Ventura, California - The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) is set to host the second of five ASP LQS 1-Star events in North America this weekend with the men’s PLA and women’s Gidget PLA Pro events from April 25-26, 2009 at Ventura Pier.

The ASP LQS acts as a gateway for the ASP World Longboard Tour (WLT) with each region sending its top two finishers to the ASP WLT in an attempt to earn an ASP World Longboarding Title the following year.

Colin McPhillips (San Clemente, CA), 34, who is a former ASP World Longboard Champion and the current ratings leader on the ASP LQS in North America, is looking to use his competitive experience as an advantage over the up-and-coming field of competitive talent.

“I feel I have some really good experience in competing,” McPhillips said. “Knowing you only need two good waves and how to be patient to make sure you catch the best two waves definitely comes with experience. The tactical side of competing seems to take years to get down. I feel my head is in the right place during a heat more then ever.”

Taylor Jensen (Oceanside, CA), 25, who is the defending two-time regional ASP Longboard Champion, will begin his quest to win a third regional title in Ventura over fellow ASP WLT competitors like McPhillips.

“I feel very fortunate to have won the past two years in a row,” Jensen said. “It has definitely been a blessing and a third ASP North America title would be great. I’m just taking things one-step at a time right now. This will be my first event in North America this year and I’m coming off of a really solid run in Australia, so I feel pretty good, but in order to win title you really have to take things heat by heat.”
Cori Schumacher (Cardiff, CA), 32, is the defending women’s ASP LQS regional champion and will be out to defend her title at the upcoming Gidget PLA Pro. Schumacher put on a stellar performance last year, but knows that a repeat performance will be no easy task.

”I would love to win another regional title back-to-back, but I know there will be some good competition going against me,” Schumacher said. “Last year's title was decided by one event whereas this year's title will be cumulative, which I think is a better situation overall. The girls are really stepping up to the plate and I expect this year's PLA events will be exciting to watch.”

The ASP LQS 1-Star PLA event will run from April 25-26, 2009 and the final day of competition will be webcast LIVE via www.pla.com