Gudauskas Tops Slater in Round 1 of Quiksilver Pro France

Patrick Gudauskas won his Quiksilver Pro France Round 1 bout over nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater and ASP World Junior Champion Maxime Huscenot. Credit: ASP/SCHULTZ

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Sunday, September 26, 2010) - ASP Dream Tour rookie Patrick Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 24, started his Quiksilver Pro France campaign is stellar fashion today, topping current ASP World No. 1 Kelly Slater (Cocoa Beach, FL), 38, in Round 1 to advance directly through to Round 3 in pumping six-to-eight foot (2.5 metre) barrels at Culs Nus beach in Hossegor, France.

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Stop No. 7 of 10 on the 2010 ASP Dream Tour, the Quiksilver Pro France plays a vital role in determining this year's ASP World Champion and who will find their way back amongst the elite for the 2011 season.

Gudauskas issued a major upset when the young Californian threaded a deep forehand barrel, only to complete the ride with a forehand punt to relegate past nine-time ASP World Champion, Slater, to Round 2 along reigning ASP World Junior Champion and event wildcard Maxime Huscenot (FRA), 18.

"I was really fortunate to get that one and it definitely won me the heat," Gudauskas said. "I was battling for position with Kelly (Slater) and he took the first one which was smaller and I got the second one. I actually misjudged the wave and barely made the takeoff and when I pulled under the lip I could see the barrel just breathing and, when it let me out, there was a ramp section so it was just automatic to go for the air."

Gudauskas, who suffered a disappointing equal 25th place finish at the Hurley Pro at Trestles at his home break, was elated to bounce back with a positive start in France.

"It was disappointing to lose early at home in Trestles but I did my best to shake it off," Gudauskas said. "I rationalized it by telling myself that everyone was surfing so amazing that it was just the way it went. I love Europe though. I want to move to France. I got my best result in Tahiti (Equal 5th) and my mindset is just to build on that through the next events. The goal is to be inside the Top 22 by the end of the year."

Also emerging victorious on the American front in Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro France was ASP Dream Tour rookie and two-time Hurley US Open winner Brett Simpson (Huntington Beach , CA), 25, progressive mastermind Dane Reynolds (Ventura, CA), 25, and former ASP World Champion C.J. Hobgood (Satellite Beach, FL), 31.

The Quiksilver Pro France holds a waiting period from September 25 through October 5, 2010 and is webcast LIVE via http://quiksilverlive.com/profrance2010/home.en.html
For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org

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Quiksilver Pro France Round 1 Results:

Heat 1:Jeremy Flores (FRA) 9.36, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 8.50, Daniel Ross (AUS) 3.06
Heat 2:Dane Reynolds (USA) 13.70, Luke Munro (AUS) 9.83, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 6.84
Heat 3:Taj Burrow (AUS) 10.93, Travis Logie (ZAF) 5.43, Adam Melling (AUS) 5.36
Heat 4:Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.00, Taylor Knox (USA) 2.24, Gabe Kling (USA) 1.96
Heat 5:Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.00, Luke Stedman (AUS) 8.27, Julian Wilson (AUS) 8.03
Heat 6:Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 10.10, Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 5.40, Kelly Slater (USA) 4.00
Heat 7:Brett Simpson (USA) 10.94, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.60, Chris Davidson (AUS) 6.87
Heat 8:C.J. Hobgood (USA) 10.60, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 7.73, Michel Bourez (PYF) 5.43
Heat 9:Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.03, Jadson Andre (BRA) 12.97, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 8.90
Heat 10:Owen Wright (AUS) 14.83, Tiago Pires (PRT) 7.77, Roy Powers (HAW) 2.03
Heat 11:Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.13, Damien Hobgood (USA) 11.10, Dusty Payne (HAW) 7.87
Heat 12:Andy Irons (HAW), Bobby Martinez (USA), Kai Otton (AUS)

Quiksilver Pro France Round 2 Match-ups:

Heat 1:Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Maxime Huscenot (FRA)
Heat 2:Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 3:Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 4:Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 5:Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 6:Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 7:Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)
Heat 8:Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 9:Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 10:Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 11:Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 12:Adam Melling (AUS) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)