| The Sooruz Lacanau Pro surfs first waves |
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| Wednesday, 18 August 2010 21:14 |
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The Sooruz Lacanau Pro an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) sanctioned event ran through to complete 12 heats of Round One of competition with many outstanding high-level performances witnessed on the main contest peak setting the scene for what can be expected to come at the 31st edition of this ASP Men’s Star-Series 6-Star 145,000$US event. Peaks in the 3-4ft (1m) range were on offer and improved as the tide lowered during the late afternoon session of competition. Light winds with early morning rain which cleared away opened up a great day of action packed surfing from the strong international field of competitors at the Sooruz Lacanau Pro. Surfers competing at the Sooruz Lacanau Pro are out to add to their ASP World ranking with the valuable points on offer. European surfers are also chasing points for the overall European Men’s title here at stop nº 6 of 12 of the European Series. Miguel Pupo (BRA) did not let the huge crowd down as all eyes turned to heat nº4 to watch the young Brazilian carve and fly his way to a solid victory scoring a two wave heat total of 17.33 out of a possible 20 including an amazing 9.50 ride. Choosing to take lefts off the main peak Pupo started with a few solid rides slowly gaining momentum to eventually blow up with a strong snap followed by a massive aerial reverse to nail the highest single heat score of the day. “I got confident in Huntington and in the last contest there were no waves so I have come here wanting to do well because I want to get some results in Europe. I want to get more points for my ranking so I would like to win here or at least make a semi-final so I am going to do my best to do that.” “Lacanau is like a second home to me now because I have been coming here for 3 years and my first year I won the Pro Junior and the Expression Session and then last year I got a good result last year so it is great. At night I like to eat pizzas and the waves are like this in Brazil so here I just surf and eat. (laughs)” Kai Barger (Maui, HAW) 20, laid down some of the biggest turns of the day both on his backhand and his forehand showing that the former ASP World Junior Champion has a full repertoire of manoeuvres to impress the international judging panel. Hitting the water with a definite plan of attack Barger explains how he gained the upper hand on his opponents. “I paddled out on the left side and just back doored everyone so those sets that came right off the bat I got which was good because they were like the biggest of the whole heat so I just got lucky with the waves.” “So it was pretty sick out there,” explained Barger about the conditions on offer. “Waist to chest high with good little double ups so I thought it was fun out there. I surfed here for the first time last year and lost in the second round so I will try and do better for sure this time.” Maxime Huscenot (FRA) current ASP World Junior Champion was pushed to the wire in his 25-minute clash coming home in the last minute to place second behind Medi Vemenardi (REU) and advance into the next round. Getting off to a slow start being not able to find any high scoring rides Huscenot remained calm and gave it his best shot in the last 5 minutes. Falling short on his first attempt by the nearest of margins to finally, on his last wave, achieved his goal with a solid 6.50 out of 10. “It was not easy for me out there and I wanted to get the good waves but they were going to all the other guys. I waited and then at the end I was lucky and those two waves came. The first I almost got the score and then on the last wave I got in some good turns and the score I needed.” David do Carmo (Sao Paolo, BRA) 26, made everyone sit up and watch with an electric display of fast, rail-to-rail surfing in one of the first heats of the day. Scoring numerous solid rides to start with Do Carmo built on his scores finishing with two high scoring rides and a heat total of 15.87 out of a possible 20. On his first trip to Lananau the Brazilian is ready to make the most of his opportunity here in France. “It was good to start my first heat like that and it is my first time here in Lacanau and I am happy with my surfing today and I felt relaxed in the water and thanks to my sponsor principal I have been able to come here to compete and I am relaxed waiting for my next heat.” “I like it a lot to be here,” continued Do Carmo. “The waves today are small but good and to be here in France and I want to continue like this in the rest of the contest.” For all results, videos, daily highlights, photos and news log-on to www.aspeurope.com SOORUZ LACANAU PRO UPCOMING ROUND ONE MATCH-UPS SOORUZ LACANAU PRO ROUND ONE RESULTS
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