A host of former world champions and surfing legends come out to play (again). |
Luke Egan (AUS) will contest his first ASP World Masters Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil next week
ARPOADOR, Rio de Janeiro/Brasil (Saturday, July 23, 2011) – The ASP World Masters Championships will be contested for the first time in seven years next week at the Supersurf ASP World Masters Championships in Rio de Janiero.
Held at the high-performance lefthander of Arpoador, the Supersurf ASP World Masters Championships will run two divisions: Masters (36 – 49 years of age) and Grand Masters (50 and over).
Luke Egan (AUS), former ASP World No. 2, will be travelling to Arpoador to compete in his first ever ASP World Masters Championships, and the legendary goofy-footer is excited to don the singlet once again.
“I was still on tour the last time they had the Masters and although I was invited to go, I couldn’t attend as I was busy on tour,” Egan said. “I’m really excited to get back in the singlet and I’m so stoked to see all these guys again.”
Egan will compete in the Masters division of the event, and face Peterson Rosa (BRA), compatriot Nathan Webster (AUS) and one other in his opening round heat.
“When I retired from the tour a few years ago, it’s the worst my body has ever felt,” Egan said. “I stopped taking care of myself and my surfing felt really ordinary. Since I’ve started surfing and training with Joel (Parkinson) again, I’ve really never felt better. I think the Masters is so important for a lot of these guys. It’s motivation, it’s a reason to get out there and keep surfing and I think it’s such an awesome thing that we have these events.”
Gary “Kong” Elkerton (AUS), defending and three-time ASP World Masters Champion will be in attendance alongside former ASP World Champions Barton Lynch (AUS), Derek Ho (HAW), Tom Curren (USA), Mark Occhilupo (AUS), Shaun Tomson (ZAF), Wayne Bartholomew (AUS), Peter Townend (AUS), Cheyne Horan (AUS) and Terry Richardson (AUS). Both the Masters and Grand Masters divisions will feature a round-robin style format.
The Supersurf ASP World Masters Championships will be webcast LIVE via http://supersurf.abril.com.br/
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
SUPERSURF ASP WORLD MASTERS ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Barton Lynch (AUS), Rob Bain (AUS), Flavio Padaratz (BRA), Richard Lovett (AUS)
Heat 2: Gary Elkerton (AUS), Brad Gerlach (USA), Richie Collins (USA), Guilherme Herdy (BRA)
Heat 3: Derek Ho (HAW), Victor Ribas (BRA), Kaipo Jaquias (HAW), Jojo Olivenca (BRA)
Heat 4: Tom Curren (USA), Jake Paterson (AUS), Shea Lopez (USA), Renan Rocha (BRA)
Heat 5: Mark Occhilupo (AUS), Fabio Gouveia (BRA), Marty Thomas (USA), TBA
Heat 6: Luke Egan (AUS), Peterson Rosa (BRA), Nathan Webster (AUS), TBA
SUPERSURF ASP WORLD GRAND MASTERS ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Shaun Tomson (ZAF), Hans Hedemann (HAW), Buzzy Kerbox (HAW), Daniel Friedman (BRA)
Heat 2: Wayne Bartholomew (AUS), Glen Winton (AUS), Peter Townend (AUS), Iain Buchanan (NZL)
Heat 3: Michael Ho (HAW), Simon Anderson (AUS), Ian Cairns (AUS), TBA
Heat 4: Cheyne Horan (AUS), Terry Richardson (AUS), Terry Fitzgerald (AUS), TBA
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