Bonvalot, Blanco Claim Inaugural Caparica Event Crown

Highlights: Festival's Final Day

Catch the biggest moments from the final day of action at the inaugural festival, powered by O'Neill.

Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) 15, and Miguel Blanco (PRT) 19, have won the inaugural Caparica Primavera Surf Fest powered by O'Neill in 2-to-3 foot waves at the beautiful white-sand beach of Caparica.

Organizers made full use of the remaining swell on offer to complete this first edition of the event in playful conditions. Europe's best under-20 surfers put on an exciting show for the crowds enjoying another picture-perfect spring day in Caparica.

Blanco came out on top of an exciting Final, securing the win on a couple of long righthanders that he ripped to pieces on his forehand. The talented regularfooter, who finished sixth on the 2014 European Junior Series, takes an early lead on the region's rankings.

Blanco in form both front and backside. - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"The waves were super slow and we were lost out there," Blanco admitted. "Natxo and I were even talking and laughing about it, but in the end it was such a rush with all those scores pending and I honestly thought I'd lost."

First to take action in the Final, it wasn't until the last minute that Blanco put the last nail in his opponent's coffin, receiving an excellent 8.40 for his second-to-last attempt of the heat.

"This was my third Final, I'm so stoked I finally won one!" Blanco continued. "I have a good rhythm going and am feeling very confident so I look forward to the next event here in Portugal again."

Natxo Gonzalez (EUK) 19, came out just short of his second Junior tour victory for a mere 0.26 but adds another great result to his young career's resume.

"I was looking for the best waves but I think I got a little too patient," Gonzalez said. "I started to get nervous, this is the first time I'm in this situation. I surfed well and had a lot of fun in this contest, that's a very positive outcome."

A happy Gonzalez walks away with the second-place trophy - WSL / Laurent Masurel

With only six minutes remaining on the clock, the Basque powerhouse was yet to surf a wave, when suddenly three back-to-back sets of waves came to give him a series of opportunities to claim back the lead.

"It's hard physically when you're sitting on your board for twenty minutes, then have to go 200 percent for two or three waves in a row," he continued. "The level in general was super high in this event so I'm very happy I could make the final and have fun doing so."

A slow start to the women's Final quickly let way to an exciting series of exchanges, with Bonvalot, taking a serious advantage and a near-perfect 9.80 out of 10 for a combination of major maneuvers on her backhand.

Bonvalot was lethal in Caparica. - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"When I saw that wave coming I knew it was mine and I concentrated on just surfing it well, didn't think of scores or the pressure of the situation," Bonvalot explained. "It was a great wave and I'm super happy I was lucky enough to be in position."

Ranked third overall last year on the European Junior series, Bonvalot takes an early lead this season and will have the rest of the region's talents trying to overtake her comes the next event in Espinho.

"I feel great! This is my first win on the Junior series so I'm really happy," Bonvalot added. "The waves were good and it was really fun. All my family was here and I had a great support crew."

Despite her best efforts, Keshia Seelow-Eyre (GBR) 19, could not recover from Bonvalot's big blast and eventually had to settle for second place. Netting a career-best result in Caparica, Seelow Eyre integrates the ranking's top spots for the first time and will look to confirm her new-found form when the Junior tour reconvenes in June.

Seelow Eyre was on point on the long righthanders on offer. - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"I'm really happy, that was my first final ever on the Junior series," Seelow Eyre said. "It's always good to get a good result in the first event cause then you loosen up a bit and tend you get better. I really want to qualify for the World Juniors, I was bummed to miss out last year on my home break but hopefully I'll get there this time!"

The road to the Final for Eyre was sparked with great performances including defeating Guadeloupe's Kim Veteau (GLP) 17, who came in as the event favorite.