Medina Makes History for Airwalk Pro Jnr Win, Lecar Wins Girls Comp and Defay is ASP Euro Junior Girls’ Champ
Gabe Medina (BRA) surfed a perfect heat at the Airwalk Pro Junior.
LACANAU, France (Monday, August 15, 2011) – Gabriel Medina (Maresias, BRA) and Maud Lecar (Saint Martin, FRA) have won the ASP 2-Star Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior today in clean consistent rippable three-foot (one meter) waves, respectively in the men’s and women’s divisions while Joanne Defay (St Leu, REU) secured a second ASP European Women’s Junior title after placing runner-up in the event.
Adding an impressive record to his brilliant career and making ASP history, Medina dominated the Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior with a never-seen before performance comprising seven consecutive heat wins by combination, three perfect 10 point wave scores, a perfect 20 point heat score (out of a possible 20), the event’s top 9 wave scores and top 7 heat scores.
With unstoppable two-meter high front-side airs, upside-down air reverses and finishing the final with a rodeo flip, the four-day “Medina Show” finished in world-class fachion in front of thousands of cheering spectators.
“I am super stoked to get the win and to get it with such good scores,” Medina said. “It’s been a great event, and I have just enjoyed it so much. Heat after heat the waves were good and the sand banks delivered for the final. It’s a great feeling to win the ASP junior event and looking forward to the 6-Star.”
Surfing relaxed and delivering the best surfing ever witnessed in an ASP Sanctioned European Pro Junior event, the soon-to-become ASP Top 32 elite member Medina will comfortably get his 6-Star event campaign underway tomorrow at ease on the high-tide quality sand banks of the French surf city.
“I felt good the whole event and it’s promising for the 6-Star,” Medina said. “I just did my thing and will be looking at doing the same when the main event starts. It’s my first pro junior win actually, and after seeing all surfing champions make a great Junior career, it means a lot to me to win here.”
Taking a first ASP event win today and consequently qualifying for the ASP World Junior Tour finishing second overall, French Caribbean Maud Lecar (Saint Martin, FRA) was able to select the final’s best waves and unleash some solid carving surfing on the peeling shorebreak lefthanders to wrap-up the 2011 ASP European Women’s Junior Series in great fashion.
“To win my first Junior event in front of such a crowd and in good waves is just amazing,” Lecar said. “I was pretty stressed at the start of the final but slowly got back to my game plan and waited for the bombs to let my surfing go and finally win the thing. Finishing the year off like that and now being secured for the Asp Women’s World Junior Tour means everything right now.”
Final event on this year’s ASP European Women’s Junior Series, the Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior witnessed a close title showdown with rankings’ leader Canelle Bulard (Reunion island, FRA) missing out on the title in the final heat of the year and letting 18-year-old and former champion Joanne Defay take a second ASP European Junior Girls crown in Lacanau.
“I was stressed throughout the last events and went through a busy year with high school graduation and the tour,” Defay said. “I was losing a bit of confidence but I felt good heat after heat here and to clinch the European crown for the second time today has made my year. I was aiming at making the ASP Women’s World Junior cut and it’s done, along with the title.”
All event results, news and photos available at www.aspeurope.com
ASP European Pro Junior Series Video highlights at http://www.zapiks.com/pro/asp-europe/
AIRWALK MEN’S LACANAU PRO JUNIOR RESULTS
Final:
1st, Gabriel Medina (BRA)
2nd, Medi Veminardi (REU)
3rd, William Aliotti (FRA)
4th, Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Semi 1: Medi Veminardi (REU) 16.00, Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.50, Thomas La Fonta (REU) 13.37, Angelo Bonomelli (ITA) 12.46
Semi 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 20.00, William Aliotti (FRA) 16.20, PV Laborde (FRA) 15.60, Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 9.10
AIRWALK WOMEN’S LACANAU PRO JUNIOR RESULTS
Final:
1st, Maud Lecar (FRA)
2nd, Joanne Defay (REU)
3rd, Marie Dejean (FRA)
4th, Canelle Bulard (REU)
Semi 1: Canelle Bulard (REU) 13.47, Maud Le Car (FRA) 11.33, Lucia Martino (ESP) 6.94, Camille Davila (FRA) 5.60
Semi 2: Marie Dejean (FRA) 11.73, Joanne Defay (REU) 11.57, Justine Dupont (FRA) 11.00, Mara Abecassis (PRT) 8.13
Comments
Category: All ASP News, ASP Junior News
France turned it on again this year huh. Medina deserves this win, his on edge surfing at this level is impressive by anyone’s standards.
This kid is a MONSTER! I’ve never seen anything like this.