Action resumed at the Junior Pro Espinho early this morning under chilly, clear skies, light winds and shoulder-to-head-high surf.
Taking full advantage of the clean conditions contest organizers kicked off action at 7 a.m. sharp. The plan was to finish the remaining heats of Men’s Round 2 and all of Men’s Round 3. At the end of the day all 28 heats had been run and done.
Local standout Martim Paulino (PRT) had a great run through his early rounds but ultimately fell short in Round 3. While fellow countrymen Salvador Couto (PRT) and Guilherme Ribeiro (PRT)advanced on to Round 4, Ribeiro with the highest wave score of the day, a 9.04.
Defending event champion Marco Mignot (FRA) aced his heat with two solid scores for a heat total of 13.43.
“It was the first heat of the year pretty much for me and I felt kinda lost out there,” said Mignot. “I found a couple waves then I saw that left come through and I got two turns so I got the scores I needed. I’m stoked to move through and I can’t wait for the fourth round.”
The lanky regular foot moves into the next round where he meets Guilherme Ribeiro, Justin Becret (FRA) and Nicolas Guimond (FRA).
Diego Suarez Diaz (CNY) won his Round 3 heat with two steady scores, nothing exceptional but it was enough to see him through.
“The heat was slower than I would have liked,” said Suarez. “I like to start the heat quick but the conditions are tricky and I didn’t find a wave at the beginning. But then I found a five and I improved the score on a right.”
With 20 minute heats surfers were under the gun to get two good scoring waves. Dean Vanderwalle (DEU) squeaked through his Round 3 heat and echoed those familiar notes of early round stress sung by all the non-seeded competitors.
“It was just stressful, but luckily I got two waves,” said Vandewalle. “But it was a totally stressful heat. The waves are fun and there are some good ones but it’s easy to be out of position and you have to be in just the right spot.”
Occasionally surfers made it through with just one good score. Despite not having a decent backup score Kauli Vaast (PYF) advanced through his Round 3 affair with a 6.67 and only a 2.00 as a backup.
“It was hard to get the good ones,” said Vaast. “I had priority and then I saw this one come through. I did three turns and got a 6.67. And then I went out the back and waited ten minutes and didn’t get another wave. So I’m lucky that the other guy didn’t get the score.”
A number of surfers fell to priority blunders today. In total 4 surfers commited interferences through Rounds 2 and 3.
When action recommences the Men’s will dive into Round 4 action. The women’s event was on hold today.
Contest officials will make the next call tomorrow morning at 7:50. The forecast is for a major storm to come ashore Friday afternoon and pummel Espiinho through Saturday.
