Colin McPhillips : photo Cazenave/Oxbow

Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship

ASP WLC Mens Event
Anglet, France
30 April - 6 May 2007

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

PM Report:  Last Gasp Wins and Wildcard Upsets As Event Moves Into Final Day        > Francaise en dessous

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 May, 2007 : - - Anglet, France – Two quarterfinals of the Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship were completed today, before an increasing high tide forced organisers to finish the day’s competition. Tomorrow will see the completion of the event and the crowning of the 2007 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) International Mens World Longboard Champion.

In the two quarterfinals Brazilians overcame their opponents to set up an all-Brazilian first semi final. In quarterfinal 1 giant killer and local hope Antoine Delpero’s run came to an end, although it took a wave in the final seconds of the heat by Phil Rajzman (BRA) to do it.

Holding priority and needing a five-point ride to advance, Rajzman waited patiently and with time almost out, caught the winning wave.

“I was so lucky that the wave came to me at the very end. I just gave it everything I had and luckily it was enough.” Rajzman said. “I am so happy right now, hopefully tomorrow the waves will be a bit bigger and quicker which I like more and, once again, the waves will come to me.”

Jackson Close : photo Cazenave/Oxbow

Delpero was the first to congratulate his victor, before the 24-year-old bearded Brazilian was swamped by the rest of his flag waving countrymen down on the beach. They then had further reason to cheer when Roger Bahia (BRA) overcame Hawaiian Keegan Edwards in the following quarterfinal. He too was cheered, drummed and whistled as left the water.

“The support from all the Brazilians over here has been amazing, said Bahia. “There’s been really strong support here at the beach, but also from back home, there has been so many emails and text messages wishing us all well.”

Earlier in the day another wildcard, Jackson Close caused the upset of the day, something he’s been doing almost every day for a week now, by knocking out two-time world champion Colin McPhillips (USA) in their Round 4 heat. Needing a six-point ride to win with a minute remaining, Close took off a medium sized wave and absolutely blasted his way to victory.

"There’s no point holding back," said Close. "I knew I needed a 5.9 and I went pretty vertical on my first turn and stuck it so I was really happy with it. I seem to have had the hardest heats all the way through, but I keep knocking these big names out, so I’ve really impressed myself."

Board rack : photo Cazenave/Oxbow

That left only one former world champion still alive in the competition, the 1996 world champion Bonga Perkins (HAW). He used his experience to notch up another win and progress through to the quarterfinals where he’ll face Close in the first quarterfinal tomorrow of the day tomorrow.N

Events organisers are aiming to start the competition tomorrow at 11.00am local time.

Remaining Quarterfinals Match ups
Quarterfinals
QF3: Jackson Close (HAW) vs Bonga Perkins (BRA)
QF4: Harley Ingleby (AUS) vs Winner Round 4 Heat 8

Results
Quarterfinals; 1st progress, 2nd eliminated
QF1: Phil Rajzman (BRA) 12.00 d Antoine Delpero (FRA) 11.85
QF2: Carlos Bahia (BRA) 11.75 d Keegan Edwards (HAW) 7.50
Round 4; 1st progress, 2nd eliminated
Heat 1: Antoine Delpero (FRA) 12.25 d Jeremias da Silva (BRA) 9.00
Heat 2: Phil Rajzman (BRA) 14.25 d Jensen Taylor (USA) 9.00
Heat 3: Keegan Edwards (HAW) 9.90 d Jamie Viudes (BRA) 7.20
Heat 4: Carlos Bahia 12.90 (BRA) d Harrison Roach (AUS) 12.20
Heat 5: Jackson Close (AUS) 14.25 d Colin McPhillips (USA) 12.25
Heat 6: Bonga Perkins (HAW) 11.75 d Eduardo Bage (BRA) 10.60
Heat 7: Harley Ingleby 13.75 (AUS) d Romain Maurin (FRA) 7.25
Heat 8: Rodrigo Danilo (BRA) 14.50 d Mathew Moir (ZAF) 8.80

Midday Report:  Sun Now Shines On Local Hope

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 May, 2007 : - - Anglet, France – 18-year-old Antoine Delpero continued his giant killing run this morning in the first heat of the day, taking out Jeremias da Silva (BRA) and progressing through to the quarterfinals. Delpero, who was born and raised on the Mediterranean waters of Marseille, but now lives in Anglet and has been adopted by the Basque people as a local.

However for a young man who is now only three 25-minute heats away from being the new 2007 men’s longboard world champion, he wasn’t overly pleased with himself.

“Well I am not very happy with my performance. I surfed in the morning before the heat and then felt quite tired in the heat just then,” Delpero said. “I really need to improve. I was panicking on the inside because my opponent had priority and only needed a low score at the end. But I can do better, I must.”

He may not have been too happy, but his large crowd support of family, sponsors, and of course his number 1 fan Jilou, who dresses in a crazy head-to-toe white feathered suit, were all ecstatic at the local’s win. God only know what will happen if he goes on to win the whole event.

Eduardo Bage : photo Cazenave/Oxbow

Speaking of fans, it’s pretty to go past the all singing, all dancing, all drumming Brazilians who support their countryman to the hilt. Mind you they had plenty to cheer about when Phil Rajzman was in the water. He dominated his heat scoring a 14.25 out of 20 with powerful full rail carve surfing. Such was his display, no one wants to meet him in the next quarterfinal.

Keegan Edwards also continued his good form, flying the flag for Hawaii in a very close heat.

“I am super stoked, this is the farthest I’ve ever gone in an world title event so I am just really happy,” said the amiable Edwards. “I live at Diamond Head in Oahu, so I actually surf waves like this quite a bit. Plus I’ve been here over a week now and am really getting to know the place. Man, I love it here, I love France.”

In the water now sees young Aussie wildcard Harrison Roach up against Carlos Bahia (BRA). The sun is now shining on the running rights at les Cavaliers and a strong crowd is building to watch the world’s best longboard surfing. Don’t turn off the computer, there’s a stacked day of action to come.

Remaining Round 4 Match Ups
Heat 4: Carlos Bahia (BRA) vs Harrison Roach
Heat 5: Jackson Close (AUS) vs Colin McPhillips (USA)
Heat 6: Bonga Perkins (HAW) vs Eduardo Bage
Heat 7: Harley Ingleby (AUS) vs Romain Maurin (FRA)
Heat 8: Mathew Moir (ZAF) vs Danilo Rodrigo (BRA)

Results So Far
Heat 1: Antoine Delpero (FRA) 12.25 vs Jeremias da Silva (BRA) 9.00
Heat 2: Phil Rajzman (BRA) 14.25 vs Jensen Taylor (USA) 9.00
Heat 3: Keegan Edwards (HAW) 9.90 d Jamie Viudes (BRA) 7.20

Duane DeSoto : photo Cazenave/Oxbow

AM Report

Round 4 Riders Of The Storm

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 May, 2007 : - - Anglet, France – It's wild and a windy day on this section of the Basque Coast this morning with strong onshore winds and driving rain making life difficult for competitors and spectators alike.

But the show must go on and shortly the first heat of Round 4 will kick off here at les Cavaliers. The strong field has been whittled down to just 16, and all surfers are now contemplating the ultimate prize on offer here at the Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship, the 2007 world longboard champion's title.

The first heat in the water sees local hope Antoine Delpero taking on the Brazilian Jeremias da Silva. Delpero is one of three wildcards still in the event, following yesterday's shock elimination of defending champion Josh Constable (AUS) and 2006 runner-up Ned Snow by unheralded Australians surfers Harrison Roach and Jackson Close.

All three wildcards have stated on record that their goal is to win the event, with Roach perhaps putting it most succintly when he said, "I can go all the way, you know. I’m not here to make friends. I’m going for the number one spot."

Roach will face inform Brazilian surfer Carlos Bahia in Heat 4 while Close will tackle the two-time world champion Colin McPhillips (USA) in the following heat, perhaps the match up of the round. Another eagerly anticipated clash sees former world champion Mathew Moir (ZAF) up against Brazilian powerhouse Danilo Rodrigo in heat 8.

Despite the stormy conditions organisers hope to finish all eight heats of Round 4 today, leaving just the quarterfinal, semi final and final tomorrow, a day which is predicted to have better weather, and more importantly, waves.

Round 4 Match Ups
Heat 1: Antoine Delpero (FRA) vs Jeremias da Silva (BRA)
Heat 2: Phil Rajzman (BRA) vs Jensen Taylor
Heat 3: Jamie Viudes (BRA) vs Keegan Edwards (HAW)
Heat 4: Carlos Bahia (BRA) vs Harrison Roach
Heat 5: Jackson Close (AUS) vs Colin McPhillips (USA)
Heat 6: Bonga Perkins (HAW) vs Eduardo Bage
Heat 7: Harley Ingleby (AUS) vs Romain Maurin (FRA)
Heat 8: Mathew Moir (ZAF) vs Danilo Rodrigo (BRA)

Francaise:

OXBOW PRO WORLD LONGBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP – JOUR 6  !

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 May, 2007 : - - Anglet, France -- Magneto ! Après Télématin, ou le JT de France2 et Tout le Sport ! Pour découvrir ou redécouvrir en image l’ambiance de l’Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship avec Laird Hamilton, l’un de ses invités d’honneur, ici à Anglet, cap vers vos télés et Rendez vous dans « On a tout essayé »

Lundi 19H sur France2 Sport6, dimanche avant 20H, Stade 2 dimanche également à partir de 17h40, Le journal du Sport, lundi soir sur Canal+, mais aussi dans le 20h de TF1 ce samedi. Sans oublier, Eurosport, Infosport, L’Equipe TV, dans le courant de la semaine prochaine !

BONGA PERKINS !!!!!! EDOUARDO BAGE !!!! C’était la série du jour ! 2 têtes d’affiche du circuit pro de longboard, face à face pour une place en quart de finale. Et C’est Bonga qui l’emporte dans une série très serrée. Edouardo rejoint donc, Jaime Viudes et Jeremias da Silva dans le contingent des Brésiliens qui n’accèdent pas au quart de finale.

Ça casse pour Romain Maurin, ça passe pour Antoine Delpero ! L’unique Français qui arrive en quart de finale. Opposé à Phil Rajman en milieu d’après-midi. Le Brésilien ne se laisse pas faire et prend le ticket pour les demis, comme son compatriote Carlos Bahia qui élimine l’hawaïen Keegan Edwards dans la dernière série de la journée...

Restent donc près de 2h et demis de compétition et 6 hommes en lice pour les phases finales qui débuteront ce dimanche vers 11h et le titre de Champion du monde de longboard à la clé ! Un rendez-vous à ne pas louper et à suivre en « live » sur oxboworld.com.

Oxbow Pro Video
Day 1 Video
Day 2 Video
Day 3 Video
Day 4 Video
Day 5 Video
Day 6 Video

Interview - Oxbow Pro - Day 3
Takuji Masuda

Oxbow Pro Champs Flash Audio
Download Audio file in French
Download Audio file in English

Download Jour 4 Audio file in French
Download Day 4 Audio file in English
Download Jour 5 Audio file in French
Download Day 5 Audio file in English
Download Jour 6 Audio file in French
Download Day 6 Audio file in English

Interview with Laird Hamilton
Download French interview with Laird Hamilton
Download English interview with Laird Hamilton

Check the Live Coverage

Oxbow and Volkswagen have associated this year, 2007, in order to create a personalized line for the FOX. This automobile, aimed at youth, has as its goal to recreate «the universe of surfing in a car.» Oxbow and Volkswagen will take advantage of the Oxbow World Longboard Championship to seal this partnership between their two brands.

Take note of an exceptional evening party on May 2nd, to celebrate the official debut of the Oxbow Fox. HP, official partner of the Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship 2007, puts its technological expertise to the service of the longboarders, judges and spectators. Portable computers and flat screens will be at the disposition of judges and spectators so they will not miss one single ride. Also, it will be on a particularly stylish HP «special edition» laptop that Laird Hamilton will chat with «internauts» live from Anglet.

Finally, the activity «Shoot & Print HP» will permit longboard fans on the site to immortalize the event and go home with a souvenir photo! An Oxbow/Microsoft gadget, for all fans of surfing throughout the entire world, designed in order to follow the competition without stepping out of their doors!

On the occasion of the Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship 2007, Oxbow and Microsoft have joined to develop this gadget for Windows Vista. It permits all boardsports enthusiasts to follow -- live -- the highlights of the contest and to be informed of the main results.

Check the Live Coverage

Previous reports:
# 1 : Oxbow World Longboard Champs are coming to Anglet
# 2 : Oxbow to host official ASP World Longboard Tour event
# 3 : Oxbow Word Longboard Championship event overview
# 4 : Oxbow Pro to crown 2007 World Longboard Champion 
# 5 : Trialists vie for wildcards at Oxbow Pro World Champs
 
# 6 : Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship kicks off...  
# 7 : Epic day at Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship
# 8 : Oxbow Pro World Champs : Masters fall to apprentices
# 9 : Wildcards winners at Oxbow Pro World Championships

www.oxboworld.com

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Alexandre Ponot

Longboard - Surfersvillage