Final 16 Decided at ASP 6-Star Lusiaves Figueira Pro
FIGUEIRA da FOZ, Portugal (Friday, September 17, 2010) – The ASP 6-Star Lusiaves Figueira Pro went mobile again in search of the best possible conditions to run today’s session of competition. Setting up camp some 500 metres south of the main event site peaks in the 3-4ft range pulsed for some great displays of surfing.
Event officials had a tough decision on their hands when they were greeted with a very clean, straight swell that was basically a close-out from end-to-end. After checking other locations both north and south it was decided to make the most of the high tide period down the beach to run the eight heats of Round Four.
The decision proved successful with the guys blowing up on the fun peaks during the morning. Tanner Gadauskas (USA) set the standard with an explosive performance in his 25-minute heat to advance along with Shaun Joubert (ZAF) in one of the highlight clashes of the round. With the lead changing and Joubert in third place needing an excellent score to advance the young South African fought his way back with an impressive combination of turns on his next two waves to grab the lead.
However Tanner Gadauskas was not to be out done and smashed a long right hander to score a 9.00 out of 10 and take the victory. Gudauskas felt for Maxime Huscenot (FRA) who despite a solid performance found himself out of the event.
“That was the most exciting heat I’ve had so far definitely in a long time,” stated Gudauskas. “I think at one point of the heat all three of us had been in the lead so it was a see-saw battle.”
“It’s a bummer for Maxime, we’ve all been there in one of those heats where you get a big total and then the other guys get the rhythm. It was a fun heat and I am stoked to make it but I feel bad for Maxime.”
Austin Ware (USA) who is travelling with Gadauskas here at the Lusiaves Figueira Pro, found some long awaited form and finds himself with one of his best results of the year. Surfing strong on both the lefts and rights with flow and speed, Ware has set himself up to have a shot at the title with his impressive 16.50 out of 20 combined heat total, the next best behind Gadauskas’ 16.83.
“I took the opportunity to move to a different break, to adapt, set a strategy and it seemed like it paid off because I started to build a rhythm every wave I caught. By the end I was finding my way through the break pretty well. I feel like I have some confidence and some good strategy. One of my good friends and travel mate, Tannner is bringing the froth and it is making me more excited so I love it.”
“I had a fifth placing in Sri Lanka and other than that it has been a lot of Round of 48,” explained Ware. “I am always stoked to make it to the man-on-man because that brings a lot more excitement to be able to compete against one competitor and bring out your top surfing.”
Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) also claimed his best result of the season here in Figueira making it to the final 16 remaining competitors. Taking control from the outset, Gonzalez surfed sharp to gain the confidence he was lacking.
“Before this result today I have only had one Round of 24 finish and the truth is that I haven’t even surfed very well. I haven’t felt good in the other events because of the waves we’ve had but here I feel really comfortable at this contest. The waves are great fun and I am surfing with a small board and in this heat it went well and that’s what is needed if you want to advance.”
“I started off strongly,” continued Gonzalez about his heat. “Then I controlled the heat. It was very tactical and I was able to take control from the start and get two good scores which is what you have to do.”
Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) came out on top in one of the most stacked heats of the day to advance along with Marc Lacomare (FRA) and oust an in form Mitch Coleborn (AUS). Knowing he had a tough job on his hands, Zubizarreta started strongly and then followed it up with a final solid ride. Coleborn never found his rhythm and was unlucky with wave selection during the heat which he finished off with the wave he needed however seconds after the final siren had sounded.
“The guys in my heat can do crazy airs and yesterday they were ripping the left,” stated Zubizarreta. “I was a bit scared if they started to get lefts today but I was lucky that I got off to a good start right when the heat started with a high score and then I focused on getting another one.
“Not many more came through after that and Marc got a couple of 6’s and was leading but in the end I got my score and got back the lead. Mitch is very dangerous because he can easily pull off a 9 point ride so it was a tough heat and I am really stoked to get through.
After assessing conditions at the end of the round and concluding that the tide was once again getting too low, event officials and surfers decided to come back tomorrow at 07:00am for a possible start to Round Five shortly after.
For all results, videos, daily highlights, photos and news log-on to
www.aspeurope.comUpcoming Round 5 Lusiaves Figueira Pro Match-Ups
Heat 1: Austin Ware (USA) Vs Wiggolly Dantas (BRA)
Heat 2: Richard Christie (NZL) Vs Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 3: Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) Vs Rudy Palmboom (ZAF)
Heat 4: Marc Lacomare (FRA) Vs Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY)
Heat 5: Tanner Gadauskas (USA) Vs Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 6: Shaun Joubert (ZAF) Vs Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 7: Jano Belo (BRA) Vs Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 8: Leonardo Neves (BRA) Vs Glen Hall (IRL)
Lusiaves Figueira Pro Round 4 Results
Heat 1: Austin Ware (USA) 16.50, Richard Christie (NZL) 13.86, Charles Martin (GLP) 10.67
Heat 2: Heitor Alves (BRA) 14.77, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 12.74, Andre Silva (BRA) 7.33
Heat 3: Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 13.73, Marc Lacomare (FRA) 13.10, Mitch Coleborn (AUS) 7.06
Heat 4: Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 13.23, Rudy Palmboom (ZAF) 10.03, Francisco Bellorin (VEN) 9.06
Heat 5: Tanner Gadauskas (USA) 16.83, Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 14.67, Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 13.90
Heat 6: Tim Boal (FRA) 13.50, Royden Bryson (ZAF) 10.44, David do Carmo (BRA) 10.37
Heat 7: Jano Belo (BRA) 13.33, Leonardo Neves (BRA) 10.24, Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 10.24
Heat 8: Glen Hall (IRL) 11.26, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 9.80, Pablo Paulino (BRA) 8.13
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