CÔTE SAUVAGE, Royan – France (Saturday, 14 July, 2012) ? Semi-finalists at the Sooruz Royan Atlantique Pro Junior were decided today during another long day of competition with the strong winds battering the main contest site at the Côte Sauvage. Peaky 3-4ft waves were on offer with the high tide mark providing the best conditions of the day as Europe?s best under-21 surfers provided exciting action for the crowds lining the beach.
The Sooruz Royan Atlantique Pro Junior is part of a crucial series of Pro Junior events being staged in Europe over the upcoming weeks culminating in August with the crowning of the ASP Europe Pro Junior Champions.
Frederico Morais (PRT) 20, ignited in his quarter final by opening his account with an excellent 8.17 out of 10 to then back up with an incredible air-reverse to claim the highest two-wave total of the event 14.50 out of 20. The powerful natural footer went from strength to strength building confidence for finals day of the Sooruz Royan Atlantique Pro Junior.
?Since my first heat I was looking for a section for airs,? explained Morais. ?In these waves there are some nice ramps. The section just came to me and I tried the air and landed it. I knew I had a couple of scores and my heat was kind of controlled so I went for it and landed it. It was difficult and I got two good scores so I am stoked. Hopefully I have a good heat tomorrow in the semis and get through to the final. And then we will see.?
Kieren Bulard (REU) 20, classified for the semi-finals despite a slow start which saw him building on his scores to finish ahead of Natxo Gonzalez (EUK) 16, in a low scoring tight clash. Bulard eventually hooked onto a peeling right which allowed him to lay down a series of back-hand hacks for a 7.00 out of 10 and the heat win.
?I was a little bit stressed but then I got a four-point ride and got in the rhythm a little bit. I then found a good one so I am happy. It is hard out there to find the good ones. There is sometimes a bowl but then it goes flat after the take-off so it is really hard to find the good wall. It was a heat with a hard level so I am happy to pass this one.?
Gonzalez also took off on the previous wave to Bulard to pull off two strong back-hand snaps to solidify his runner up position. The young Basque surfer now finds himself in the business end of the event on the final day of the official waiting period.
?I am very pleased to make that heat with such good surfers in it. I was able to get a couple of scores at the beginning and then build on them. I was sitting on the peak and I caught a left and then straight after I got that right-hander. I ended up in second place and I am stoked.?
Diego Mignot (FRA) 16, made his best result of the season leap frogging into first position to advance ahead of an inform Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 18. The young goofy footer who is currently based in Mexico showed clean flowing carves and powerful backhand snaps in the tricky wind affected peaks.
?I am really happy with this result to get into the semi-finals. I had some scores but it took me time to find the two good waves. In the end that right came through and I got two turns and the score. It is a very good result for me to get to the semi-finals.?
Francisco Alves (PRT) 19, capped off the day?s action with a win in quarter-final nº4 to earn his pass through to the semi-finals along with Luis Eyre (GBR). Alves, who surfed brilliantly in his Round Four encounter with an excellent 8.00 out of 10 on a long peeling left that included a variety of snaps, floaters and carves, battled through his final heat to graft out a low scoring win in the deteriorating conditions late in the afternoon.
?I managed to get two waves so I am happy. All the heats are difficult now and I just tried to focus on my surfing. It was no one?s game out there tactically in these kind of waves so the person who catches the eave is going to get through. I was lucky to get that 5.00 and I am happy. For the tomorrow the conditions are going to be better so I hope I have a good rest and will do my best in the semis.
The Sooruz Royan Atlantique Pro Junior will reconvene tomorrow, Sunday 15th July at 10 am for a possible start shortly after and running through to the crowning of both the men?s and women?s Sooruz Royan Atlantique Pro Junior champions.
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The Sooruz Royan Atlantique Pro Junior is made possible with the support of the following event partners: Sooruz, Agglomération Royan Atlantique, France Station Nautique – Pays Royannais, Région Poitou-Charentes, la Charente Maritime, Office National des Fôrets, La Tremblade, Saint Palais sur mer, Virgin Radio, Mona Lisa, Fédération Française de Surf, Entreprise Pitel amongst others.
Upcoming Sooruz Royan Atlantique Pro Junior Men Semi-final Match-Ups
Heat 1: Diego Mignot (FRA), Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), Kieren Bulard (REU), Natxo Gonzalez (EUK) Heat 2: Frederico Morais (PRT), Andy Crière (FRA), Francisco Alves (PRT), Luis Eyre (GBR)
Upcoming Sooruz Royan Atlantique Pro Junior Women Semi-final Match-Ups
Heat 1: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Marion Bouzigues (FRA), Leticia Canales (EUK), Lucia Martino (ESP) Heat 2: Maud Le Car (FRA), Tanika Hoffman (ZAF), Cannelle Bulard (REU), Ainara Aymat (EUK)
Sooruz Royan Atlantique Pro Junior Men Quarter-final Results
Heat 1: Diego Mignot (FRA) 11.50, Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 11.24, Tom Cloarec (FRA) 6.80, Andrew Petrelluzzi (GLP) 5.63 Heat 2: Kieren Bulard (REU) 11.50, Natxo Gonzalez (EUK) 10.07, Roberto D’Amico (ITA) 6.50, Miguel Blanco (PRT) 5.40 Heat 3: Frederico Morais (PRT) 14.50, Andy Crière (FRA) 9.53, Ugo Robin (FRA) 8.27, Ian Fontaine (FRA) 6.67 Heat 4: Francisco Alves (PRT) 9.24, Luis Eyre (GBR) 9.17, Vincent Romero (ESP) 8.40, Timothee Bisso (GLP) 4.07
Sooruz Royan Atlantique Pro Junior Men Round Four Results
Heat 1: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 11.50, Roberto D’Amico (ITA) 8.80, Borja Agote (EUK) 7.23, Jordan Oueslati (GLP) 6.00 Heat 2: Tom Cloarec (FRA) 11.84, Miguel Blanco (PRT) 11.33, Jose Ferreira (PRT) 8.10, Arthur Lasse (FRA) 5.03 Heat 3: Kieren Bulard (REU) 12.47, Diego Mignot (FRA) 11.23, Gaspard Larsonneur (FRA) 9.90, William Aliotti (FRA) 8.70 Heat 4: Natxo Gonzalez (EUK) 9.67, Andrew Petrelluzzi (GLP) 8.24, Juan Fernandez (ESP) 5.06, Guillaume Cassaigne (FRA) 4.60 Heat 5: Frederico Morais (PRT) 11.66, Luis Eyre (GBR) 7.70, Aldric God (FRA) 6.46, Manix Bikuna (EUK) 3.50 Heat 6: Ugo Robin (FRA) 11.93, Timothee Bisso (GLP) 10.27, Alex Gironi (EUK) 10.20, Simon Sew-Heng (REU) 5.30 Heat 7: Francisco Alves (PRT) 10.17, Ian Fontaine (FRA) 9.67, Dimitri Ouvre (GLP) 8.93, Nelson Cloarec (FRA) 8.37 Heat 8: Vincent Romero (ESP) 12.84, Andy Crière (FRA) 7.76, Vehiatua Prunier (PYF) 6.67, Pedro Correia (PRT) 5.67
Remaining Sooruz Royan Atlantique Pro Junior Men Round Three Results
Heat 9: Frederico Morais (PRT) 12.67, Timothee Bisso (GLP) 9.24, Maurice Meyerwestphal (REU) 6.90, Maxime Astesano (GLP) 5.17 Heat 10: Luis Eyre (GBR) 14.00, Simon Sew-Heng (REU) 6.94, Imanol Yeregi (EUK) 6.50, Tomas Fernandes (PRT) 5.33 Heat 11: Ugo Robin (FRA) 14.34, Manix Bikuna (EUK) 6.73, Pablo Goncalves (REU) 6.20, Maxime Bobet (FRA) 4.60 Heat 12: Alex Gironi (EUK) 8.06, Aldric God (FRA) 7.06, Bruno Reinhardt (FRA) 6.44, Vicent Escale (FRA) 5.86 Heat 13: Ian Fontaine (FRA) 12.00, Vehiatua Prunier (PYF) 11.50, Nomme Mignot (FRA) 10.60, Luis Diaz (CNY) 4.47 Heat 14: Francisco Alves (PRT) 12.17, Vincent Romero (ESP) 12.00, Jorgann Couzinet (REU) 7.23, Martin Coret (REU) 6.83 Heat 15: Andy Crière (FRA) 11.47, Nelson Cloarec (FRA) 10.60, Tom Bellevergue (FRA) 5.44, Charly Termeau (FRA) 4.94 Heat 16: Pedro Correia (PRT) 8.97, Dimitri Ouvre (GLP) 8.10, Luke Dillon (GBR) 7.50, Gatien Delahaye (GLP) 4.87
