Harley Ingleby : photo ASP Europe

Oxbow WLT
Presented by Orange

ASP World Longboard Tour Event #1
Les Cavaliers Anglet France
5 - 11 May 2008

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Harley Ingleby crowned 2008 Oxbow WLT Champion  

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 May, 2008 : - - Anglet -- Harley Ingleby (Coffs Harbour, AUS) was crowned Oxbow WLT pres. by Orange Champion today in good two to three foot (0.5 to 1 meter) waves at Les Dunes, south to the main venue of Les Cavaliers, and takes the lead on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Longboard Tour (WLT) ratings.

Ingleby, 24, who defeated rising French star Antoine Delpero (FRA) at his home beach of Anglet, won the 35-minute final cheered by the Australian contingent in front of a numerous French crowd. Ingleby, who defeated reigning ASP World Longboard Champion Phil Rajzman (BRA) in the semifinals, posted a solid 16.65 point heat tally to best Delpero’s 14.50 point score (both out of a possible 20) in the last heat of the week.

"I am the happiest kid in the world right now," Ingleby said. "I had a very testing semifinal against Phil and that win gave me a lot of confidence for the final. I found the better waves against Antoine (Delpero) and it ends up just perfectly for me in the final." Ingleby betters the equal 5th place he got last year at Anglet and now stands as a potential 2008 ASP World Longboard Champion before the final stop in California next November.

"It is really good to have this second event this year," Ingleby said. "Right now I will just enjoy this one and celebrate with the Australians and will start thinking of the next event later. So stoked to grab it."

Harley Ingleby : photo ASP Europe

Delpero, 22, who finishes runner-up of the Oxbow WLT and gets his best result ever, put on a show on his way to the final defeating former ASP World Longboard Champion Bonga Perkins (HAW) in Semifinal No. 2 with an impressive 18.25 point heat score but failed to clinch the crown.

"The waves did not come to me in the final," Delpero said. "I was feeling really good after my semifinal and felt confident but it did not happen. Harley (Ingleby) got the best set waves and I could not really surf my best." Delpero, who placed fifth last year, betters his 2007 result as well and will be a favorite for a possible first ever French ASP World Longboard title when the final event gets underway in November.

"I do not think of ratings," Delpero said. "I wanted to win this one at home in front of all my friends and family but it went wrong in the end. I am a bit disappointed to see the Australian contingent get the crown at home but Harley deserves to win the final."

The new generation of longboarders led by Ingleby and Delpero, both aged under 25, stood against the experienced and favorites at the Oxbow WLT pres. by Orange this week, and Ingleby now leads the charge towards the Califormian showdown next November.

Final day action : photo ASP Europe

Phil Rajzman (BRA), defending Oxbow WLT champion, placed third after going down to event winner Ingleby in Semifinal No. 1 in a very tight battle. Rajzman, who lost by 1.50 point, was still happy with his run at Anglet this week and already looks forward to defending his World title at the next event.

"Harley was ripping from the beginning of the event," Rajzman said. "We surfed against eachother in Australia before coming here and I won but I knew he was in good form and I am really happy to see him in the final." Rajzman, 25, remains a favorite among the world’s best longboarders and will be a threat to any other ASP World title contenders.

"Normally we will have another event so I can still hope to defend my crown," Rajzman said. "I am happy with this week and I feel like I surfed well."

Bonga Perkins (HAW), a former ASP World Longboard Champion, lost in the semifinals and was disappointed with his result. Perkins, who defeated Colin McPhillips (USA) in the quarterfinals, failed to best Delpero in the semis and does not better his last year’s result but remains a world title contender at 35 years old.

Final day action : photo ASP Europe

Colin McPhillips (Ca, USA), 33, 3X ASP World Longboard Champion (in 1999, 2001 and 2002), lost in the quarterfinals after defeating last year’s No. 3 Jackson Close (AUS) in Round 4. McPhillips, who won all his heats by posting a minimum of 15.25 point heat score, showed he was back in good form and will be a favorite as well when the tour hits his home beaches of California.

"That heat with Bonga (Perkins) started slowly and we waited long to get things going," McPhillips said. "In these conditions, it is all about the last wave and Bonga got it. I am looking forward to California and I hope we get good waves again there."

FINAL
Heat 1: Harley Ingleby (AUS) 16.65 pts Def. Antoine Delpero (FRA) 14.50 pts

SEMIFINALS
Heat 1: Harley Ingleby (AUS) 15.00 pts Def. Phil Rajzman (BRA) 13.50 pts
Heat 2: Antoine Delpero (FRA) 18.25 pts Def. Bonga Perkins (HAW) 17.05 pts

QUARTERFINALS
Heat 1: Harley Ingleby (AUS) 13.65 pts Def. Carlos Bahia (BRA) 11.25 pts
Heat 2: Phil Rajzman (BRA) 14.85 pts Def. Matthew Moir (ZAF) 14.85 pts
Heat 3: Antoine Delpero (FRA) 16.75 pts Def. Amaro Matos (BRA) 10.85 pts
Heat 4: Bonga Perkins (HAW) 16.25 pts Def. Colin McPhillips (USA) 13.90 pts

ASP World Longboard Tour Top 5 After Oxbow WLT pres. by Orange
1.Harley Ingleby (AUS), 1200 pts
2.Antoine Delpero (FRA), 1032 pts
3.Bonga Perkins (HAW), 876 pts
3.Phil Rajzman (BRA), 876 pts
5.Carlos Bahia (BRA), 732 pts

Check the Full Results 
 

- Images from Sunday -

- More images from Sunday  -  

Previous reports:
# 1 : Oxbow World Longboard Tour coming to France this May
# 2 : Orange presents the Oxbow Pro WLT, France May 5 -11..
# 3 : Oxbow Pro presented by Orange kicks off at Les Cavaliers

# 4 : Oxbow Pro Day #2 action led by former world champions 
# 5 : Favorites take control in Round 2 of Oxbow Pro at Anglet 
# 6 : Round 2 of Oxbow WLT by Orange heats up at Les Dunes 

# 7 : Round 3 of Oxbow Pro pres. by Orange scores great surf 
# 8 : Oxbow WLT champion to be crowned tomorrow in Anglet

www.oxboworld.com
www.aspworldtour.com

Survey: Map Surfing’s future 

New! B2B News ASBE-Surf   |  Receive News-Alerts

  Updated & Revised European Surforecasts                    
  More European surfing news available here

Gregoire Puget

Longboard - Surfersvillage