First upset was Eric Rebière's (Fra) elimination, looking uncomfortable in the slower conditions. “I changed my board just before the heat but I was wrong; the one I used was too big and I couldn't get enough speed and flow to stand in front of the others who made a really good job. Anyway we've had good waves again and it's good for the event,” said Eric after getting equal 9 th , earning by the way $800 before next week's 4 Star event.

The second quarter final was a shocker as last week's winner Michel Bourez (Pyf) was ready to rip the lefts on offer, against fellow countryman Alain Riou. In between them rose Justin Mujica (Prt); after getting a 9.17, Alain Riou (Pyf) could not find a back up score and had to leave the water very disappointed, after Justin Mujica had found all the scores he needed. Michel Bourez (Pyf) led the heat from the beginning to the end with super powerful turns, waiting the most critical moments to hit the lips, eventually qualifying for the second contest in a row for the semifinals.

Local Jonathan Gonzalez (Cny) repeated last week's good result to reach semifinals, using his knowledge of the famous lefthander to smother his opponents with precise positioning and wave choice. With his fluid style but nonetheless radical, the local boy seemed at ease on one of his home spots and stopped Tanio Barreto's (Esp) dream of grabbing the EPSA title. Unfortunately he was stopped by Kyle Garson ( Usa ) and Raymond Reichle (Haw) just before the last final four. With four Europeans and four internationals in the semifinals, the show went hot as soon as the first one had started. Repeating again and again his efficient surfing, Michel Bourez (Pyf) looked once more unstoppable and reached the final easily, with two 7+ scores.

2004 EPSA Champion Justin Mujica (Prt) had to leave the contest at this stage, even if he tried all he could up to the last seconds, taking off on a wave as fifteen seconds were remaining; After his reaching semifinals as well last week, Aritz Aranburu (Euk), the 2005 EPSA Pro Junior runner-up, was again in the last eight men draw of the contest. With great surfing, showing the judges lots of flow and on-the-rail turns, the young Basque surfer offered his best but had to accept the loss

Just before the final, the actual best surfer in the Canary Islands ' contests Michel Bourez (Pyf), was feeling a bit nervous. “I am so stoked to be again in the last heat. I just want to enjoy but there's a bit of pressure as I want the title again off course. Well I'll keep on surfing as I've done and we will see what happens with the others,” confessed the young man who is realizing an incredible finish in this European leg, after winning a pro junior, qualifying for the World Junior Championships next January and winning last week's 2 Star WQS event.

The final heat started at 1 PM , and by the time the surfers had grabbed their vests, the wind had decided to come over the south coast of Tenerife . The waves then changed a lot and it became really difficult for the men to get some high scores. Not waiting more than two minutes, the Tahitian got a 5.68 pts then found a back up wave of 6.10 pts to take the lead. More patiently, Kyle Garson ( Usa ) managed to get a good potential wave and scored the 8.5 pts he needed to get first, leaving the others still all the time they needed to come back. As five minutes were remaining, the pressure went at its climax and Dion Atkinson (Aus), after an impressive, week had to forget the highest step of the podium. Young Raymond Reichle (Haw) was a bit lost in the bumpy conditions, and Kyle Garson ( Usa ) backed up his first wave to secure his lead and take the contest trophy home.

The 8 th O'neill Trophy is a 2 Star “World Qualifying Series” Event sanctioned by Asp Europe . It is sponsored by O'neill and will offer $25 000 of prizemoney. It is proudly supported by the Caja de Canarias, the City Council of Los Realejos, the City Council of Arena, the Hotel Sol Tenerife, the Canarian Surfing Federation, Surf Radical, the monthly El Maquinola and Litografia Trujillo.

Greg / Aspeurope.com