Photo above: Marc Lacomare (Hossegor,FRA) won the opening event of the season and takes the lead on the 2008 ASP Europe Pro Junior ratings

Peniche, Supertubes, Portugal (Friday, April 25, 2008) - Marc Lacomare (FRA), 18, claimed the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Europe 3-Star Rip Curl Pro Junior powered by Renault today at Peniche, Portugal, to take the lead of the 2008 season. Lacomare, who lives in Hossegor, made his way during two days of solid three to six foot (one to two meter) waves, defeating Medi Veminardi (REU) in the first man-on-man final ever held at a Pro Junior event in Europe.

Lacomare, a promissing ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) surfer used to the French hollow beachbreaks, ended up winning with a solid 15.00 point heat tally (out of possible 20) against Veminardi. Posting an excellent 8.83 point ride in the first ten minutes of the 30-minute final, Lacomare led all the way to his first crown of the season.

"I am stoked I won this event," Lacomare said. "I want to thank my coach Stephen Bell for helping me in all my training and travel organisation this year because it is already making a difference."

Lacomare, who ended up 6th on the overall 2007 Asp Europe Junior ratings, opens this year’s campaign with a win at one of the biggest events of the year.

"I missed out my qualification for the ASP World Junior Championships at Narabeen by one spot last year," Lacomare said. "With this win, I am on for the regional title and am already looking forward to the next event in Tenerife."

The European Pro Junior tour will head to the Canarian archipelago on the ilsnad of Tenerife in June, and Lacomare is already a favorite in the ASP Europe 4-Star Pro Junior.

"I had my first WQS final at the exact location where the event will take place," Lacomare said. "I am 100% focused on the juniors this year and I cannot wait to be there."

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The Rip Curl Pro Junior Surf & Music Festival powered by Renault is organized by Alfarroba, for Rip Curl, along with sponsors Renault, B!, Tmn and support from Câmara Municipal de Peniche, Bombeiros Voluntários de Peniche, Sapo.pt, Pólen Surfboards, Fonte Viva, LG Computers, Konica Minolta, Península de Peniche Surf Clube, Magic Box and Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). To help on the event’s diffusion, we count on MegaFm radio, Destak journal, Sport Tv, websites Surf.Sapo.Pt, Conquilha.com, Hi-Life.Tv and FreeSurf Magazine.