Shaun Tomson Surges at Supersurf ASP World Masters Championships

Shaun Tomson (ZAF), 55, dominated action this morning at the Supersurf ASP World Masters competition at Arpoador in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Credit: © ASP / CESTARI

ARPOADOR, Rio de Janeiro/Brasil (Friday, July 29, 2011) – The Supersurf ASP World Masters recommenced today in clean, but small surf at Arpoador in Rio de Janeiro, completing the second round of the Grand Masters (50+) division as well as five of the six heats in Round 3 of the Masters (36 – 49) division.

Shaun Tomson (ZAF), 55, 1975 World Champion, dominated the opening heat of the morning, collecting the day’s high heat total of a 15.90 out of a possible 20 for a stylish array of surfing

“I was thrilled with my result,” Tomson said. “It’s been a long long time since I’ve got a 9 point ride, so that was quite a thrill. It’s the same for all of us out there. It’s small, but you can still get some scores on the board if you select your waves carefully. The 35 minutes, and additional 5 minutes, was great and we’re all trying to do out best out there.”

Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, 56, 1978 World Champion, was another icon in fine form this morning, besting an international Round 2 field with a 13.50 out of a possible 20.

“It’s great to have the Masters back on again, 8 years is just too long,” Bartholomew. “It’s a shame we don’t have better surf, it would be nice to be able to go to Prainha, where the surf is maybe 3 foot, get a few rounds, then come back for the Quarters.”

Other ASP Grand Masters division standouts included Michael Ho (HAW), 54, and Simon Anderson (AUS), 57.

In the ASP Masters division, it was the Brazilians who dominated morning’s affairs, winning four out of the five Round 3 heats before the event was called off for the day due to small, slow surf.
Renan Rocha (BRA) led this South American charge this morning, scalping the round-high 14.85 out of a possible 20.

“I’m definitely stoked on that,” Rocha said. “I’m finding the right waves and my board’s looking good, so I can get speed on that kind of waves, and impress the judge. Just try to keep it going and find more heat by heat.”

Shea Lopez (USA), 37, former ASP World Tour campaigner, was the sole international campaigner in the ASP Masters division to emerge victorious today, dissecting the small running lefthanders on his forehand.

“Oh, I’m just ecstatic,” Lopez said. “It’s been wonderful, the weather couldn’t be any better all week. Seeing all my friends, they’re like family to me. I spent so much time traveling and surfing. I haven’t seen Jojo in forever, and we were back and forth the whole heat just smiling and laughing and talking about our kids. It was cool, really cool. This event has been very special to me.”

Other ASP Masters division Round 3 winners include Peterson Rosa (BRA) Fabio Silva (BRA) and Victor Ribas (BRA).

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:45am to assess conditions for a possible 7am start.

Highlights from the Supersurf ASP World Masters Championships will be available via http://supersurf.abril.com.br/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

SUPERSURF ASP WORLD MASTERS ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Renan Rocha (BRA) 14.85, Kaipo Jaquias (HAW) 13.75, Barton Lynch (AUS) 10.60, Brad Gerlach (USA) 10.20
Heat 2: Shea Lopez (USA) 14.70, Jojo Olvenca (BRA) 14.00, Rob Bain (AUS) 11.80, Gary Elkerton (AUS) 0.00
Heat 3: Peterson Rosa (BRA) 14.00, Ricardo Toledo (BRA) 9.20, Derek Ho (HAW) 8.90, Marty Thomas (USA) 7.25
Heat 4: Fabio Silva (BRA) 14.65, Tom Curren (USA) 13.75, Fabio Gouveia (BRA) 10.40, Nathan Webster (AUS) 9.80
Heat 5: Victor Ribas (BRA) 14.50, Richard Lovett (AUS), Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 7.25, Richie Collins (USA) 4.65

REMAINING SUPERSURF ASP WORLD MASTERS ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 6: Luke Egan (AUS), Peterson Rosa (BRA), Nathan Webster (AUS), TBA

SUPERSURF ASP WORLD MASTERS ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Barton Lynch (AUS), Fabio Gouveia (BRA), Nathan Webster (AUS), Ricardo Toledo (BRA)
Heat 2: Gary Elkerton (AUS), Peterson Rosa (BRA), Marty Thomas (USA), Fabio Silva (BRA)
Heat 3: Derek Ho (HAW), Rob Bain (AUS), Richie Collins (USA), Richard Lovett (AUS)
Heat 4: Tom Curren (USA), Bread Gerlach (USA), Flavio Padaratz (BRA), Renan Rocha (BRA)
Heat 5: Mark Occhilupo (AUS), Jake Paterson (AUS), Kaipo Jaquias (HAW), Guilherme Herdy (BRA)
Heat 6: Luke Egan (AUS), Victor Ribas (BRA), Shea Lopez (USA), Jojo Olivenca (BRA)

SUPERSURF ASP WORLD GRAND MASTERS ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Shaun Tomson (ZAF) 15.90, Glen Winton (AUS) 12.85, Ze Alla (BRA) 9.50, Ian Cairns (AUS) 4.45
Heat 2: Wayne Bartholomew (AUS) 13.50, Lulu Menezes (BRA) 10.75, Hans Hedemann (HAW) 9.00, Terry Fitzgerald (AUS) 5.85
Heat 3: Michael Ho (HAW) 12.25, Terry Richardson (AUS) 11.85, Iain Buchanan (AUS) 10.35, Buzzy Kerbox (HAW) 1.83
Heat 4: Simon Anderson (AUS) 12.00, Cheyne Horan (AUS) 8.10, Daniel Friedmann (BRA) 5.55, Peter Townend (AUS) 4.75

SUPERSURF ASP WORLD GRAND MASTERS ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Shaun Tomson (ZAF), Simon Anderson (AUS), Terry Fitzgerald (AUS), Iain Buchanan (NZL)
Heat 2: Wayne Bartholomew (AUS), Terry Richardson (AUS), Ian Cairns (AUS), Daniel Friedmann (BRA)
Heat 3: Michael Ho (HAW), Hans Hedemann (HAW), Peter Townend (AUS), Ze Alla (BRA)
Heat 4: Cheyne Horan (AUS), Glen Winton (AUS), Buzzy Kerbox (HAW), Lula Menezes (BRA)

PAST ASP WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONS:
Masters
2003: Gary Elkerton (AUS)
2002: N/A
2001: Gary Elkerton (AUS)
2000: Gary Elkerton (AUS)
1999: Cheyne Horan (AUS)
1998: Joey Buran (USA)
1997: Terry Richardson (AUS)

Grand Masters
2003: Wayne Bartholomew (AUS)
2002: N/A
2001: Mark Richards (AUS)
2000: Michael Ho (HAW)
1999: Wayne Bartholomew (AUS)
1998: N/A
1997: N/A