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Photo: Tim Boal (Anglet, FRA), 24, who had to withdraw from all events since the end of September 2008 due to a foot injury, is back surfing and will be one of the unprecedent 7-European contingent on this year's ASP World Tour

ANGLET, France (Wednesday, January 14, 2009) - The injury is getting better, I should be at 100% in two weeks. I have already surfed a few times already and I am starting to train again to get my fitness level back to where it needs to be. Hopefully it all goes good in the next few weeks and I can be on the Goldy ready to go and I am looking forward to it.

It's been good and bad at the same time. It's been really good to get some time away from surfing but three months is a bit too long... I would have liked it to be a bit shorter but that is life and there is nothing you can do about it. It was good to think about something else, get back into books and other things that you need time for, so that was great. The bad side is that I was not able to train and surf so I kind of missed it.

I will be on the Gold Coast for the first event. I am just starting to think about it now that I have a plan and a date for when I can start surfing seriously again. I am getting ready for it and for the rest of the year. I am going to be training hard for the next two months and then go to the Gold Coast a little before the event, not too early so I don't get burned out.

Being part of that European group is great, hopefully we all do good and push each other. It does change the whole perception of European surfing as we are a major surfing nation now and I am sure there will be more of us in the future. Hopefully surfing grows and the people who are responsible can market the sport in a good way so that it gets up there next to popular sports... It's such a great sport and lifestyle, people need to understand that it's not just about girls, beaches and partying... People still mix up surfing with windsurfing in some places, it is just weird that no one gets the "right" image out to the people. In some countries it's amazing, in Portugal for example, where surfers are really popular and respected. It would be great if that could happen across Europe. We are now seven. French, German, Portuguese, Tahitian, Basque,etc... Hopefully we can make the most of it and get the right message out there.

I just want to say a big thanks to the people who supported me during this injury... My girlfriend, my parents, my friends, my sponsors Reef, Red bull, Oakley, Da Kine, Pukas, Pull-in. It was hard as we never knew what was going on and when I would be able to surf again but it's all worked out well. Thanks!! 

For publication of this blog/itw, please contact greg@aspeurope.com

Check out a gallery of high resolution images of Tim Boal and other Dream Tour European rookies Michel Bourez and Marlon Lipke at http://www.aspeurope.com/2008/photogal_champ08.php