Flores shines at Lower Trestles

Jeremy Flores, the best French and European surfer ever competing on the ASP World Tour, was in excellent form on Day 3 of the Boost Mobile Pro and secured a berth into Quarterfinals of the seventh stop of 11 on this year's Dream Tour.

Flores, who is the only remaining European surfer in the event, posted an impressive 17.44 point heat tally (out of a possible 20) to defeat current ASP World Tour No. 6 Adriano de Souza (BRA) in Round 4.

Flores had to come up with solid surfing to best his friend De Souza and found the score he needed on his last wave posting a 8.27 point ride (out of a possible 10) to catch up with De Souza's strong lead throughout the heat. Flores, who had secured a 9.17 score at the beginning of the battle, prooved his experience and mental strenght to wait for a last minute wave and get through.

"I thought that last wave was going to close out when I took off," Flores said. "It opened up though and I got the score. It was kind of hard to surf because of the sections closing fast, but it was so much fun. I felt good and I thought I wasn’t going to do anything special because of my ankle. The more I surf the more it hurts, but it felt okay in that heat. Adriano (de Souza) has beat me twice this year, so it felt good to beat him."

Flores, who had a great start this year with a 3rd and a 9th in the two first events, was rated No. 13 going to California and will improve his overall ratings' total with his performance at Lower Trestles before heading home to Capbreton where the ASP Top 45 will surf in the next event. Flores, who suffered an ankle injury just before the Rip Curl Pro Search, did not attend the major ASP World Qualifying Series events in Europe this summer but seems to be back in good form.

"Finally. I haven’t passed the fourth round since Bells," Flores said. "Now I get to surf against Mick (Fanning) and it’s going to be so fun. If I win I win and if I don’t I don’t. To be able to go out and have fun and surf with your favorite surfers is the best thing in the world."

Flores will meet reigning ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) in Quarterfinal No. 3 in a much expected exciting battle where both surfers will be looking for a big result. Flores, who placed 3rd at Lower Trestles in 2007, will fly the European flag in California when competition resumes and hopes to equal at his last year result at least. If his weak ankle allows him to post another 17.00 point total, it should be a good heat.