Photo: Marlon Lipke (DEU) reached the Quarterfinals in Japan for his second second consecutive equal 5th place in an ASP WQS 6-Star event

CAPBRETON, France (Monday, August 4, 2008) – Marlon Lipke (DEU), 23, the only touring German surfer among the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS), secured the best European result in the ASP WQS 6-Star Yumeya Billabong Pro Tahara after losing to Brazilian Jadson Andre (BRA) in Quarterfinal No. 4 for an equal 5^th finish.

Lipke, who was just coming back from the Honda US Open of Surfing where he already reached the Quarterfinals, was in top form all week and managed to secure a second consecutive excellent result that will definitely be a keeper on his 2009 ASP World Tour qualification quest. Gaining eleven ranks on the overall ASP WQS ratings, Lipke now leads the European contingent rated No. 17 and is well in position to keep any Dream Tour hopes alive.

The german surfer, a former ASP European Junior champion who has had a great career so far with several event wins including the ASP WQS 4-Star Movistar Pantin Classic and the ASP WQS 3-Star Estoril Coast Pro in 2007, is rising as a potential ASP Top 45 member and will be much awaited when the ASP caravan settles in Europe for no less than six ASP WQS 5 and 6-Star events in a row starting with the Rip Curl Boardmasters from Tuesday, August 5, 2008.

Other European surfers managed to shine in the land of the rising sun. Among them was Gony Zubizarreta (Galicia, ESP) who was stopped in Round 6 finishing with another promissing equal 9^th result counting for his ratings’ total. Zubizarreta, who has had his best year ever so far, is rated No. 33 after Japan and slowly gains ground for a Top 16 finish and possibly a Dream Tour inception for 2009. He will attend all upcoming European events confidently.

Tim Boal (Anglet, FRA), 24, who ended up 2^nd in the Honda US Open of Surfing a week ago, tried to keep the momentum going but failed to go further than Round 5 where he could not find any good wave. Boal, now rated No. 18 on the ratings, will be a natural leader for the European crew this summer and will be a favorite at some of his favorite locations including Hossegor for the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime Rip Curl Pro and Ericeira for the ASP WQS 6-Star Buondi Billabong Pro.

ASP WQS EUROPEANS’ TOP 5

No. 17, Marlon Lipke (DEU), 8232 points

No. 18, Tim Boal (FRA), 8163 points

No. 24, Michel Bourez (PYF), 7914 points

No. 33, Gony Zubizarreta (ESP), 7225 points

No. 42, Hugo Savalli (REU), 6538 points

UPCOMING EVENTS

Rip Curl Boardmasters, ASP WQS 5-Star, 5-10 Aug. 2008

Sooruz Lacanau Pro, ASP WQS 6-Star, 12-17 Aug. 2008

Rip Curl Pro, ASP WQS 6-Star Prime, 18-24 Aug. 2008

Buondi Billabong Pro, ASP WQS 6-Star, 26-31 Aug. 2008

Movistar Pantin Classic, ASP WQS 5-Star, 2-7 Sep. 2008

Rip Curl Pro, ASP WQS 5-Star, 9-14 Sep. 2008