<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Today,<strong> Hans Odriozola</strong> (ESP) and <strong>Maria Salgado </strong>(POR) won the World Surf League (WSL) Europe Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) Stop No. 5, the <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2025/jun/470/junior-pro-taghazout-bay/main" target="_blank">Junior Pro Taghazout Bay</a>, after overcoming a massive field of hungry and talented juniors from Europe and Morocco. As the final stop of the season, it was an event of high risk, high reward with lots at stake. In the end, Salgado and <strong>Alfonso Suarez</strong> (ESP) came out on top to claim the 2025 WSL Europe Junior Championships. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Hans Odriozola Wins First-Ever Junior Title</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the final event of the season, 17-year-old <strong>Hans Odriozola</strong> (ESP) earned his first-ever JQS title and career-best result. Coming into the event at No. 6, the San Sebastián local wasn’t under any pressure for the European title or World Junior Championship qualification, and surfed with more freedom in the Final. He outsurfed top seeds <strong>Conor Donegan Dos Santos </strong>(ESP) and <strong>João Mendonça</strong> (POR), playing spoiler to Dos Santos’ run for the title.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“It’s so amazing,” said Odriozola. “I didn’t do so well in the other contests, so I didn’t have too much pressure. I’m super happy to win and end the year like this. The hardest heat was coming up against my brother Kai. It almost felt like I lost too when he was eliminated. I don’t like competing against him, it’s really hard, but I’m stoked I got to win the contest.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Odriozola surprised everyone in the Final when he finished on top of the podium with a dramatic finish, earning the best wave of the heat with 7.47 (out of a possible 10) in the last minute. <strong>Michele Scoppa</strong> (ITA) did really well to lead the heat from the start, but was bumped to runner-up in the dying seconds. After scoring some of the highest waves and heat totals throughout the event,<strong> Conor Donegan Dos Santos </strong>(ESP) struggled to put together any decent scores and had to settle for third with<strong> João Mendonça </strong>(POR) in fourth.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Maria Salgado Crowned European Junior Champion with Third Win</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">No. 2 ranked <strong>Maria Salgado</strong> (POR) has enjoyed a stellar season with wins in Ferrol, Spain and Bundoran, Ireland. It was a back-and-forth battle between her and rankings leader<strong> Carla Morera De La Vall </strong>(ESP). Anza was the arena to settle their score, and after De La Vall failed to progress through the Semifinals, Salgado had a golden opportunity to go for the European Junior title. She gave it her all to take a big win in the Semifinal, eliminating No. 3<strong> Naïa Monte</strong> (FRA) to improve her chances. With the three best results counting, Salgado capped off her season by winning the Junior Pro Taghazout Bay and rightfully earning the 2025 WSL Europe Junior title. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I don’t have words to describe what I’m feeling,” said Salgado. “It’s the best feeling of my life. I loved competing in Morocco and I’m really happy to take the win and the European Junior Champion. The women’s competition is just getting better and better, so now it’s time to keep going, train harder and continue getting good results.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the Final, Salgado burst out the gates to take the lead early on, but <strong>Sol Borelli </strong>(ESP) waited patiently for a set wave to come through. She found a gem and put together a strong opening ride for a 7.33. After a long lull, Salgado came back and locked in an excellent 8.00 to put pressure on the rest of the field. Borelli couldn’t get the required score, and Salgado earned her third event win of the year, with<strong> Clemence Schorsch </strong>(FRA) in third and <strong>Lilou Rumiel </strong>(FRA) in fourth. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>European World Junior Championship Qualifiers Announced</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With this win, <strong>Maria Salgado</strong> (POR) surpassed<strong> Carla Morera De La Vall</strong> (ESP) on the rankings to earn her first WSL Europe Junior Championship. Salgado had a phenomenal season, and will represent on the world stage alongside De La Vall in the World Junior Championships in the Philippines in January 2026. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I’m very happy to go to the World Juniors,” said Salgado. “I’ve never been to the Philippines, so it will be my first time there but I will give it my all.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After suffering an early elimination from the Junior Pro Taghazout Bay, No. 1 <strong>Alfonso Suarez</strong> (ESP) anxiously awaited the Final results that would determine his fate. With <strong>Conor Donegan Dos Santos </strong>(ESP) finishing in third place, Suarez narrowly held onto his top spot and was crowned the WSL Europe Junior Champion. Suarez and Dos Santos will represent at the World Junior Championships next year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“It was a long season with a lot of highs and lows,” said Suarez. “Finally I made my dream come true, to be the first WSL European Junior Champion from Asturias. I can’t wait to go with the rest of the crew to the World Juniors in the Philippines and give it my best.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>The Junior Pro Taghazout Bay is supported by the Agadir Souss Massa Region, the Town of Taghazout and the Town of Anza, the Moroccan National Tourist Office, Taghazout Bay, SEAT Morocco, Afriquia Gaz, Marsa Maroc, Radisson Blu Resort, Rip Curl Morocco, Aïn Atlas, and Butec.</em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Junior Pro Taghazout Bay Men’s Final Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1- Hans Odriozola (ESP) 12.80 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2- Michele Scoppa (ITA) 12.27</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3- Conor Donegan Dos Santos (ESP) 7.30</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4- João Mendonça (POR) 6.73</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Junior Pro Taghazout Bay Women’s Final Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1- Maria Salgado (POR) 14.33 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2- Sol Borelli (ESP) 12.33</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3- Clemence Schorsch (FRA) 8.87</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4- Lilou Rumiel (FRA) 7.24</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Junior Pro Taghazout Bay Men’s Semifinal Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: João Mendonça (POR) 14.83 DEF. Conor Donegan Dos Santos (ESP) 13.43, Oxel Oregi Cortes (EUK) 10.07, Salvador Vala (POR) 8.10</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Hans Odriozola (ESP) 11.80 DEF. Michele Scoppa (ITA) 11.67, Uri Uziel (ARG) 9.70, Tiago Stock (POR) 9.57</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Junior Pro Taghazout Bay Women’s Semifinal Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Sol Borelli (ESP) 13.17 DEF. Clemence Schorsch (FRA) 11.80, Victoria Backhaus (ITA) 7.84, Carla Morera De La Vall (ESP) 5.83</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Maria Salgado (POR) 13.44 DEF. Lilou Rumiel (FRA) 11.84, Naïa Monte (FRA) 9.77, Zoé Jaeckin (FRA) 8.07</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Junior Pro Taghazout Bay Men’s Quarterfinal Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Conor Donegan Dos Santos (ESP) 10.44 DEF. Oxel Oregi Cortes (EUK) 10.10, Eder Fuentes (EUK) 6.84, Miguel Lages (POR) 6.67</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: João Mendonça (POR) 13.34 DEF. Salvador Vala (POR) 11.74, Coucoulis Lapierre Esteban (FRA) 10.47, Louis Escudeiro (BEL) 7.23</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 3: Hans Odriozola (ESP) 13.16 DEF. Michele Scoppa (ITA) 12.40, Kai Odriozola (ESP) 9.97, João Roque Pinho (POR) 9.33</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 4: Tiago Stock (POR) 12.50 DEF. Uri Uziel (ARG) 10.37, Mateo Vazquez (ESP) 8.13, Oinatz Ortega (EUK) 6.87</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Junior Pro Taghazout Bay Women’s Quarterfinal Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Clemence Schorsch (FRA) 13.10 DEF. Carla Morera De La Vall (ESP) 11.50, Sarah Leiceaga (FRA) 8.34, Teresa Pereira (POR)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Sol Borelli (ESP) 10.74 DEF. Victoria Backhaus (ITA) 8.90, Sara Romeo Astiazaran (EUK) 8.63, Laine Fernandez Goenaga (EUK) 3.96</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 3: Maria Salgado (POR) 12.93 DEF. Naïa Monte (FRA) 9.60, Saioa Ortega (EUK) 4.27, Lua Escudeiro (POR) 3.83</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 4: Zoé Jaeckin (FRA) 9.26 DEF. Lilou Rumiel (FRA) 7.57, Lily Hirigoyen (FRA) 7.30, Constância Simões (POR) 6.77 </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div> </div>