Results for first stop of the globetrotting 2009 ASP World Qualifying Series are in the books. The 4-Star O’Neill Sebastian Inlet Pro crowned Nathaniel Curran as the winner on Sunday. That wasn’t a huge shocker, considering Curran finished last season as the top dog on the QS and is now a rookie on the Dream Tour.
 
A brand new season brings fresh hope for new and returning QS competitors looking to scratch and claw their way up the rankings. For No Fear rider Darrell Goodrum (Leucadia, CA), a top 10 finish at the O’Neill SI Pro was a great way to get out of the gates.
 
Finishing just ahead of two-time World Tour qualifier Gabe Kling in quarter final #2 bagged Goodrum an equal 9th place finish and a nice pile of points (825) to start his 2009 campaign. The result also reaffirmed that he has the talent and drive to bang rails with the top surfers from both tours.
 
“The waves at Sebastian were small and pretty challenging. So I was stoked to make a couple heats,” Goodrum said. “I felt like I caught a couple of breaks out there, and I’m stoked to start off the year with a good result.” 
 
The 24-year old Goodrum, a long-time standout in the North County surfing community, has been hitting the WQS on a part time basis for four years. Although his highest season ranking in that time was somewhere in the 150 – 160 range, he’s looking to step it up this year.
 
“My first goal for this year to finish this season in the top 100 on the QS,” he said. Goodrum’s equal 9th at the 4-Star O’Neill SI Pro will definitely get him going in the right direction. Goodrum’s surfing is supported by No Fear, and the family biz, Goodrum Surfboards. 
 
To follow Goodrum’s progress in ’09, along with the rest of the No Fear team, visit nofear.com.