| World bodyboarding title to be decided in the Canary Islands |
| Thursday, 10 November 2011 10:18 |
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The 2011 IBA World Tour title will be decided in the Canary Islands. Pierre-Louis Costes has beaten tour leader Jeff Hubbard, from Hawaii, in the fourth round of the Encanto Pro Puerto Rico. His fourth round loss allows those chasing him to catch up, forcing the world title to be decided in three weeks, across the Atlantic. Riders still in contention for the world title started to think of the multiple scenarios. Meanwhile, reigning world champion Isabela Sousa scored a ten point ride, in perfect four to six foot conditions. She took off deep on a set wave, bottom turned into a long barrel, came out and landed a tidy air reverse worthy of her title. Hopes of a Puerto Rican in the women's final were ended when Natasha Sagardia narrowly lost her semi-final in the last heat of the day to Australian Women's Tour champion, Lily Pollard. Pollard kept priority and waited patiently for a good wave to improve her situation as time slipped away, 30 seconds from the end of the heat a wave came to her. She scooped into a sucky right and rolled out of the bowl and into the flats and took the win from Sagardia. Six quarterfinalists - Amaury Lavernhe from Reunion Island, Jake Stone from Australia, Jared Houston from South Africa, Pierre-Louis Costes from France and Brazilians Magno Oliveira and Uri Valadao - all have a chance to win the world tour if they win this event. Dave Hubbard from Hawaii and Roberto Bruno from Brazil make up the other two quarterfinalists.
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