Arpoador in the early morning. Photo: ASP / CESTARI

ARPOADOR, Rio de Janeiro / Brasil (Tuesday, July 26, 2011) – The opening day of the SuperSurf ASP World Masters Championships is ON in offshore two-foot (1 metre) waves at the lefthand pointbreak of Arpoador.

2011 marks the return to the ASP World Masters Championships for the first time in seven years and this year’s contest will see surfing’s icons battle it out for two titles: Masters (ages 36-49) and Grand Masters (50 and over).

With mostly small surf forecasted for the majority of the SuperSurf ASP World Masters Championships, event organizers have opted to capitalize on this morning’s available surf to get competition underway.

“Although the surf is small, we’re going to get things underway this morning and plan on running Round 1 of the Masters,” Roberto Perdigao, SuperSurf ASP World Masters Contest Director said. “It’s a highlight of the event to bring these guys back to the water after eight years. Especially here in Rio, at Aproador, where most of the Grand Masters got their start at Wiamea 5000 in 1977.

Competing in the this year’s SuperSurf ASP World Masters will be ASP World Champions Barton Lynch (AUS), Derek Ho (HAW), Tom Curren (USA), Mark Occhilupo (AUS), Shaun Tomson (ZAF), Wayne Bartholomew (AUS), Peter Townend (AUS), Cheyne Horan (AUS) and Terry Richardson (AUS) among other surfing icons. Both the Masters and Grand Masters divisions will feature a round-robin style format.

The waiting period for the SuperSurf ASP World Masters Championships runs from July 26 through 31, 2011.

The Supersurf ASP World Masters Championships will be webcast LIVE via http://supersurf.abril.com.br/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

SUPERSURF ASP WORLD MASTERS ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Barton Lynch (AUS), Rob Bain (AUS), Flavio Padaratz (BRA), Richard Lovett (AUS)
Heat 2: Gary Elkerton (AUS), Brad Gerlach (USA), Richie Collins (USA), Guilherme Herdy (BRA)
Heat 3: Derek Ho (HAW), Victor Ribas (BRA), Kaipo Jaquias (HAW), Jojo Olivenca (BRA)
Heat 4: Tom Curren (USA), Jake Paterson (AUS), Shea Lopez (USA), Renan Rocha (BRA)
Heat 5: Mark Occhilupo (AUS), Fabio Gouveia (BRA), Marty Thomas (USA), TBA
Heat 6: Luke Egan (AUS), Peterson Rosa (BRA), Nathan Webster (AUS), TBA

SUPERSURF ASP WORLD GRAND MASTERS ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Shaun Tomson (ZAF), Hans Hedemann (HAW), Buzzy Kerbox (HAW), Daniel Friedman (BRA)
Heat 2: Wayne Bartholomew (AUS), Glen Winton (AUS), Peter Townend (AUS), Iain Buchanan (NZL)
Heat 3: Michael Ho (HAW), Simon Anderson (AUS), Ian Cairns (AUS), TBA
Heat 4: Cheyne Horan (AUS), Terry Richardson (AUS), Terry Fitzgerald (AUS), TBA

PAST ASP WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONS:
Masters
2003: Gary Elkerton (AUS)
2002: N/A
2001: Gary Elkerton (AUS)
2000: Gary Elkerton (AUS)
1999: Cheyne Horan (AUS)
1998: Joey Buran (USA)
1997: Terry Richardson (AUS)

Grand Masters
2003: Wayne Bartholomew (AUS)
2002: N/A
2001: Mark Richards (AUS)
2000: Michael Ho (HAW)
1999: Wayne Bartholomew (AUS)
1998: N/A
1997: N/A