Team News

Finishes ASP World Longboard Tour No. 3

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 30 October, 2009 : - - Chaaya Island, Maldives -- French surfer Antoine Delpero (Anglet, FRA), 23, displayed a solid performance at the final event of this year’s ASP World Longboard Tour reaching the Semifinals of the Oxbow WLT Maldives. Delpero, who added his equal 3rd place finish to the 5th he got in Japan last July, finishes 2009 as ASP World Longboard Tour No.3, an excellent result for the best French and European longboarder ever.

Delpero, who led the European charge along with Quarterfinalists Ben Skinner (GBR) and Remi Arauzo (Vieux Boucau, FRA) who both made the Quarterfinals of the Maldivian event, impressed again with his spectacular longboard surfing mixing classic style and progressive manoeuvres to secure his Semifinal berth.

Defeating outsider Taiki Mori (JPN) in Round 1, before eliminating elite longboarder Josh Constable (AUS) in Round 2 and fellow French and rising competitor Remi Arauzo (FRA) in Quarterfinal No. 4, Antoine Delpero was unstoppable on his way through to the Semifinals scoring a minimum of 13.00 points.

Stopped by Harley Ingleby (AUS) who was to clinch his first ASP World Longboard title in the Semifinals, Delpero displayed an exceptional performance but was not able to counter the Australian’s assault, losing with 14.35 to Ingleby’s 14.80 point total.

After placing No. 2 in the world in 2008, Antoine Delpero confirmed again he was a serious ASP World Longboard title contender and remains a solid member of the world’s Top 5 longboarders, along with the sport’s leaders Harley Ingleby (AUS, 2009 ASP World Longboard Champion), Kai Sallas (HAW, 2009 ASP World Longboard No. 2), Phil Rajzman (BRA, 2007 ASP World Longboard Champion) and Bonga Perkins (HAW, 2008 ASP World Longboard Champion).

Showing great determination and skills throughout the five-day event, British surfer Ben Skinner was a standout in the crystal-clear waters of Chaaya Island. Skinner, who opened his run with a win over French surfer Alexis Deniel (Vendee, FRA), went on to eliminate reigning ASP World Longboard Champion Bonga Perkins (Oahu, HAW) in Round 2 before going down to Ned Snow (HAW).

Having won the only ASP Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) in Europe this year, Skinner stepped-up against the world’s best and finishes his 2009 run ranked No. 1 in the world on the ASP WLT ratings. Last to shine in the Maldivian warm waters was French and European competitor Remi Arauzo, the 20-year-old newcomer netting his best result ever in an event of the ASP World Longboard Tour with a 5th place finish.

Arauzo, who defeated Brazilians Jeremias Silva  and experienced Amaro Matos respectively in Round 1 and 2 of the Oxbow WLT Malvies, had to accept his friend Delpero’s domination in the Quarterfinals. Competing for his first year on the ASP World Longboard Tour in 2009, Arauzo wrapped-up his rookie season ranked No. 14 in the world, a very promising start that rockets him directly on the 2010 ASP WLT.

Get all results, photos and news from the Oxbow WLT Maldives at aspworldtour.com.

2009 ASP WORLD LONGBOARD TOUR EUROPEANS’ RATINGS
No. 3, Antoine Delpero (FRA)
No. 10, Ben Skinner (GBR)
No. 14, Remi Arauzo (FRA)
No. 20, Sam Bleakley (GBR)
No. 20, Alexis Deniel (FRA)
No. 29, Romain Maurin (FRA)

www.aspeurope.com
www.oxboworld.com  

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