Buondi Billabong Pro Portugal

Men's 6 Star WQS Event #27
Ribeira d’Ilhas Ericeira Portugal
26 - 31 August 2008

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Excellent Swell Hits Buondi Billabong Pro Portugal, Top Seeds to Surf Tomorrow   > Portuguese embaixo

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 August, 2008 : - - Ericeira, Portugal -- The expected excellent swell made its way to Ericeira for Day 2 of the Buondi Billabong Pro Portugal and Day 2 saw some of the bext conditions of the year give all Round 2 competitors some great scoring potential.

Some four to six foot (1.2 to 2 meter) waves broke all day over the reef of Ribeira d’Ilhas and athletes put on a show of powerful carving surfing and serious comitment to take advantage of the 100-meter rides on offer.

Another twenty-two heats were held today Round 2 and a couple of Round 3 heats coming to an end and giving names of the last 96 competitors still in contention for the ASP World Qulaifying Series (WQS) 6-Star event. Top seeds will paddle out tomorrow from 7.30 AM and similar slightly smaller waves should be peeling for the show.

Young guns and WQS experienced campaigners came up with great performances giving the crowd a series of exciting clashes battling it out for a spot in the top seeded surfers’ round. Gavin Roberts (ZAF), who has been surfing around the world for several years as a competitor, secured the ride of the day in Heat 18 posting an excellent 9.50 point wave (out of a possible 10) on his forehand putting together five solid re-entries up to the inside section.

"I am pretty happy with that heat, I just waited for the wave to come and found the high score," Roberts said. "It is the first time ever I am competing on this wave and I am stoked to finally get a chance to surf it in solid conditions. It is a lot bigger than many of the waves we had on tour this year and I usually surf better in these conditions."

Day 2 action : photo Pedro Duarte Jorge

Roberts, who started off his European campaign with an equal 17th in Newquay, has been showing consistency since then and seems in good form looking forward to paddling back out. However, Roberts could be surfing his last event this week.

"I started well in England and I was just looking to enjoy my time competing which is happening," Roberts said. "It is probably the last event I will be surfing in as I have been thinking of retirement and settling down. I have been around for sometime and I just feel like getting a job now and pulling back. The funny thing is that since I have nothing to lose, I am surfing better and better."

Roberts will meet Hawaiian powerhouse and former ASP World Champion Sunny Garcia (HAW) when competition recommences. Posting the best heat result of the day was 20-year-old Tanner Gudauskas (USA) with an excellent 17.00 point heat total (out of a possible 20) to advance through to Round 3 where he will meet fellow American Nathan Yeomans (USA) and Gold Coast top surfer Adam Melling (AUS).

"I am pretty happy and it was fun to surf out there in these bigger conditions," Gudauskas said. "We have a similar wave at home called Churches right after Lower Trestles in California so I was pretty confident."

Tanner Gudauskas, ASP World Junior No. 3 and youngest of a renowned family in the world of surfing with brothers Dane and Patrick currently sitting in the ASP WQS Top 50, just got his best result to date in the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime in France last week and is in good form.

"It has been a lot of learning for me since I started touring on the WQS full time with my brothers," Gusdauskas said. "My brothers have had a great year as well and it is a great confidence boost when one of us starts getting results. I am super stoked to learn from them and that equal 9th in Hossegor is a great thing."

Day 2 action : photo Pedro Duarte Jorge

The European contingent suffered heavy losses on this second day of competition with many of the awaited athletes losing to international surfers. Former ASP World Tour surfer Eric Rebiere (FRA), former ASP European Junior champion Joan Duru (FRA), current junior ratings’ leader Maxime Huscenot (REU), Christpohe Allary (REU), Txaber Trojaola (EUK), Simon Marchand (FRA), Vincent Duvignac (FRA), Hodei Collazo (EUK) and Romain Laulhe (FRA) were all defeated today and top seeds will have to get the flag back up in the air.

Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) was one a few to advance and was in good form after his excellent performance from yesterday. Gonzalez, who started off the year with several good results inlcuding an equal 3rd in Brazil months ago, broke one his ankles and spent two months out of the water coming back to competition in France only.

"I am very relieved to get through that round because I have had a tough time and I need to get my confidence back," Gonzalez said. "I am slowly getting back to my level, I had some big scores in Hossegor in Round 1 and to get through this heat even with a low total is good."

Gonzalez, who remains one of the best chances to one day qualify for the ASP Top 45, will have to get through a second tricky heat tomorrow against former Dream Tour surfer Raoni Monteiro (BRA), ASP World Junior No. 2 Tonino Benson (HAW) and current ASP WQS Top 30 surfer Leigh Sedley (AUS).

Top seeds will start tomorrow and the national star and 2X Buondi Billabong Pro champion Tiago Pires (PRT) will have once again a massive support from the crowd. Pires, a rookie on the ASP World Tour and only ASP Top 45 surfer to defeat Kelly Slater (USA) this year, will surf in Heat 19 and is looking forward to getting his good roll going after a 5th in Lacanau and a 17th in Hossegor.

The Buondi Billabong Pro Portugal counts once again with important sponsorship from Buondi, leader Portuguese coffee brand from Nestlé, and Billabong the surf brand with larger presence in Portugal. Along, well known brands give the contest essential sponsorship: Nokia, B!, Tmn and Jeep. Turismo de Portugal and Câmara Municipal de Mafra (Mafra City Hall) also provide huge support.

This contest is organized by Alfarroba, with support from Von Zipper, Ericeira Surf Shop, Kustom, Nixon, Sapo.pt, Pólen Surfboards, Fonte Viva, LG Computers, Konica Minolta, Ericeira Surf Club, Junta de Freguesia da Ericeira, Red Bull, Ribeira d’Ilhas Surf Camp, Vitaminas, and ASP Europe – Association of Surfing Professionals.

http://surf.sapo.pt
www.Conquilha.com
www.aspeurope.com
www.buondibillabongpro.com

 Ribeira d’Ilhas : photo Pedro Duarte Jorge

Portuguese

Excelente, o segundo dia do Buondi Billabong Pro Portugal

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 August, 2008 : - - Ericeira, Portugal -- Excelente, o segundo dia do Buondi Billabong Pro Portugal na praia de Ribeira d´Ilhas, junto à vila da Ericeira. O sol resolveu aparecer logo pela manhã, assim como a ondulação que aumentou durante a noite – ondas de 1m ordenadas, atingindo por vezes 1.5m – proporcionando durante o dia de hoje boas condições de surf aos atletas, garantindo grandes performances.

Num dia apetecível pelas boas condições do tempo, o público resolveu comparecer e à hora de almoço já eram muitos os aficionados na praia de Ribeira dIlhas. Na competição propriamente dita, passavam 45 minutos das 7h quando se realizou o check-in, iniciando-se a primeira bateria da segunda ronda de 144 atletas, 15 minutos depois.

Nesta fase da competição, os destaques vão para baterias que contaram com a presença de alguns dos melhores executantes e até mesmo futuras promessas do surf mundial.

Um bom exemplo disso mesmo, foi o heat treze da competição, que se disputou com a participação de dois bons surfistas australianos, Phillip Macdonald, um ex-residente do WCT e o seu compatriota Mark Mathews especialista em ondas de grandes dimensões, precisamente as condições que figuraram no dia de hoje. “Acordei de manhã, e quando vi que a ondulação tinha aumentado, senti que poderia fazer algo de positivo na minha bateria, e felizmente assim foi”. 

Outras das revelações da manhã, foi o desempenho de Glenn Hall, este jovem irlandês fez uma das melhores ondas da ronda – um 9.00 em 10 possíveis – assim como uma das melhores notas na sua bateria – um score de 17.00 – acabando em primeiro lugar na mesma. “Entro sempre nas baterias para vencer, e sinto-me bem com este tipo de condições. A escolha das ondas também foi fundamental, espero conseguir mais bons resultados, com certeza!”.

Além do irlandês, outra das melhores ondas foi “domada” por um sul-africano, Gavin Roberts, com um incrível 9.50 reflectindo-se obviamente na liderança da classificação da sua bateria.

Outro dos destaques vai para o brasileiro Bruno Santos, que ganhou o “Billabong Pro Teahupo” nesta temporada, e tenta entrar no Top 45 nos próximos três anos. Vencendo hoje com um score de 15.57, o brasileiro segue assim para a terceira ronda, aproveitando o facto de as ondas estarem grandes, condições com que se costuma dar bem.

Para amanhã em Ribeira d´Ilhas, espera-se a afluência de mais público para assistir às baterias de grandes nomes do surf mundial, tais como, do melhor surfista português Tiago “Saca” Pires, entre outros surfistas de renome internacional. 

António Pedro, director de prova estava satisfeito ao final do dia “como organizador de eventos de surf um dia como o de hoje é perfeito: boas ondas, sol, boa música, bom ambiente e sobretudo grandes surfistas”

Assim, o melhor mesmo é vir até Ribeira d'Ilhas, onde o dia de amanhã promete mais do melhor surf do mundo. Caso não consiga deslocar-se a esta belíssima praia da Ericeira, pode sempre acompanhar a competição em directo através da Internet, em http://surf.sapo.pt

O Buondi Billabong Pro Portugal tem o principal patrocínio da Buondi e da Billabong, e seu lado apostam também Nokia, B!, Tmn e Jeep. Tem ainda o importante apoio do Turismo de Portugal e da Câmara Municipal de Mafra.

Este campeonato é uma realização da Alfarroba, com os apoios da Von Zipper, Ericeira Surf Shop, Kustom, Nixon, Sapo.pt, Pólen Surfboards, Fonte Viva, LG Computers, Konica Minolta, Ericeira Surf Club, Junta de Freguesia da Ericeira, Red Bull, Ribeira d’Ilhas Surf Camp, Vitaminas, e ASP Europe – Association of Surfing Professionals.

Para ajudar na divulgação, contamos com a importante ajuda da rádio MegaFm, do jornal Destak, da Sport Tv, dos websites Surf.Sapo.Pt, Conquilha.com, e revistas FreeSurf, Surf Portugal e Bit.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Buondi Billabong Pro Portugal: Mundo vão estar Ericeira
# 2 : Buondi Billabong Pro Ericeira Portugal kicks off tomorrow
# 3 : Brazilians strong Day 1 of Buondi Billabong Pro Portugal
# 4 : Coming soon  

http://surf.sapo.pt
www.Conquilha.com
www.aspeurope.com
www.buondibillabongpro.com

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