ASP World Title Race Heads to Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Will Kelly Slater repeat his Rip Curl Pro Portugal win? Photo: ASP.

SUPERTUBOS, Peniche/Portugal (Friday, October 14, 2011) – The world’s best surfers have traveled south from France to Portugal for Stop No. 9 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title Series, the Rip Curl Pro Portugal, which begins its waiting period tomorrow.

Coming hot off the heels of the Quiksilver Pro France, where rookie phenom Gabriel Medina (BRA), 17, secured his first elite tour win (in only his second event as an ASP Top 34 member), the world’s best surfers will do battle in the thumping beachbreaks of Supertubos in Portugal in the coming days.

Medina will have little time to let the victory sink in and will dive immediately into the next event of his rookie campaign where he hopes Supertubos delivers the iconic Portuguese barrels it’s known for.

“It’s been a very exciting few days,” Medina said. “I’m very excited about going to Portugal and hopefully we get some big barrels.”

Kelly Slater (USA), 39, defending Rip Curl Pro Portugal Champion and current ASP World No. 1, will be out for a repeat performance from last year and another banner result in Portugal could see the iconic Floridian further his lead over the field.

“We’re probably expecting good barrels,” Slater said. “I think the forecast is looking good for a start in the first few days and it will be fun to get some solid waves.”

The Rip Curl Pro Portugal will run from October 15 – 24, 2011 and will be webcast LIVE via http://live.ripcurl.com/index.php?portugal2011

For additional information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

ASP WORLD TITLE TOP 5 (Heading into Rip Curl Pro Portugal):
1. Kelly Slater (USA)
2. Owen Wright (AUS)
3. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
4. Taj Burrow (AUS)
5. Jordy Smith (ZAF)