Friday, October 21 st – Patrick Beven steals EPSA Tilte and Miky Picon reaches symbolic 9000 pts on the WQS.

After yesterday's marathon with twenty heats held in a row, today's forecast and reality was just another one. The wind was already blowing softly when we woke up and the low tide was showing some really inconsistent waves for such a level of contest. With only three heats remaining, but as no waves are coming, the decision came to the surfers and after a few talks, the majority of them decided to move and finish this 4 star event to the nearby beachbreak, for a 3.30 pm check in.

Two hours later, the first semifinal was in the water, wearing their competition vests, and it was a good surprise to see the area was less affected by the wind. In 3 ft clean conditions, Ben bourgeois ( Usa ) opened the fight and didn't lose any time to get the first 8 pts score of the day. Answering back to back, Eneko Acero (Euk) took off fast to join some very good on-the-rail cutbacks, to reply with a 6+ pointer. It was obvious the surfers' decision was a good one as even the waves were not the ones from a reef break, the guys enjoyed their time at the outside. Marlon Lipke (Deu), surfing backside to the righthanders, found a good wave and made the crowd cheer on the beach as he was slashing the water and hitting the lips throwing his fins out as much as possible. As five minutes were remaining on the official timer, Patrick Beven (Fra) decided to get the 7 points he needed and chose the right hander option for it. With a lot of speed, the Frenchman began with an air, before getting four huge snapbacks with style and power, to finish with a radical controlled re-entry. The reward was a 9.5 pts, giving him the victory to advance to the final four of the event.

The second semifinal followed just twenty five seconds after, and Alain Riou (Pyf) was the first one to catch a score. Wearing the red singlet, Miky Picon (Fra) was the other good starter of the heat and after two average waves, he found an 6.83 score to get second; in black, Alain Riou waited ten seconds before answering his mate. The styled goofy footer (one who has his right front ahead when he rides) showed his best and lokked like a re-entrie machine, connecting the sections with great flow and power to get an 8.17, giving him the lead. Then came in last year's EPSA champion Justin Mujica (Prt), ripping a righthander from the outside to the shore, to take control of the second semifinal. Feeling no pressure at all, the Portuguese then got the second higher score of the contest, after using all the best skills he could, surfing with originality, taking risks with lots of control, to eventually qualify with a 9.6 pointer. At the same time, the red knight Miky Picon (Fra) walking towards his qualification for the elite tour, found the 7+ he needed to get the last spot of the final.

At 5.15 pm sounded the start of the 35-minute decider, the last of the year for European contests, on the beachbreak of Famara. With four Europeans in the final, it was a success for European surfing to finish the year with such a result. Waiting for the best waves at the outside, Patrick Beven (Fra) caught his first ride after 8 minutes had gone. But using the most of its potential, he finished his ride with an 8+ reward, having plenty of time to get his back up score. The german Marlon Lipke (Deu) chose the option of surfing many waves, and got some good points whereas Justin Mujica (Prt) and Michael Picon (Fra) were surfing with calm and control, looking confident. As ten minutes were remaining, Justin Mujica took the lead of the heat, followed by Michael Picon, Patrick Beven and Marlon Lipke. Last year's EPSA Champion had no chance of getting the European crown but did all he could to win the contest, and it paid well until Patrick Beven (fra) found the 4.66 he needed to still the contest and the European title.

“I am so stoked, I really wanted this title to finish my European year in the best way as possible. That last wave came in just in time… What a finish for Miky and I. We've got some big contests still coming but I will be confident now as the European level is rising every year and I think as Miky shows it, that we have a lot to do next years,” said the new EPSA Champion.

It's been a great event to finish the European surfing year, and the suspense remained up to the last minute. From Picon's result that takes him closer to the WCT qualification to Patrick Beven's (Fra) last minute EPSA title, the 4 Star La Santa Surf Pro took the pressure to its climax. With all the beach holding his breath, it was just a thrill to see Patrick Beven catch his last wave and win the contest and the European tilte. Thank you to all of you for your attention on www.aspeurope.com , we all hope to see you next year but keep on checking our site where you will get all the results from around the surfing world. Catch up later mates!!!

The La Santa Surf Pro is a 4 Star “World Qualifying Series” event sanctioned by ASP Europe , and will offer $75 000 of prizemoney. It it the last event that will count for the 2005 European championship and we will crown the champion by the end of the week. It is sponsored by La Santa Surf and La Caja de Canarias , and proudly supported by the Government of Canarias, the Cabildo of Lanzarote, the city council of Teguise, Shark bathing suits, El Maquinola, Creatures of Leisure, Pukas, and Lanzarote.com.

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