Hide your girlfriend, be on the lookout for strange flying objects and tread carefully at your favorite watering hole, because the world's best surfers are invading Southern California this week for the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro.

Thanks to the new world ranking system adopted by the ASP this year, more than 30 of the sport's Top 45 will be on hand, making it a boon for the hardcore surfing fan. Among those appearing are new-crew phenoms Dane Reynolds and Jordy Smith, rookie sensations Owen Wright and Jadson Andre, wonder-twins CJ and Damien Hobgood, Hawaiian cohorts Dusty Payne and his buddy Andy Irons, the three-time world champion, California carvers like Taylor Knox and Timmy Reyes and local boys Patrick and Tanner Gudauskas.

By pro surfing standards, this ASP Prime event is a second-tier one, but this year, second-tier events attract a lot more first-class talent due to the serious amount of precious ratings points on offer -- points that mean everything on the new "ASP world ranking" list.

The new ASP world ranking is based on points surfers earn at every level of the pro surfing spectrum, from the elite world tour events at the top (which decide the ASP World Title) all the way down to the lowest level 1-Star World Qualifying Series event (Star series contests range from 1 to 6 Stars, depending on the prize money and location).

Next year, a surfers' ASP world ranking will be the only thing that matters, because that list alone will determine who is eligible to surf in the World Title events when it comes time to refresh. And the ASP plans on refreshing multiple times per year.

As a result, mobility up and down the tour ladder will be supercharged, because every surfer on tour is now standing on a very greasy step.

So while job security at the upper levels will be much shakier, at the same time, a surfer won't have to wait an entire year to fix any troubled situation he gets in. The world ranking, unlike the world title ranking, will not be on the January to December calendar schedule. It will be based on the past 12 months, no matter which page of the calendar is current on the wall. Because it's constantly being refreshed, only the hottest surfers will be assured slots in the world tour events that decide the world title.

The pressure has never been greater on pros. While world tour surfers are scrambling to stay in the Top 32 before the mid-season hack down, they're also trying to keep their world ranking in a lofty position as a hedge against any slump.

For fans, this is all very good, as many of the world's best will be surfing a lot more often to keep their careers intact. Lowers will be the perfect example of that. Last year was great, but this year will be the largest pack of high-end talent to ever hit Lowers, and with 4 man heats through much of the event the excitement level will be through the roof.

What's more, thanks to the guys over at FASL (Fantasy Action Sports League) now you can add another layer of fun to this year's Prime events and select 6-Stars by playing a whole new version of their fantasy surfing game designed for Prime and 6-Star events. Each event is it's own contest, and trading just went live today, so you best start doing your homework.