William Cardoso (BRA), 22, won the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 5-Star Movistar O'Neill Pantin Classic in three foot (one meter) waves defeating Michel Bourez (PYF) in the final man-on-man battle of the week winning 2000 valuable points counting for the international ratings. Cardoso, who defeated Bourez in tricky conditions, ended a week of high performance big wave surfing after posting some of the event's best scores for his maiden WQS victory.

"I am over the moon right now and I am stoked to get that win," Cardoso said. "It was a week of great waves and I was just feeling good and relaxed. It ends up perfectly for me and today is a special one as I placed second in an event exactly a year ago and I wanted to better that."

Cardoso, who will surf in the upcoming event next week, was impressive all week in the massive ten foot (three meter) waves and it was no surprise to see him grab the title today.

"I like big waves and we had the biggest swell of the summer this week so I was definitely hoping to get a big result," Cardoso said. "I had a tough time this year with an injury that kept me out of the water for two months after an operation and this win definitely puts me back on track for the race. So stoked."

Michel Bourez (PYF), 23, did a remarkable comeback by reaching the final today after a disappointing European leg. Bourez, who posted one of four perfect 10.00 point rides of the event on Day 4 of competition, was on fire all week enjoying the big swell but lacked a last wave in the final encounter and finishes overall second.

"I am happy for William (Cardoso) because he surfed really well in the event and totally deserves to win it," Bourez said. "I could not really hear the scores out there but I knew I had to get a second good wave so I waited for a set but it never came. There was nothing i could do but I am happy with that final."

Bourez, who jumps back to No. 26 on the ratings, will be much awaited at all big events coming up including the Canarian 6-Star Prime rated one and the Hawaiian contests where his shallow-reef experience will be a great assett.

Day 2 of the Movistar O’Neill Pantin Classic was treated to a full day of action with twenty heats taking place in testing five to eight foot (1.5 to 2.5 meter) waves taking the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 5-Star event into the top seeded surfers’ round with big names getting their start in the event.

William Cardoso (BRA) took top honours again winning Heat 5 of Round 3 with the second best heat tally of the event so far including the best wave score, respectively 16.56 points (out of a possible 20) and a near perfect 9.73 (out of a possible 10) to advance. Cardoso, a power surfer from Brazil, was at ease in the testing eight foot sets and defeated defending champion and current ASP WQS No. 9 Marlon Lipke (DEU) to secure his spot in Round 4.

"I am pretty stoked with that heat and I was lucky to surf with the tide coming in because it cleaned up the line-up," Williams said. "I had that good 9.57 point ride yesterday in Round 2 and I did better in that one so it is a great confidence boost."

Cardoso, who lost early in all events in Europe this summer, came to Pantin with a fresh mental ready to start from scratch and get a result under his belt.

"It has been pretty hard for me and I was feeling very bad after that loss in Ericeira last week," Cardoso said. "I decided to try harder in a positive way and it seems like I am back on the right path so I am stoked. I cannot wait to paddle back out and surf those big waves coming soon, it seems like it will very solid Friday."

Cardoso’s performance was just a starter to the upcoming show with most of the current ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) leaders being present at Pantin.
The opening clash of Round 3 saw last week’s ASP WQS 6-Star runner-up Patrick Gudauskas (USA) come up with some of the most impressive surfing of the day posting a 7.83 point ride out of a possible 10 after landing an eight-foot high floater on one of the set waves.