Teresa Bonvalot, the 2022 champion, falls in the round of 16
Kauli Vaast scores the only perfect 10
September 2, Valdoviño (A Coruña).- The round of 16 began this morning at the Pantin surf factory with powerful waves and long lulls that forced competitors to ride whatever came in without the option to choose the best.
The reigning champion Teresa Bonvalot, currently ranked 16th in the world, surprisingly fell in a heat led by Hina-Marina Conradi and Camila Kemp in second place.
There was also a surprise with Nadia Erostarbe’s elimination against the unstoppable Anat Lelior.
Maud Le Car, Yolanda Hopkins, Francisca Veselko, and Tessa Thyssen advanced solidly amid two-meter waves, low tide, and long right-handers.
The quarterfinals would still bring new surprises with the eliminations of Yolanda Hopkins and the semifinal qualification of Hina María Conradi, Camila Kemp, Tessa Thysen, and the Spanish surfer Janire González-Etxebarri, the only Spanish representative in the women’s draw.
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There was a great spectacle in the round of 16 with very solid waves. Spanish surfer Vicente Romero showcased impressive surfing but was unable to advance. Sam Piter completed a massive wave, but it was insufficient to progress. Other surfers who were considered in great form or favorites, such as Jorgan Couzinet and Marco Mignot, also fell in this round.
Advancing to the next round were the Spanish surfers Yago Domínguez and Bittor Garitaonandia, along with the French surfers Charly Quivront and Maxime Huscenot, as well as the Portuguese surfers Joaquim Chaves and Guilherme Ribeiro.
A special mention goes to Kauli Vaast, who reached new heights at Pantin with a massive over two-meter wave, which he attacked with a vertical turn before closing against a challenging lip, earning the highest score of the competition: a perfect 10.
In the quarterfinals, Yago Domínguez was in great form and secured his place in the semifinals with an excellent aerial move against Guilherme Ribeiro. He is now the only Spanish surfer left in the men’s competition.
Maxime Huscenot, with his experience, won against Bitor Garitaonandia. Charly Quivront defeated his compatriot Joan Duru, and Joaquim Chaves secured the remaining spot against the talented Polynesian surfer Kauli Vaast with his last wave right on the buzzer.
Competition will resume tomorrow with the semifinals and finals, with a forecast of excellent conditions.
Before that, as part of the spectacle that surfing has been offering this week from Pantin to the world, the ABANCA EXPRESSION SESSION will take place with cash prizes and around twenty surfers competing.
PANTIN SOUND ESTRELLA GALICIA IN FULL SWING
Live music and the presentation of “POTXOKA” by Aritz Aranburu
In the early afternoon session, the presentation of the book “Potxoka” by professional surfer and winner of the 2011 ABANCA PANTIN CLASSIC GALICIA PRO, Aritz Aranburu, along with photographer Javi Muñoz, known as “Pacotwo,” took place.
The event was hosted by Gony Zubizarreta, a friend and Galician surfer.
Live music was provided by Edu Calvario and Fuah, followed by DJ Mario Azurza from Zarautz and Ferrol’s own DJ Occy to close out Saturday in the final stages of the competition.