The Relentless Energy Drink Boardmasters in Association with Vans today witnessed some of the best surfing ever seen at Fistral Beach. Elsewhere skateboarding and BMX practice got underway with some of the world’s best on display.
Drizzly conditions did not dampen the mood at Fistral today as hundreds of festival goers swarmed the beach and trade village to witness the spectacular surfing on show today.
In between practice the Vans Summer Sessions kicked off with the Under 16’s vert comp. The future is looking bright for vert skating. The results were as follows:
1. Matty Carlisle
2. Robin Bolian
3. James Whipp
4. Tom Rogers
Last night witnessed the first of the Beach Sessions fuelled by Relentless Energy Drink. Crowds flocked to the Beach Bar for electrifying performances from Everything Burns, Deaf Havana and the amazing We Are The Ocean.
A round up of the day:
A round up of the day:
FISTRAL BEACH, Newquay – England (Thursday, August 11, 2011) – Strong onshore winds, rain and 4-5ft peaks thundered into Fistral beach for Day 3 of the ASP 6-Star Relentless Boardmasters in assoc. with Vans where Wiggolly Dantas (Ubatuba, BRA) 21, highlighted a day filled with excellent surfing displays despite the tough conditions.
Dantas was the standout surfer who most successfully tamed the wild Fistral beach peaks, tearing apart a long left with a series of snaps and rail carves to claim a 9.00 out of 10. The former Relentless Boardmasters champion (2008), then backed up with a two-smash backhand combination to secure an 8.87 and amass a heat total of 17.87 out of 20, the highest of the event.
“It feels so good right now. This morning I surfed my other board and just before my heat I changed to this one which is brand new. There are some good bowls to make good manoeuvres so hopefully the swell continues for the next rounds.”
Dantas knows what it is like to go all the way at the Boardmasters and realises that to peak too early in an event can be harmful. He is keeping his head and not putting any pressure on himself at these early stages of competition.
A huge low tide and such wild conditions made hearing scores and situations almost impossible. Surfers were forced to rely on competitive tactics and observation to get an understanding of how they were positioned in the heat. Dantas entered his 25-minute clash with a clear, set approach.
“I tried to get a good wave and make two or three good turns to get a good score. I ended up catching a great right and another left. I was thinking that I was either first or second so I stayed calm and my friend in the next heat told I had a 9 so it helped to know that and wait for another quality wave.”
Jack Freestone (Gold Coast, AUS) 19, ignited with an impressive display of above-the-lip turns and flying aerial manoeuvres on several of his numerous solid-scoring waves. The current ASP World Junior champion was at home in the testing conditions and dominated his encounter to comfortably advance.
“I was trying to sit on the rights and the wind is perfect for airs so that is what I was going for. Innovative surfing and I was glad I was able to do it. The heat was actually really fun. There were a lot of waves and a lot of water movement so I am just happy to get through that heat.”
“This morning when I got down here the waves were a little bit bigger and a bit more organised so I was looking forward to getting out there,” continued Freestone. “It was tough but if you found the right ones it was pretty good to surf them. I am happy to lock in some good scores. I am hungry for a win and to entertain the crowd who are down here at the beach.”
Along with Freestone several other young guns impressed including Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay, ZAF) 20, Jesse Mendes (BRA) 18, and Jayke Sharp (AUS) 23, with their innovative new school surfing combined with classic power surfing. Sharpe took top honours with a massive air-reverse and a combined two-wave heat total of 17.27 out of 20.
Published on 11 August 2011 by Wayne Feltham
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