SAN JUAN, Lanzarote/Canary Islands (Thursday, October 25 2012) – Day 3 of the ASP 6-Star Islas Canarias Santa Pro started in fading 2-3Ft swell and sideshore winds before conditions gradually improving to decide the last 16 competitors in contention for the prestigious crown and a share of both ASP World Rankings points and prize-money on offer in Lanzarote.
Lucas Silveira (BRA) 16, an unknown Brazilian Junior competitor, put in a sensational performance, dominating a three-man affair against compatriot Filipe Toledo and outing Brian Toth (PRI) in their Round of 24 battle. The young talented surfer admitted to having dreamed of his first appearance here in Lanzarote and might see his wishes come true if he makes another heat tomorrow.
“I’m only 16 and this is my best result in a Star event for sure,” an ecstatic Silveira stated. “This is the first time I’ve made heats in a major event, and also the first time I’ve traveled abroad for an event. I’m surfing with no pressure against the World Tour guys, I have nothing to lose. I’m trying to have the most fun I can and I’m loving the conditions here! Europe is the last continent I was to visit and so far I love it! I want to thank my dad who encouraged me to come one day before the flight.”
Filipe Toledo (BRA) 17, stormed through today’s competition posting excellent scores on the board to make his way into the fourth round. The flying Brazilian eliminated Glenn Hall (IRE) from the event in a very disputed round 3 bout which he came out on top with an excellent 17.86 out of 20.
“I’m feeling pretty good, yesterday I couldn’t really put a good heat together but today I managed to get a couple high scores and I was more relaxed. Lucas (Silveira) is a really good friend, congrats to him, he surfed really well in that last heat.”
Toledo was also responsible for the biggest upset today in the European Title race, defeating current frontrunner Marlon Lipke (DEU) who is still leading the rankings but will see his future determined by the performances of his opponents, including Romain Cloitre (FRA) who needs a Quarterfinal berth to overtake Lipke. Toledo will be facing Willian Cardoso (BRA) when competition resumes for a coveted spot in the Quarterfinals.
Nathaniel Curran (USA) 28, current World No.40, is chasing the precious ranking points available in Lanzarote towards his qualification campaign and continued his impressive run in the event, moving ahead of an in-form Jean Da Silva (BRA) and eliminating Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) in the process.
“I feel good, I have a good board and I’ve been in Europe for a couple weeks and the waves are fun if you get the right ones,” Curran said. “I don’t feel any pressure, I kind of had a bad year last year and my goal was just to be in the Top 50, you know obviously I want to be at the top, but this year I just wanted to do freesurf trips and only select events. I’m excited. I’ve had some close heats at the U.S Open and I feel like my surfing’s right there so I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing!”
The European crew did great in today’s tricky conditions, with Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 32, leading the pack and winning a tense Round 3 heat against Nike teammate Nat Young (USA) and WCT competitor Matt Wilkinson (AUS).
“I’ve been feeling really relaxed in the last few contests and it helps a lot to succeed.” Gonzalez stated. “In this contest I always started my heats with good waves early on, so that helped to stay calm at the peak and gave me the advantage over the other guys. I haven’t been taking too many risks but just doing the job. I’m super happy and thankful to La Santa for organizing the event and hopefully they’re happy and continue the next few years.”
Gonzalez joins six more Europeans in the names of Aritz Aranburu (EUK), Romain Cloitre (FRA), Tiago Pires (PRT), Adrien Toyon (FRA), Vincent Duvignac (FRA) and Marc Lacomare (FRA) in the fourth round of the event, which makes for an exciting European Title race with three surfers still able to steal the Title from the hands of Marlon Lipke.
“I think the guys get more motivated in the Euro leg, it’s a lot harder for us Europeans to earn a good result in America or Australia, so to be at home brings confidence especially for me here in the Canary Islands. I’m stoked for Aritz (Aranburu) and Marc (Lacomare) and all the other guys too.”
Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 19, World No.115, scored an excellent heat total of 16.34 but could only come second to a destructive Willian Cardoso (BRA) who powered his way through the two rounds of the day. De Vries is nonetheless assured another good result in Lanzarote and reflects on his overall goal for the 2012 season.
“My goal coming into Europe was to crack the Top 100 to enter the primes next year, and after Zarautz I knew I needed another good result so this could be it,” De Vries said. “Any goal achieved is one of the best feelings in the world, so I’m really happy about that.”
De Vries was anxious after his first heat today regarding the choice to run through the next round of competition but was finally stoked to have another opportunity to surf the quality waves of San Juan.
“In Europe I always get confused because at home we don’t get such big tides. On the high tides everyone was scoring on rights and this is such a good left you know. Next I got home for a bit, ate a pizza, came back and the waves were like 3-4 Ft little lefts, perfect for the contest. Willian’s got carves the size of me and when he does a turn he really lays into it! I’ve just been trying to pretend to throw some spray but you know he’s got me in both battles but hopefully we meet again further along in the contest for a revenge on the big panda bear.”
Tiago Pires (PRT), Vincent Duvignac (FRA) and Marc Lacomare (FRA) all put up a great show today claiming high scores on their way to a Round of 16 qualification and will be serious contenders when the event resumes tomorrow. The WCT qualification race also heated up with the early eliminations of Granger Larsen (HAW), Nathan Yeomans (USA), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), and Brian Toth (PRI).
Tomorrow morning organizers will reconvene at 8:15am to decide for a possible final day’s schedule at San Juan, Lanzarote – Canary Islands. Man-on-man action will start tomorrow with Heitor Alves (BRA) opposed to Gabe Kling (USA) in the first heat of the Rd16.
The ASP 6-Star Islas Canarias Santa Pro is scheduled from October 23-28, 2012 in San Juan, Lanzarote / Canary Islands. For all results, photos, video highlights, press releases and LIVE webcast, log on to lanzarote.aspeurope.com.
The Islas Canarias Santa Pro is made possible with the support of the following event partners: Gobierno de Canarias, Islas Canarias Water Sports Experience, Cabildo de Lanzarote, Servicio Insular de Deportes, Lanzarote Reserva de Biosfera, Ayuntamiento de Teguise, Ayuntamiento de Tinajo, Sands Beach Active, Stilo Vitae – Sands Beach Center, FCS Federacion, SURFERS Village, Naviera Armas, Windguru, Graficas Alayon, Grupo Creativo Ferver, Lanzawagen, Sport8.es, Embotelladora de Canarias, REINA, 7UP, Clipper, Lanjaron amongst others.
ISLAS CANARIAS SANTA PRO ROUND OF 96 RESULTS:
Heat 21: Nathan Yeomans (USA) 14.33, Marc Lacomare (FRA) 11.84, Steven Pierson (PYF) 7.47, Davey Cathels (AUS) 4.03 Heat 22: Simao Romao (BRA) 13.57, Romain Laulhe (FRA) 9.57, Stu Kennedy (AUS) 8.33, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 7.87 Heat 23: Charles Martin (GLP) 9.77, Manuel Selman (CHL) 8.77, Mitchel Coleborn (AUS) 6.47, Norman Landa (EUK) 4.33 Heat 24: Chris Friend (AUS) 11.50, Tiago Pires (PRT) 9.24, Jose Maria Cabrera (CNY) 8.44, Natxo Gonzalez (EUK) 5.20
ISLAS CANARIAS SANTA PRO ROUND OF 48 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Heitor Alves (BRA) 12.67, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 11.36, Dion Atkinson (AUS) 9.76, Marlon Lipke (DEU) 7.17 Heat 2: Romain Cloitre (FRA) 11.17, Guillermo Satt (CHL) 10.57, Evan Thompson (USA) 10.43, Granger Larsen (HAW) 9.67 Heat 3: Gabe Kling (USA) 14.60, Michael Dunphy (USA) 11.17, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 10.32, Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 9.24 Heat 4: Nathaniel Curran (USA) 14.30, Nat Young (USA) 13.67, Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 8.40, Leandro Usuna (ARG) 5.90 Heat 5: Jean Da Silva (BRA) 14.57, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.83, Billy Stairmand (NZL) 7.86, Cristobal De Col (PER) 6.63 Heat 6: Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 15.33, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.87, Alain Riou (PYF) 10.06, Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 9.10 Heat 7: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 10.60, Brian Toth (PRI) 10.40, Patrick Beven (FRA) 9.86, Medi Veminardi (REU) 5.17 Heat 8: Willian Cardoso (BRA) 15.50, Lucas Silveira (BRA) 15.17, Jay Thompson (AUS) 14.00, Hodei Collazo (EUK) 11.23 Heat 9: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 17.86, Hizunome Bettero (BRA) 12.94, Glenn Hall (IRL) 12.20, Nic Von Rupp (DEU) 8.50 Heat 10: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 13.70, Adrien Toyon (FRA) 12.67, Luel Felipe (BRA) 11.26, Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 9.86 Heat 11: Tiago Pires (PRT) 15.43, Manuel Selman (CHL) 10.73, Nathan Yeomans (USA) 9.97, Simao Romao (BRA) 6.44 Heat 12: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 17.00, Chris Friend (AUS) 11.73, Charles Martin (GLP) 10.07, Romain Laulhe (FRA) 8.26
ISLAS CANARIAS SANTA PRO ROUND OF 24 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Heitor Alves (BRA) 13.30, Romain Cloitre (FRA) 6.27, Michael Dunphy (USA) 4.47 Heat 2: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 14.83, Gabe Kling (USA) 10.33, Guillermo Satt (CHL) 8.97 Heat 3:Nathaniel Curran (USA) 14.70, Jean Da Silva (BRA) 12.50, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 12.36 Heat 4: Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 12.76, Nat Young (USA) 11.76, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 9.76 Heat 5: Willian Cardoso (BRA) 17.17, Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 16.34, Hizunome Bettero (BRA) 13.27 Heat 6: Lucas Silveira (BRA) 13.93, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.70, Brian Toth (PRI) 12.50 Heat 7: Tiago Pires (PRT) 17.67, Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 16.40, Chris Friend (AUS) 11.00 Heat 8: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 16.73, Adrien Toyon (FRA) 15.44, Manuel Selman (CHL) 6.20
UPCOMING ISLAS CANARIAS SANTA PRO ROUND OF 16 MATCHUPS:
Heat 1: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs Gabe Kling (USA) Heat 2: Romain Cloitre (FRA) vs Aritz Aranburu (EUK) Heat 3: Nathaniel Curran (USA) vs Nat Young (USA) Heat 4: Jean Da Silva (BRA) vs Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) Heat 5: Willian Cardoso (BRA) vs Filipe Toledo (BRA) Heat 6: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) vs Lucas Silveira (BRA) Heat 7: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs Adrien Toyon (FRA) Heat 8: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) vs Marc Lacomare (FRA)
