La Caja de Canarias 8th O´neill Trophy

Thursday, October 13 th – Average conditions to complete Round of 64 in the north site of El Socorro.

After a good rest, the second day of this 2 Star event started at 11.30 am this morning, leaving all yesterday's qualifiers and today's newcomers the time to get to the north site of competition. In similar conditions, average 4 ft waves and sunny sky with a light cross shore wind, last year's EPSA Champion Justin Mujica (Prt) hit the water to win his heat in style, showing the judges his determination to stick to the top of the ratings. “It's a bit tough in the water because the lefthander looks good from here but doesn't offer a real potential. I played my game on the small waves to have some longer sections to surf and I'm through so it's good for me,” confessed Justin.

The good forecast for the weekend relaxed the organisers and the decision was taken to finish the round of 64 and keep the last fifteen heats for later, with good hopes of holding the contest at the main site of Las Americas, this well known nick named “Spanish Left” breaking on a perfect reef. Actually leading the EPSA ratings, former WCT surfer Eric Rebière (Fra) who lives in Lanzarote, managed to win his heat with some powerful snapbacks and re-entries, eliminating by the way one of the best canarian riders Julian Cuello (Cny).

Even if the waves were present, the swell showed some dropping signs and by the end of the afternoon the conditions were demanding some really precise choices to get the few opening waves, offering a potential of minimum three manoeuvers. Raymond Reichle (Haw), who has been around Europe since the last pro junior in Spain, used his relaxed but efficient surfing to win and advance to the first money round, and will face amongst others young Tahitian Syeven Pierson (Pyf) in his next heat.

After a good regularity during the year, actually EPSA #4 Tanio Barreto (Esp) found his way out of the close out conditions. Still in the run to grab the title, he was pretty happy to leave the water with this good result. “I watched the spot a lot and I knew the few opening sections were to be taken on the lefthander. It's good for me to get through this one and I am definitely looking forward for a good result here and in Lanzarote next week; I've got good boards, I love lefthanders so everything is going on the right way for the moment,” said Tanio as he was giving back his vest to the beach marshall.

Jonathan Gonzalez (Cny), after reaching the final in Las Palmas last moday, repeated his good surfing and dominated his heat easily. With some radical turns hitting the lip with so much efficiency, Jonathan had no problem to leave his opponents far behind to qualify: “It was good for me last at the beginning of the week but I live here and I would like to make another very good result.” He will surf again tomorrow on the “Spanish left” if Mother Nature offers us enough swell to keep on running the remaining heats.

With twelve heats done today, we completed the two biggest rounds in two days. Today was a calm and good day at the spot of “El Socorro”, in the north. We will be holding the finals of the contest in the south of the island as some new swell is appearing on the internet forecast. With fifteen heats still to go the show will come soon so stay tuned and enjoy the coverage.

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