MAIN BEACH BUNDORAN, Ireland (Sunday, June 23, 2013) – William Aliotti (FRA) 19, has won his second Barefoot Expression Session in assoc. with Hurley in a row, in a rapidly increasing swell at Bundoran’s main beach. Defending champion of the event, Aliotti took full advantage of the windy peaks and powerful sections thrown at him all the way from the outside banks to the shorebreak ramps.
The progressive goofy-footer used his broad aerial repertoire to defeat UK’s Oli Adams, Toby Donachie and French compatriot Tom Cloarec, three other well known aerialists. Eventually it was William Aliotti’s huge forehand air reverse that got everyone watching excited and landed him the 1500 Euro winners cheque once again.
“I am so stoked !” Aliotti stated. “Ireland is now a special and lucky place for me. We had some amazing waves before the event and already I was stoked. Today although the conditions were tough at times I knew if I got the right section I had a chance. I’m really happy to have won again amongst some great surfers too. I’ll be back for sure.”
Aliotti will now try to build momentum from this win going into the European Junior series starting in just two weeks in France.
The event was held over two days with the first round held on Friday on the Main Beach in 2 foot shorebreak. The standard of aerial surfing was super high from all competitors with the event format rewarding progressive, innovative surfing. Ireland’s Geroid McDaid put in an impressive performance qualifying in the top 6 in the first round to go straight to the semi-finals. Ireland’s Andrew Meanie also found form in the second round landing a few impressive airs to the delight of his supporters.
“The wintery conditions that greeted us actually provided a great platform for our criteria of single best move,” Joel Gray, contest director commented. “This is an event the surfers love competing in and that vibe translated once again into top level performances !”
International surfers were stoked as the windy peaks and big sections allowed plentiful ramps to bust big moves. Prior to the event window some of the travelling surfers also scored a great clean swell and many will also leave with the memory of some sessions in classic Irish kegs.
Noah Lane (AUS) 24, won the Power Move for a whopping backhand smash in the Semi-final.
“For an expression session event it was super entertaining,” Lane said. “I thought there was a really high completion rate of progressive surfing and such a cool event format. It’s my first time in Ireland and I’ll definitely be coming back. Really friendly people and a great coastline.”
The 2013 Barefoot Wines Expression Session in association with Hurley was scheduled from June 21-23, 2013 at the main beach of Bundoran – Ireland.
The 2013 Barefoot Wines Expression Session in association with Hurley is made possible with the support of the following event partners: Barefoot Wines, Hurley, Mountain Dew, Vodafone, Maxol, Heineken, Desperados, RTE2 FM, OceanFM, The Irish Times, entertainment.ie, Stena Line, Kopparberg, Donegal Post, Maddens, Bundoran SurfCo, Failte Ireland, the Gathering, Cosgrove IT amongst others.
