HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Monday, November 17, 2008) – The 2008 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) is coming to an end and America’s top seeds are looking to wrap up their ASP WQS campaigns on a good note in Hawaii before entering next year’s ASP Dream Tour.

The ASP WQS allows all competitors a chance to qualify for 15 highly sought after positions that graduate them on to the ASP World Tour each following year. With 1000 competitors on the ASP WQS, achieving a top 15 spot is no easy task, assuring that only the highest form of competitive surfing reaches the ASP World Tour.

Nathaniel Curran (Oxnard, CA), 24, is still maintaining the ratings leader on the ASP WQS and has assured himself a spot in next year’s ASP World Tour lineup. Curran has won two ASP WQS 6-Star events this year and also earned several impressive results throughout the 2008 season to see him atop of the ASP WQS ladder. Despite holding down the current No. 1 seed on the ASP WQS, Curran wants to finish strong in Hawaii before entering his rookie year on the ASP World Tour.

I guess the pressure is off of course to make the tour, but I still want to finish strong,” Curran said. “I still want to do well in Hawaii.”

Although Curran’s focus is on the remainder of this year’s ASP WQS, he can’t help but look forward to next year’s ASP Dream Tour.

I can’t wait for all of the events.” Curran said. “ Surfing at the best spots in the world with no one out –I really just can’t wait for the first comp.”

Gabe Kling (St. Augustine, FL), 28, was on the ASP World Tour scene in 2007 and will be back again in 2009 after battling it out on the ASP WQS this year. Kling has proven to be the comeback kid this year, as he was in 73rd place entering the halfway mark of this season. The Floridian’s tear began with a third place finish at the Honda U.S. Open and he now finds himself sitting No. 3 overall after several amazing performances throughout the second half of the season. Kling’s march to the top of the ratings seals the deal on an ASP World Tour berth for 2009.

"It has been a strange year and I almost feel like it was two years in one," Kling said. "To have that many big events until the end just made my year and I am lucky I had the opportunity to come back that fast with three events in a row. I am stoked to be back on tour next year."

Patrick Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 22, led the first half of the ASP WQS season and is currently sitting in 11th place. The San Clemente local is currently in good shape for qualification for next year’s ASP Dream Tour and will look to seal the deal in Hawaii.

Links

• To watch America’s top ASP WQS seeds wrap up their season log on to www.triplecrownofsurfing.com
• For Additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com