The UGG Men’s Longboard Pro and UGG Women’s Longboard Pro continued today at Boardmasters as smaller conditions kept the QS divisions out of the water. Surfers took on the one-to-two foot cleaner surf and completed several rounds to decide the events’ finals, set to be held on Sunday.
Aping Agudo. Pic: Masurel/WSL
The two strongest surfers in the quarters Justine Dupont (FRA) and Aping Agudo (PHL) met in the semis just as the swell started to pulse. Both surfers put on a great show and for the majority of the heat the reigning European Champion Dupont was in the lead.
It was a great opposition of regular foot vs. goofy in the rights and lefts of North Fistral and as rain showers stopped for a bit, more and more people got closer to the water’s edge to catch all the action.
In the last five minutes, a split-peak resulted in both surfers paddling back out to the lineup at the same time. When the next set wave came in, evidently the priority situation wasn’t clear for the French surfer and she received an interference. Filipino surfer Agudo’s advanced into the Final.
“I like small waves so that was great for me today,” Agudo said. “I surf a lot of similar conditions at home so I felt great. I’ve been coming here for six years now but it’s the first time I compete in the event so I’m very happy to win heats. I managed to find some sections for hang fives and tens and I had a lot of fun!”
In the second semifinal, Italia’s Francesca Rubegni took on French rookie Zoe Grospiron (FRA). The Italian found cleaner and longer rides and eventually took out the qualifying spot for her first ever Final.
“It’s my first final ever at a WSL event so I’m stoked!” Rubegni said. “The strong wind and rain made it very difficult out there but thankfully I found a few fun little waves. Conditions are completely different to what I’m used to at home but I managed to adapt. It would be a dream-come-true to qualify for the World Longboard Championship!”
Ben Howey, Pic: Masurel/WSL
The men’s semis started on the higher tide and offered great little waves for Edouard Delpero(FRA) and Ben Howey (GBR) in the first heat. By reaching the semis, Edouard overtook his older brother Antoine in the European rankings and could secure a second regional title comes finals day.
In their Semifinal, the Frenchman found longer rides and perfectly navigated the sections to score lengthy hang-fives and tens. Howey’s performance was by no means a let down, the British surfer collecting two 7+ rides for his nose rides and stylish turns, but Delpero with a 17.23 total moved on to the Final.
“I’m stoked to make the final, it’s going to be epic!” Delpero stated. “It definitely wasn’t easy and I’m hoping conditions are a bit better for the finals tomorrow. I really want to win another European title, so bring it on!”
Adam Griffiths, Pic: Masurel/WSL
The second semi was a battle of epic proportions between good friends Ben Skinner and Adam Griffiths. Griffiths found an excellent 8.50 right away and lead the next fifteen minutes of the heat, but Skinner clicked into gear around the ten-minute mark and managed to take the lead back.
As time ran out, Griffiths’ repeated efforts kept coming short of the required 7.26 and Newquay’s favorite, Skinner will join Delpero in the Final. The last heat will be a showdown for the 2018 European Longboard title as both surfers can clinch it with a victory at Boardmasters.
“It’s a dream finish for the tour,” Skinner said. “Both Edouard and I have a shot now and it’s going to come down to the best man in the final! I’m beyond excited to be a part of it, what a great European tour it’s been. Adam is one of my best mates, and he made my job difficult. But I knew what waves I wanted to get and I just kept my calm.”
Ben Skinner, Pic: Masurel/WSL
Griffiths scored the event’s highest single score of 9.33 earlier in the day and walked away with an equal third in his only event of the season on the regional tour.
“I think it was just North Fistral my local spot sent me that one great wave,” he said. “It allowed me to get a nose ride on the take off and fit a few turns in the pocket. I’ve been really busy with work and with the good ranking I had in the World Championship last year I didn’t need to re-qualify so I chose not to surf too many events this year.”
The Quiksilver Open will resume early Sunday morning with a 7:30 a.m call, the Roxy Open with a call at 9 a.m and longboarders finalists will come in the afternoon with a 2 p.m call.
Emily Currie, copped a weever sting 4 mins in to her quarter final but surfed on for 21 minutes. Epic work Pic: Masurel/WSL
UPCOMING UGG MEN’S LONGBOARD PRO FINAL MATCHUP:
Final: Edouard Delpero (FRA) vs. Ben Skinner (GBR)
UGG MEN’S LONGBOARD PRO SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Edouard Delpero (FRA) 17.23 def. Ben Howey (GBR) 14.46
SF 2: Ben Skinner (GBR) 15.76 def. Adam Griffiths (GBR) 15.20
UGG MEN’S LONGBOARD PRO QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Edouard Delpero (FRA) 15.83 def. Federico Nesti (ITA) 6.67
QF 2: Ben Howey (GBR) 14.73 def. Emilien Fleury (FRA) 11.06
QF 3: Adam Griffiths (GBR) 16.33 def. Elliot Dudley (GBR) 14.66
QF 4: Ben Skinner (GBR) 14.50 def. Jack Unsworth (GBR) 11.27
UGG MEN’S LONGBOARD PRO ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Edouard Delpero (FRA) 14.17, Emilien Fleury (FRA) 11.76, Robert Storm (DNK) 7.70, Jordan Zervas (GBR) 6.60
Heat 2: Ben Howey (GBR) 14.04, Federico Nesti (ITA) 9.90, Edward Wilson (GBR) 9.00, Evan Rogers (GBR) 8.86
Heat 3: Elliot Dudley (GBR) 14.30, Jack Unsworth (GBR) 13.16, Joe Hornbuckle (GBR) 11.90, Barnaby Innes (GBR) 6.56
Heat 4: Ben Skinner (GBR) 13.34, Adam Griffiths (GBR) 10.40, Benoit Carpentier (FRA) 6.64, Robin Henry (FRA) 5.36
UPCOMING UGG WOMEN’S LONGBOARD PRO FINAL MATCHUP:
Final: Aping Agudo (PHL) vs. Francesca Rubegni (ITA)
UGG WOMEN’S LONGBOARD PRO SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Aping Agudo (PHL) 10.17 def. Justine Dupont (FRA) 7.33
SF 2: Francesca Rubegni (ITA) 8.83 def. Zoe Grospiron (FRA) 3.30
UGG WOMEN’S LONGBOARD PRO QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Justine Dupont (FRA) 17.06 def. Emily Currie (GBR) 11.50
QF 2: Aping Agudo (PHL) 12.10 def. Jenny Briant (GBR) 7.27
QF 3: Zoe Grospiron (FRA) 7.67 def. Nienke Duinmeijer (NLD) 7.67
QF 4: Francesca Rubegni (ITA) 8.27 def. Jennifer Pendlebury (GBR) 5.27
UPCOMING ROXY OPEN QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS:
QF 1: Justine Dupont (FRA) vs. Eveline Hooft (NDL)
QF 2: Cannelle Bulard (REU) vs. Juliette Lacome (FRA)
QF 3: Yolander Hopkins (PRT) vs. Vahine Fierro (PYF)
QF 4: Ellie Turner (GBR) vs. Rachel Presti (USA)
UPCOMING QUIKSILVER OPEN ROUND 4 MATCHUPS:
Heat 1: Arran Strong (GBR), Alonso Correa (PER), Daiki Tanaka (JPN), Luis Diaz (CNY)
Heat 2: Luke Dillon (GBR), Ian Fontaine (FRA), Jay Quinn (GBR), Jake Elkington (ZAF)
Heat 3: Pedro Coelho (PRT), Kalum Bruhwiler Temple (CAN), Roberto Araki (CHL), Herbert Moreno (BRA)
Heat 4: Jose Gundesen (ARG), Angelo Bonomelli (ITA), Titouan Canevet (FRA) Andy Criere (ESP)
Elliot Dudley (GBR).UGG Longboard Pro 2018
