Axel Dominguez (FRA) and Lua Escudeiro (POR) won the World Surf League (WSL) Europe Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) Stop No. 3, the Quiksilver & ROXY Junior Pro Capbreton in contestable and fun conditions at Santocha Beach. Capbreton dished out a few surprising results, rattling the rankings, with favourites and top seeds eliminated early in the competition, and a few underdogs making a statement with their impressive performances.
Axel Dominguez Wins Debut Junior Title At Home
After a third place finish in Capbreton last year, 18-year-old Axel Dominguez (FRA) from Seignosse was seeking redemption and finally earned the top spot on the podium. Leaving his best performance for last, in the only heat that really matters, Dominguez earned his first-ever JQS win. A career-best performance, Dominguez entered Capbreton at 26th on the rankings, and jumped up to 7th with this win.
“It’s been a long journey since that Final last year where I got an interference,” said Dominguez. “This year has been tough for me with two bad results, but this week I was feeling really good. Winning at home is unbelievable. I can’t believe I just won a pro junior! I’m stoked that I have a shot at the top rankings on the juniors.”
Dominguez opened the score board in the final with a 7.00 (out of a possible 10), and it was game on. The rest of the field tried to respond, but then Dominguez knocked out the best wave of the heat for a 7.27. His total of 14.27 (out of a possible 20) was one of the best of the day. A standout performer this weekend, Leonardo Apreda (ITA) fought back hard to get into the second spot, earning the runner-up spot while edging out Martim Fortes (POR) and Jaime Veselko (POR).
Lua Escudeiro Wins First-Ever Junior Title
The women’s Final was an exciting matchup, featuring top ranked Ibone Gomez (ESP), Sol Borelli (ESP), Tiara van der Huls (NLD) and Lua Escudeiro (POR) and it was anyone’s game for the taking. Van Der Huls got a quick start, but Escudeiro burst out the gates with a solid 5.67 to take the lead, and quickly backed it up with another good wave. Van Der Huls tried to catch up, improving her scores, but Escudeiro responded with a 5.33, taking back the lead. She held on for the win, marking the 18-year-old from Ericeira’s first-ever JQS title.
“The first win is going to stay with me forever,” said Escudeiro. “I’m really happy to take this win. It’s been an amazing two weeks, we’ve been in Ferrol, and now here, and next up we’re going to Lacanau. It’s been tough, but really good.”
Coming into this event, Gomez was in the top spot on the rankings, with Borelli in second. With a win in Ferrol and a runner-up in Capbreton, Van Der Huls took over the top spot and Escudeiro moved up from 11th to 4th.
Defending event winner Carla Morera De La Vall (ESP) suffered a difficult loss in the Semifinals at the hands of Van Der Huls and Escudeiro, and she slipped down the rankings to 5th.
Leonardo Apreda (ITA) and Martim Fortes (POR) also dealt a blow to rankings leader Hans Odriozola (DEU), eliminating him and Michelle Scoppa (ITA) in the first men’s Semifinal. Odriozola still holds the lead, but Apreda moved up to 4th.
The fourth and final stop on the European Junior Tour will be the Junior Pro Taghazout Bay in November.
The Quiksilver & ROXY Junior Pro Capbreton ran from July 3-5, 2026 at Santocha Beach, Capbreton.
The Quiksilver & ROXY Junior Pro are made possible with the support of the city of Capbreton, Landes, MACS, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Quiksilver, ROXY, MC Box Events, Ocean 52, Save La Mermaid, Belambra Clubs, Europe 2, Santocha Surf Club and Surfing France.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
