Surf fans are undoubtedly looking forward to the entire line up of ASP surfing competitions scheduled to take place in May 2012. At least I know that I am. The list of surfers expected to compete May 21 through May 27 in the Quiksilver Saquarema Prime has already been released. If you haven't checked it out yet, you should. The surfing competition is sporting quite a stellar line up of surfers.
2012 Quiksilver Saquarema Prime Surfing Line Up
The 2012 Quiksilver Saquarema Prime's list of expected surfing competitors is as impressive as it is long. 90 male surfers are on the list along with 42 alternates. Over 20 of the expected surfers are some of Brazil's finest athletes. More than 10 are ultra talented surfers from America and Australia. A handful of skillful surfers from Hawaii will be competing as well. In my opinion, some of the surfers to watch during the surfing competition are Josh Kerr, Miquel Pupo, John John Florence, Gabriel Medina and Gabe Kling. All five have the potential to create the kind of exciting finale that surf fans witnessed during the 2011 Quiksilver Saquarema Prime.
Quiksilver Saquarema Prime Look Back to 2011
The 2011 Quiksilver Saquarema Prime offered up a tight, final match-up between Aussie surfer Kai Otton and Brazilian surfer Raoni Monteiro. Otton ended up out surfing Montero by the tiniest of margins. He is expected to surf in the Quiksilver Saquarema Prime again this year, as is Monteiro. Whether or not the goofy footed Aussie will be able to beat the regular footed Brazilian and make it to the final remains to be seen. Both Otton and Monteiro have a lot of talented cohorts that they'll need to get past first. In addition, neither one is doing phenomenally well thus far this year. Otton managed to take 3rd at the Telstra Drug Aware Pro in March 2012. Otherwise, he has remained out of the top three in the other four ASP surfing events he has surfed in this year. Monteiro hasn't made it into the top three slots at any of the four ASP surfing events he's competed in this year. At this point, I think we are more likely to see other surfers in the final.
ASP Prime Surfing Events 2012 Look Back
Thus far, two ASP Prime surfing events have already taken place in 2012. The first was the Hang Loose Pro in February. It was won by the 20 year old, goofy footed Brazilian, Miquel Pupo. The second was the Telstra Drug Aware Pro. It was won by 19 year old, regular footed Hawaiian, John John Florence. In my opinion, both have delivered amazing performances thus far and I predict that the duo will go the distance at the 2012 Quiksilver Saquarema Prime. Personally, I am hoping for a John John Florence versus Miquel Pupo final. Both are seasoned and skillful surfers with a flair for putting on one heck of an aerial display. Surf fans will just have to wait and see how it will all go down.
Killeen Gonzalez enjoys water sports with her family and has a history of interviewing pro surfers.
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