Jay "Bottle" Thompson, the relatively unknown surfer from Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, Australia, has been competing on the ASP WQS for the past four years trying to rack up points, but 2007 was the year that made the difference. After taking a break at the beginning of the ASP WQS season to train and mentally prepare his qualification campaign for the elite ASP World Tour, Thompson hit the water with a vengeance, dominating his first event and winning the Maitland Toyota Open in Newcastle, Australia. T

he powerful natural-footer is an expert tube rider who went on to finish 3rd at the 2007 Rip Curl Board Masters in England and score a perfect 10 at the 2007 O'Neill Highland Open in Scotland, with one of the deepest barrels in the competition. Even though Thompson loves riding shortboards and spending time at home, he's more than ready to pull out the guns and has no shortage of experience and expertise to deliver results on the ASP World Tour.

weight: 188 lbs (85 kilos)

height: 6'2" (188 cm)

stance: Regular (natural) foot

sponsors: Reef clothing, Simon Anderson surfboards and Creatures of Leisure accessories

shapers: Simon Anderson

quiver: 6'2" x 18 5/8" x 2 5/16"

favorite wave: Burleigh Heads

favorite maneuver: Head turn

favorite surfers: Taylor Knox, Mick Fanning and Tom Curren

2008 Rating: 32

2008 Points: 3100

2008 earnings: $59,870.00

Career earnings: $157,465.00

highest ASP World Tour rating: Rookie in 2008

years on ASP World Tour: 2008 will be Jay's 1st year on tour

elite inception: 2008

hard yards: Started competing on the ASP WQS in '03

elite tour victories:(0)