Boardmasters surfing launches
The Boardmasters, Quiksilver Open launched yesterday in wind-affected three-to-four foot surf at Fistral beach and completed the opening two rounds of competition of the men’s event as well as the opening round of the women’s Boardmasters, Roxy Open.
Competitors made the best of the conditions on offer and put on a good show for the Newquay locals and tourists coming to enjoy the beach at Fistral.
Bude surfer Jobe Harriss (GBR), 21, opened his account with a solid heat to rack up a 14 points total and advance into the third round of competition in Cornwall. The long time WSL competitor had to put his surfing career on standby following the loss of his main sponsor this season and was extremely happy to put the competition jersey back on on home turf.
“I had a free surf this morning and barely did a turn so I was a bit worried, but luckily now at low tide it’s nice and steep and has a few sections!” Harriss stated. “Pretty much every U.K tour event ever is at Fistral so I’ve surfed loads of heats down here and I knew it was going to get better at low. I came fifth here last year, this year’s feels like it’s got a stronger field but I’m confident and hoping for the best.”
2016 Boardmasters runner-up Angelo Bonomelli (ITA), 26, managed to escape a treacherous Round Two matchup and advanced in second position behind Liam O’Brien (AUS) to keep his hopes of reaching the finals again alive. The Italian surfer returned to Fistral to launch his European season and try to improve on his overall ranking.
“I really struggled to find good waves and honestly didn’t expect to make it through this heat,” Bonomelli admitted. “Last year’s was my best result ever and I don’t know if I’m capable of doing better but I sure am going to try my hardest! I love the vibe here, I’m staying with the Timson family and it’s like being home.”
An avid traveler, Bonomelli found in Cornwall reasons to come back and enjoy the special vibe the place has to offer. As much as surfing a final was a highlight for the Italian surfer last year, the general atmosphere at Boardmasters is really what got him to come back.
“The weather here changes every ten minutes so you have to prepare for everything but some days we get really good waves and even pretty much to ourselves. People are super nice and it’s a pleasure to come back. I even went to the music festival last year and it was fun, a bit too crowded for me but if you’re into music you just have an incredible night there. It’s a great way to get more people to the beach and show them competitive surfing, there’s also skateboarding and other sports so it’s a festival for everyone and a great way to enjoy a sunny summer day.”
Fresh off a victory at the Murasaki Shonan Open in Japan, Lliam Mortensen (AUS), 20, managed to keep his momentum going today and made his way into Round Three of competition. Currently sitting right outside the Top 100 on the Qualifying Series, the Australian is after a few more ranking points to access the prestigious QS10,000 events later this season.
“I’m glad to be here for the first time, it looks like an amazing place,” Mortensen said. “It’s tricky to surf a heat when you have no idea what the situation is, but you just kind of have to score your waves yourself and hope you’re surfing better than your opponents. Japan was awesome and it’s hard to come back in your first event after a win, but I’m going to try and better a few other results to hopefully get into the Top 100.”
A two-time event winner in the Longboard division at Boardmasters, Edouard Delpero (FRA), 27, got off to a good start on his shortboard as well today. In the hunt for another European longboard champion title, Delpero is also a threat on the QS and will try to better his best result at Fistral, an excellent third place a few years ago.
“I dare say this is classic Newquay conditions for Boardmasters,” Delpero commented. “It’s pretty windy but there’s waves out there if you can find the right sections. It’s good to come early and do the QS so you can work out the conditions. We have a great battle going again with my brother Antoine and Emilien (Fleury) leading this time, so I look forward to getting the longboard out and fight for the title.”
Other notable results include the successful starts of British surfers Liam Turner, Angus Scotney, Gearoid McDaid, Alan Stokes, Luke Dillon, Jay Quinn, Harry Timson, Joss Ash, Reubyn Ash and Seth Morris.
Capitalizing on conditions on Day One, the women then entered the arena to complete their opening round of competition at Boardmasters, Roxy Open.
Argentina’s Lucia Cosoleto belted the day’s highest combined heat total for the women, with a solid 13.17 to advance into the top seeds’ Round Two.
Longboarder and current No. 3 in the world Honolua Blomfield (HAW), 18, decided to enter the QS event as well and marched right through the opening round early this evening. The Hawaiian surfer jumped on the opportunity to visit a different part of the world she was yet to explore and will be a force to be reckoned with in both the short and longboard events this week.
“It was my mom and I’s dream to come here and I met a friend from here about a month ago in Bali and decided to come,” Blomfield said. “I came mostly for the longboard but thought I’d enter the QS as well just for fun! I’ve been here a couple of days and I love it so far, the festival is something really different from what I’m used to.”
In the following heat, former Championship Tour athlete and famed musician Lee-Ann Curren(FRA), 28, managed to advance into Round Two despite receiving an interference and being judged on her best wave only. The French surfer had earlier that day played her music for the public at Fistral during the Day Sessions.
The competition window opens Friday for Boardmasters, Jeep Men and Women’s Longboard, with a first call at 7:30 a.m for both the men and women. Qualifying Series athletes will reconvene at 11 a.m.
Boardmasters are scheduled from August 9-13, 2017 at Fistral Beach, Cornwall – England. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to worldsurfleague.com.
Boardmasters are supported by Corona, Monster Energy, Cornish Orchards, VISA, Samsung, Quiksilver, Roxy, Jeep, Carve Surfing Magazine, Surfgirl, Radio X and DJ Mag among others, with MagicSeaWeed.com as official forecaster.
UPCOMING BOARDMASTERS, ROXY OPEN ROUND 2 MATCHUPS:
Heat 1: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Ellie Turner (GBR), Teal Hogg (ZAF), Emily Currie (GBR)
Heat 2: Reika Noro (JPN), Vahine Fierro (PYF), Nadia Erostarbe (EUK), Hannah Bristow (GBR)
Heat 3: Justine Dupont (FRA), Eliza Greene (AUS), Lucia Cosoleto (ARG), Leonor Fragoso (PRT)
Heat 4: Mikaela Greene (AUS), Peony Knight (GBR), Joanne Dennison (GBR), Yolander Hopkins (PRT)
Heat 5: Carol Henrique (PRT), Lucy Campbell (GBR), Honolua Blomfield (HAW), Lee-Ann Curren (FRA)
Heat 6: Ella Williams (NZL), Nagisa Tashiro (JPN), Summa Longbottom (AUS), Denver Young (AUS)
Heat 7: Camilla Kemp (PRT), Ainara Aymat (EUK), Uhaina Joly (FRA), Tiana-Breeze De Mooij (NZL)
Heat 8: Ren Hashimoto (JPN), Ariane Ochoa (EUK), Josefina Ane (ARG), Marion Philippe (PYF)
BOARDMASTERS, ROXY OPEN ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Teal Hogg (ZAF) 10.00, Hannah Bristow (GBR) 4.76, Mirna Boelsma (NDL) 3.77
Heat 2: Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) 9.50, Emily Currie (GBR) 9.24, Ozvan Masseron (FRA) 7.93, Tehillah McGuinness (GBR) 5.07
Heat 3: Lucia Cosoleto (ARG) 13.17, Yolander Hopkins (PRT) 11.10, Dominga Valdes (NLD) 7.23, Ffion Hughes (GBR) 3.13
Heat 4: Joanne Dennison (GBR) 7.60, Leonor Fragoso (PRT) 5.83
Heat 5: Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 11.67, Denver Young (AUS) 8.77, Nina Reynal (FRA) 5.53
Heat 6: Summa Longbottom (AUS) 8.46, Lee-Ann Curren (FRA) 6.77, Klervi Masseron (FRA) 5.17
Heat 7: Uhaina Joly (FRA) 12.93, Marion Philippe (PYF) 7.84, Mischa Maguire (GBR) 2.93
Heat 8: Josefina Ane (ARG) 11.83, Tiana-Breeze De Mooij (NZL) 7.33, Emily Williams (GBR) 4.20, Alys Barton (GBR) 0.40
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