Final Four Decided at ASP Grade-2 Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior
LA CICER, Gran Canaria (Saturday, August 7, 2010) – The ASP Grade-2 Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior is down to the Semifinals after another intense day of competitive surfing that saw current ratings’ leaders take control in tricky wind-blown two-to-three foot (0.5 to 1 meter) waves at La Cicer.
ASP European Junior ratings’ leaders stepped-up to clearly deliver an unstoppable performance building on their growing confidence to secure a semifinal berth in style. Much expected after his third place finish in Sopelana, rising French athlete Tom Cloarec (Hossegor, FRA), 16, did not lose the opportunity to take the region’s lead until tomorrow’s showdown.
“It’s great to get through the Quarters and win my first ever one-to-one battle,” Cloarec said. “It was pretty new for me so I used basic tactics but focused more on letting my surfing speak and was able to keep the priority from Vasco (Ribeiro) until the end.”
Cloarec, who got into ASP Pro Junior events in 2009 only, has already got a thrilling start to his second season amongst Europe’s top Under-21 surfers and will be looking at claiming his first ever event win when he paddles out on the final day.
“I am actually not stressed at all with ratings and am really focused on every heat,” Cloarec said. “It’s more about having fun and just competing as I do when free-surfing so hopefully I can do my thing tomorrow and make another final.”
With more points and prize money on offer and added pressure as the second-to-last event on this year’s ASP European Junior Tour, the eight heats completed today meant crucial steps or significant failures towards both the regional Top 4 and junior title, the target of qualifying for the ASP World Junior tour being a priority for many.
Pursuing his excellent run in the event and confirming his ratings’ favourite status was Portugal’s Filipe Jervis (Ericeira, PRT), the 20-year-old athlete eliminating Basque standout Igor Muniain (Zarautz, EUK) to secure his Semifinal ticket and keep his regional ranking rising.
“I am super stoked to make the Semifinals and I really am enjoying my time,” Jervis said. “It is my last year in the junior division and I am ready to give my all in that event and build on this result to qualify for the ASP World Junior Tour.”
Jervis, who jumped into the spotlights of European surfing after his runner-up finish in Sopelana last week, displayed good combinations of both classical and progressive moves to convince the ASP judging panel, netting a good 12.00 point score to advance.
“I love pulling airs and I am definitely looking for any possible launching ramps,” Jervis said. “I’ve been doing it the whole event and I will be looking to push my turns as hard as I can.”
Joining Moroccan top athlete Ramzi Boukiam (MAR) to complete the final-four list was French Polynesian Kevin Bourez (Tahiti, PYF), the young promising surfer and younger brother of ASP Elite member Michel eliminating defending champion Charles Martin (GLP) in the last Quarterfinal of the day.
“I had nothing to lose against Charly (Martin) who is one of the best so I just went for it and ended-up winning so it’s great,” Bourez said. “I am not so used to surfing beach breaks and it is harder to find speed but it’s been okay for me so far so I’ll try and stay in the same frame of mind.”
Bourez, whose Semifinal berth is his best result on tour, will have to find his way through a much anticipated battle with other rising surfer Boukiam in Semifinal No. 2 tomorrow.
“I am just taking things relaxed because it’s more about building my experience and of course doing well but mainly to avoid pressure,” Bourez said. “Having the support of my brother Michel is just so helpful and we speak a lot so I hope this is my time.”
The 2010 Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior will finish tomorrow with remaining semifinals and final set to wrap-up around 2 PM.
The ASP Grade-2 Islas Canarias Santa Pro will offer LIVE scoring facility, news, photos and videos at www.aspeurope.com
Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior Semifinals
SF 1: Filipe Jervis (PRT) Vs Tom Cloarec (FRA)
SF 2: Ramzi Boukiam (MAR) Vs Kevin Bourez (PYF)
Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior Quarterfinals Results
QF 1: Filipe Jervis (PRT) 11.17 Def. Igor Muniain (EUK) 8.16
QF 2: Tom Cloarec (FRA) 11.50 Def. Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 10.70
QF 3: Ramzi Boukiam (MAR) 12.34 Def. Hugo Dubosc (FRA) 8.17
QF 4: Kevin Bourez (PYF) 12.86 Def. Charles Martin (GLP) 11.10
Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior Round 4 Results
Heat 1: Igor Muniain (EUK) 10.73, Tom Cloarec (FRA) 10.57, David Leboulsh (FRA) 8.37, Pierre Rollet (FRA) 6.10
Heat 2: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 13.57, Filipe Jervis (PRT) 9.30, William Aliotti (FRA) 8.80, Jules Thomet (FRA) 6.22
Heat 3: Ramzi Boukiam (MAR) 13.50, Kevin Bourez (PYF) 13.17, Dimitri Ouvre (FRA) 12.14, Kosme Fernandes (EUK) 5.13
Heat 4: Charles Martin (GLP) 12.34, Hugo Dubosc (FRA) 9.64, Luis Eyre (GBR) 8.87, Mario Azurza (EUK) 8.23
Category: All ASP News, ASP Junior News
