASP WLT berth.
For me it was very
important because if I didn’t make a few heats it was pretty much over
for me on the tour,” Baxter said. “I lost my first heat in France, so
it was really do or die for me and I’m just really stoked to get
through it. That heat was cutting edge for me, because if I didn’t make
that heat it would have pretty much been over.”
Baxter was
especially inspired to compete in such a prestigious event at his local
break. The veteran competitor was thrilled to be able to surf against
the world’s finest longboarders in front of his friends and family.
It
means so much,” Baxter said. “All these years of consistently traveling
all over the world and doing all of these events, it’s so nice to have
an event at home. It’s been kind of a damper since Malibu happened, but
this is the spot to have it if they were going to have it. My family is
here and I can go home, take a shower and sleep in my own bed, it means
a lot.”
Joe Aaron (Dana Point, CA), 17, issued the upset of the
event, defeating 2007 ASP World Longboard Champion Phil Rajzman (Rio de
Janeiro, BRA). The young Californian earned his chance to compete in
the Oxbow World Longboard Pro by winning two trials heats, and Aaron
turned heads all the way to Round 4.
I’m so psyched,” Aaron
said. “I’m just stoked that I got the sets and beating him is just such
a career highlight for me. To me, before I started that heat I was kind
of thinking that I was going against the world champ and that it was
impossible, but I guess nothing’s impossible”
Aaron took
advantage of his chance to compete alongside the world’s finest
longboarders and looked at the opportunity to improve his competitive
skills.
For me, I was stoked to even be in this contest,” Aaron
said. “To get in from the trials and get this far is huge for me. I
live about 10 minutes away and I surf here most of the time so I’m
happy to be in the event. It just pushes me more to be able to surf
against guys that are at this level. It betters me as a surfer and I’m
stoked to be in this event.”
Other local surfers including
Colin McPhillips (San Clemente, CA), 33, and Taylor Jensen (Oceanside,
CA), 24, were standouts in the event as well, but were unable to escape
Round 4.
The Oxbow World Longboard Tour at San Onofre State
Beach concludes the 2008 ASP WLT season, but will be back again next
year.
Previous Reports:
#8. Bonga Perkins Wins WLT OxbowPro
#7.Day#4: WLT Champ Crowned Today
#6. Trialist Joe Aaron Eliminates WLT Champ
#5. Day#3:OxbowPro Temporarily on Hold
#4. Day#2: Locals Flare in OxbowPro
#3. Day#1: World Longboard Tour Final Leg
#2. World Longboard Champion to be Crowned
#1. Longboard Oxbow Pro in San Onofre
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