Titouan Boyer and Ariane Ochoa win the inaugural Pro Junior event in Biscarrosse.
Titouan Boyer, 17, and Ariane Ochoa, 17, have won the inaugural Junior Pro Biscarrosse in wind-affected conditions of two-to-three feet. A marathon final day picked up where we left off on the second day of competition to complete 28 heats of both the men and women's events.
In an exciting men's final, Marco Mignot, Titouan Dubos, Titouan Boyer and Ruben Vitoria all threaded fun little waves at the start to exchange the pole position.
Boyer even took to the air in the final. - WSL / Damien Poullenot
Boyer, on his backhand, was the first to step things up with a combination of two powerful gauges for a 7.57 and a firmer hold on the lead with his solid backup of 6.83. Despite multiple efforts from his closest competition in Mignot, Boyer was never really threatened and walked away with his maiden JQS win.
Boyer preferred the rights in the morning glassy conditions. - WSL / Damien Poullenot
"Before today I hadn't won an event in a long time so the pleasure is immense," he stated. "I got injured last year and was out for almost five months due to an injury on my right knee so to come back to a good level and take out the event is awesome. Now that the tour has gone to under-18 we have a great opportunity as the younger surfers to get some experience towards starting the QS soon after. It was definitely much much harder in the last few years."
With his win and the allocated 1,000 ranking points, Boyer climbs all the way up to No. 1 on the European JQS, tied with Thomas Debierre who suffered an early exit in Round 5.
Marco Mignot, who had put on some of the strongest performances throughout the event, couldn't find his waves in the final and was left chasing an excellent score. At only 15 years of age, Mignot takes runner-up, a career-high, and will pose a threat in future events and seasons among the European Junior contingent.
Mignot was one of the strongest surfers all event. - WSL / Damien Poullenot
"I'm super stoked for Titouan, we've been surfing together for years and he's a really good friend and even though I wish I'd won I'm really happy for him," he admitted. "I almost lost in the quarters and managed to get through in the last three minutes so I'm thankful to make the final, especially here in France."
The women's final was a lot tighter with Teresa Bonvalot, Nina Reynaland Neis Lartigue all exchanging low scores in the complicated lineup. Ariane Ochoa started much stronger, scoring an impressive 8.17 on her backhand to move into first. She kept the lead until the final horn.
Ochoa gets chaired up the beach. - WSL / Damien Poullenot
This is Ochoa's second Junior event win after her success in Espinho last year and climbs to the top spot on the regional rankings--also in a tie, with Bonvalot--heading into the next stop in Espinho, Portugal.
"It was a very difficult contest in tricky conditions and basically all in one day for me so I'm extremely tired surfing that many heats but also very, very happy, I'm lost for words," she said. "It's been a long time since my last win and it's so good to relive that feeling. Today was exhausting, staying wet and cold all day in between rounds but it's always worth it when you end up first."
France's Reynal, who had a great start in Portugal last month with an equal third place result, continued to improve throughout the event to finally claim the runner-up spot to an in-form Ochoa. Reynal solidifies her third place on the overall rankings and will be looking to climb even further up the regional ladder for a potential shot at the World Juniors qualification when the dust settles on this 2016 European Junior season.
Reynal reaches a career-best runner-up spot in Biscarrosse. - WSL / Damien Poullenot
"I'm really super happy because the waves were definitely not easy but my choice to select the lefts on my backhand worked out well," she reflected. "I feel like I improved since the last event, I went home and worked a lot so I think it starts paying off. I know there's only one better spot and I'm going to need to work even harder to get there but I'm motivated and we'll see how it goes."
The biggest surprise in the women's draw was the unlikely counter-performance of Bonvalot in the final, but with a win in Caparica and a third place in Biscarrosse she will stay atop the European rankings leaving France.
Bonvalot was a strong favorite for the event win before the final with turns like this. - WSL / Damien Poullenot
Following the completion of the Junior Pro Biscarrosse, the current European Junior Qualifying Series Top 5 are as follow:
European JQS Men's Top 5:
1- Titouan Boyer (MAF)
1- Thomas Debierre (GLP)
3- Marco Mignot (FRA)
4- Luis Perloiro (PRT)
5- Joao Moreira (PRT)
European JQS Women's Top 5:
1- Teresa Bonvalot (PRT)
1- Ariane Ochoa (EUK)
3- Nina Reynal (FRA)
4- Nadia Erostarbe (EUK)
5- Néis Lartigue (FRA)
Competitors will meet next at the Junior Pro Espinho from June 23-26, 2016 in northern Portugal.
Boyer and Ochoa Win Junior Pro Biscarrosse
WSL
Titouan Boyer, 17, and Ariane Ochoa, 17, have won the inaugural Junior Pro Biscarrosse in wind-affected conditions of two-to-three feet. A marathon final day picked up where we left off on the second day of competition to complete 28 heats of both the men and women's events.
In an exciting men's final, Marco Mignot, Titouan Dubos, Titouan Boyer and Ruben Vitoria all threaded fun little waves at the start to exchange the pole position.
Boyer, on his backhand, was the first to step things up with a combination of two powerful gauges for a 7.57 and a firmer hold on the lead with his solid backup of 6.83. Despite multiple efforts from his closest competition in Mignot, Boyer was never really threatened and walked away with his maiden JQS win.
"Before today I hadn't won an event in a long time so the pleasure is immense," he stated. "I got injured last year and was out for almost five months due to an injury on my right knee so to come back to a good level and take out the event is awesome. Now that the tour has gone to under-18 we have a great opportunity as the younger surfers to get some experience towards starting the QS soon after. It was definitely much much harder in the last few years."
With his win and the allocated 1,000 ranking points, Boyer climbs all the way up to No. 1 on the European JQS, tied with Thomas Debierre who suffered an early exit in Round 5.
Marco Mignot, who had put on some of the strongest performances throughout the event, couldn't find his waves in the final and was left chasing an excellent score. At only 15 years of age, Mignot takes runner-up, a career-high, and will pose a threat in future events and seasons among the European Junior contingent.
"I'm super stoked for Titouan, we've been surfing together for years and he's a really good friend and even though I wish I'd won I'm really happy for him," he admitted. "I almost lost in the quarters and managed to get through in the last three minutes so I'm thankful to make the final, especially here in France."
The women's final was a lot tighter with Teresa Bonvalot, Nina Reynaland Neis Lartigue all exchanging low scores in the complicated lineup. Ariane Ochoa started much stronger, scoring an impressive 8.17 on her backhand to move into first. She kept the lead until the final horn.
This is Ochoa's second Junior event win after her success in Espinho last year and climbs to the top spot on the regional rankings--also in a tie, with Bonvalot--heading into the next stop in Espinho, Portugal.
"It was a very difficult contest in tricky conditions and basically all in one day for me so I'm extremely tired surfing that many heats but also very, very happy, I'm lost for words," she said. "It's been a long time since my last win and it's so good to relive that feeling. Today was exhausting, staying wet and cold all day in between rounds but it's always worth it when you end up first."
France's Reynal, who had a great start in Portugal last month with an equal third place result, continued to improve throughout the event to finally claim the runner-up spot to an in-form Ochoa. Reynal solidifies her third place on the overall rankings and will be looking to climb even further up the regional ladder for a potential shot at the World Juniors qualification when the dust settles on this 2016 European Junior season.
"I'm really super happy because the waves were definitely not easy but my choice to select the lefts on my backhand worked out well," she reflected. "I feel like I improved since the last event, I went home and worked a lot so I think it starts paying off. I know there's only one better spot and I'm going to need to work even harder to get there but I'm motivated and we'll see how it goes."
The biggest surprise in the women's draw was the unlikely counter-performance of Bonvalot in the final, but with a win in Caparica and a third place in Biscarrosse she will stay atop the European rankings leaving France.
Following the completion of the Junior Pro Biscarrosse, the current European Junior Qualifying Series Top 5 are as follow:
European JQS Men's Top 5:
1- Titouan Boyer (MAF)
1- Thomas Debierre (GLP)
3- Marco Mignot (FRA)
4- Luis Perloiro (PRT)
5- Joao Moreira (PRT)
European JQS Women's Top 5:
1- Teresa Bonvalot (PRT)
1- Ariane Ochoa (EUK)
3- Nina Reynal (FRA)
4- Nadia Erostarbe (EUK)
5- Néis Lartigue (FRA)
Competitors will meet next at the Junior Pro Espinho from June 23-26, 2016 in northern Portugal.
Neis Lartigue
Reef break lights up for second day of action.
Competition surged through opening round action of the women's Florida Pro QS 3,000 with some surprising performances.
European Junior title frontrunners Becret, Mignot, Lartigue and Erostarbe bring it down to the wire
Check out a selection of images from last year's event in Morocco.
Marco Mignot and Neis Lartigue come out victorious from a tricky finals day at the Junior Pro Sopela.
Junior Pro Biscarrosse
Reminisce with fine imagery from the inaugural Junior Pro Biscarrosse.
Titouan Boyer and Ariane Ochoa win the inaugural Pro Junior event in Biscarrosse.
Two heats run in the morning sun and glassy small surf before competition is postponed due to the high tide.
Small lines offered two heats of competition before the ocean went flat for the rest of Day 2 in Biscarrosse.
Surfers handle difficult conditions perfectly on opening day in Biscarrosse to provide action-packed day.