Surfers can appear like they have all the luck in the world sometimes, going on surfing holidays and surfing trips all the time.  However, when you watch the ASP's world championship tour, you see the very best in the surfing world, but rarely see how much time, practice, hard work and commitment goes into becoming the world's best surfers. 
 
After watching the finals of the Quiksilver Pro France, where new school surfers Brazilian Gabriel Medina beat Australian Julian Wilson, we all got a glimpse into what is coming next in the surfing world.  Medina ousted the reigning world champion and ratings leader Kelly Slater (USA), but Slater manages to maintain his lead on the ratings board.   
 
Next stop is the Rip Curl Pro in Peniche, Portugal that is about to start tomorrow.  So just before the circus starts up again, here is how the ratings currently stand at the end of ASP event number 8 of 11:
Ranking Name Country Points
1 Slater, Kelly USA 50150
2 Wright, Owen AUS 43900
3 Parkinson, Joel AUS 35900
4 Burrow, Taj AUS 34450
5 Smith, Jordy ZAF 34000
6 De Souza, Adriano BRA 32450
7 Kerr, Josh AUS 31300
8 Fanning, Mick AUS 29950
9 Wilson, Julian AUS 29400
10 Flores, Jeremy FRA 27700
11 Bourez, Michel PYF 27450
12 Muniz, Alejo BRA 25350
13 Buchan, Adrian AUS 24250
14 Hobgood, Damien USA 22950
15 Andre, Jadson BRA 20900
16 Alves, Heitor BRA 19200
17 Pires, Tiago PRT 18500
18 Durbidge, Bede AUS 18250
19 Wilkinson, Matt AUS 17150
19 Simpson,Brett USA 17150
21 Knox, Taylor USA 13750
21 Otton, Kai AUS 13750
23 Patacchia, Fredrick HAW 13500
24 Davidson, Chris AUS 13450
24 Monteiro, Raoni BRA 13450
26 Melling, Adam AUS 12500
27 Ross, Daniel AUS 12250
28 Medina, Gabriel BRA 11750
29 Perrow, Kieren AUS 11500
30 Payne, Dusty HAW 11200
31 Logie, Travis ZAF 11000
32 Hobgood, CJ USA 10250
32 Gudauskas, Patrick USA 9000
34 Martinez, Bobby USA 7450
35 Lopez, Cory USA 6750
36 Reynolds, Dane USA 4750
37 Kling, Gabe USA 4250
38 Pupo, Miguel BRA 2250
38 Florence, John John HAW 2250
40 Whitaker, Tom AUS 1750