Michel Bourez won the Billabong Rio Pro, notching his second victory of the 2014 ASP WCT season. The win vaults Bourez to No. 4 on the rankings, establishing the Tahitian as a frontrunner in this year's heated ASP World Title race.

Bourez suffered a shock Round 2 elimination at Bells Beach following a victory at Margaret River, but bounced back in stunning fashion, dominating the barreling beachbreak of Barra Da Tijuca to take his second win out of just four events this season.

Every ASP World Title contender highlights the importance of confidence in equipment while battling on the elite stage and Bourez is no different. The regular footer began working with Firewire innovator Nev Hyman in 2009 and has continued to climb the elite ranks since.

SHAPER: Nev Hyman
MODEL: The Spartan
DIMENSIONS: 5'11" x 19" x 2.50"
FINS: Futures Fins
TAIL: Squash
MATERIALS: High density foam, Epoxy resin, parabolic rails

"I rode the same board the whole time this event," said Bourez. "It's my board, 'The Spartan' model. It's just a board I like to surf in these beachbreak conditions. It's good for barreling waves and turns. It's a good all around board and I just needed to change the fins to adjust to conditions."

"From the open walls of Margaret River to the punchy beachbreaks of Rio, Michel Bourez's surfing has been on point this season and the equipment's range from two very different types of waves has been great to watch this season," Hyman said. "We've been working on the product for years now and the whole team at Firewire is excited by the performances we've been seeing recently. It's going to be a great year ahead."

The next stop on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour will be the Fiji Pro from June 1-13, 2014.

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