WORLD LONGBOARD TOUR WLT

9 November, 2008

Bonga Perkins Wins Oxbow World Longboard Tour, Takes ASP WLT Title      
Bonga Perkins vincendo a San Clemente, California,
si aggiudica il titolo di Campione del Mondo di Longboard 2008 ASP-WLT

(Bonga Perkins)

American ASP WLT Competitors
Wrap up the 2008 Season on Home Soil

Huntington Beach, Ca -- 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.

Oxbow World Longboard Tour Final Results:
1 - Bonga Perkins (HAW) 16.95
2 - Antoine Delpero (FRA) 13.90

Oxbow World Longboard Tour Semifinals Results:
SF 1: Bonga Perkins (HAW) 16.20 def. Ned Snow (HAW) 14.00
SF 2: Antoine Delpero (FRA) 17.65 def. Alex Salazar (BRA) 14.25

Oxbow World Longboard Tour Quarterfinals Results:
QF 1: Bonga Perkins (HAW) 16.75 def. Timothee Creignout (FRA) 13.00
QF 2: Ned Snow (HAW) 16.35 (HAW) def. Eduardo Bage (BRA) 13.00
QF 3: Antoine Delpero (FRA) 16.85 def. Josh Baxter (USA) 14.25
QF 4: Alex Salazar (BRA) 15.65 def. Matthew Moir (ZAF) 14.00

Oxbow World Longboard Tour Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Timothee Creignout (FRA) 13.00 def. Colin McPhillips (USA) 9.10
Heat 2: Bonga Perkins (HAW) 16.10 def. Jared Neal (AUS) 10.70
Heat 3: Eduardo Bage (BRA) 16.25 def. Jaime Viudes (BRA) 13.50
Heat 4: Ned Snow (HAW) 18.75 def. Harley Ingleby (AUS) 14.55
Heat 5: Antoine Delpero (FRA) 14.35 def. Bryce Young (AUS) 13.50
Heat 6: Josh Baxter (USA) 13.40 def. Romain Maurin (FRA) 11.30
Heat 7: Alex Salazar (BRA) 14.00 def. Joe Aaron (USA) 10.50
Heat 8: Mathew Moir (ZAF) 16.10 def. Taylor Jensen (USA) 15.85

2008 Men's WLT Final Ratings

1 Perkins,Bonga HAW 2076 - 2008 World Longboard Champion
2 Delpero,Antoine FRA 2064
3 Ingleby,Harley AUS 1800
4 Moir,Matthew ZAF 1464
5 McPhillips,Colin USA 1332
5 Bage,Eduardo BRA 1332
7 Creignout,Timothee FRA 1332
8 Rajzman,Phil BRA 1286
9 Snow,Ned HAW 1286
10 Salazar,Alex(Picuruta) BRA 1286
11 Viudes,Jamie BRA 1200
11 Jensen,Taylor USA 1200
11 Maurin,Romain FRA 1200
14 Matos,Amaro BRA 1142
15 Young,Bryce AUS 1010
15 Soto,Duane de HAW 1010
17 Neal,Jared AUS 1010
17 Bahia,Carlos BRA 957
18 Baxter,Josh USA 957
19 Rodrigo,Danilo BRA 825
20 Close,Jackson AUS 825
21 Constable,Josh AUS 820
21 Lloy,Tom USA 820
21 Skinner,Ben GBR 820
24 Uemura,Kekoa HAW 820
24 Mothershead,Troy USA 820
26 Robbins,Cole USA 820
27 Silva,Jeremias da BRA 635
28 Larcher,Jonathan FRA 635
28 Sallas,Kai HAW 635
30 Bleakley,Sam GBR 635
30 Miranda,Dino HAW 635
32 Castera,Damien FRA 635
33 Deniel,Alexis FRA 635
34 ,Vetter,Brad USA 635