Newsletter join now Keep in touch with all the latest surf news, green scene and partner info by joining the Drift weekly update. SIGN UP NOW
What are we made of? Drift Magazine is made from ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) FSC Certified pulp and low VOC vegetable inks. Studio power by Ecotricity and delivery made using Biopower V100 waste oil.
Britain's European junior champion makes final
by George Mojo
10/04/2007:// Britain's European junior champion Ruebyn Ash put on a superb individual performance to make the final of the World Qualifying Series Rip Curl Pro in Portugal.
The Cornish surfer was edged out of the top places at Supertubes, in Peniche by German Marlon Lipke and Spaniard Pablo Gutierrez.
Ash, from Widemouth Bay, in Bude, defeated German Nicolau Von Rupp and Frenchman Thomas Bady in the semi-finals held in 2-3ft waves.
The final was a different story altogether, with Ash facing top German Marlon Lipke and Spaniards Pablo Solar and Pablo Gutierrez.
For all four, it was the chance to take an early lead on the 2007 European rankings and 500 valuable tour points.
The surfers split in two groups of two, Ash and Lipke sticking to the right side of the judges' tower, while Solar and Gutierrez remained to the left of it.
Solar opened the battle with three vertical re-entries, throwing big sprays out of the green water. Then came Lipke who got two good waves to get first and take the lead for more than fifteen minutes of the final.
Gutierrez looked out of rythm during the whole first half of the encounter, until he started getting back on his feet but unfortunately it was too late.
Ash, meanwhile, remained in the leaders' pack, trying to move from one peak to another, losing a bit of time while the heat leaders Lipke and Solar were getting on with the job, answering one another in the small fast breaking shorebreak.
Gutierrez kept on trying, and found a good 7+ pointer in the dying seconds, offering great climax to this ultimate heat.
In the end it was Lipke who was awarded victory by the judges and an early lead in the WQS European tour.
Ash finished last in the final, but is in fourth place in the rankings - the only Cornish surfer in the top 50 .
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
Skype us
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Surf art 
Surf environment