Kelly Slater (USA) has won the Billabong Pro Tahiti after defeating John John Florence (HAW) in the Final in eight-to-ten foot surf at Teahupo’o. The final day of competition at Stop No. 7 of 11 on the 2016 Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) has been treated to incredible performances by the world’s best surfers, culminating with Slater’s win. The Final day saw 35 barrels ridden between the two finalists.
11-time WSL Champion Slater claimed the 55th CT victory of his career to jump 11 places on the Jeep Leaderboard to 8th. The win today is Slater’s fifth in Tahiti, with previous event titles in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2011 and solidifies his position as the best surfer at Teahupo’o.
“When I look back that will for sure be one of the best wins I have ever had,” said Slater. “To have John John [Florence] in the Final is a dream for me. It is no secret that I am towards the tail-end of my career. John John and Gabriel [Medina] are on their way up and those guys are just monsters. John John is all of our favorite surfers, so I want to see how many heats I can get with him before I am done and to have him out here where he and Gabriel are the favorites. This is a really special time for me. I am stoked.”
Today’s win is Slater’s best result of the season and backs up a Semifinal berth in Fiji and a Quarterfinal finish in Jeffreys Bay. It also marks a return to form and his first CT event win since the Billabong Pipe Masters in 2013.
“It just came together for me,” continued Slater. “I was on the right waves, I was in sync and totally relaxed the whole time. To be in that Final with John John and lose would have been no problem for me. I was taking each heat as a bonus. I have had such a bad run for me historically over the last couple of years that anything was going to be good.”
The Final saw a stacked match-up between the two CT superstars. Florence was quick to get points on the board with an 8.00 on his opening ride, but Slater fired with a near-perfect 9.77. Slater landed a miraculous free-fall drop followed by escaping a deep barrel to garner a stunning 9.17. Florence, with a 15.23, was put in a combination situation and needed two new scores with ten minutes left on the clock. Slater continued to better his score with a phenomenal 9.90 for a near-perfect 19.67 combined total to claim his victory.
En route to the Final Slater posted a Perfect 20 heat total in his Round 5 match-up with Keanu Asing (HAW). This is only the ninth time a perfect heat has been achieved in 40 years of professional surfing and the third time Slater has accomplished this feat. Despite a strong opening from Asing, the Slater juggernaut picked up momentum throughout the back half of the heat, posting a Perfect 10, an excellent 8.10 and then another Perfect 10 to seal the win and etch another achievement in the history books.
“The first 10 of that heat was a more difficult ride definitely, but the second one was a bigger, more perfect, classic tube,” said Slater after winning Round 5. “I just thought that the first one was a lot more difficult, so I was not sure if they would throw a 10 on the second one. I have been feeling good all week. A perfect heat is not going to happen many times in your life so I am stoked.”
Slater previously dispatched event Wildcard Bruno Santos (BRA) in the Quarterfinals with another Perfect 10 and a commanding 9.27 back-up score to take the win.
Slater also received the Andy Irons Most Committed Performance Award, which is given out every year to the standout surfer of the Billabong Pro Tahiti. Previous winners include C.J. Hobgood (2015), Owen Wright (2014), John John Florence (2013), Ricardo dos Santos (2012) and Jeremy Flores (2011).
“I’m so stoked, I’ve worked for this thing for years,” said Slater. “Andy [Irons] would be equally mad and stoked that I won this. Last time I surfed against Andy, it was here at Teahupo’o and he won the event. It was his last win, and I lost to him in the Semifinals. It was a really special heat for me and this is a really special award. This is rad and I can’t wait to put the award in my house. I feel like I’ve won the contest already.”
The runner-up finish for Florence is his best ever result at Teahupo’o and sees the 23-year-old claim the Jeep Leader Jersey heading into the next event on the CT at Lower Trestles. Florence previously defeated Joel Parkinson (AUS) in Round 5, Julian Wilson (AUS) in the Quarterfinals and Gabriel Medina (BRA) in the Semifinals.
“I am super stoked to be the leader on the Jeep Rankings,” Florence said. “But at this point, it is only a yellow jersey and what counts is at the end of the year and there is still a lot to go this year. I am going to keep chipping away at it.”
Gabriel Medina (BRA), 2014 event winner, takes home a third-place finish following an incredible match-up against Florence in the second Semifinal. The sensational superheat saw the pair battle for a place in the Final and the chance to claim the Jeep Leader Jersey. The surfers traded impressive scores throughout the heat, posting seven excellent barrels above 9.00 between them during the bout. The Hawaiian held a slight lead with a near-perfect 18.44 to Medina’s 17.46, but with ten minutes left on the clock, Medina challenged Florence by coming out of a monstrous barrel to earn a Perfect 10 (the fifth of the day) and gain control of the heat. Under pressure and with four minutes remaining, Florence needed a 9.31. In a dramatic exchange, Florence used his priority to land a critical 9.93 to regain the lead and followed it up with a 9.73 to seal the win.
“It was a really fun heat,” said Medina. “John [Florence] is always hard to beat anywhere. We both had really good waves. It was his day today. I look forward to Trestles.”
Medina previously dispatched Jadson Andre (BRA) in Round 5 and Josh Kerr (AUS) in the Quarterfinals before facing Florence. Following today’s result Medina will remain in third place on the Jeep Leaderboard heading into the next event on the CT at Lower Trestles.
Adrian Buchan (AUS) finished the event in third place, matching his best result of the season, after being defeated by eventual winner Slater in the Semifinals. The bout was a rematch of the 2013 Final between the two former event winners, however this time it was the 11-time World Champion that took the win. Slater found a near-perfect 9.63 and a 6.67 to take the lead from Buchan on his opening exchange, while Buchan trailed close behind with an 8.17. Buchan, needing an 8.14, made numerous attempts to escape deep barrel rides, but was unsuccessful on his attempts. Slater increased his lead with an 8.77 to put Buchan in a combination in the last thirty seconds.
Today’s result sees Buchan move up from 11th to 4th place on the Jeep Leaderboard. Buchan previously dispatched Jordy Smith (ZAF) and Kolohe Andino (USA) from the event in Round 5 and the Quarterfinals, respectively.
Julian Wilson (AUS) was defeated by eventual runner-up Florence in Quarterfinal 4 by only 0.74 points in a close head-to-head battle. Florence fired early with excellent rides, but Wilson kept selective. A wipeout on the razor-sharp reef rattled the Australian, but he fired back by coming out of a deep tube to earn a Perfect 10. Despite Wilson’s strong score, Florence was quick to answer back with the dominant combined score for the win. Wilson moves up to 5th place on the Jeep Leaderboard.
“I had the two waves to win that heat for sure,” said Wilson. “The first one I waited for but I got caught out of position and got absolutely walloped and split my chin and took some skin off. It rattled me a bit and I had to reset and gave myself another chance. That 10 was super fun, I knew I had to make the most of that wave. I got the lead for a minute but John John got that wave right behind.”
The next stop on the 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour will be the Hurley Pro and Swatch Women’s Pro at Trestles, which will see the battle for this season’s World Title heat up as with the world’s best surfers take on Lowers from September 7 -18, 2016.
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI FINAL RESULTS:
1: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.67
2: John John Florence (HAW) 15.23
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.40 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 16.10
SF 2: John John Florence (HAW) 19.66 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 19.23
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 18.16 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 16.00
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.27 def. Bruno Santos (BRA) 17.43
QF 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.90 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.40
QF 4: John John Florence (HAW) 17.34 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 16.60
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 5 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 16.77 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.60
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 20.00 def. Keanu Asing (HAW) 14.70
Heat 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.43 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.33
Heat 4: John John Florence (HAW) 18.30 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.90
2016 WSL Jeep Leaderboard Top 5 (after Billabong Pro Tahiti):
1. John John Florence (HAW) 39,900 pts
2. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 36,000 pts
3. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 35,700 pts
4. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 26,200 pts
5. Julian Wilson (AUS) 25,200 pts
The Billabong Pro Tahiti, Stop No. 7 of 11 on the 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour (CT), continued today in three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) surf at Teahupo’o. The day saw top scores and exciting match-ups as the world’s best surfers battled through Rounds 3 and 4 to avoid elimination and earn a direct advance to the Quarterfinals.
Event wildcard and 2008 Billabong Pro Tahiti winner, Bruno Santos (BRA), lit up the competition today with electric performances in both rounds. The Brazilian, who gained entry into the event after winning the Trials, looked unstoppable today as he not only knocked out the top ranked surfer on the CT in Round 3, but also posted highest heat score of the day, a near-perfect 18.30 in Round 4, to defeat two former event winners.
Santos began by causing a huge upset in Round 3 Heat 6 by defeating Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Jeep Ratings’ Leader. With limited opportunities during the heat, Santos got busy on the inside to earn a 12.33 combined heat score to take the lead. With only five minutes left in the heat, Wilkinson had yet to put points on the board. A set out the back gave Wilkinson an opportunity to challenge Santos, but the Australian failed to make it out of the barrel.
“I was watching the last heat and the end of that heat was really good, so in the beginning of my heat I was trying to get the first good wave,” said Santos. “Wilko [Matt Wilkinson] and I fought for the priority, but when the sets came I was too deep. I started to get the small ones and just made my scores enough to put me in the lead. I am feeling really good. It is hard to surf against Wilko who is doing really well this year. I feel stronger that I beat the big guys. I just want to keep going, step-by-step.”
Wilkinson is eliminated in equal 13th place and will relinquish his first place position on the Jeep Leaderboard to John John Florence (HAW) if the Hawaiian is able to make the Quarterfinals in Tahiti.
“I started just as I wanted to,” Wilkinson said. “But, on that first set, we were both too deep for it. Obviously, I would have loved to have been on it in the perfect spot, but I made sure he did not have an easy line into it. The heat just slowly ran away from me. I was happy letting him get those 5’s and that 6 because I decided that I wasn’t settling for anything but an 8 or above. I am disappointed, but good luck to Bruno [Santos] in the rest of the event. There is so much of the year left and I am going to focus on getting big results. Hopefully I can get on another little roll and win a few. For Lowers, I am going to work on high performance surfing and being as consistent as I can.”
Santos advanced on to Round 4 Heat 2, which saw a stacked match-up of former event winners — 11-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater (USA) and Adrian Buchan (AUS). Four-time event winner Slater showcased why he is the most decorated surfer on the CT as he miraculously came out of a cavernous barrel to earn the event’s first perfect 10.00. Santos challenged the veteran with two near-perfect 9-point rides to take 0.13-point lead over Slater and the win. Santos will advance to the Quarterfinals, while Slater and Buchan will battle again in elimination Round 5.
“I am super stoked to win that heat,” said Santos. “There were three event champions in that heat. Ace [Adrian Buchan] is so good here and Kelly [Slater] is the man. It actually was a dream for me to beat Kelly. I’ve surfed against him maybe four or five times, but as a kid I always dreamed of beating Kelly somewhere, but here it is special. It was a crazy heat with Kelly’s perfect 10. I am super stoked to be in the Quarterfinals and beat two of my favorite surfers here.”
Kolohe Andino (USA), Josh Kerr (AUS) and Julian Wilson (AUS) also earned a direct advance to the Quarterfinals following Round 4 wins.
Andino took on Keanu Asing (HAW) and Jordy Smith (ZAF) in Round 4 Heat 1. Smith held the lead for the majority of the heat, but Andino scored with an excellent 9.53 in the last two minutes. Andino’s patience paid off as he edged a narrow victory and his place in the Quarterfinals.
“That heat was scrappy – I was waiting and waiting and finally I got a couple of waves,” said Andino. “I knew that a good wave was going to come and then it did, so I tried my best and held. I was really amped up when I made it because it means I go straight to the Quarters, which is a result for me. This is the first event my dad has been to all year and I’m stoked he’s here. I’m having a really fun time here this year but I know the Quarters will be tough.”
Kerr earned his first Quarterfinal berth of the 2016 season after defeating CT superstar Florence and Jadson Andre (BRA) in Round 4 Heat 3. Florence and Andre will be relegated to Round 5, where they will battle to stay alive in the competition.
“I am feeling great, but what a weird heat that one was,” Kerr said. “There was so much seaweed and coconut sticks in the water. It was not dangerous for waves, it was just dangerous to catch a wave that was half a foot because you would get hit in the heat by a coconut or something. The best wave of the heat was John’s [Florence] one and he got all of that seaweed and it just stopped him in his tracks. I am just stoked to keep rolling through and keep the vibes going.”
Round 4 Heat 4 saw an intense clash of CT heavyweights, as Wilson took on WSL Champions Joel Parkinson (AUS) (2012) and Gabriel Medina (BRA) (2014). The thrilling match-up up saw each of the three surfers charge and post 9-point rides. Wilson opened his account with a near-perfect 9.70 and Parkinson quickly followed suit with a 9.37. Wilson locked in an excellent 8.27 back-up score and held the lead for the entire heat. Medina fought back with a 9.27, but like Parkinson, could not find the second score required to take the Quarterfinal spot.
“That was great to start the heat with a few waves,” Wilson said. “The heat before had nothing in it at all. We were even super deep at the start of the heat, too. We were hassling each other a bit. That real south wave popped up and I was able to get a score out of it. Joel [Parkinson] caught one that was really good. Gabby [Gabriel Medina] came back into the heat with a 9. It was pretty much wide open until the end, but the waves just shut down after Gabby’s wave.”
Wilson previously eliminated defending event winner Jeremy Flores (FRA) in Round 3 Heat 10 with a buzzer-beater barrel ride to score a near-perfect 9.20.
Round 3 also saw another shock elimination when Asing took down 2015 Rookie of the Year, Italo Ferreira (BRA), in the opening heat of the day. Asing secured a 5.67 on his opening exchange to take an early lead. The top-seeded Brazilian took control with a 12.58 combined score, but the Hawaiian came out of a deep tube ride to earn an excellent 8.40 for a narrow 1.64 lead. Ferreira will walk away with a 13th place finish from the event.
“It was like I said earlier, ‘Kill or be killed,’” Asing said. “I am coming out as hard as I can. I came prepared to this event. Even though I do not have any results this season, that does not mean that I am going to give up. I came ready and I stuck to my game plan. I feel like Italo [Ferreira] thought he was going to walk right through that heat and he thought I was probably an easy draw, but I am giving it the best I can. I am fighting for money, my career, my work, and I will not let these guys take my money and take my job.”
2016 WSL Rookies Alex Ribeiro (BRA) and Kanoa Igarashi (USA), the last two rookies left in the draw, were eliminated in Round 3 by CT superstars Florence and Parkinson, respectively.
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Keanu Asing (HAW) 14.07 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.43 Heat 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.03 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 5.67 Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 7.00 def. Matt Banting (AUS) 5.17 Heat 4: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.50 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 7.33 Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.50 def. Nat Young (USA) 12.50 Heat 6: Bruno Santos (BRA) 12.33 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 6.83 Heat 7: John John Florence (HAW) 13.33 def. Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 8.57 Heat 8: Josh Kerr (AUS) 17.44 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 4.37 Heat 9: Jadson Andre (BRA) 12.07 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 9.57 Heat 10: Julian Wilson (AUS) 16.03 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.77 Heat 11: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.53 def. Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 5.20 Heat 12: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.66 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 7.83
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 4 Results:
Heat 1: Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.30, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.63, Keanu Asing (HAW) 11.63 Heat 2: Bruno Santos (BRA) 18.30, Kelly Slater (USA) 18.17, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 8.33 Heat 3: Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.00, Jadson Andre (BRA) 10.06, John John Florence (HAW) 2.96 Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.97, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.04, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.60
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 5 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS) Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Keanu Asing (HAW) Heat 3: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA) Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. John John Florence (HAW)
We ran a competition, in association with Dragon, to interview and have brunch with Sunset Sons when they were in Newquay for the Boardmasters last week (they also got to see the guys live and got Dragon swag (you can win some too, comp at bottom of post)).
The winners, George (sat next to Skindog in the vid) and Meg (on end of sofa with Pete) dined at the Headland Hotel with the boys, Ben Skinner and us.
After various combinations of bacon, egg, sauce, coffee and juices were consumed we sat down for possibly the most tangential, wide ranging “interview” ever. The publishable highlights are below.
There are some deep insights on tattoos, lyrics, the pressing issue of what duvets are measured in. Not to mention getting the low down on Rob’s bad ass rock star behaviour towards his equipment and Rory’s previously unknown ninja tambourine skills. Also we learn that Jed can multitask, unlike most men, and Pete is all but doomed if he ever shaved his moustache of power…
Huge thanks to the guys for being total stars and the Headland Hotel for tolerating a raucous breakfast shift, made that bit sweeter by a bonus singing of happy birthday by the guys for a young girl at the next table with her family. Oh and in case you’re wondering the grom at the start is one of the mini-Skindogs 🙂
The interview starts after the two minute mark but the duvet talk at the start was too good to bin. Being warm in a tent at a British festival being a very important topic after all.
Sunset Sons Signed Merchanise Competition
We have Dragon Alliance sunnies and tee, signed by Sunset Sons, to giveaway. To be in with a chance to win simply email [email protected] with the name of the new Sunset Sons album.
The winner will be announced via our weekly newsletter on Friday 2 September.
The shortboard WQS finals went down on Saturday. The “challenging” surf of the early days was banished with a fresh, fun swell filling in to level the playing field. Huge congrats to Brit riders Jobe Harriss who made the quarters and Peony Knight who made the semis.
The victors were, not entirely unsurprisingly ex-WCT surfer Claire Bevo, and up and coming Aussie Shane Campbell. Commiserations to Angelo Bonomelli who had a final of contrast. Got a 10 and an interference call… Ouch. Apparently Shane and the Aussie crew made the most of the festival at Watergate that night in celebration.
WSL PRESS RELEASE
Claire Bevilacqua and Shane Campbell have won the Boardmasters, Cornwall today in good three-to-four foot surf at Fistral beach. Competition resumed early this morning and ran through the remaining rounds of the men and women’s QS competitions to culminate with the crownings of Bevilacqua & Campbell this afternoon.
The most form surfer of the entire event, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), 33, opened her final count with a good wave on her forehand, and performed two solid turns on the outside before wrapping things up in the shorey for a 6.83 and a commanding lead. Ariane Ochoa (EUK), 18, tried to answer quickly but failed to perform on her first couple of attempts.
The young Basque didn’t lose faith and continued to scour the lineup for better opportunities, picking a nice right-hander as well to perform three solid backhand hacks for a 6.90, placing her right back in the game. In the meantime, Bevilacqua found another good wave for a 6.00 to extend her lead. Despite multiple efforts from Ochoa, Bevilacqua had built a sufficient lead and walked away with the win.
“I’m just really in disbelief, this whole week is gone so fast, we had beautiful weather and good waves and yeah I’m super happy, this is a dream and I love England, I can’t wait to come back !” an ecstatic Bevilacqua stated. “I’m going to compete in the European leg, this is a bit of a working vacation to see how I went and how it felt to come back on tour with a new approach and no pressure.”
“I’ve felt really good leading up to this event, I’ve been training and I’m just feeling really strong and confident in my surfing so I figured why not give it a go and try to make some points and money !” she continued. “I’m doing this for fun, I love surfing with the younger girls they push me and make me try really hard, it’s just all really positive.”
With her excellent runner-up spot today, and an event win previously achieved in Galicia, Ochoa continues to climb through the ranks and takes pole position in the European title race, overtaking compatriot Garazi Sanchez-Ortun (EUK) in the process.
“I’m super happy but I really wanted to catch that one wave I was missing,” she reflected. “Sometimes things don’t go your way and that’s just the game, but I’m super pleased with my result. It has been a really good week with my sister and her boyfriend supporting me every day. I’m loving it here. Hats off to Claire, she ripped the whole event so she deserved it !” Peony Knight (GBR), 18, claimed the host country’s best result today, with an excellent equal 3rd finish, falling just short of her season’s second final appearance. The young junior with an already solid resume on her local and national tours is quickly improving and could become Britain’s new threat in future seasons.
“I’m really happy, conditions were tricky and I had a really tough draw so I’m pleased with that result,” she commented. “I’m starting off this season well and we have a few more comps coming this summer so it’s a bit of a confidence boost and I’m going to just go for it now.”
In the men’s event, a busy start to the big final saw Shane Campbell (AUS), 21, and Angelo Bonomelli (ITA), 25, exchange a lot of waves right off the buzzer. The Australian, Campbell, got the edge with a 6.33 over Bonomelli low score and took an early lead.
With about ten minutes remaining in the battle, the Italian started on a wave as Campbell with priority opted to go as well, and was given a interference as judges deemed he altered his opponent’s wave scoring potential. With only one score then counted in his total, Bonomelli’s chances for the win were instantly reduced to none.
Despite the unfortunate incident, Bonomelli continued to surf and started on a long left-hander he absolutely destroyed with speed, power and flow, claiming the first and only perfect 10 point ride of the event.
Campbell improved his own situation with solid surfing on his forehand and finally claimed the Boardmasters title as the final horn sounded.
“There’s no better feeling, this is my first QS win and I’m really stoked, I haven’t even made the quarters on the QS before so to get into the man-on-man rounds and win is amazing,” he said. “It’s unfortunate what happened in the final, you never want to win or lose on an interference, and when it happened I thought it could go either way. I’m with the whole Australian crew here and we’re going to go out and celebrate at the festival tonight !”
The unfortunate Italian, Bonomelli claims a career-highest second place result in Newquay, and will be looking to keep the ball rolling as he heads to France for the next two QS events of the region’s summer leg.
“It’s really emotional to get to my first ever final, especially considering the general level in this event everyone surfed so well,” he commented. “I had a lot of fun, and even though I’m obviously disappointed about losing this way, but the scores I got are really encouraging and I hope I can continue and avoid this kind of mistake in the future..”
Men’s European QS: (post Boardmasters, Cornwall)
1 – Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY)
2 – Jorgann Couzinet (REU)
3 – Gony Zubizarreta (ESP)
4 – Andy Criere (FRA)
5 – Pedro Henrique (PRT)
The Boardmasters, Cornwall are scheduled from August 10-14, 2016 at Fistral Beach, Cornwall – England. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to worldsurfleague.com.
The Boardmasters, Cornwall are supported by Surfers Against Sewage, Carve Mag, Corona, Relentless, Cornish Orchid, The Stable and MagicSeaWeed among others.
There’s an eerie calm in Newquay this morning. The Boardmasters is done for another year. Surf contests have been battled. Bands have been danced to. Hangovers may still be ongoing.
The longboarding finished up the event on Sunday with a perfect beach day and fun little waves on offer for the WSL longboarders. After a hard fought day the honours went to Alice Lemoigne and Edouardo Delpero. The top placed Brits were Adam Griffiths who made the semis and Emily Currie who made the quarters. Congrats to all it was a wonderful day’s surfing and a perfect end to another great event.
WSL Press Release
Alice Lemoigne and Edouard Delpero have won the Boardmasters, Cornwall today in clean two foot surf at Fistral beach in front of a packed beach coming to enjoy a picture-perfect summer day.
Reigning World Longboard Champion Rachael Tilly (USA), 18, opened her final count with a near-perfect wave of 9.33 for a long right-hander and multiple gracious nose rides all the way into the beach. Newly crowned 3-time European Champion Alice Lemoigne (REU), 19, took the first wave of the same set, a bigger wave but not as clean with more crumbling sections, not allowing her to fully exploit the clean wave face, for a 7.67.
The fading swell still regularly produced sets as Lemoigne quickly got another opportunity and surfed a very similar wave for another 7.50 and the lead over the American. Not content with her current situation, the French surfer from Reunion Island kept building house, with an excellent 8.83 to further apply pressure on her opponent. Despite multiple efforts, Tilly’s campaign to backup her 9 was vain and Lemoigne added another victory to her solid resume.
“This has been an incredible day, I could have never imagined it to turn out that way,” an ecstatic Lemoigne stated. “I got some good scores along the way and it’s really comforting for the rest of the season. I love coming here every year, we never have such an audience for a longboard event and it’s really cool to see all those people enjoying our show.”
Earlier today, Lemoigne survived a tense battle against good friend and fellow Reunion Island surfer Victoria Vergara in their semifinal matchup, cementing her regional rankings lead to claim her third European Longboard Champion Title.
“To clinch a third European title is absolutely unbelievable, it shows that all the work, the training, the efforts are not in vain,” she added. “ I can’t thank enough my sponsor Daddy Seal that shapes me incredible boards, my trainer, my parents and my boyfriend who support me so much.”
Californian Tilly fell just short of finding a good enough back-up score in the final and takes the runner-up spot. With a win earlier this season in Galicia, the reigning World Longboard Champion completes a fruitful European campaign and will try to keep her momentum going towards her next events on the world stage.
“It’s been a great time competing over here in Europe, I definitely I could have taken this one out as well but Alice surfed great, I was happy to at least post a 9 and put on a good show,” she reflected. “I’ll definitely be coming back next year, these events were really great ran and I look forward to it.”
In the men’s final, Emilien Fleury (FRA), 31, and Edouard Delpero (FRA), 26, got into multiple back-to-back waves and exchanged big scores for most of the final, both threading long nose rides and exploiting every little section with clean drop knee carves.
Delpero made a move for the win with a solid 8.97 on the ten-minute mark as Fleury kept very busy in the lineup, trying to find an equally great ride to try to clinch a maiden event win. Unfortunately opportunities got scarce and ultimately Delpero was carried up the beach, victorious for the first time this season. Delpero had previously dispatched of older brother and 2016 European Champion Antoine in an epic semifinal clash.
“I’m so happy to win here again today, I managed to beat my brother for the first time this year and to surf that final against one of my best mates in a man-on-man heat was incredible,” he stated. “All our European crew has been surfing so well this year again and we’re all super motivated to do well at the World final at the end of the year !”
Fleury with the runner-up position today nets his best result since 2013 when he reached the final of the Real B Voice Pro Longboard in Japan. Unable to find the best waves in the final, Fleury had however been the form surfer all-week, claiming both the highest combined heat total and single wave score of the entire event.
“It got tough by the end there with the high tide and a lot less sets than before, I wish I could have gotten better waves cause I was so close to win an event finally,” he admitted. “Edouard is so strong, especially when it comes to the finals, he chose better waves and deserved to win. I’m still extremely happy with my performance this week and this really motivates me to fight for the title next year and try to put a stop to the Delpero’s supremacy !”
Today’s results cement Delpero’s second place overall in the European rankings and propels Fleury up to second ahead of Ben Skinner.
Newquay local Adam Griffiths (GBR), 28, claimed Britain’s best result today at Fistral with an excellent equal third place as his great run at the Boardmasters was halted by Fleury in the semis. He had previously eliminated good friend and fellow Cornish surfer Skinner in their quarterfinal matchup.
“I’m really stoked with the third place today, it’s my first event of the year as I had a couple of injuries keeping me out of the water this year I didn’t have too much luck,” he analyzed. “I had a really good heat with Skindog earlier today, it’s always nice to beat him, we’ve been traveling and competing together for ages and he normally beats me.”
The musical side of the Boardmasters Festival will also conclude tonight at Watergate Bay with one last night of festivities. More information on the full festival lineup at boardmasters.co.uk.
Following the completion of the Boardmasters, Cornwall this week, surfers will now move on to South-West France for the upcoming Men & Women’s QS1,000 Médoc Océan Lacanau Pro from August 16-21.
Longboarders have now completed their four European events of the 2016 season and will look forward to representing their region at the Jeep World Longboard Championship, China presented by Wanning next December.
Final Men’s European LQS Rankings:
1 – Antoine Delpero (FRA) *** European Champion
2 – Edouard Delpero (FRA)
3 – Emilien Fleury (FRA)
4 – Ben Skinner (GBR)
5 – Martin Coret (REU)
Final Women’s European LQS Rankings:
1 – Alice Lemoigne (REU) *** European Champion
2 – Victoria Vergara (FRA)
3 – Carole Lormant (FRA)
4 – Kathleen Barrigao (PRT)
5 – Francesca Rubegni (ITA)
The Boardmasters, Cornwall are scheduled from August 10-14, 2016 at Fistral Beach, Cornwall – England. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to worldsurfleague.com.
The Boardmasters, Cornwall are supported by Surfers Against Sewage, Carve Mag, Corona, Relentless, Cornish Orchid, The Stable and MagicSeaWeed among others.
Kuda Huraa, Maldives (August 10, 2016) – Competition is underway at the 2016 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy with Day 1 seeing competitors return to basics and hitting the water on single fin boards. Taj Burrow (AUS) took out the division in pumping 3 to 4 foot clean right-handers at Sultans.
Burrow, who had only just ridden a single fin for the first time yesterday put on an amazing show all day pulling into barrels and smashing vertical reentries on the groomed walls of Sultans.
In the final, Burrow came up against former Pipe Master Rob Machado (USA). The two went blow for blow but it was Burrow who came out on top with a heat total of 14.94 (out of a possible 20).
“Surfing in a final on a single fin against Rob Machado is like a dream,” Burrow said. “That was just so much fun, the waves are sick and my board felt really good. It’s a bit bigger than what I’m used to but you could really push it through turns. I’m just having such a sick time here on Kuda Huraa we’re all being so spoiled.”
Machado, who was surfing on a board he shaped himself, was a real standout. Surfing a single fin at a wave like Sultans on your backhand is no easy task, but Machado made light work of it posting high heat scores all day.
“That was so fun out there,” Machado said. “The conditions are so dreamy today. It’s been so sick to catch up with Shane (Dorian) and the rest of the crew especially here in paradise. It doesn’t get any better.”
Last year’s event Champion Shane Dorian (HAW) came up against childhood friend and single fin master Machado in Semifinal two. Dorian tucked into a number of barrels for a heat total of 15.34 to tie with Machado who won on a count back due to receiving the highest single wave score of the heat.
“Rob and I have been competing against each other since we were kids,” Dorian said. “We’re good friends so it was super chilled out there. Rob is surfing as a good as he ever has so it was sick to share waves with him. It’s just such a pleasure to be back at this event.”
Semifinal one was an amazing duel between Taj Burrow and WSL Deputy Commissioner and former CT competitor Travis Logie (ZAF). Logie’s backhand was on point going vertical on critical sections to earn himself a heat total of 17.06. He was unable to overcome Burrow’s division high score of 18.44.
“They were the best waves I’ve had in a heat in over ten years,” Logie said. “Taj was just getting tubes and I was doing a million turns, it was so fun. It’s always great when you both get opportunities. The conditions are perfect for a single fin, just so good.”
In one of the slower heats of the morning, Hawaii’s Jamie O’Brien was unable to find an early score as the ocean went flat. As the heat progressed he began to develop momentum as the waves built. Left needing a 8.40, O’Brien took off on one of the better looking waves of the heat pulling into a long barrel across the inside section; unfortunately it was after the siren and O’Brien bowed out of the day’s competition.
“This is such a unique contest,” O’Brien said. “When a wave comes through and it’s your turn, it’s a real treat; this wave is so perfect. It was a real challenge to ride the single find, you have to take off a bunch of talent and just go with the feel of it. It’s really cool out there, everyone was super relaxed so it was really cool.”
Local Trials Winner Hussain ‘Iboo’ Areef (MDV) had to ask a friend if he could borrow a single fin as the young Maldivian had never ridden one before. His lack of experience did not show as the goofy footer nailed backhand hit after backhand hit. His heat total of 12.40 was not enough to move into the Semifinals so Areef will now set his sights on the twin fin division.
“Riding a single fin is really different,” Areef said. “You have to really slow everything down. It was so cool too see Travis, Jamie and Shane surfing up close they were all ripping. I surf out at Sultans a lot and it can get really busy so having it with only four people out there was awesome.”
Check back at WorldSurfLeague.com for more images and information on the 2016 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy or on the WSL App as competitors ready themnselves for the twin fin division.
Single Fin Division Results
Round 1
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.67, Rob Machado (USA) 14.67, Bethany Hamilton (HAW) 13.56
