Marc Lacomare : photo Aquashot/ASP Europe

Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior

ASP Grade 3 Junior Mens event
Realejos, Tenerife
2 - 6 September 2009

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Last Sixteen Decided in Santa Surf Pro Junior at Tenerife

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 September, 2009 : - - Los Realejos, Tenerife Canary Islands -- Battle for the Santa Surf Pro Junior title peaked today with crucial battles taking place for both ASP European Junior title and event crown and another series of solid performances from Europe’s best Under-21 competitors.

From ratings’ front-runners to trouble-makers, it was a show of progressive surfing for the numerous Canarian crowds at El Socorro beach on the North Shore of Tenerife. With the French contingent delivering some impressive levels of surfing led by rising surfer Trsitan Guilbaud (FRA), 18, all winning competitors stepped-up to make a clear difference and secure their Round 4 ticket, the last round before proceedings enter the One-on-one format.

With the elimination of several big names including Adrien Toyon (REU), 19, David Leboulsh (Bidart, FRA), 18, and Mario Azurza (Zarautz, EUK), 18, it was a day of upsets at the ASP Grade-3 Pro Junior finishing with the loss of Jaryr Berasaluce (Sopelana, EUK) automatically crowning Marc Lacomare (Capbreton, FRA), 18, the 2009 ASP European Junior title. (Special press release coming)

Showing his renowned flying ss in the four foot (1.2 meter) consistent surf, Tristan Guilbaud was easily ahead of all competitors today posting an excellent 9.00 point score en route to qualifying for Round 4. Guilbaud, who appeared on the European junior stage this year peaking with a Quarterfinal finish at the ASP Grade-2 Pro Junior event at Carcavelos last April, confirmed he was aiming at a solid finish for his best year ever on tour.

“The wave is pretty hard to surf and I did not really know where to sit out there,” Guildbaud said. “That righthander came in a set, and it was a bit bigger than the others so I just tried to push my turns hard and I wasn’t thinking of getting such a high score� Next heat is going to be under pressure. I kind of remain calm inbetween heats but you get nervous pretty fast when you are out there.”

While Lacomare could celebrate his maiden regional title as well as his qualification for next January’s ASP World Junior Championships (WJC), Guilbaud could focus on his chances of claiming his first ever ASP sanctioned event if things keep rolling his way until the showdown scheduled for Sunday.

“I came last year and got a 9th losing due to an interference so I want to better that of course, » Guilbaud said. “I am sitting 1àth on the ratings and I know I can still make it up to the Top 4 to qualify for the ASP WJC at Narabeen. It will be pretty hard though as most of the guys ahead of me are still in the event.”

Former ASP European Junior champion and defending Santa Surf Pro Junior Maxime Huscenot (REU), 17, answered back straight away making his intentions clear on claiming another event this year as well. Having suffered a knee injury in July, Huscenot got back to competition at the end of July to win the ASP Grade-1 Sopelana Pro Junior and show his peers he was definitely one to be counted with at any location, his fast and flawless surfing causing damages in any heat.

“It’s been a tricky year for me with both high school and competition to deal with so I am happy with how things have gone so far,” Huscenot said. “Winning here last year is one of my best memories as a competitor so I’d love to get another great result but the level is high and it’s all about big scores and wave choice.”

Huscenot, who posted the day’s best result with 15.76 points (out of a possible 20) to oust ratings’ top surfer Mario Azurza (Zarautz, EUK) and advance through to Round 4, showed how his knowledge of El Socorro will definitely make him a favorite for the upcoming match-ups. After winning the inaugural event in 2008 with an impressive lead at 16-years-old only, Huscenot’s rise continues amongst Europe’s best Under-21 surfers and the Reunion Island born surfer will try and make the finals of the ASP Grade-3 Pro Junior event again tomorrow.

Holding the French assault back were Portuguese surfers and ratings’ solid men Frederico Morais (Ericeira, PRT) and Vasco Ribeiro (Cascais, PRT), both competitors confirming they were in excellent form and ready to show their rise in the last couple of events was solid. Ribeiro, 15, ranked No. 5 before Tenerife, is in serious position to get his first ASP WJC qualification if he ends up well in the final event.

SANTA SURF PRO JUNIOR ROUND 4
Heat 1: Marc Lacomare (FRA), Igor Muniain (EUK), Charles Martin (GLP), Dimitri Ouvre (FRA)
Heat 2: Medi Veminardi (REU), Tristan Guilbaud (FRA), Jayce Robinson (GBR), Luka Guichard (DEN)
Heat 3: Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA), Edouard Delpero (FRA), Frederico Morais (PRT), Justin Delanne (MTQ)
Heat 4: Maxime Huscenot (REU), Marcos Sansegundos (EUK), Damien Chaudoy (REU), Vasco Ribeiro (PRT)
 
Previous reports:
# 1 : Junior revolution returns to Tenerife for Santa Pro Junior
# 2 : Santa Surf Pro Jr kicks off at Tenerife, Bulard rips Rnd 1
# 3 : Laborde leads charge Day 2 of Canarias Santa Pro Jnr.
# 4 : Coming soon  

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www.aspeurope.com

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