ASP 3-Star Longboard Pro kicks off in Newquay

Alice Limoigne © ASP Europe

Relentless Boardmasters
In association with Vans

ASP World Tour 6-Star Men's event

Boardmasters Men's Longboard Pro
ASP 3-Star Men’s LQS event

Boardmasters Ladies Longboard Pro
ASP LQS 3-Star Women’s Event

Fistral Beach, Newquay England
6 - 12 August 2012

Live Coverage | Results/Photos/Videos

ASP 3-Star Boardmasters Longboard Pro Opens Proceedings on Day One of Competition in Newquay

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 6 August, 2012 : - - The Boardmasters Longboard Pro kicked off proceedings for the upcoming seven days of action planned for the Relentless Energy Drink Boardmasters in association with Vans festival. Following a long day of competition semi-finalists in the men’s and finalists in the women’s division were decided in tricky wind-affected peaks at Fistral beach.

The ASP 3-Star Boardmasters Longboard Pro will decide the 2012 European Longboard champions as well as the qualifiers for the ASP World Longboard Tour in 2013. The remaining final heats of both divisions are scheduled for later in the week.

Miku Uemura (HAW), Emma Neuschwanger (REU), Atlanta Nascimento (BRA) and Alice Limoigne (REU) qualified for the Boardmasters Longboard Girls Pro final. All four finalists showed stylish flowing longboarding combined with carves and floaters to maximise the peaky waves on offer. Atlanta Nascimento (BRA) and Alice Limoigne (REU) top scored with excellent 8.00 point rides to go in favourites for the final.

“I am very happy to make it to the final,” began an emotional Limoigne after securing her spot in the final. “Last year my result here was not the best but now I am in the final and I am very happy. The waves here are fun and I would love to win it but it will be difficult because the other girls are all good surfers.”

Limoigne who is only 16 years old will have to face Miku Uemura (HAW) 28, one of the most experienced competitors on tour. Uemura has competed on the ASP World Longboard tour for many years and will be out to claim victory here at the Boardmasters Longboard Girls Pro.

“I am very happy, yes very. Very happy to be in the final. I am in a comp mode this year I guess and I don’t know what has got into me. I was just in Australia for the 3-Star event in Perth and had a blast there with all the girls. This time around my husband is with me so we are making a trip out of it.”

“I know I am not going to get points for surfing this one but I think it is good practice and I am enjoying surfing different breaks around the world,” continued Uemura. “I think it is very good practice for me. Hopefully I can do well in the final too.”

In the men’s competition, Halley Batista (BRA) 26, topped the score board with an incredible 9.65 out of 10 to finish ahead of defending champion Antoine Delpero (FRA) in a high scoring quarter-final encounter. The talented Brazilian is competing in both the Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) and the ASP 6-Star event over the coming days. The display Batista showed has increased the level of the longboarding heading into the semi-finals.

“It was really good. I couldn’t hear the scores but my sister told me I got a 9.65 and I thought ‘Oh good, perfect!!’ Now I am going to focus for the semi-finals.” “Last year I didn’t compete because I didn’t know it was on at the same time as the 6-Star event,” stated Batista. “This year I brought my long and my short board to do the two events.”

Remi Arauzo (FRA) lead the European contingent’s charge in the men’s division with a two-wave heat total of 17.25 out of 20 which included a near perfect 9.00 out of 10. The talented goofy-footer waited patiently until the final minutes of the heat to latch onto a quality right-hander to nail a hang five to lead into a full rail carve and work it through to the inside.

“I wanted to be patient out the back and wait for the good ones. It came and I made a nose and a backhand re-entry and I took it in through to the shore for a really good wave. It was cool and I am very happy.”

“I didn’t get good scores in my first heat and now I got one good score so I am now confident for the rest. It is our only ASP longboard event this year so it is a very important event for me here.”

Ben Skinner (GBR) 27, also displayed an explosive performance in his quarter-final encounter. The Newquay local opened his scoring account with an excellent 8.5 out of 10 to gain control over his opponents. From that point Skinner went from strength to strength gaining confidence in the tricky conditions.

“I am stoked with that,” began a contented Skinner. “I mean it is pretty hard conditions out there with some good corners if you find them. You have to hunt them down. I feel good and after finishing second last year I want to win this year and that is what I have come here to do and it was a good start.”

Skinner claimed a two-wave heat total of 17.00 out of 20. His radical hooks in the pocket flowing into combination hang fives and hang tens raised the bar and threw out a clear challenge to his opponents. “I’ve got a really good board under my feet at the moment and that is a major starting point so I am really happy about that. I am so happy to be at Fistral on my home turf with all my friends and family around. It doesn’t happen very often so I make the most of it while it’s here.”

Skinner has his eyes set on the Boardmasters Longboard Pro title and hopes to go one better this year and bring home the title. Despite showing good form Skinner knows all too well the skill level of his opponents.

“The level in Europe at the moment in longboarding is amazing. Antoine (Delpero) has been second in the world three times and ISA world champ. Remi (Arauzo) is high level and Adam (Griffiths) we are one and two at the moment for the English guys in Europe at the moment. Longboarding we have a lot a talent in Britain and in Europe and it is great for everyone to see what we are doing and be part of it.”

Tomorrow 7th August will see the Relentless Energy Drink Boardmasters in association with Vans will see Round One and the first eight heats of Round Two scheduled. A small swell forecast is showing for the following days and event officials wish to take advantage of the swell window available. First call will be at 7.30 am for a possible 8.00 am start.

In its 31st edition, The Relentless Energy Drink Boardmasters in association with Vans is scheduled from August 6-12, 2012. For all results, photos, video highlights, press releases as well as webcast LIVE log on to newquay.aspeurope.com. For additional ASP information log on to aspworldtour.com or aspeurope.com

The Relentless Energy Drink Boardmasters in association with Vans is made possible with the support of the following event partners: Relentless Energy Drink, Vans, Desperados, Marley amongst others.

Check the Live Coverage

Upcoming Boardmasters Longboard Girls Pro Final
Miku Uemura (HAW), Emma Neuschwanger (REU), Atlanta Nascimento (BRA), Alice Limoigne (REU)

Upcoming Boardmasters Longboard Pro Semi-finals
Heat 1: Ben Skinner (GBR), Damien Castera (FRA), Remi Arauzo (FRA), Emilien Fleury (FRA)
Heat 2: Halley Batista (BRA), Antoine Delpero (FRA), Edouard Delpero (FRA), Aurélien Meynieux (REU)

Boardmasters Longboard Girls Pro Round Semi-finals Results
Heat 1: Miku Uemura (HAW) 12.50, Emma Neuschwanger (REU) 8.90, Grace Davies (JEY) 7.05, Kylie Nagy
Heat 2: Atlanta Nascimento (BRA) 13.40, Alice Limoigne (REU) 8.55, Coline Menard 8.10, Candice O'Donnell

Boardmasters Longboard Girls Pro Round Quarter-finals Results
Heat 1: Kylie Nagy (HAW) 10.40, Grace Davies (JEY) 7.60, Nicola Bunt (GBR) 5.10, Emilie Libier (FRA) 4.55
Heat 2: Miku Uemura (HAW) 11.00, Emma Neuschwanger (REU) 7.85, Suzana Vermeer. Ashleigh Bennetts
Heat 3: Atlanta Nascimento (BRA) 12.10, Candice O'Donnell (GBR) 10.05, Charlotte Bayliss, Chantelle Coote
Heat 4: Alice Limoigne (REU) 14.75, Coline Menard (FRA) 9.05, Lucie Milochau (FRA) 6.00, Claire Smail

Boardmasters Longboard Pro Round Quarter-finals Results
Heat 1: Ben Skinner (GBR) 17.00, Damien Castera (FRA) 13.60, Zak Lawton (GBR), Alessandro Demartini
Heat 2: Remi Arauzo (FRA) 17.25, Emilien Fleury (FRA) 12.75, Nicolas Keruzec (FRA), Yohann Anerot
Heat 3: Halley Batista (BRA) 15.55, Antoine Delpero (FRA) 15.50, Ben Haworth (GBR), Armando Colucci
Heat 4: Edouard Delpero (FRA) 14.10, Aurélien Meynieux (REU) 11.60, Adam Griffiths, Iliass Souhnoun