| Taylor Jensen wins the Costa del Mar Pro Longboard |
| Monday, 17 November 2008 09:51 |
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Taylor Jensen (Oceanside, CA), 24, claimed a victory at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) 1-Star Costa Del Mar Pro Championships today over fellow finalists Harley Ingleby (Coffs Harbour, AUS), 25, Kekoa Uemura (Kaimuki, HAW), 26, and Tony Silvagni (Kure, NC), 21, in peaky two-to-four foot (1 metre) conditions. The ASP LQS gives all competitors a chance to qualify for the prestigious ASP World Longboard Tour (WLT). Once qualified, each surfer on the coveted tour strives to earn the title of ASP World Longboard Champion. Jensen, who won the last ASP LQS at Huntington Beach, the Honda U.S. Open, posted a repeat victory today with his win at the Costa Del Mar Pro Championships. The regular-footer jumped out to an early lead, ping a 9.00 score on his opening wave and expanded his lead throughout the heat. The Californian eventually walked away with the win by earning an impressive heat total of 16.67 out of a possible 20 point score. “I’m stoked to win back-to-back events at Huntington,” Jensen said. “The waves are good. Usually for the U.S. Open the waves are two inches, onshore and terrible and it’s just nice to get some good waves for the first time in a contest here.” The repeat victory for Jensen was no easy task however, as he defeated several ASP WLT competitors on the way to his Costa Del Mar Pro Championships win. “Those guys that are on the WLT that are in the Final really raise the bar a lot and it’s good to compete against them.” Jensen said. Ingleby, who finished third on the ASP WLT, finished second today and was in amazing form throughout the event’s entirety. The Australian got off to a slow start in the Final and was unable to find the scores needed to pass Jensen despite a remarkable effort. “I had a pretty slow start and I was comboed for about half the heat,” Ingleby said. “I got one good one and needed another high score to come back and I think my mentality was still in combo land and I went for more than I probably should have on the last wave, but I’m stoked." Silvagni, was the runner-up to Jensen at the Honda U.S. Open, and was a returning finalist at the Costa Del Mar Pro Championships. Silvagni finished fourth overall and was elated with the result. “I’m really happy to make the Final,” Silvagni said. “This is a really big result for me. I cannot be any happier. I’ve always done really well at this place.” The young surfer hailing from North Carolina expressed the significance of the Costa Del Mar Pro Championships due to the plethora of big name talents that competed throughout the event. "There’s so much talent in this contest,” Silvagni said. “With people like Colin McPhillips, Taylor Jensen and Harley Ingleby, they all surf really well. To have this type of talent here, with the guys from the ASP WLT sticking around, it’s made for a really good event.” Uemura was also in form today, combining stylish noserides and massive vertical snaps. Uemura finished third overall. Today’s Costa Del Mar Pro Championships marks the final ASP LQS event held in North America and the series will be back next year. For more on this weekend’s event, log on to www.surfpla.com For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org Costa Del Mar Pro Championships Final Results: Costa Del Mar Pro Championships Semifinals Results: (1st and 2nd advance) Costa Del Mar Pro Championships Quarterfinals Results: (1st and 2nd advance) Costa Del Mar Pro Championships Round of 32 Results: (1st and 2nd advance)
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