ESTORIL, Guincho, Portugal (Sunday, April 19, 2009) – Marc Lacomare (Hossegor, FRA), 18, claimed the ASP Grade-2 Estoril B! Pro Junior today at Guincho, back-up venue of the 2009 edition where consistent wind-blown three to five foot (1 to 1.5 meter) waves were breaking for the final day of competition. Lacomare, who came out on top of four consecutive battles to take top honours on the final day, defeated Joachim Guichard (DNK), 18, in a thirty-minute decider to clinch 1500 ratings’ points and take the lead of the 2009 ASP European Junior ratings.

Marc Lacomare, who was coming straight from an equal 3rd finish in the ASP WQS 4-Star event in France, used his building confidence with great tactics throughout the three-day competition, the French wunderkind finishing his victorious run with the highest wave score of the event, an impressive 9.67 point ride during his Semifinal, a good indicator of Lacomare’s current form.

“To win that event is another great step and I am really happy to take the win today,” Lacomare said. “The waves were hard, the wind was so strong and it wasn’t easy out there so I am definitely happy with that 8.17 ride I got. I injured one of my ankles a bit before coming here and I felt a small pain during the event but I was able to push my surfing and get big scores.”

Lacomare, who confirms his excellent form with this win, will now compete in the ASP WQS 6-Star Estoril Quiksilver Pro event starting Tuesday, April 21, on Estoril’s surf coast.

“I’ve been on a good roll for the last couple of weeks and I feel really good before starting in the WQS event coming-up,” Lacomare said. “Getting two results in a row definitely helps my confidence and I hope I can keep that good karma going next week. I am so stoked right now and enjoying the surf a lot.”

Estoril B! Pro Junior runner-up Joachim Guichard (DNK), 18, was left in need of an 8.67 ride to catch-up with Lacomare’s 13.50 point overall heat score and could not find any good scoring potential wave to reach his target and win the event. Guichard, who had to defeat his twin brother Luka in Semifinal No. 1 to advance through to his first ever ASP Pro Junior final, goes home with 1290 ratings’ points giving him a solid base to start with for his 2009 ASP European Junior Top 10 campaign.

“Marc (Lacomare) got that 8.17 right at the start and kept the lead all the way through to the end of the final,” Guichard said. “It is an excellent result for me, my best ever, and I am happy with that runner-up finish. I will now build on this to try and reach the Top 10 at the end of the year before going on the ASP WQS and take my chance.”
Guichard, whose finish rockets him to No. 2 on the regional ratings, will take part in the upcoming Estoril Quiksilver Pro as well where he will be an outsider to count with when he paddles out against some the world’s best surfers.

French young gun from Bidart David Leboulsh (FRA), 18, suffered Lacomare’s unstoppable form and finished equal 3rd in Semifinal No. 2, still his best result to date and very promising towards his comeback on tour. Leboulsh, despite an average 7.26 point heat score due to his lefthanders’ choice, will definitely be much awaited when the tour recommences next July.

“I am a bit disappointed because I did not show any good surf during that heat against Marc (Lacomare),” Leboulsh said. “I thought the lefthanders would give me some good potential to score but it kept closing out while Marc was ripping and I could not answer back.”

Leboulsh, who started his career when he was fifteen, pulled back from the tour for the last couple of years focusing on school but the young man secures a strong result in the Estoril B! Pro Junior showing he is ready to get back with serious intentions.

“I had a couple of good results when I was younger on tour and I am definitely coming back in 2009,” Leboulsh said. “It is one of my last years as a junior so I am aiming at the Top 5 on the ratings. That result is definitely a keeper so I’ll go with it and I am looking forward to surfing again this summer.”

Joachim Guichard’s twin Luka (DNK) was stopped by his brother on his way to the final, Luka needing a second good wave to keep any hopes alive towards his first ASP Pro Junior final. Luka, who has been following closely his brother’s progression in the last couple of years, was not able to find the better waves during the encounter and takes an equal 3rd finish for his 2009 ASP European Pro Junior campaign.

“The lefthanders were definitely harder with the strong wind blowing side-shore and I was not really in reach of the win,” Luka Guichard said. “Joachim is more powerful surfer and that made the difference on the set waves when pushing the turns hard. I am stoked for him and that equal 3rd is a great start to the year.”

Luka, whose best result before today was an equal 5th in the ASP Grade-1 Pro Junior event in Amado, Portugal last year, bettered his career best and secures a serious confidence boost before the 2009 tour gets back into business in July.

“This is my best finish ever and it is an excellent start for my last year as a junior,” Luka Guichard said. “My brother and I are aiming at a Top 10 finish this year then take our chance on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) and see how things go.”

ESTORIL B! PRO JUNIOR RESULTS
Final
1st Marc Lacomare (FRA) 13.50 pts
2nd Joachim Guichard (DNK) 9.10 pts

Semifinals
Heat 1: Joachim Guichard (DNK) 12.67 pts Def. Luka Guichard (DNK) 8.70 pts
Heat 2: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 16.84 pts Def. David Leboulsh (FRA) 7.26 pts

Quarterfinals
Heat 1: Joachim Guichard (DNK) 10.40 pts Def. Marcos Sansegundo (EUK) 7.50 pts
Heat 2: Luka Guichard (DNK) 12.66 pts Def. Medi Veminardi (REU) 11.77 pts
Heat 3: David Leboulsh (FRA) 15.17 pts Def. Joan Duru (FRA) 13.16 pts
Heat 4: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 12.67 pts Def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 10.83 pts

ESTORIL, Guincho, Portugal (Saturday, April 18, 2009) – The ASP Grade-2 Estoril B! Pro Junior went through an action-packed day of performance with no less than thirty heats being held in good two to three foot (0.7 to 1 meter) waves at Guincho, back-up venue of the 2009 edition with light on-shore winds and rains completing the set-up. Top seeds and outsiders had to get through two rounds today and sixteen men only remain in contention for the crown. The last eleven heats will run tomorrow Sunday, April 19, with the champion being crowned in the afternoon.

Major upsets took place during the 12-hour day with many of the event’s top seeds suffering wether shocker eliminations in Round 4 or close battles to advance in second position. Event top seed Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA), Damien Chaudoy (REU) and Jules Thomet (FRA), respectively rated ASP European Junior No. 5, No. 7 and No. 6 in 2008, were ousted by outsiders and rising junior campaigners. Dominating Day 2 of competition was unknown Brazilian representative Thomaz Petterson (BRA) who came up with both highest wave and heat scores of the event thus far, respectively an 8.83 (out of a possible 10) and a 17.16 heat combination (out of a possible 20).

“I had such a good heat in Round 2 and managed to unleash my surfing,” Petterson said. “It gave great confidence to score some big airs and go vertical so I am definitely enjoying my time here for my first ASP event ever in Europe. I came here for the ISA World Championships a couple of years ago and I am glad to be back in good form.”

Petterson, 19, who got through two rounds today placing second to other favourite and last year’s regional No.3 Marc Lacomare (FRA), will be much expected when Heat 3 of Round 4 paddles out tomorrow.

“I am looking forward to making a couple of more heats and I am happy to be here,” Petterson said. “I have friends encouraging me a lot and I have absolutely no pressure, I just want to have fun and surf at my best.”

Marc Lacomare (FRA), ASP World Junior No.3 and recent equal 3rd in the ASP WQS 4-Star Protest Vendee Pro in France, was in good form for start in the event, the Frenchman netting several solid scores including a couple of 8.00 point rides on his way to Round 4. Lacomare, 18, considered one of France’s next best hope towards the ASP World Tour along with Joan Duru (FRA), showed his surfing skills and heat tactics to best Petterson and keep his confidence up before tomorrow’s finals.

“Coming from a good result in France gives confidence and as I did over there, I am trying to let go and surf relaxed,” Lacomare said. “I have another couple of years before I have to leave the junior events so I want to enjoy and of course get a good start here.”

The Basque contingent stuck to the leading pack with longtime top representative Marcos Sansegundo (EUK) and Igor Muniain (EUK) securing a deserved Round 4 berth, Sansegundo scoring a 15.84 point two-wave combined result in Round 3 to best other French favourite Medi Veminardi (REU).

Brazil’s wunderkind Alejo Muniz (BRA), former ASP World Junior No. 3 Charles Martin (GLP) and rising French competitor Tristan Guilbaud (FRA) who just got his career’s best result in the ASP WQS 4-Star event in France, were all able to advance as well, Martin finishing ahead of a close battle and escaping an early elimination after being sanctioned with an interference.

The 2009 Estoril B! Pro Junior Champion will be crowned tomorrow, officials and surfers meeting at 9 AM at Guincho for a possible 9.30 AM start. With the international field resisting Europe’s consistent assaults, the final day promises to bring pressure and big scores to Estoril.

ESTORIL B! PRO JUNIOR ROUND 4 HEATS
Heat 1: Luka Guichard (DNK), Lewis St John (BRB), Marcos Sansegundo (EUK), Tristan Guilbaud (FRA)
Heat 2: Igor Muniain (EUK), Pablo Pola (FRA), Joachim Guichard (DNK), Medi Veminardi (REU)
Heat 3: Marc Lacomare (FRA), Joan Duru (FRA), Charles Martin (GLP), Felix Delanne (FRA)
Heat 4: Alejo Muniz (BRA), Thomaz Petterson (BRA), Mario Azurza (EUK), David Leboulsh (FRA)

ESTORIL, Carcavelos, Portugal (Friday, April 17, 2009) – The Estoril B! Pro Junior, an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-2 Pro Junior event, kicked off today at Carcavelos, one of the best beach breaks of Estoril’s coast twenty minutes away from Lisbon. Clouds and tricky two foot waves greeted the first competitors of the 2009 ASP European Junior Tour, the event launching a three-week serie of ASP events with the ASP WQS 6-Star Estoril Quiksilver Pro following the Pro Junior next week. Ten heats only were held on Day 1 of competition, the decreasing conditions forcing officials to put the event on(hold until tomorrow Saturday.

Outsider and ASP European Junior Tour newcomer Thomaz Petterson (SWE) took command of proceedings posting the day’s highest total to win Heat 10 just before the afternoon break and get his Round 2 ticket ahead of British surfer Lyndon Wake (GBR). Petterson, who finished his 20-minute run with a solid 8.50 point ride, netted 15.00 points (out of a possible 20) and advances to Round 2 where he will meet Filipe Jervis Perreira (PRT) and Dimitri Ouvre (FRA).

“I am stoked to get through with a good score because the waves were tricky,” Petterson said. “It’s good to get such a start in the event and hopefully we’ll get better waves for Round 2.”

The inconsistent conditions gave a hard time to the sixty-four men paddling out on Day 1, with most of the usual suspects storming through to join the event’s big names. Former ASP European Junior No. 2 Nicolaus Von Rupp (DEU), 18, was much awaited after his brilliant run in the ASP WQS 4-Star event in France and the German rising star matched expectations getting through Heat 6 with an average 12.67 point heat result out of a possible 20.

“I thought I was not going to make it and it was definitely a close heat,” Von Rupp said. “One of the last waves from Angelo (Bonomelli) was good enough and I really thought it would give him the points. It was close but I am through.”

Von Rupp, who was sick yesterday, still managed to find the strength he needed to secure his Round 2 berth and will now face Joachim Guichard (DNK) and Damien Chaudoy (REU) when Heat 5 paddles out next round.

The unfavourable surf conditions left no choice to organisers but to call the event off after a long break, contest director Antonio Pedro (PRT) and ASP head judge Iain Buchanan (NZL) deciding an 8 AM call tomorrow Saturday, April 18, at the back-up venue of Guincho, a beach renowned for its consistency.

Event top seeds Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA), Marc Lacomare (FRA) and wildcard Frederico Morais (PRT) will get their start tomorrow in expected solid four foot waves, other event favourite and late entry Joan Duru (FRA) having to get through Round 1 before joining fellow regional leaders and getting his crown campaign underway after winning the ASP WQS 4-Star Protest Vendee Pro in France last Sunday.

ESTORIL B! PRO JUNIOR ROUND 1 RESULTS
Heat 1: Alex Gironi (FRA) 13.00 pts, Thomas Oued Elmaalem (MAR) 6.60 pts, Etan Egiguren (EUK) 3.17 pts, Cuco Morales (ESP) 2.16 pts
Heat 2: Jayce Robinson (GBR) 13.83 pts, Dylan Melamed (HAW) 9.73 pts, Juan Merodio (ESP) 9.67 pts, Ivo Caao (PRT) 6.60 pts
Heat 3: Marc Audo (FRA) 7.66 pts, Diogo Castro (ESP) 7.46 pts, Gaspard Larsonneur (FRA) 6.84 pts, Pedro Correia (PRT) 5.06 pts
Heat 4: Asier Makeda (EUK) 11.10 pts, Andy Crier (FRA) 10.83 pts, Matt Pagan (USA) 10.83 pts, Pedro Pinto (PRT) 3.40 pts
Heat 5: Antonio Ribeiro (PRT) 9.33 pts, Borja Agote (EUK) 8.20 pts, Geronimo Vargas (BRA) 8.13 pts, Rafael Do Pico (PRT) 4.93 pts
Heat 6: Lewis St John (BRB) 13.67 pts, Nicolas Von Rupp (DEU) 12.37 pts, Angelo Bonomelli (ITA) 12.10 pts, Paul Grey (DEU) 4.43 pts
Heat 7: Jack Whitefield (GBR), Ander Mendiguren (EUK) 8.17 pts, Joao Kopke (PRT) 6.50 pts, Jon Mentxaka (EUK) 4.60 pts
Heat 8: Tom Neuschwanger (FRA) 8.93 pts, Dane Hall (GBR) 5.70 pts, Hadrien Ballion (FRA) 5.14 pts, Txaber Gaminde (EUK) 4.27 pts
Heat 9: Martim Gonalves (PRT) 7.83 pts, Julien Gomez (FRA) 6.74 pts, Maxime Prenant (MAR) 5.30 pts, Diego Alvarez (ESP) 3.37 pts
Heat 10: Thomas Petterson (SWE) 15.00 pts, Lyndon Wake (GBR) 7.90 pts, Charly Termeau (FRA) 5.67 pts, Juan Diaz Teran (ESP) 4.60 pts

ESTORIL B! PRO JUNIOR ROUND 1 REMAINING HEATS
Heat 11: Manex Otegui (EUK), Tiago Collot (PRT), Nicolas Perez (ESP), Leonardo Belime (PRT)
Heat 12: Pierre Rollet (FRA), Roberto D’Amico (ITA), Mikel Zamakona (EUK), Jos Ferreira (PRT)
Heat 13: Othmane Choufani (MAR), Ramzi Boukiam (MAR), Illan Urkia Aldekoa (EUK), Toby Donachy (GBR)
Heat 14: Gordon Fontaine (FRA), Alejo Muniz (BRA), Sebastiao Furtado (PRT), Felipe Alberto (PRT)
Heat 15: Hugo Cornec (FRA), Roberto Latemendia (EUK), Nelson Cloarec (FRA), Leo Fioraventi (ITA)
Heat 16: Dani Goya (EUK), Tom Cloarec (FRA), Paul-Csar Distinguin (FRA), Joan Duru (FRA)