Italy surfed its way into surfing history by winning three of the four individual titles in dispute at the 2019 Eurosurf that concluded today at Santa Cruz, Portugal, and, consequently, its first collective European title
“Forza Itália” was the chant that filled everyone’s hears today at Santa Cruz, during the last and decisive day of the 2019 Eurosurf.
Italy won its first European title thanks to the outstanding performances of Claire Bevilacqua (who became women’s surfing European champion on Wednesday) and also, today, with Federico Nesti and Francesca Rubegni taking home the two Longboarding trophies.
Portugal, the host country of this spectacular 2019 Eurosurf, trailed second, failing to repeat the title conquered two years ago at Norway.
Federico Nesti opened up the winning trail by edging Portuguese João Dantas in a nail biting heat, beating him with a total score of 14,65 against 14,30 and taking away from him the European Longboard title. It was the first blow at the Portuguese leadership of the event and then Francesca Rubegni followed, winning her heat and title, in the final moments of the women’s Longboarding final.
An ecstatic Federico Nesti described his victorious heat: “The conditions were pretty hard and João surfed incredibly well too. Fortunately, I found the right wave close to the end of the heat and that made it possible for me to win. I’m very happy for all the team.”
Italy’s outstanding performance at this Eurosurf was only spoiled by the Welsh team surfer Jay Quinn, who carved (literally) his way into European surfing history by becoming the first surfer (at an ESF surf open event) to win two editions in a row.
“I definitely didn’t have the best preparation for this event because we haven’t had that much waves in Britain lately, and I’ve been surfing very little. But I guess sometimes it plays in our favour”, joked Jay Quinn at the winners podium while holding his newborn child in one of the most tender moments of all the event.
Finally, an emotional Marco Gregori, the Italian team manager: “This is the first European title and we are very, very happy. We have a solid team, and we already knew that coming here, but there are other solid teams in this event and the level is very high so we only knew that we had won…right now, at the award ceremony. Before this, it all seemed…a dream . We are a country with not so many waves so this is amazing, unbelievable. We also have to thank all the other teams, the ESF and the Portuguese organization for the way we were welcomed here during this whole event. But I thank this team, this family, this “famiglia”. Thank you all!”
“Dai’ Quinn takes back to back European titles for Wales
Evan Rogers takes third in the mens longboard For Wales.
Emily Currie takes third place womens longboard for England.
Italy take team titles
1. Italy
2. Portugal
3. Germany
4. England
8. Wales
10.Ireland
15.Scotland
Team England Emily Currie wins round 3 to make women longboard Grand Final,
Team Wales Evan Rogers is repping the North Sea to make Grand Final Mens Longboard
Women’s final results – Claire Bevilaqua is the new champion. Englands Peony Knight finishes fourth
Women’s final results – Claire Bevilaqua is the new champion. Englands Peony Knight finishes fourth1°CLAIRE BEVO BEVILACQUA 🇮🇹
2° Francisca Veselko 🇵🇹
3° Rachel Presti 🇩🇪
4° Peony Knight
Not much reporting coming out of the ESF in Santa Cruz but here is a run down of what is going on on so far with the home nations and Ireland
Englands Peony Knight has just made the womens final. Emily Currie made round 5 of the repechage in the shortboard and is in round there of the womens longboard..
Jay Quinn (Wales) is in round four of the men.Team Englands Jayce Robinson, Luke Dillon and Seth Morris are in round 4 of the repecharge along with Irelands Gearoid McDaid.
Wales Evan Rogers has made round three of the longboard men. Jordan Zervas (England), Chris Clark Scotland and Colm O Dubhghail (Ireland) are in repecharge 2 of the mens longboard.
Angharad John (Wales) is in he repechage 2 of the womens longboard.
