FERNANDO DE NORONHA, Brazil (Thursday, February 14, 2008) - South African surfer Greg Emslie got the best wave so far in the 2008 Hang Loose Pro Contest, he scored a 9,97 points in a perfect barrel to the right. In the second heat of the day, Spanish Hodei Collazo posted the highest heat score of the event with 18,40 points out of possible 20. Conditions improved through the day in clean surf with great 4-6 feet waves in Cacimba do Padre Beach.

“This event here in Fernando de Noronha is one of my favorites, because we always found some great waves with exciting barrels. different from the rest of the tour where we usually surf small waves” said Greg Esmile, who was competing in the ASP Men´s World Tour last year and today scored the best wave so far of the 2008 Hang Loose Pro Contest. “Was a very good wave, i almost lost in the beginning, but in the last minute i put in the trail and completed the tube, this was a beatiful wave” said Greg, who finish in second place in Noronha in 2003.

Two heats before, Brazilian Pablo Paulino won the best heat so far of the 2008 Hang Loose Pro Contest. Pablo and another two brazilians, André Silva and Alvaro Bacana scored three excellent waves. Bacana got the highest score a 9,77 wave score, against 9,63 points from Andre and 9,53 from Pablo, who also completed another barrel to finish with 17,36 points. Alvaro Bacana finish in second, French surfer Vincent Duvignac in third and André in fourth.

“I am so stoked, this was a high level heat, everybody surfed well and got nice tubes, but in the finish i could get two good scores to finish in first. Get a nice result here is a dream for all of us” said Pablo Paulino, 2x ASP World Pro Junior Champion, “I was very anxious before my first heat, and start with this victory was great for me. I hope to make the final here and bring this title to Brazil”.

Brazilian Álvaro Bacana left the water with a big smile in the face, “This is a dream for me, i love to surf here in Noronha, this place is a second home for me and that big barrel i always get when i am training but this was my first big score during a heat., i am so happy” said Bacana, “I am here to have fun, and this year i will try to give my best and finish with my best result in my carrer”.

FORMER CHAMPIONS – All the surfers target the title of the Hang Loose Pro Contest, and three former champions started their campaign with a convincing victory, Brazilian Guilherme Herdy, champion in 2000, Victor Ribas in 2002 and Jean da Silva in 2006.

“I started my heat with a great barrel, them i fell in my second wave and got another good one in the end” said Jean da Silva, the last brazilian winner of Hang Loose Pro Contest, “Here who got the best tubes wrap to the next round, so you have to be lucky and i will try to start this year with a great result”.

In addition to fetch his second title in Fernando de Noronha, Brazilian Victor Ribas also wants to recover his place in ASP Men´s World Tour missed last year. “Compete in the ‘CT and in the ‘QS at he same time last year was very hard for me, now i will keep my focus in the WQS Tour. I remain confident in this event and every time that i caught a big barrel, i feel like a king of the world”.

Brazilian Guilherme Herdy is the current winner of more heats (19) in the Hang Loose Pro Contest past events in Fernando de Noronha. “Actually what i really want to do, is win this event here in Fernando de Noronha again, the numbers still behind me” said Herdy.

The 23th Edition of Hang Loose Pro Contest has Hang Loose as main sponsor, with co-sponsor of REEF, Supatech Tecidos, Brisbane and Santa Inês, with the important partnership of Pernambuco Government State and Fernando de Noronha Island Administration, apart from support of Gráfica Formag’s, Fluir Magazine, Waves/Terra Web-Site and surf shops Star Point, Uluwatu, Central Surf, Overboard, Bleat, Hot Water, Sthill, KYW, WQSurf, 900 Graus, Bali Surf Shop, Surf X-Press, Star Surf, Pro Esporte, Tchuk Thones e Surfstore. The Event is sanctioned by ASP South America with the support of Pernambuco Surfing Federation and Northeast Surfing Association (ANS) and web coverage by www.hangloose.com.br and www.aspsouthamerica.com.br