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Lacanau expects a fresh north swell
by George Mojo
17/08/2006:// Organisers are expecting a fresh north swell after two days of no surfing at the World Qualifying Series Sooruz Lacanau Pro in France.
So far only the first round has been staged at the 6star ASP event - the first major of the season on mainland Europe.
Cornwall's Russell Winter is the sole Briton in the event and is seeded into round two along with a posse of other top pro's from around the world including American Rob Machado, Aussie ripper Ben Dunn, South African Travis Logie and former world amateur champion Adriano De Souza.
Thirty-one year old Winter currently lies in 33rd place on the tour after 27 events and ideally needs a good result at the famed French beachbreak, near Bordeaux, to keep alive his hopes of a place in the top flight WCT in 2007.
The event follows a disappointing showing at the UK's Rip Curl Boardmasters in Newquay. But, in reality, its was only a blip oin Winter's season which has seen the former English champion clinch victories in both the Maldives and at Thurso East in Scotland.
Three opponents stand in his way of a place in the last 96 and a guaranteed 479 ranking points. Brazilian Danilo Costa will be his main threat. A seasoned athlete on the world stage, Costa is one of a growing band of South American's rising through the world order.
Hawaiian TJ Barron and radical Australian Sam Page are Winter's other opponents in heat 16 of the round of 144.
Page has impressed with his off-the-scale surfing which often defies the law of gravity.
If successful, there's a top class field waiting to test the British bulldog to the edge of his limits.
World Championship Tour stalwart Jake Paterson is among the high-profile radical surfers vying for a podium finish ahead of the Super Series Rip Curl Pro in Hossegor.
Among a classy European field are Frenchman Mickey Picon and Ruben Gonzalez, from Portugal and Morroco's Abdel El Harim.
Whichever way it goes, Winter will give it his all and with confidence high he could go all the way.
Top seeds took control of the ASP World Qualfying Series 6-Star Buondi Billabong Pro Portugal posting big scores and impressive performances in the good three to four foot waves on offer at Ribeira d’Ilhas
Briton Russell Winter's run in the Buondi Billabong Pro in Portugal came to an abrupt end when the Cornishman finished last in his second round heat
The upcoming Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley may be the closest thing eight-time ASP World Champion and ratings leader Kelly Slater (USA) has to a home court advantage on the ASP World Tour
Home advantage saw Lee Ann Curren claim top spot in Rip Curl Pro Junior Mademoiselle at Les Bourdaines in Seignosse
The August Bank Holiday weekend saw a hive of activity at the inaugural Quiksilver Skins invitation competition, one of the most innovative contest formats to grace the circuit
Champions tell the story of their success step by step