LACANAU, France (Saturday, August 16, 2008) – Clean glassy three foot (one meter) waves gave the ASP WQS 6-Star Sooruz Lacanau Pro another great day of action at the famous beachbreak of Lacanau, and all 24 surfers competing today offered some of the best surfing witnessed in Europe this year. The champion will be crowned tomorrow Sunday, August 17, and the pressure has settled over the competitors’ area as from now on, any point more will be a crucial step towards a possible ASP World Tour inception.
Tiago Pires (PRT), 26, ASP World Tour No. 27 who recently ended Kelly Slater’s (USA) supremacy by defeating the 8X ASP World Champion in Round 3 of the Rip Curl Pro Search, was a standout today again securing his Quarterfinal birth with an impressive 17.26 point heat tally (out of a possible 20).
Pires, who has been very consistent in the few ASP WQS events he attended this year, used tactics and excellent surfing to catch up with Chris Davidson (AUS) in a last minute exchange that gave him the win.
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I did not have any pressure during that heat but I remained focused and ready to get the wave that would give me the score," Pires said. "
Davo (Chris Davidson) was ahead all heat but I was feeling really good and I knew that I had to wait for a better wave to catch up."
Pires will meet ratings’ leader Nathaniel Curran (USA) first thing tomorrow morning and is seen as a serious crown contender by journalists and public in Lacanau.
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I am just looking for the best waves and when you are in Man-on-man heats you have to use your priority and surf them at your best," Pires said. "
I will do exactly the same tomorrow and I will go heat by heat, adapting to the conditions."
Fellow European surfer Tim Boal (FRA) had a different fate and was eliminated by ratings’ leader Nathaniel Curran (USA) in Round 6, equalling his result from 2007 in Lacanau. Curran, who has not done worse than an equal 5th in the last three events he attended, came up with excellent tactics to finish ahead of the Frenchman.
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The conditions were really good and Tim (Boal) is a great surfer so we had a good heat," Curran said.
"It was tough and I just got slighlty better waves and am now in Quarterfinals. I really like the one-to-one format and it makes it easier to surf the waves with most potential."
Curran, who won the prestigious ASP WQS 6-Star US Open Of Surfing at Huntington in California last month, remains in good position to extend his ratings’ lead in Lacanau.
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I have been surfing that same board since Huntington and I am just feeling good," Curran said. "
My brother Tim – a former ASP World Tour campaigner – won in Lacanau almost ten years ago and I would love to feel the same tomorrow."
The Australia Vs Brazil clash went to the Down Under crew with all Brazilian surfers losing in Round 6 to their Australian opponents, Greg Emslie (ZAF) being the only non-Australian surfer to defeat a Brazilian surfer.
Yadin Nicol (AUS) and Josh Kerr (AUS) once again took command of the Australian batallion taking off in the small hollow launch ramp conditions in front of the morning crowd and respectively posted 17.54 and 19.40 point heat tallies (out of a possible 20) in Round 5 before securing a second win in Round 6 and reach the final day.
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It was just another really fun day with good waves and I went out there to have fun," Kerr said. "
It was similar to yesterday and I just looked for some bigger set waves to get a couple of airs and it all went my way so I am really happy."
Fellow Aussie Nicol had to get through a very close battle and a last second exchange with ASP World Tour member Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) to make it to Quarterfinals.
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So stoked to get through that last heat," Nicol said. "
It was very close and I just let go and went for some big moves and made it. I was very focused and this Quarterfinal is crucial so I hope I can do as good tomorrow."
Mike Losness (USA), Greg Emslie (ZAF) and Joel Centeio (HAW) were among those advancing today as well, Centeio being the last Hawaiian representative in contention for the crown.
Centeio, who reached Quarterfinals of the Sooruz Lacanau Pro in 2007, equalled his result after defeating Irish-Australian Glenn Hall (IRE) in Round 6.
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We had a good time out there and both surfed some good waves," Centeio said. "
With only two guys in the water you have to be patient but you still have to surf and get points. I got that first big score then Glenn (Hall) took the lead before that last wave came to me. I am stoked."
The last Hawaiian to win the event was Kaipo Jaquias (HAW) in 1996, and Centeio will be looking forward to reaching the final at least.
The final day will start at 8.30 AM (GMT+2) with the official call before Quarterfinals get underway in expected three to four foot (1 to 1.2 meter) waves.
The Sooruz Lacanau Pro is webcast LIVE at
www.aspeurope.comUPCOMING QUARTERFINALS
Heat 1: Nathaniel Curran (USA) Vs Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 2: Mike Losness (USA) Vs Joel Centeio (HAW)
Heat 3: Yadin Nicol (AUS) Vs Dion Atkinson (AUS)
Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) Vs Greg Emslie (ZAF)
ROUND 6 RESULTS
Heat 1: Nathaniel Curran (USA) 12.07 pts Def. Tim Boal (FRA) 9.23 pts
Heat 2: Tiago Pires (PRT) 17.26 pts Def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 16.24 pts
Heat 3: Mike Losness (USA) 15.73 pts Def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 11.63 pts
Heat 4: Joel Centeio (HAW) 16.84 pts Def. Glenn Hall (IRE) 15.90 pts
Heat 5: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 13.57 pts Def. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 12.30 pts
Heat 6: Dion Atkinson (AUS) 13.50 pts Def. Simao Romao (BRA) 11.50 pts
Heat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.17 pts Def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 9.84 pts
Heat 8: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 14.67 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 11.33
