All-Brazilian Final at the ASP 2-Star Billabong Surf Eco Festival
Bino Lopes advanced into the Quarterfinals of the Billabong Surf Eco Festival.
SALVADOR / Bahia, Brazil (Friday, September 02, 2011) – Eight Brazilian surfers will decide the title for the ASP World 2-Star Billabong Surf Eco Festival in addition to the U$5,000 in prize money and 500 points going towards the ASP One World Ranking and the ASP South America Ranking this Saturday at Jaguaribe Beach in Salvador, Brazil. Round 16 was completed in good conditions with waves in the 2 foot (0.5 meter) range.
The youngest surfer of the competition, Elivelton Santos (BRA) at the age of 15, scored the day’s highest heat-wave total by scoring a 16.00 (out of a possible 20 points) with an 8.5 and a 7.5 on his two best waves.
“I’m stoked to be winning my heats,” said Elivelton Santos. “I’m surfing with a lot of commitment and confidence and that helps to really go for it when I’m in the water. I really want to make the Final and who knows, maybe win it all.”
Veteran surfer, Christiano Spirro (BRA), 38, entered the competition as the Trials-Winner and will face Dennis Tihara in the Quarter-Finals scheduled for 12 pm local time (Saturday).
“I’m just stoked to be here playing around with the youngsters and surfing against people that are as old as the amount of time I’ve been surfing,” said Spirro. “I beat Armando Daltro and Dunga Neto who are also veterans, so it was just like the old days. Now I just want to do my best and hopefully come out on top. Anything can happen with all this talent around.”
Another local talent from Bahia to make it into the Quarter-Finals was Bino Lopes (BRA), 23, who will face Marco Fernandez (BRA), 19, the only surfer to score a perfect 10-point ride in the event so far.
“Yeah, the new generation is really coming on strong with Dennis (Tihara) and Marco (Fernandez),” said Bino Lopes. “But Christiano (Spirro) really surprised me. All the kids are surfing in a very innovative and modern way and he’s been going head to head with all of them. We already know it’s going to be an all-Brazilian Final, I just hope that I can be the one to take the trophy home.”
The biggest surprise of the event so far has been the 16-year old, Michael Rodrigues (BRA). Rodrigues made it to the Finals in the Pro Junior event earlier in the week and won one of the best heats of the day against some strong talent which included Ian Gouveia (BRA) and Pablo Paulino (BRA).
“These two events have been great for me,” said Michael Rodrigues. “That Final against Filipe Toledo, that heat against Caio Ibelli and now against all of the other great surfers…there’s just so much going on in my head now!”
The Surf Eco Festival is brought to you by Dende Productions and Axe Mix and presented by Billabong and is sponsored by the State of Bahia, the City of Salvador and by Petrobras, Skol, Azul Airlines and Monster Energy. Together, the event organizers combine sports with local artistic presentations to promote environmental education throughout the week at Jaguaribe Beach. Live: www.surfecofestival.com.br and www.aspsouthamerica.com.br
QUARTER-FINALS BILLABONG SURF ECO FESTIVAL:
QF 1: Pablo Paulino (BRA) vs. Elivelton Santos (BRA)
QF 2: Cesar Aguiar (BRA) vs. Michael Rodrigues (BRA)
QF 3: Bino Lopes (BRA) vs. Marco Fernandez (BRA)
QF 4: Dennis Tihara (BRA) vs. Crhistiano Spirro (BRA)
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