Pablo Solar victor at Beach Games Vimeiro Portugal wqs

Pablo Solar (Spn) : photo Carlos Pinto/ASPEurope.com

Beach Games

ASP 1 star WQS Mens event
Santa Rita Beach, Vimeiro, Portugal
11 - 13 July 2003

Day 3: Pablo Solar wins Beach Games 1 Star WQS event

Santa Rita beach, 10 o’clock in the morning, the contest site was under a slight rain and the lineup brushed by a light north wind. The 2-4 feet waves coming through were just enough for the semi-finalists and finalists to pull some heavy manoeuvres that made for a few high scoring waves.

With a water drenched contest site and a rapid tide rise, the first semi-final started at 11am. Australian Sam Carrier dominted the heat with his powerful style as he managed to score some of the largest waves. Pablo Solar, who made second in the semis, took the advantage in the final, by choosing the better waves and giving his best to come back into positive results after some time with no achievements.

The final included four different nationals with an Australian, a Spaniard, a French and a Brazilian. As Pablo Solar (Spa) scored early in the heat, the French Gregory Pastusiak was quickly on his tail. Having come from the first round, Nuande Silva (Brz) made a good impression in his semi final and had a real hard time finding the necessary power to battle the explosive Spaniard and the willful French. On the other hand, Carrier (Aus), despite a 3rd place in the final, scored a nine pointer on ten (9/10), the best wave of the contest.

Official results:-

Final
1st - Pablo Solar (Spn)
2nd - Gregory Pastuziak (Fra)
3rd - Sam Carrier (Aus)
4th - Nuande Silva (Brz)

Scroll down for previous day´s reports

Beach Bunnie : photo Carlos Pinto/ASPEurope.com

Despite the unfortunate weather conditions, the contest unfolded well at la “Praia Santa Rita” with many thank to Lagos Sports from Portugal.

For further information, photos, results, live scores, statistics and event poster please check www.aspeurope.com

Jan Holzer & Alexander Ekstrand
(ASP Europe Tour Reps)

- Photos Day 1 - - Photos Day 2 - - Photos Day 3 - - Heatdraw & Results -

Spencer Hargraves : photo Carlos Pinto/ASPEurope.com

Day 2: Top European surfers on fire in perfect 4-5 feet surf

Windless conditions greet the lineup in the morning with 3 feet waves that increased throughout the day to 4-5 feet. Due to the very good conditions and a expected drop of swell, the day finished with all four quarter finals done.

No less than six surfers from round 1 made it to the quarter finals (Spencer Hargraves (GB), Nuno Telmo (Port), Gustavo Barreto (Brz), Abdel El Harim (Mor), Joao Guedes (Port) and Nuande Silva (Brz)), having battled against the seeded surfers in the round of 32 with 4 heats surfed in the day. The Brazilian Nuande Silva is the only one to join the top seeds in the semi-finals along with Beven (Fra), Carrier (Aus), Boex (GB), Solar (Spa), Pastusiak (Fra), Gregorio (Port), Mujica (Venz) and Silva (Brz).

As the wave quality increased and the determination of the surfers to win, the power and variety of the manoeuvres not only made for points, but also impressed the keen public.

Boy, do we love surfing : photo Carlos Pinto/ASPEurope.com

Number of activities were for the public to partake in, like rugby and volley ball games that made up for a sun that never really appeared throughout the day, and almost went by unnoticed. Sunday will be D-Day when the semi-finals and the grand finale will take place at “Praia Santa Rita” between international surfers.

Jan Holzer & Alexander Ekstrand
(ASP Europe Tour Reps)

- Photos Day 1 - - Photos Day 2 - - Heatdraw -

Francisco Rodrigues : photo courtesy Lagossports.com

Day 1: Echague (SPA), Henno (FRA) and El Harim (MOR) make sensation.

A vast contest site welcomed surfers and part of the “hot” Portuguese surfing fans to 2-3 feet waves after a week long flat spell. A slight onshore wind hung around for the day without riddng the area of a lasting mist, neither really affecting the waves too much.

A few standout performances were observed especially in the engagement and powerful manoeuvres of David Echague from Spain, Geoffroy Henno from France and Abdel El Harim from Morroco who even pulled a small aerial. “He’s on fire” shouted somebody, to tell how the excitement was rising on the beach.

The numerous bars and beach animations promise for a full on week-end on the Santa Gita beach at Vimeiro, Portugal, thanks to the event sponsors. Only round of 64 was completed in expectation of bigger waves to grace the contest for an ever increasing show.

For further information, go to www.aspeurope.com

- Photos Day 1 - - Heatdraw -