| Marc Lacomare wins the Vans Pro Junior in San Sebastian |
| Saturday, 26 July 2008 10:03 |
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Marc Lacomare (Hossegor, FRA), 18, won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-1 Vans Pro Junior today in consistent two to three foot (0.5 to 1 meter) waves at San Sebastian in front of a massive crowd. Lacomare, who defeated Reubyn Ash (GBR), Adrien Toyon (REU) and Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA) in a 35-minute battle, secured his second victory of the season after the ASP Grade-3 Rip Curl Pro Junior in Portugal last April. Lacomare, who dominated the event with several high scores including an impressive 17.00 point heat tally (out of a possible 20) to win the final, was a standout on the final day and left his opponents in need of a combination of two waves to catch up with him in the 35-minute decider. "So stoked to get another win this year", Lacomare said. "I had a shocker in the Canarian event and was looking to gain confidence back and this win is sweet. A good revenge for me." Lacomare jumps back to second on the overall ASP European Junior ratings’ and remains in contention for the regional crown. He will still be chasing several big results if he wants to stay in the race with ratings’ leader Maxime Huscenot (REU). "I know it means a lot for the ratings but I am that much focused on figures right now", Lacomare said. "But I am definitely going for the regional title and I can’t wait to keep up the good work in the next events." Adrien Toyon (REU), 18, who placed equal 3rd in the opening event of the season, finished runner-up in the final going from third to second in the last seconds. Toyon, who confessed he was feeling well and going for the final at least, achieved his goal with this result and will head to the following event confidently. "I was tired during the final and was not able to really show my best surfing", Toyon said. "I had the bomb of the heat but did not make the best out of it and I lacked confidence after that." Toyon, one of four Reunion Island born surfers currently in the regional Top 10, put on a great performance troughout the event and looks forward to catching up with ratings’ leaders and friends. "I am focused on the end-of-the-year Top 5 and a spot for the ASP World Junior Championships in Australia", Toyon said. "I am happy with this result which will be a keeper for sure and the next step is to do something good in Australia if I get there." Reubyn Ash (GBR) and Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA) respectively placed 4th and 3rd in the last heat of the event. Ash, who was the only non-French surfer of the final, has been leading British surfing on the regional scale for several years and managed once again to shine and counter France’s domination up to the final where he could not do anything. "I gave what I had in this final", Ash said. "I lacked a second good wave to stay in reach of the title but and it never came. I will looking to do several other finals and I am reaaly focused on a qualification for the ASP WJC." Major upsets had happened earlier in the day and Reunion Island surfers Maxime Huscenot (REU) and Damien Chaudoy (REU) both suffered the domination of their opponents. Chaudoy, top scorer of the event thanks to an impressive 17.50 point heat result (out of a possible 20) on Day 2, lost in Quarterfinal No. 3 in the morning and could not repeat his excellent performances. Maxime Huscenot (REU), ASP European Junior ratings’ leader, finished equal 5th in the Vans Pro Junior today after he lost in Semifinal No. 1 to an impressive Lacomare. Huscenot, who remains in the lead towards the prestigious regional title, could not counter fellow French surfers Lacomare and Laborde and finished with an unusuallow 10.90 point heat tally (out of a possible 20). "The waves changed a lot today and I did not adapt well to the conditions", Huscenot said. "I was not patient enough and I should have waited for the better waves. I am already looking forward to surfing next week with new boards and get things going in Sopelana." Huscenot will attend the next event in Sopelana confidently. In all three events he attended on tour this year, he has not done worse than a semifinal finish, very promissing for the 16-year-old Reunion Island born surfer. "I will try and keep my lead and secure enough points at each event", Huscenot said. "I would love to take the regional title this year but if I don’t it will not be a problem. I still have four years as a junior." Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK), who was the best Basque surfer in the event, finished equal 5th as well and remains well in position in the ASP European Junior Top 5. Berasaluce, who has been very consistent this year, was much expected on his home lands of Euskadi (Basque Country in Basque) but failed to advance through to the final in Semifinal No. 2. "I suffered from the stress and pressure", Berasaluce said. "I missed the good waves and got an interference so I made it impossible just because of my mistakes." Berasaluce, 19, has been among Europe’s leading under-21 surfers for a couple of years now and finished No. 4 on the overall ratings last year which gave him his first ASP World Junior Championships (WJC) ticket. "I don’t want to look too much at the ratings but off course that I am here to win", Berasaluce said. "I know it will be very hard but the Top 5 finish is a priority. The next event is where I live so I know I will be comfortable there. Can’t wait to compete again." Yann Martin (GLP) and Hugo Palmarini (REU) were the other two semifinalists of the Vans Pro Junior. Palmarini, a 15-year-old Reunion Island born surfer, secured his best result to date with an equal 7th finish today and will be one competitor to watch when the tour moves on to its next venue of Sopelana in the Basque Country from July 31 to August 3. All news, results, photos and videos available at www.aspeurope.com FINAL SEMIFINALS QUARTERFINALS
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