ASP Top 34 After the Mid-Year Cutoff

There is a new top 34 on the ASP World Tour now that we’ve passed the halfway point and the mid-year cutoff has taken place. Some new names have made their way onto the list of competitors and some long time veterans have fallen off. We’ve got a look at the changes along with the entire list below.

Could this be the last time we see C.J. Hobgood get ready for a heat on the ASP World Tour? Let's hope not. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

The next guy worth mentioning who is no longer on tour is someone I’m sure I could write multiple posts on but I won’t head down that path. Bobby Martinez made it clear his frustrations with the current state of the ASP World Tour during his post heat interview at the Quiksilver Pro New York which resulted in him being disqualified from the event. I’ll leave it at that.

Coming into the mix was supposed to be Australian Yadin Nicol. Yadin has had a great year and made it to the finals at the U.S. Open of Surfing which gave him enough points to qualify for the ASP World Tour. Unfortunately for Yadin he suffered a broken right fibula while free-surfing in Japan in late August.

“It’s very unfortunate that Yadin (Nicol) suffered his injury just before he was about to join the elite ranks,” Renato Hickel, ASP World Tour Manager, said. “After discussions with him, he has decided to relinquish his spot for this rotation and will be applying for the injury wildcard for the December rotation. That said, should Yadin be healed in time for the Billabong Pipeline Masters, the ASP has promised him one of their extra wildcard spots (the result of the event’s extended draw). We wish him nothing but a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him on tour very soon.”

Should Nicol be granted the ASP wildcard spot for the December rotation, he will enter into the 2012 season with the same seed points he currently possesses at the time of writing.

Taking Yadin’s spot is the upcoming Hawaiian John John Florence. John John is only 18 but he has shown that he has the skills needed to compete with the world’s top guys and I think that Florence has what it takes to win a world title.

John John Florence made it all the way to the 8th round in the 2011 US Open of Surfing. Photo: ASP

Below is the new ASP Top 34 and for a full list of the rankings visit aspworldtour.com. Make sure to watch these guys compete in the upcoming Hurley Pro at Lower Trestles which starts on September 18th.

NEW ASP TOP 34:
1. Kelly Slater (USA)
2. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
3. Mick Fanning (AUS)
4. Owen Wright (AUS)
5. Taj Burrow (AUS)
6. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
7. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
8. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
9. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
10. Michel Bourez (PYF)
11. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
12. Julian Wilson (AUS)
13. Damien Hobgood (USA)
14. Josh Kerr (AUS)
15. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
16. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
17. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
18. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
19. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
20. Jadson Andre (BRA)
21. Heitor Alves (BRA)
22. Chris Davidson (AUS)
23. Brett Simpson (USA)
24. Dane Reynolds (USA)
25. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
26. Daniel Ross (AUS)
27. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
28. Dusty Payne (HAW)
29. Kai Otton (AUS)
30. Taylor Knox (USA)
31. Tiago Pires (PRT)
32. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
33. Travis Logie (ZAF)
34: John John Florence (HAW)

1st Alternate: Adam Melling (AUS)
2nd Alternate: C.J. Hobgood (USA)
3rd Alternate: Tom Whitaker (AUS)

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