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OC Surfer of the Year profile: Chris Ward

CHRIS WARD

AKA: Wardochriswardmedblog

Age: 30

Hometown: San Clemente

Weight :175 lbs

Height: 6′0″

Stance: Regular (natural) foot

Sponsors: Lost surfboards and clothing, Creatures of Leisure accessories, Psycho Ward and Santa Monica Airlines, LOST clothing and boards, DVS shoes, Soleo sunblock, Vedalho eyewear (CQ)

Favorite wave: Backdoor

Favorite maneuvers: Boosting airs

Favorite surfers: Tom Curren, Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Cory Lopez and Shea Lopez

Career Highlights:

-14th WCT year end Ranking

-2nd WCT Pipeline Masters-2008

-2nd WCT Snapper Rocks Pro-2005

-1st WQS Maldives-2001

Chris Ward has gone from super grom, to teenage sensation, to ASP World Tour contender. Although he’s been a professional for several years, he’s spent more time traveling and going on surf trips than competing; for this he’s acquired the name “Where’s Wardo?”

Ward has been a household name since the age of 12. Even as a young grom he blew the minds of all who witnessed his freakish talent. Starring in videos from a young age, he grew up in the spotlight. Everyone knew that he would one day battle for a World Title and it seems we are on the verge of Chris contending for a Title run.

Considering that Wardo was born and bred on one of the ASP Dream Tour’s elite stops of Lower Trestles, it makes sense that the explosive natural-footer’s style was groomed for ASP World Tour competition. Although he’s been labeled as a freesurfer in a portion of the surfing communities’ minds, he has proven to the critics that he can compete alongside the world’s finest competitive surfers by requalifying for a fifth consecutive year on the ASP Dream Tour in 2009.

He finished the WCT tour in 2008 with his best ever 14th place, which puts him in the coveted Top 16, and a Round 3 seed this year. Chris obviously can compete, but what sets him apart is he has the mindset that he can achieve anything. From big waves to point walls to beachbreak peaks, Chris has them all wired. Hands down one of the best freesurfers on the planet, he is a treat to watch surf live. From huge airs, form carves, and uncanny tube sense, Chris has the repertoire to continue to rise in the ranks.

Ward’s third place finish at the Rip Curl Search Somewhere in Indonesia in 2008 helped his cause significantly for requalification in 2009, as did his runner-up finish at the Billabong Pipeline Masters to nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater.

Ward enterd his 2008 season more serious, more fit and more dedicated than in previous years and his spontaneous, progressive and aggressive approach to surfing makes him a threat to all surfers on tour. If Ward can stay in form in 2009, he will be a real threat to the rest of the world’s title contenders.

Source: aspworldtour.com and Lost Enterprises

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See more profiles and pics of the OC Surfer of the Year nominees

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