Prozis Pro Jnr Espinho: Take 2

Espinho 2014 Final Highlights

Vasco Ribeiro and Tessa Thyssen claim the inaugural Espinho Surf Destination in Portugal.

The second edition of the Men & Women Junior Prozis Pro Junior Espinho is confirmed to be held from June 25-28, 2015. Following a successful first event last year that witnessed the victories of Tessa Thyssen (GLP) and Vasco Ribeiro (PRT), this event will be Stop N°2 of 5 in the European Junior Qualifying Series.

Located on the West-facing coast of Portugal, the iconic Espinho sits just a few kilometers away from the vibrant city of Oporto, making it the perfect holiday destination in Northern Portugal.

"WSL are pleased to be returning to Espinho after such a successful edition last year," Rob Gunning, WSL Europe Tour Manager stated. "The event is consolidating its place on the JQS series being the all important stop nº2 where surfers can gain valuable points on the JQS rankings. The ESD will also stage many side activations in conjuction with the event to ensure a full week of entertainment for the public who come visit the city during the waiting period."

Swells from most directions continuously hit the area and Espinho generates one of the best waves in the country. The immense breakwall on the Northern end of Praia de Baia shapes a perfect sandbank and produces a long, powerful and often barreling righthander.

After a first edition in 2014, praised by all contestants for its great athmosphere and on-site facilities, contest officials have decided to raise the bar once again and offer equal prizemoney for the men and women's event, to a whopping US$10,000 global purse.

"The idea behind our equal prizemoney effort is really to push the development of women's surfing and encourage more girls to enter the event," Gonçalo Pina, co-organizer of the event stated. "The level of surfing is pushed everyday but the number of surfers is still low so we really want to make a special effort for the women. We want Espinho to be a milestone in the future of women's international surfing events."

The European Junior Qualifying Series started last month in Caparica, Portugal and saw once again the level of performance rise in great conditions. Portugal's Miguel Blanco (PRT) and Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) are currently leading the rankings and will be looking to confirm their dominance in Espinho.