Claire Bevilacqua performing solid turns for her win in the QS final.
Fistral Beach, Cornwall, Saturday, August 13, 2016, Claire Bevilacqua and won the Boardmasters, Cornwall in good 3-4 foot surf at Fistral beach. “I’m just really in disbelief, this whole week is gone so fast, we had beautiful weather and good waves and yeah I’m super happy, this is a dream and I love England, I can’t wait to come back !” an ecstatic Bevilacqua stated. The most form surfer of the entire event, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), 33, opened her final count with a good wave on her forehand, and performed two solid turns on the outside before wrapping things up in the shorey for a 6.83 and a commanding lead. Ariane Ochoa (EUK), 18, tried to answer quickly but failed to perform on her first couple of attempts.
The young Basque didn’t lose faith and continued to scour the lineup for better opportunities, picking a nice right-hander as well to perform three solid backhand hacks for a 6.90, placing her right back in the game. In the meantime, Bevilacqua found another good wave for a 6.00 to extend her lead. Despite multiple efforts from Ochoa, Bevilacqua had built a sufficient lead and walked away with the win.
Peony Knight finishes with an excellent equal 3rd finish, falling just short of her season’s second final appearance.
“I’ve felt really good leading up to this event, I’ve been training and I’m just feeling really strong and confident in my surfing so I figured why not give it a go and try to make some points and money!” Claire said. “I’m doing this for fun, I love surfing with the younger girls they push me and make me try really hard, it’s just all really positive.”
With her excellent runner-up spot today, and an event win previously achieved in Galicia, Ochoa continues to climb through the ranks and takes pole position in the European title race, overtaking compatriot Garazi Sanchez-Ortun (EUK) in the process.
“I’m super happy but I really wanted to catch that one wave I was missing,” she reflected. “Sometimes things don’t go your way and that’s just the game, but I’m super pleased with my result. It has been a really good week with my sister and her boyfriend supporting me every day. I’m loving it here. Hats off to Claire, she ripped the whole event so she deserved it !”
Peony Knight (GBR), 18, claimed the host country’s best result today, with an excellent equal 3rd finish, falling just short of her season’s second final appearance. The young junior with an already solid resume on her local and national tours is quickly improving and could become Britain’s new threat in future seasons.
“I’m really happy, conditions were tricky and I had a really tough draw so I’m pleased with that result,” she commented. “I’m starting off this season well and we have a few more comps coming this summer so it’s a bit of a confidence boost and I’m going to just go for it now.”
WOMEN’S EUROPEAN QS:
1 – Ariane Ochoa (EUK)
2 – Garazi Sanchez-Ortun (EUK)
3 – Pauline Ado (FRA)
4 – Keshia Seelow-Eyre (GBR)
5 – Carol Henrique (PRT)
BOARDMASTERS WOMEN’S QS FINAL RESULTS:
1- Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 12.83
2- Ariane Ochoa (EUK) 10.40
BOARDMASTERS WOMEN’S QS SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 15.16 def. Reika Noro (JPN) 10.00
SF 2: Ariane Ochoa (EUK) 11.67 def. Peony Knight (GBR) 9.64
BOARDMASTERS WOMEN’S QS QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 13.43 def. Lucy Campbell (GBR) 6.30
QF 2: Reika Noro (JPN) 10.90 def. Ainara Aymat (EUK) 8.87
QF 3: Ariane Ochoa (EUK) 10.73 def. Denver Young (AUS) 8.77
QF 4: Peony Knight (GBR) 14.17 def. Chelsea Roett (BRB) 11.10
WOMEN’S LONGBOARD EVENT REPORT
Alice Lemoigne taking her wave for the crown of 3-time European Champion and World Longboard Champion.
Alice Lemoigne won the Boardmasters, Cornwall in clean two foot surf at Fistral beach on Sunday in front of a packed beach coming to enjoy a picture-perfect summer day.
Reigning World Longboard Champion Rachael Tilly (USA), 18, opened her final count with a near-perfect wave of 9.33 for a long right-hander and multiple gracious nose rides all the way into the beach. Newly crowned 3-time European Champion Alice Lemoigne (REU), 19, took the first wave of the same set, a bigger wave but not as clean with more crumbling sections, not allowing her to fully exploit the clean wave face, for a 7.67.
The fading swell still regularly produced sets as Lemoigne quickly got another opportunity and surfed a very similar wave for another 7.50 and the lead over the American. Not content with her current situation, the French surfer from Reunion Island kept building house, with an excellent 8.83 to further apply pressure on her opponent. Despite multiple efforts, Tilly’s campaign to backup her 9 was vain and Lemoigne added another victory to her solid resume.
Alice and Victoria hug after their competitive heat.
“This has been an incredible day, I could have never imagined it to turn out that way,” an ecstatic Lemoigne stated. “I got some good scores along the way and it’s really comforting for the rest of the season. I love coming here every year, we never have such an audience for a longboard event and it’s really cool to see all those people enjoying our show.”
Earlier today, Lemoigne survived a tense battle against good friend and fellow Reunion Island surfer Victoria Vergara in their semifinal matchup, cementing her regional rankings lead to claim her third European Longboard Champion Title.
Californian Tilly fell just short of finding a good enough back-up score in the final and takes the runner-up spot. With a win earlier this season in Galicia, the reigning World Longboard Champion completes a fruitful European campaign and will try to keep her momentum going towards her next events on the world stage.
Rachel Tilly gliding!
Emily Currie going for Hang Five
Victoria Vergara cross stepping for a chance to get through the semifinal.
“It’s been a great time competing over here in Europe, I definitely I could have taken this one out as well but Alice surfed great, I was happy to at least post a 9 and put on a good show,” she reflected. “I’ll definitely be coming back next year, these events were really great ran and I look forward to it.”
More information on the full festival lineup at boardmasters.co.uk.
Following the completion of the Boardmasters, Cornwall this week, surfers will now move on to South-West France for the upcoming Men & Women’s QS1,000 Médoc Océan Lacanau Pro from August 16-21.
Longboarders have now completed their four European events of the 2016 season and will look forward to representing their region at the Jeep World Longboard Championship, China presented by Wanning next December.
Alice Lemoigne reigning champion with Rachel Tilly (right) celebrating with her.
FINAL WOMEN’S EUROPEAN LQS RANKINGS:
1 – Alice Lemoigne (REU) *** European Champion
2 – Victoria Vergara (FRA)
3 – Carole Lormant (FRA)
4 – Kathleen Barrigao (PRT)
5 – Francesca Rubegni (ITA)
BOARDMASTERS WOMEN’S LQS FINAL RESULTS:
1- Alice Lemoigne (REU) 16.50
2- Rachael Tilly (USA) 13.10
BOARDMASTERS WOMEN’S LQS SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Rachael Tilly (USA) 17.93 def. Natsumi Taoka (JPN) 9.64
SF 2: Alice Lemoigne (REU) 11.90 def. Victoria Vergara (FRA) 11.66
BOARDMASTERS WOMEN’S LQS QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Rachael Tilly (USA) 15.66 def. Emily Currie (GBR) 9.24
QF 2: Natsumi Taoka (JPN) 15.00 def. Carole Lormant (FRA) 7.56
QF 3: Victoria Vergara (FRA) 12.70 def. Lindsay Steinriede (USA) 11.23
QF 4: Alice Lemoigne (REU) 12.87 def. Jenny Briant (GBR) 5.97
The Boardmasters, Cornwall August 10-14, 2016 at Fistral Beach, Cornwall – England. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to worldsurfleague.com.
The Boardmasters, Cornwall are supported by Surfers Against Sewage, Carve Mag, SurfGirl, Corona, Relentless, Cornish Orchid, The Stable and MagicSeaWeed among others.
