Michael Picon and Aritz Aranburu return to the new format WQS Tour

The European Surfers of Team Quiksilver, Michael Picon and Aritz Aranburu will return to the WQS (World Qualifying Series) this season.

For Miky Picon, the experienced European pro, this season has two goals: to try to requalify for the elite by taking part in the main WQS events (as he did previously in 2006 and 2008) but also to begin to work professionally at the centre of the Quiksilver group.  As his sponsor and supporter for a long time, Quiksilver has committed to collaborate with Miky in order to make him one of its main ambassadors, to put his great experience and his network to use within the company.

For Aritz Aranburu, the objective is to regain his place in the elite of the ASP World Tour by the end of the season.  The challenge is sizeable as the elite ASP circuits and WQS are changing format in 2010.  In order to make the two tours more competitive, the ASP will tighten the elite Tour to just 32 surfers in the course of the season (after Tahiti).  Consequently, the early events of 2010 will be crucial for Jérémy Florès.  He must place inside the world’s Top 32 before the Tahiti cut off point, in order to challenge at events such as The Quiksilver Pro France, in September, which will only include the Top 32 surfers .

The arrival of best 13 surfers of the WQS in September will again make the events even more competitive and will toughen the process of qualification for the elite Tour the following season.