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Words: Ben Mondy
"It shows you how shallow it is out there. That kid had three massive gouges in his head, one that was about an inch wide. I tell you, that's how you die out there. He was lucky. " Kauai surfer and Pipe specialist Gavin Gillette was talking about the latest blood soaked incident on the infamous 100-meter stretch of uneven sharp reef between backdoor Pipe and Off The Wall.

Throughout the day the swell had slowly but surely increased up until, just as the burning sun was fizzing out in the Pacific Ocean there were solid six feet slabs rifling in just on dark, one of which claimed the young Hawaiian surfer.  Gavin had been out there most of the day, sparing with his Red Bull Rising counterparts Wiggolly Dantas and Michel Bourez, not to mention about a 100 of the best surfers in the world, weaving and turning and spinning through the shifty Hawaiian peaks. "It's been a pretty typical fun day here on the North Shore," reflected Gav on dusk. "Nothing big, but still some really good ones if you wait. The contest was off, so you might as well just surf as much as possible. And in between surfs,  it's just about kicking with the boys, watching the surfing, maybe a jump on the trampoline, generally hanging out Hawaiian style."

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In one of the best days ever seen in professional surfing, Tahitian surfer Michel Bourez claimed victory in the Reef Hawaiian Pro, rocketing him up to No.2 in the WQS rankings and cementing his place on the 2009 elite ASP World Tour. After the celebrations died down Michel wrote about what it meant to realise his dream in the hallowed waters of the North Shore. --Ben Mondy

Michel Bourez: "When I came to Hawaii last week I knew I needed at least one quarterfinal placing to make the WCT. So when I made the quarter final I was pretty sure I had qualified, but it still wasn't guaranteed. So paddling out for that quarterfinal I was just trying to make it for certain. I'd just had enough of it being up in the air. And then when I made it through to the semi final I thought, well, if I make the final it's just really really definite. And then by the end I was just having fun. The waves were really really pumping and I was just trying to get the best waves, really just trying to get barreled, because that's what surfing is all about.

"This is beyond everything I have ever dreamed of," smiled a very happy Michel Bourez, shortly after winning the final of the Reef Hawaiian Pro, the first stop in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. With the win Michel shoots from 17th to 2nd on the WQS ratings, and will now be graduating to the ASP World Tour. "To qualify for the elite tour was the major goal I have worked and trained so hard for, but to also win my first event, in Hawaii, in perfect waves, well I can't really believe it." 

With a win at the six-star Onbongo Pro 18-year-old Wiggolly Dantes, one of the chosen few participating in the Red Bull Rising program, has slid into 32nd on the WQS rankings. "It's a dream come true - I'm very happy," Wiggolly would say immediately after the win. "I just can't believe it, and I dedicate the victory to two important locals: Scatena who passed away years ago and Aranha who lives here. They always supported me and I'm happy to win at home. I was focused on this event and to win here, with all the support from the people on the beach, it was amazing. It's the new generation charging. The heat was tough because Jadson was surfing pretty well too, but my high score switched the heat balance. I have no words to describe my feelings. I just want to party with my family here." That being said, the WQS season is quickly winding down and it's going to take another couple solid results for Wiggolly to qualify, but even if he doesn't make it this year, he's definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with as he comes of age.

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It was a once in a lifetime opportunity where a group of talented surfers were able to surf, hangout and learn from their heroes. About 20 talented young surfers of the region of Biarritz were invited on Saturday 4 October to spend a day with Red Bull athlete Tim Boal and some of Tim's pro surfing friends.  Top 45 surfer Ben Dunn from Australia, and WQS surfers Michel Bourez  and Matt Wilkinson, joined Tim in the very successful day.

Landing a solid third place finish at the 6-star Rio Surf International, held at Brazil's Arpoador Beach, Michel Bourez inches ever closer to his goal of joining the world's best surfers on the 2009 ASP World Tour. Locking down 1875 points for the result in Brazil, he's now moved up to 10th place in the WQS rankings. What exactly does this mean for the Tahitian upstart? Well, for one, at the end of the 2008 WQS season the top 14 athletes qualify for the World Tour. This means if nothing too dramatic happens in the home stretch Michel's qualification is as good as set. This makes him the second participant of Red Bull Rising program to qualify this year, after his mate Tim Boal, who's currently ranked 5th in the WQS. Click here to find out more about Red Bull Rising.

It was a hit and miss day for the Red Bull Crew today at the Quiksilver Pro France. While 9 out of the top 10 surfers on tour failed to advance out of Round 1, there were some bright points, most notably Red Bull Rising up-and-comer Michel Bourez knocking out Joel Parkinson in Round 2. Also worthy of note was both Ben Dunn's win which carried him straight into Round 3. And besides Bourez, fellow Rising standout and Quiksilver Pro Trials winner Tim Boal gave it his all against Kelly Slater in Round 2, but came up just short. Unfortunately Mick Fanning and Andy Irons have both been eliminated from the event. Other than that, we're just going to have to wait until tomorrow to see how the rest of the boys do, but until then, here's a few highlights.

Interview By Ben Mondy

After winning the recent 5 star Rip Curl Pro in Zarautz, Biarritz based surfer Tim Boal has rocketed to number three in the WQS rankings and looks a certainty for the top 45 in 2009. After the conclusion of the Europe leg, in which Tim scored no worse than a 5th placing in any event, redbullsurfing.com  talks to the natural footer on what it feels like to crack the big-time.

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Tim Boal has capped off an incredible European leg of the WQS tour by winning the 5 star Rip Curl Pro held in Zarautz, Spain and almost definitely booking himself a berth on the elite top 45 ASP World Tour for 2009.

"It's an incredible feeling," said Boal afterwards. "It's actually been an incredible couple of months, ever since I made the final at the US Open at Huntington. In that final I was a little nervous and ending up falling on one wave and losing. At this event though, I was more confident and determined not to make the same mistake. I really wanted to win this."

Editor's Note: Coming to the end of a six week intensive European leg, Red Bull Rising athlete Michel Bourez kicked started his quest for WCT qualification with a second place in the 5 star Movistar Pantin Classic. With one more WQS event to go on the leg, and then a wildcard place in the WCT Quiksilver Pro, Michel gives the rundown on what has been a pretty hectic couple of weeks.  

Well I'm back in my apartment having just surfed in my first heat at the Rip Curl Pro in Zarautz. I won my heat so, yeah, it's a good start. It has actually been a pretty full-on couple of weeks, with some downs and some big ups. We drove down to Portugal after surfing the comps in France and turned up to some fun waves the first couple of days  - the swell was four or five foot and everyone was out there ripping. I was with the Red Bull Rising coach Kingy, and the other athletes on the program and everyone was surfing way better in the good conditions. A bit of power helps eh?