HONOLULU — The Association of Surfing Professionals Hawai‘i office announced that the 2008 Macy’s E-Series Hawaiian Pro Tour has stepped up their commitment to Hawai‘i’s aspiring professional surfers, offering two 1-star World Qualifying Series rated events, as well as a
HONOLULU — The Association of Surfing Professionals Hawai‘i office announced that the 2008 Macy’s E-Series Hawaiian Pro Tour has stepped up their commitment to Hawai‘i’s aspiring professional surfers, offering two 1-star World Qualifying Series rated events, as well as a Grade-1 Junior Pro event.
By elevating the status of their events to become ASP world-rated events, the Macy’s E-Series provides an important opportunity for aspiring professional surfers in Hawai‘i to compete for valuable ratings points at home.
The holding period for the first event commences today, running through Sunday, May 18, with two full days of competition required. A maximum field of 80 surfers have registered for the 1-star events, including top locals T.J. Barron, Hank Gaskell, Jason Shibata and Joel Centeio.
The Junior Pro in August will feature a maximum field of 32 surfers aged 21 years and younger.
• Event 1: 1-star WQS men’s competition, May 13 through 18, Sandy Beach or Maili Beach (requires 2 full days).
• Event 2: 1-star WQS men’s competition, July 8 through 16, Ala Moana Bowls (requires 2 full days).
• Event 3: Grade-1 Junior Pro, August 18, 2008, Kuhio Beach.
With close to 500 surfers chasing qualification events around the world, it is vitally important for aspiring professionals to amass ratings points that afford them entry into highly rated WQS events and, ultimately, a place on the elite World Championship Tour.
Up to now, Hawai‘i surfers have long been disadvantaged by the fact that they must travel frequently and far in an attempt to gather points, unlike surfers in other participating regions, and they do so at a high financial cost.
The Macy’s E-Series events now fill the void, providing an important springboard for aspiring locals to reach the next level of qualification. These events, combined with the Monster Energy Pro and the Xcel Pro, will offer Hawai‘i surfers regional ratings points that will count towards entry into the coveted 6-star rated Reef Hawaiian Pro and O’Neill World Cup of Surfing, held on the North Shore of Oahu each winter as part of the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
“At least the top eight surfers from the ASP Hawai‘i regional ratings will earn a start in the 6-star Vans Triple Crown events,” ASP Hawai‘i Administrator Faith Wenzl, said in a release. “So these Macy’s E-Series events really do count towards the important bigger picture.”
