German surfer Marlon Lipke is yet another step closer to fulfilling his dream of qualifying for the elite ASP World Tour after finishing 3rd at one of the most important events on this year’s World Qualifying Series (WQS) calendar, the Rip Curl Pro in Hossegor / Seignosse. The Rip Curl Pro is one of eight 6* Prime events on the WQS calendar, and a good result here is what all WQS surfers long for.
 
“Getting so far in such an important event is amazing and the 2250 points are good, but I really thought I could make it into the final. Jihad Khodr started off well in my semi final heat and I needed a big score. As the tide was going out, I decided to surf the outside. Unfortunately the set I needed never came. But I am stoked for Jihad and of course for Davo (Chris Davidson, who went on to win the Rip Curl Pro). They are both amazing surfers and great sportsmen.
 
I’m now sitting in 7th on the WQS ratings with 10300 points and things do look promising, but there’s still a lot of work to be done with so many important 6* events left. I guess it is time for a final soon and maybe even a win!
 
It has been a crazy year for Europeans with so many of us reaching finals at most main events. Miky (Picon), Tiago (Pires), Aritz (Aranburu) and Jeremy (Flores) have been a great motivation for us all and it seems like things are paying off."
 
Next up is the Billabong Pro Ericeira, a WQS 6* at Ribeira d’Ilhas in Portugal next week.

After his two covers in May 2008 (Surf Europe and Surfers), German surfer Marlon Lipke finds himself on this month’s Surf Portugal fold out cover.

Things are not only working well on the coverage front, Marlon just had another great result at the Yumeya Tahara Pro 6* WQS in Japan, where he surfed into the quarter finals. "I’m so stoked. I was first in all my heats until the quarters. The waves in my quarter final heat were tiny, I couldn’t find the good ones and Jason Andre just surfed a better heat. But a fifth place is great and I’m now in 17th place on the WQS, which is a good spot to be in before the all important European leg. But I’m not getting ahead of myself as there’s still plenty of work to be done. I’m sitting in Bangkok at the airport at the moment and only just found out that I’m on the latest cover of Surf Portugal... That’s great news!“
 
Next up for Marlon is the 5* WQS in Newquay, England, followed by the two big events in France, the Lacanau Pro and the Super Series in Hossegor.
 
To find out more about Marlon, check out his website, www.marlonlipke.com <http://www.marlonlipke.com>