NUNES AND BURROW SCORE THE CASH IN THE FOSTER'S EXPRESSION SESSION

News provided by ASP World Tour on 2 September 2005

In front a large and vocal crowd at Hebara Beach Japan, Marcelo Nunes (BRA) boosted a huge aerial manoeuvre to claim $US2000 for the best “air” in the Foster’s Expression Session while Taj Burrow (AUS) scored $US1000 for the best overall wave.

Paddling out in clean one metre (three foot) conditions, a host of the best from the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour, plus a handful of local talent, went “hell for leather” in the chase for the cash putting on an incredible display of new-school surfing.

Nunes, was elated with his win: “I’ve really been enjoying surfing out here all week,” said Nunes. “It was an honour just to be out there with all those top guys and then to win the session was really good. I’m very happy.”

Taj Burrow was equally pleased with his performance which saw him link together some amazingly fast bottom-to-top turns.

“Yeah this is great! A bit of spending money!” he said. “It was pretty hard to find a section out there but there was the odd ramp and all the boys were making the most of it. I’m really happy!”

The Foster’s Expression Sessions are an integral part of the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour. Held at each stop, they offer a different format from the norm in that sessions are up to one hour long, surfers are allowed to catch as many waves as they like, and the conventional judging criteria is not applied.

Surfing “freely”, or without the fear that a fall could cost them the heat, surfers are encouraged to be creative on their selected waves and more often than not crowds are treated to some awesome displays of trickery.

Organisers are now hopeful of continuing the Quiksilver Pro Japan tomorrow as the swell from Typhoon Nabi, located off the coast of Japan, continues to pulse. When competition resumes, round two will hit the water and many are claiming that the draw is one of the best of the season to date.

“It should be very interesting indeed,” said 1978 Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour champ Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew. “We had local Hideyoshi Tanaka tie with Andy Irons in round one so his match-up with Mick Fanning in the third heat of round two will be a beauty. The locals just aren’t intimidated by the WCT guys so there could be some quality showdowns. Joel Parkinson, Trent Munro, Mick Fanning and Nathan Hedge all have local guys who aren’t to be underestimated.

“There’s also some solid heats like that of number five,” Rabbit continued. “Luke Egan versus Dane Reynolds. Dane is one of the quality young surfers on the move and certainly an exciting prospect to emerge from the US West Coast. Mark Occhilupo and Tim Curren, what about that one! Two hot goofy footers – the veteran in his swansong year against the small wave maestro who’s an excellent aerial exponent.

“This round two is one of the most interesting of the 2005 season to date. But generally this leg through Japan, the US and France is critical in the race to be 2005 Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour champion.”

Organisers will convene at 7am local time tomorrow (Saturday 3 September) to assess conditions and make the call regarding the continuation of the event.

Quiksilver will be doing live webcasts of the next three ASP WCT events on www.quiksilver.com and www.aspworldtour.com

* Quiksilver Pro Japan. 31 August - 7 September
* Boost Mobile Pro presented by Quiksilver. 13-18 September
* Quiksilver Pro France. 23 September - 2 October