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> News > Surfing Champions Crowned at 2018 Boardmasters

surfing News

Surfing Champions Crowned at 2018 Boardmasters

The winners of the surfing events at Boardmasters 2018. Image credit: / WSL / Masurel

13 August 2018

Edouard Delpero claims European Longboard Title. Agudo, Lacome claim first-ever event titles, Criere claims second.

Boardmasters wrapped up its World Surf League events today in two-to-three foot surf at North Fistral beach, crowning four surfers in QS, LQS, men and women divisions.

The biggest final everyone was waiting for, the UGG Men’s Longboard Pro, both for the Fistral local Ben Skinner (GBR) being part of it, and for the tension of deciding the European Longboard title in a showdown between two of the best longboarders in the world. Edouard Delpero (FRA) wasted no time to showcase his incredible nose riding skills, posting a 7.50 and a 9.33 to apply pressure on Skinner. He further pushed the requirement for Skinner with an 8.17 and sealed the deal immediately.

Despite Skinner’s best efforts, the gap was too big and Delpero walked away with both the event win and the 2018 European Men’s Longboard title, the second of his career.

“I am extremely happy to take this win today,” Delpero said. “It was a major final for both of us and I was lucky I got those waves to start with. It was tough for one of us (brothers) not to come here and I didn’t know I would have to go all the way to claim the title, but in the end it was a great event and I’m stoked I got to battle it out with Ben in the final.”

Skinner surfed a great event on home turf, reaching the final for a shot at upsetting the Delpero dominance. He also led and inspired the performances of a crew of great surfers from the U.K, with three British athletes in the European Top 5 this season.

The lineup slowed down a bit for the start of the Quiksilver Open final as Andy Criere (ESP) and Daiki Tanaka (JPN) exchanged mid-range scores at first. Things got a lot more interesting on the five minute mark when Tanaka started on a long left and performed four good backhand turns for a 6.83 to steal the lead.

Criere started on a slightly bigger left right behind and tore it apart on his forehand to post an excellent 8.17 and get back in pole position. He then caught a similar set wave to further extend his lead with a combination of carves and snaps, marching away with the win, the second of his young career.

“This win is just as good as the first one,” Criere said. “It takes surfing a lot of heats to get to the final and I usually perform better when I get a chance to build momentum in a day. I started the event quite average but I sort of figured everything out along the way and definitely peaked and did my best surfing today! I couldn’t have hoped for a better start to this summer leg in Europe.”

Tanaka had previously been the strongest surfer of the event, posting numerous high scores, including a 9.17 to defeat local wildcard Jay Quinn (GBR) in their semifinal matchup.

In the Roxy Open final, Juliette Lacome (FRA) and Yolander Hopkins (PRT) got active early on and posted a couple of numbers to build a scoreboard. Lacome found a good right with multiple turns and posted a 6.00 to take an early lead. Hopkins found a good right as well and pushed three powerful turns for a 6.10 to get back in the heat.

In the final minute, Lacome used her priority to block her opponent on a good looking left and posted the highest score of the final, a good 6.17 to claim her first-ever Qualifying Series event at only 15 years old. The French surfer also jumped a few spots up the regional rankings to the fifth position.

“It’s incredible, it’s my first win ever!” Lacome said. “I’ve had a pretty average year so far and my goal was to try to win a Junior event, but I never expected this. I’ve had a great time here with all the Roxy crew and my good friend Vahine (Fierro). I’m going to do the next four events so it’s good to start like this. I feel like I’ve learned a few things recently that help me make heats so hopefully I can continue.”

Hopkins showed great skills on her way to reaching her first-ever final on the WSL tours.

The final of the UGG Women’s Longboard Pro was a low scoring affair in difficult conditions at mid-tide. Aping Agudo (PHL) and Francesca Rubegni (ITA) both struggled to find sections to work with. It eventually came down to a deciding wave in the last seconds of the heat. Agudo started on a smaller insider and cruised to the nose of her board for a few seconds before the wave disappeared. A long wait ensued as time ran out and the horn blew the end of the final. Eventually the score came in as a 3.9, enough for Agudo to overtake Rubegni and take the win.

“It’s unbelievable, I can’t even describe how happy I am!” Agudo said. “I never expected to win this so I’m just super happy. It’s a little bit cold for my taste but the waves were fun. For my first time in Newquay I had a lot of fun and I’ll be back for sure. I have a lot of events coming up in Philippines and the Asian tour so that should be fun.”

The Filipino surfer claimed her first-ever WSL event win, while the Italian with her runner-up result today climbed up to second on the European rankings.

With the completion of Boardmasters, the European rankings have once again been re-shuffled, here is the new current Top 5:

European Men’s QS Top 5:

1 - Jorgann Couzinet (FRA)

2 - Gony Zubizarreta (ESP)

3 - Maxime Huscenot (FRA)

4 - Andy Criere (ESP)

5 - Ruben Vitoria (EUK)

European Women’s QS Top 5:

1 - Pauline Ado (FRA)

2 - Camilla Kemp (PRT)

3 - Marion Philippe (PYF)

4 - Justine Dupont (FRA)

5 - Juliette Lacome (FRA)

The European Longboard Qualifying Series are now over, here are the final rankings’ Top 5:

European Men’s LQS Top 5:

1 - Edouard Delpero (FRA) ***European Champion***

2 - Antoine Delpero (FRA)

3 - Ben Skinner (GBR)

4 - Ben Howey (GBR)

5 - Jack Unsworth (GBR)

European Women’s LQS Top 5:

1 - Justine Dupont (FRA) ***European Champion***

2 - Francesca Rubegni (ITA)

3 - Emily Currie (GBR)

4 - Nienke Duinmeijer (NLD)

5 - Jennifer Pendlebury (GBR)

Surfers will now travel over to France for the upcoming Caraïbos Lacanau Pro, starting Tuesday, August 14, 2018.

Boardmasters were scheduled from August 8-12, 2018 at Fistral Beach, Cornwall - England. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to worldsurfleague.com.

Boardmasters are supported by Corona, Relentless, Cornish Orchards, Quiksilver, Roxy, Ocean Florida, Canna, All Out Beauty, Coca-Cola, Tarquins, Havaianas, Samsung, G-Shock, Malibu, Kraken, House of Marley, Monster, UGG, Voxi, Carve Surfing Magazine, Surfgirl, Radio X and DJ Mag among others, with MagicSeaWeed.com as official forecaster.

UGG MEN’S LONGBOARD PRO FINAL RESULTS:

1 - Edouard Delpero (FRA) 17.50

2 - Ben Skinner (GBR) 14.27

UGG WOMEN’S LONGBOARD PRO FINAL RESULT:

1 - Aping Agudo (PHL) 8.23

2 - Francesca Rubegni (ITA) 8.20

QUIKSILVER OPEN FINAL RESULTS:

1 - Andy Criere (ESP) 14.60

2 - Daiki Tanaka (JPN) 11.50

ROXY OPEN FINAL RESULTS:

1 - Juliette Lacome (FRA) 12.17

2 - Yolander Hopkins (PRT) 10.17