Portugal’s Joao Guedes carving up a clean Galacian wall in the Round of 96.
PLAYA DE PANTIN, Galicia/Spain (Tuesday, August 27, 2013) - The opening day of the Pantin Classic Galicia Pro was completed in clean 3-4Ft surf at the iconic praia de Pantin in Galicia. Top women surfers opened up the show this morning completing the first two rounds of competition before letting way to the men’s first round and half of the second. The intense 28 heat day enjoyed clear blue skies and fun surf for both divisions.
Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 21, rising talent from Brazil and semifinalist in the previous star event in Lacanau, fired up this morning in the very first heat of the men’s event, posting an impressive 16.53, which he backed up with another strong heat in the second round. Crisanto will join the event’s top seeds in round 3 tomorrow.
“I had a great heat this morning with good waves, and it was more complicated this afternoon.” Crisanto commented. “I’m still stoked to get through. I’ve been working super hard with my coach Richard Marsh and this event is a good training before the very important Prime in the Azores.”
Veteran European tourer Ruben Gonzalez (PRT) 35, eliminated another standout surfer of the first round, Santiago Muniz (ARG), and qualified alongside fellow Portuguese surfer Filipe Jervis. Gonzalez collected an excellent 8.17 for a succession of four massive turns on a long running lefthander to net one of the strongest combined heat totals.
“My plan was to go surf the left side of the area cause there were some really nice waves there,” Gonzalez said. “Then the tide turned and it wasn’t so good anymore so I went back to the main peak. I had a good rhythm and found some fun gems. I’m stoked for Filipe, we have many great surfers in Portugal and I hope they’re going to get good results as well.”
“I watched the spot with Ruben before and he told me where he was going to surf,” Jervis continued. “I started on the right side, but when I saw his first wave I decided to join him. As soon as I got there the wave got weird. My heat was pretty much just the last ten minutes and I managed to get a nice one with a couple turns, and in the last seconds I tried an air too. Tom Cloarec was really close and I thought I was going to lose, so I’m stoked I’m through.”
Other notable facts today include France’s power-surfer Joan Duru’s performance, netting the highest scoring ride and heat total of the day in the first round. Duru will surf in the remaining heats of the second round tomorrow. Jordin Watson (AUS) also qualified in high fashion and will be a force to reckon with in the next round.
Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 17, recent third place finisher of a 6-Star event in South-America, dominated the women’s event proceedings this morning, posting the highest heat total of the event so far. The young surfer from Barbados advanced through both rounds with stylish surfing and radical manoeuvers.
“It was fun, I’ve been watching it all-day and conditions kept changing all the time even through the heat,” Tuach said. “I knew I had to get a good one out the back and try to build from there, and thankfully the waves came to me and I had a lot of fun! I love the waves here, when we first drove up I was like wow this is going to be a great contest! A little colder than I expected but overall it’s just great. I came into Spain feeling really confident and trying to see how I compare with the best and so far it’s going well.”
Demi Boelsterli (USA) 22, made her way through two rounds of competition and will face ASP Top 17 member Paige Hareb (NZL) when competition recommences. The Californian built confidence and local area knowledge from her first heat to score higher in the next.
“I kind of had the place more dialed in from this morning, and it was fun,” Boelsterli stated. “I got two that lined up and hit that little inside reform and it let me go at it. It’s my first time here in Pantin and I just love it, it’s beautiful. I wasn’t really happy with my result in France so I want to go further for sure. My boards are working great and suit these waves really well so I’m having a lot of fun!”
Next call will be held tomorrow Wednesday morning at 9:30am to reassess conditions and decide of the day’s schedule.
The 2013 Pantin Classic Galicia Pro is scheduled from August 27 – September 1, 2013 in Playa de Pantin, Galicia. For all results, photos, video highlights, press releases and LIVE webcast, log on to aspeurope.com/pantin2013.
