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Michel Bourez grabs ASP Europe 2006 Crown in Lanzarote, San Juan
October 21, 2006
The sixth day of the La Santa Surf Pro got underway at 8.45 AM, after yesterdayâ€(TM)s lay day to give the swell the opportunity to pick up. With a nice day to relax and prepare for the showdown, the surfers were ready to go this morning and didnâ€(TM)t wait long to grab their vests and paddle out in the clean 4 ft lefthanders at San Juan. Regional title contenders Michel Bourez (Pyf) and Eric Rebière (Fra) opened the day under a beautiful light, surfing the glassy faces with great power again. Kirk Flintoff (Aus) then got on fire to take the lead while Michel needed a 5 pointer to get back second place from Eric. In the last minute the tahitian toof off and destroyed the wave to get the points and keep on with his very good form, staying one of the favourites for the european title. â€oeIâ€(TM)m stoked I made this heat. It was a very difficult one and I feel like I was very lucky to take it from Eric. Itâ€(TM)s really good to be in the quarters of a 4 Star event because itâ€(TM)s precious points for the future. Moreover I know the european title is in reach and it would be good for me to get that one, just to prove to myself I can win something special like that,â€? said the 22 year old tahitian (Heat 1, round of 32).
The first half of the round kept on running in perfect shaped waves, the surfers enjoying their time in the thirty minute deciders. Some great action occured, Matt Wilkinson (Aus) leading heat 2 with a surprising form. The 17 year old surfer looked as usual with no pressure, going hard on each wave. With five minutes, Matty started with a vertical off-the-lip, followed with a great carve to take speed before busting a huge air 360° over the last section. Eneko Acero (Euk), the spanish basque surfer, was one of the good surprises winning his heat to advance to the four-men quarterfinals. â€oeI thought it was going to be a good consistent heat but the waves lacked for almost half of it. Then I got the good one to score the 7.83 pointer before getting an average one and stay ahead using tactics and keep my lead. Iâ€(TM)ve been away from the european ratings for sometime and it would be a great pleasure to reach the final. Points are precious for us here, as we know the wave,â€? finished Eneko answering the ASP TV (Heat 3, round of 32).
Young gun Jean Sébastien Estienne (Glp) surfed in a much anticipated heat where Russell Winter (Gbr) and Rodrigo Dornelles (Bra), high level surfers and former WCT member, were ready to fight. With the tide comng in, the sections were connecting more and more and the surfers destroyed the glassy walls. Answering one another on every set, Gony Zubizarreta (Esp) managed to take the lead and secure his spot in the quarters, followed by an onfire Dodrigo Dornelles (Bra). Sam Page (Aus) then brought everything up, when he paddled in a set wave to destroy the first section before floating for three seconds over the second section; the reward was the second best wave score of the event at that time, a 9.5 pts out of possible 10. Heat 7 was the shocker of the round, with Patrick Beven (Fra) facing Jonathan Gonzalez (Cny) and best scorer Hira Teriinatoofa (Pyf). In a great battle, Patrick eventually qualified behind an inform Jonathan. â€oeIâ€(TM)m happy to make this one. It was a crucial heat and facing some very good surfers so I feel like itâ€(TM)s a good start for the day. The waves are good, but I stressed up a little at the beginning and then felt better to get this 7+ pointer and secure the second position. I like this wave, i won last year, the year before, made the final before that and now I am in the quarterfinals,â€? started the french brazilian man. â€oeI donâ€(TM)t think about any points or ratings so far as my goal is to take it heat after heat,â€? said Patrick about the ratingsâ€(TM) race. (heat 7, round of 32).
The four-men quarterfinals got underway straight after heat 8, the increasing conditions making the high tide surf possible. After a convincing heat this morning, Kai Otton (Aus) seemed even better and opened with a 9.17 pointer that gave the win in front of Matt Wilkinson. Heat 2 was a great shocker when favourite Michel Bourez (Pyf) paddled out to keep his ferm grip on the regional title. Facing an inform Eneko Acero (Euk) who took first place after an 8.5 score, the tahitian fought hard against WCT member Yuri Sodre (Bra) and WQS ratingsâ€(TM) #16 Drew Courtney (Aus). Bigger sets were moving the wave more in the channel and some great time took place, power surfer Michel jumping to first after some huge custom made power turns. In the last minute, Drew and Eneko took off on the set waves to reach last day of event leaving Michel away.
European title contenders Gony Zubizarreta (Esp) and Patrick Beven (Fra) surfed in the third heat. With a spot in the man-on-man quarterfinals, Gony could seriously go for the title, still depending on Jonathan Gonzalezâ€(TM)s (Cny) result. In a stressful heat, the four boys surfed their fins out to stay on the path of both regional and event title. In great exchanges, Nic Muscroft (Aus) and Odirlei Coutinho (Bra) answered the euroforce surfers and stuck everyone getting both a qualifier leaving both Gony and defending champion Patrick Beven away from the title. The last heat of the day saw Jonathan Gonzalez surf against three internationals, him being the only one to have a chance to get the title from Michel Bourez. Waiting for the bombs of the sets, the 26 year old canarian took the lead but was smothered by brazilians Bernardo Miranda and Rodrigo Dornelles while Sam Page (Aus) seemed in difficulties. Jonathan then got back in the race, regaining second place with 8 minutes remaining. The aussie then got back to first, giving Michel Bourez his first ever Asp Europe title for 2006.
Congratulations to Michel Bourez (Pyf) for his 2006 European Title. The 4 Star WQS will finish tomorrow for its climax, as the WQS warriors will fight for precious points on the international ratings.
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