COMPETITION INTENSIFIES ON DAY 5 OF THE QUIKSILVER ISA WORLD JUNIOR SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS
10 MAY 2007 -- Competition intensified today on day 5 of the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Costa de Caparica, Portugal as the elimination rounds got into full swing and the surfers pulled out all the stops in trying to stay in the game. Jayce Robinson from the Great Britain caused a huge upset in the Under 18 repecharge when he sent current European junior champion Joan Duru (France) packing, while also out-pointing Nicholas Von Rupp (Germany), the junior title holder in Portugal. “I am so happy,” said Robinson. “I cannot believe I beat such great surfers.”
Brazilian junior champ Alejo Muniz was also a standout today in the Under 18 repechage as he tore apart the small textured surf. “I am motivated because I know I cannot make any mistakes now,” he said. Muniz also addressed the controversy yesterday when his teammate, Jadson Andre, got into a heated confrontation with two Australian surfers. “We have no problems with the Australians. Our teams both compete very hard in the water, but once the heat is over we are friends,” he said.
The waves today at Praia da Mata dropped a bit and a strong onshore wind developed mid morning forcing contest organizers to call off the competition for the day at 1pm. Surfers will reconvene tomorrow morning for an 8am start. The difficult conditions meant that battles for waves were even more fierce today. Marco Fernandes of Brazil won his heat and then revealed his strategy afterwards. “My goal is to catch two good waves quickly and then start hassling,” said Fernandes. “On days like today it is important to control the peak.”
Host nation Portugal got a boost when one of its Under 16 surfers, Francisco Alves, narrowly took second place in his heat when his competitor Guillermo Satt of Chile was penalized with an interference. “I made a plan with my friend Kaito (Ohashi of Japan) and we tried to put Guillermo in a situation where he would get an interference and it worked,” said Alves.
The start of the repecharge meant the end of the competition for many young surfers. The hosting Hotel Costa de Caparica was abuzz with some competitors trying hard to focus on the contest while for others it was time to socialize and have some fun. “The great thing about this event is that the kids don’t leave when they lose,” said ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “They stay to cheer on their teammates and enjoy life since the pressure of competing is over. It’s amazing to see all the wetsuits and team towels hanging from the balcony of the hotel, to hang out with the kids at dinner and to see them up and down the halls sharing good times. I think a lot of friendships and even some romances are developing here. There is nothing like the ISA Team events. I'm so stoked to be part of it.”
The surf is forecasted to jump in size late tomorrow and should be solidly overheard for the final days of the event on Saturday and Sunday.
WATCH THIS EVENT LIVE ON YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN:
Go to www.isasurf.org or www.quiksilver.com/isa and watch the event and scores live, while listening to commentary by former World Champion Martin Potter.
ORGANIZATION: Caparica Surfing Clube
Praia do CDS –Costa de Caparica
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About International Surfing Association (ISA):?
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980. ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California.
It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since. The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Maile Aguerre (Hawaii) and Mike Gerard (USA).
www.isasurf.org
About Quiksilver:??Quiksilver, Inc. is the world's leading outdoor sports lifestyle company, which designs, produces and distributes a diversified mix of branded apparel, wintersports and golf equipment, footwear, accessories and related products. The Company's apparel and footwear brands represent a casual lifestyle for young-minded people that connect with its boardriding culture and heritage, while its wintersports and golf brands symbolize a long standing commitment to technical expertise and competitive success on the mountains and on the links.
The reputation of Quiksilver's brands is based on different outdoor sports. The Company's Quiksilver, Roxy, DC Shoes and Hawk brands are synonymous with the heritage and culture of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding, and its beach and water oriented swimwear brands include Raisins, Radio Fiji and Leilani. The Rossignol, Dynastar, Lange, Look and Kerma brands are leaders in the alpine ski market, and the Company makes snowboarding equipment under its Rossignol, Dynastar, DC Shoes, Roxy, Lib Technologies, Gnu and Bent Metal labels. The Company's golf business includes Cleveland Golf, as well as Never Compromise putters and Fidra apparel. Gotcha is the Company's surf-based European brand addressing street fashion. The Company's products are sold in over 90 countries in a wide range of distribution, including surf shops, ski shops, skateboard shops, snowboard shops, its proprietary Boardriders Club shops, other specialty stores and select department stores. The Company's corporate and Americas' headquarters are in Huntington Beach, California, while its European headquarters are in St. Jean de Luz and Moirans, France, and its Asia/Pacific headquarters are in Torquay, Australia.
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