Gonzalez Lights Up Day 3 at Islas Canarias Ocean&Earth Pro by Gran Canaria
EL CONFITAL, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria – Spain (Friday, September 23, 2011) – The ASP 2-Star Islas Canarias Ocean & Earth Pro by Gran Canaria completed the third Round of competition today in perfect 5Ft powerful righthanders at the beautiful venue of ‘El Confital’, Gran Canaria. Four heats were surfed today, keeping the man-on-man action for the final day of competition tomorrow Saturday, September 24, 2011.
Canarian resident Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 31, was on fire today in the last heat against local competitor Jose Roman Grau (CNY). Gonzalez scored the highest two-wave combination heat total of the event so far, an impressive 18.50 out of 20, navigating through deep barrels and destroying the last section of each wave.
«I didn’t expect those waves because the tide was a little bit too low already but at the end it got more glassy and offshore and it was so much fun to surf these conditions with my friend in the heat. I think the two of us took the best position in the water and we got the best waves.»
Gonzalez started far along the point on what looked like a smaller wave, only to see it grow and bend around the reef perfectly, surfing the longest barrel of the event so far, and netting a perfect 10 point ride, the first of the event.
«Sometimes when it’s really glassy like that you can’t see the wave approaching but I knew it was going to be a long one and a good barrel. I didn’t expect it to be that long though ! The thing is when you’re surfing a heat you’re kind of stressed to get your scores and all so you actually don’t enjoy the wave just as much as when you free surf..»
Gonzalez, surfing the last heat of the day, couldn’t paddle in after the heat seeing all the perfect waves breaking and stayed for a 30mn freesurf with all his local friends in the water. The most exposed Canarian surfer on the Star Series knows the importance of such an event on the remote islands like Gran Canaria.
«It’s really good for the locals to be able to show what they can do in a smaller event like that. It’s good for the juniors too like we saw yesterday and I’m very happy to see them get through a couple more heats !»
Steven Pierson (PYF) 27, was another crowd pleaser today in the second to last heat of the day, finding deep barrels on multiple occasions, and netting the second highest heat total of the event, a 16.83 out of 20.
«It’s amazing here today, I feel almost like home. There’s some really good barrels out there and I can surf in the boardies which feels so much better than in a full wetsuit. The locals are really friendly with me too, cause I came here with Michel (Bourez) when he won the event a few years back, and I think because it’s an island as well we share a same sort of spirit with the Canarians.»
Pierson, who’s been absent from ASP events for the last three years, is enjoying being in great form again and performing on a wave he says compares to his home breaks in and around Tahiti.
«There are not many rights in Tahiti that offer tubes like that it’s mostly lefts, but on some islands around like Moorea I found some really good rights where I could practice for the last three years. So yeah I prepared myself for this event, I’ve been really looking forward to coming back here and surf amazing waves so I’m super stoked today !»
Coming in from his Round 3 bout, Steven Pierson was watching very closely the action going down in the last heat of the day, knowing he was going to face an excellent surfer in the quarter finals when competition resumes tomorrow.
«In the quarters I’m going to surf against the second of this next heat and I hope Jonathan (Gonzalez) will get first because he’s on fire and definitely the hottest surfer here in ‘El Confital’. It’s the fourth time I surf this wave and I’m really enjoying it so I hope I can surf a few more heats.»
Felix Ortega (CNY) 35, a local surfer from ‘La Cicer’ Gran Canaria, will be the third element of the Canarian trio in the Quarter Finals of the ASP 2-Star Islas Canarias Ocean & Earth Pro by Gran Canaria.
«The waves were just perfect today. I was so lucky I got some amazing barrels and I had so much fun out there. I’ve been coming to compete here at ‘El Confital’ since the very first edition I think it was in 2002 and that’s some of the best waves I’ve had here. My best result here was two years ago when I finished 3rd losing in the semi-finals and I hope to do even better this time !».
Ortega, displayed a perfect balance between deep barrel surfing and aggressive turns, to be rewarded a 7.50 wave. In a very hard fought third Round Heat, he managed to find a good back up scoring wave, and advanced through to the quarters along with Basque Country resident Norman Landa.
«I’m so happy to do good here at home in front of all the people I know. There’s all my friends and family here, and also the locals of ‘El Confital’ and I know they’re proud when I surf well» Ortega said.
The ASP 2-Star Islas Canarias Ocean & Earth Pro by Gran Canaria was called off after the completion of the third Round of competition today. Action will resume tomorrow Saturday, September 24, for the final day of competition with 7 heats of man-on-man action. Event officials have decided for a 9.30AM call tomorrow morning, for a possible immediate start with the quarter-finals.
The ASP 2-Star Islas Canarias Ocean & Earth Pro by Gran Canaria is scheduled from September 21-25, 2011. For more information, LIVE action and all upcoming results, photos, video highlights, press releases and LIVE webcast log-on to;
www.aspeurope.comUpcoming Islas Canarias Ocean & Earth Pro by Gran Canaria Quarter-Finals Matchups:
Heat 1: Adrien Toyon (REU) vs Norman Landa (EUK)
Heat 2: Tom Cloarec (FRA) vs Felix Ortega (CNY)
Heat 3: Steven Pierson (PYF) vs Jose Roman Grau (CNY)
Heat 4: Igor Munian (ESP) vs Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY)
Islas Canarias Ocean & Earth Pro by Gran Canaria Round Three Results:
Heat 1: Adrien Toyon (REU) 15.84, Tom Cloarec (FRA) 11.17, Nelson Cloarec (FRA) 8.70, Luciano Casillas Dorta (CNY) 5.10.
Heat 2: Felix Ortega (CNY) 13.03, Norman Landa (EUK) 11.43, Abdel El Harim (MAR) 10.50, Carlos Marques (CNY) 10.17
Heat 3: Steven Pierson (PYF) 16.83, Igor Munian (ESP) 11.06, Javier Medina (CNY) 11.00, Ian Fontaine (FRA) 10.17.
Heat 4: Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 18.50, Jose Roman Grau (CNY) 15.16, Romain Laulhe (FRA) 14.30, Jaymes Triglone (AUS)10.59.
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Gonzalez Lights Up Day 3 at Islas Canarias Ocean&Earth Pro by Gran Canaria
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Thema: [ASP News] Gonzalez Lights Up Day 3 at Islas Canarias Ocean&Earth Pro by Gran Canaria (Gelesen 3726 mal)
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