Debierre and Bonvalot take out the 2016 Caparica Junior Pro.
Teresa Bonvalot (PRT), 16, and Thomas Debierre, 15, have won the second edition of the Caparica Junior Pro today in wind-affected, two-to-three foot surf.
Debierre hits the rebound of a radical cutback - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Debierre was first to take action in the 30-minute men's final, and tried to keep active, scouring the lineup for opportunities to display his powerful forehand turns on the rights on offer. With two solid 7+ rides, Debierre claims his first-ever Junior win and takes an early lead in the 2016 European Junior rankings.
"I can't believe it!," Debierre said. "My goal coming here was to try and reach the quarters, so going all the way is a little bit unexpected ! Waves were tricky to find but I was lucky enough to get two fun ones and surfed it the best I could. I look forward to our next Junior event in Biscarrosse, this is an awesome start and I hope I can keep the ball rolling."
Perloiro's backhand was impressive - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Portugal's Luis Perloiro (PRT), 17, fought back on similar waves on his backhand but couldn't quite match Debierre's power and flow. Ultimately chasing an excellent score to get back in the lead, Perloiro placed runner-up on home soil.
"I'm really happy, of course I would have loved to win but my goal being to reach the Top 5 overall this season I'm stoked with this great start," Perloiro reflected. "I think I surfed a little too safe, I probably should have taken more risks and go vertically more instead of doing snaps. That's a lesson I'll learn and try not to repeat the same mistake."
In the women's final, Bonvalot managed to overcome her opponent in a very slow heat disputed in the bumpy surf of Praia do Paraiso this afternoon. With minimal scores on the board, every ride counted and the young Portuguese capitalized on an average wave to distance herself from Erostarbe and take her second consecutive win in Caparica.
Bonvalot continues to dominate in Caparica. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
"Today conditions were really tough, kind of stormy so I'm super happy to have managed to win," Bonvalot said. "It's my second time winning here and it feels awesome, I hope I can continue in the next events. Biscarrosse is going to be a challenge as well because it's a new spot I don't know, but I'm happy to travel there and discover, I really hope it's going to be warm and nice."
Despite an excellent run in Portugal, Basque Country's Nadia Erostarbe (EUK), 15, couldn't compose with the conditions on finals day and had to settle for the runner-up spot. On a roll since the final Junior event of 2015, Erostarbe will now need to confirm her excellent form comes Stop No. 2 of the series in France next month.
"I'm super happy with this result, unfortunately I couldn't do much in the final and didn't find any decent waves but that's how it goes," Erostarbe said. "I'm going to surf in the QS at home in Zarautz next week so I hope I can win a few heats there too as a wildcard. We've been traveling here with Ibon Amatriain, my coach, and a few other surfers from Zarautz, we have a good crew supporting each other so that's nice."
Erostarbe clinches a career-best result in Portugal - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Following the completion of this inaugural first Junior stop of 2016, surfers will have a month to recompose or keep their rhythm in anticipation of the Junior Pro Biscarrosse, Stop N°2 of the European Junior Qualifying Series.
Teresa Bonvalot, Thomas Debierre Victorious at Caparica Junior Pro
WSL
Teresa Bonvalot (PRT), 16, and Thomas Debierre, 15, have won the second edition of the Caparica Junior Pro today in wind-affected, two-to-three foot surf.
Debierre was first to take action in the 30-minute men's final, and tried to keep active, scouring the lineup for opportunities to display his powerful forehand turns on the rights on offer. With two solid 7+ rides, Debierre claims his first-ever Junior win and takes an early lead in the 2016 European Junior rankings.
"I can't believe it!," Debierre said. "My goal coming here was to try and reach the quarters, so going all the way is a little bit unexpected ! Waves were tricky to find but I was lucky enough to get two fun ones and surfed it the best I could. I look forward to our next Junior event in Biscarrosse, this is an awesome start and I hope I can keep the ball rolling."
Portugal's Luis Perloiro (PRT), 17, fought back on similar waves on his backhand but couldn't quite match Debierre's power and flow. Ultimately chasing an excellent score to get back in the lead, Perloiro placed runner-up on home soil.
"I'm really happy, of course I would have loved to win but my goal being to reach the Top 5 overall this season I'm stoked with this great start," Perloiro reflected. "I think I surfed a little too safe, I probably should have taken more risks and go vertically more instead of doing snaps. That's a lesson I'll learn and try not to repeat the same mistake."
In the women's final, Bonvalot managed to overcome her opponent in a very slow heat disputed in the bumpy surf of Praia do Paraiso this afternoon. With minimal scores on the board, every ride counted and the young Portuguese capitalized on an average wave to distance herself from Erostarbe and take her second consecutive win in Caparica.
"Today conditions were really tough, kind of stormy so I'm super happy to have managed to win," Bonvalot said. "It's my second time winning here and it feels awesome, I hope I can continue in the next events. Biscarrosse is going to be a challenge as well because it's a new spot I don't know, but I'm happy to travel there and discover, I really hope it's going to be warm and nice."
Despite an excellent run in Portugal, Basque Country's Nadia Erostarbe (EUK), 15, couldn't compose with the conditions on finals day and had to settle for the runner-up spot. On a roll since the final Junior event of 2015, Erostarbe will now need to confirm her excellent form comes Stop No. 2 of the series in France next month.
"I'm super happy with this result, unfortunately I couldn't do much in the final and didn't find any decent waves but that's how it goes," Erostarbe said. "I'm going to surf in the QS at home in Zarautz next week so I hope I can win a few heats there too as a wildcard. We've been traveling here with Ibon Amatriain, my coach, and a few other surfers from Zarautz, we have a good crew supporting each other so that's nice."
Following the completion of this inaugural first Junior stop of 2016, surfers will have a month to recompose or keep their rhythm in anticipation of the Junior Pro Biscarrosse, Stop N°2 of the European Junior Qualifying Series.
Thomas Debierre
The QS3,000 Pro Santa Cruz pres. by Noah Surf House continues in Portugal and Frederico Morais leads a talented field into the
The QS3,000 Pro Santa Cruz pres. by Noah Surf House continues in great waves and Europe's best tears apart the lineup with a flurry of
The top seeded men's Round of 64 hits the lineup and provides a full day of epic entertainment as some of the best surfers in Europe
The QS3,000 Rip Curl Pro Anglet runs through the last four-surfer heats rounds to decide the event's Quarterfinalists at Chambre d'Amour.
The men and women's Round of 64 are surfed over two days in fun conditions at the iconic Chambre d'Amour in Anglet.
Caparica Junior Pro
Debierre and Bonvalot take out the 2016 Caparica Junior Pro.
Surfers battle through difficult conditions to decide the last eight contenders.
The Junior fields get trimmed down to just four men and four women on the eve of the event's final day.
Small surf launches the Caparica Junior Pro with talented new field battling out in the Portuguese sun.
Day 1 of action unfolds in fun one-to-two foot surf at praia do paraiso in Caparica.