Nomme Mignot (FRA), 18, and Juliette Brice (FRA), 16, have won the Airwalk Pro Junior in wind-affected 1-to-2 foot surf at Lacanau's main beach.
To start the men's Final, Shane Campbell (AUS), 20, and Mignot split the peak, Campbell going right and Mignot going left, both opting to surf on their forehand. Two powerful bashes, gave Campbell a slight edge with a 7.17 against Mignot's 6.33.
Mignot was on fire in the Finals. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Mignot reacted quickly, milking both lefts and rights and showing complete commitment by hitting the final sections on dry sand to maximize his scoring potential. In a last minute effort, Campbell started on a long righthander but the wave didn't offer sufficient opportunities and finished shy of the requirement. Mignot was carried up the beach, for his second WSL Junior career win. (He won the Gijon Pro Junior in 2013.)
"I'm having a good year and I could feel I was close to get a win," Mignot said. "This morning the waves were amazing and it got really difficult in the afternoon but I felt great and picked the right ones I guess."
The win in Lacanau yields Mignot 1,000 rankings points, rocketing him up to second place on the regional rankings. He'll go into the final event in Lanzarote a mere 110 points behind current rankings leader Natxo Gonzalez (EUK).
"I'm not really focusing on the rankings," Mignot said. "I've tried that in the past and it didn't work out at all for me, so I'm just going out to have fun and perform and hopefully the good results keep coming. I can't wait for the final in Lanzarote it's a sick wave."
Campbell, who netted the highest combined heat-total of 18.43 in this event, also earned the biggest score in the Final -- a 7.17 -- but was unable to back it up and placed runner-up.
Campbell, one of the highlight surfers of the week. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
"It's hard to go all this way and not win but it's a great result," Campbell said. "I didn't really know what to expect here and I was really impressed with all the surfers here."
Enlisted in the QS 3,000 starting on August 18, Campbell has learned a lot during the seven Junior rounds and will be a force to be reckoned with in the main event.
"I'll probably be a lot more prepared than most other guys as I surfed this bank a few times over the last couple of days," Campbell continued. "I love it here in Lacanau, it reminds me a little bit of Manly back in Australia but a bit more chill, which I like."
A wave-starved first half of the women's Final saw local surfer Brice find a couple of opportunities and build her heat total to take a strong lead over Camilla Kemp (PRT).
At the five-minute mark, Kemp found a clean, long wave to perform three surgical turns for a 6.67 and a brief lead change, but Brice turned on the very next wave and took maximum risks to belt an excellent-range 8.50, reclaiming pole position and holding on to win.
Brice slicing through a clean Lacanau wall. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
"I just can't believe this just happened," an ecstatic Brice commented. "I couldn't have dreamt a better day. I'd love to win any of all contests but this one is definitely special for me. It's home."
Straight off an excellent runner-up spot in Sopela two weeks ago, Brice kept her momentum going and managed to balance the pressure and excitment of surfing in front of her family and friends to claim her maiden win on the European Junior Tour. In the process, Brice eliminated previous leader Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) and takes control of the regional rankings.
"I trained a lot here, and even though the banks changed with the last storm I felt great out there," Brice continued. "The Final was really stressful for me and I started pretty bad but I got a really good wave and turned it around. I'm extremely motivated and confident now looking ahead to the last junior event of the season."
Kemp, who's previous Junior final appearance was in her very first event in 2013, got the better of some of the event's top seeds on her way to the final and will bring confidence into her last Junior event come September.
Kemp's forehand hacks were lethal in Lacanau. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
"My last pro juniors weren't so great so I was really looking forward to this one," Kemp said. "I got some good scores and beat some of the best girls so I'm super happy with this result, and I love Lacanau. In that final I really needed to find a better wave but Juliette was on top of it so congrats to her."
Europe's best up-and-coming surfers will now enjoy a little break before the grande finale in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, which begins September 16.
The first call of the 2015 Soöruz Lacanau Pro will be Tuesday, August 18 at 7:30 a.m. for a potential start of the Men's QS3,000 first round.
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Nomme Mignot (FRA). Airwailk Lacanau Pro Junior 2015
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior 2015
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Nomme Mignot (FRA). Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior 2015
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Lacanau Barrel ! Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior 2015
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Juliette Brice (FRA). Airwailk Lacanau Pro Junior 2015
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Lucy Campbell (GBR). Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior 2015
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Lacanau Contest site. Airwailk Lacanau Pro Junior 2015
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
France's Mignot, Brice Win Airwalk Pro Junior
WSL
Nomme Mignot (FRA), 18, and Juliette Brice (FRA), 16, have won the Airwalk Pro Junior in wind-affected 1-to-2 foot surf at Lacanau's main beach.
To start the men's Final, Shane Campbell (AUS), 20, and Mignot split the peak, Campbell going right and Mignot going left, both opting to surf on their forehand. Two powerful bashes, gave Campbell a slight edge with a 7.17 against Mignot's 6.33.
Mignot reacted quickly, milking both lefts and rights and showing complete commitment by hitting the final sections on dry sand to maximize his scoring potential. In a last minute effort, Campbell started on a long righthander but the wave didn't offer sufficient opportunities and finished shy of the requirement. Mignot was carried up the beach, for his second WSL Junior career win. (He won the Gijon Pro Junior in 2013.)
"I'm having a good year and I could feel I was close to get a win," Mignot said. "This morning the waves were amazing and it got really difficult in the afternoon but I felt great and picked the right ones I guess."
The win in Lacanau yields Mignot 1,000 rankings points, rocketing him up to second place on the regional rankings. He'll go into the final event in Lanzarote a mere 110 points behind current rankings leader Natxo Gonzalez (EUK).
"I'm not really focusing on the rankings," Mignot said. "I've tried that in the past and it didn't work out at all for me, so I'm just going out to have fun and perform and hopefully the good results keep coming. I can't wait for the final in Lanzarote it's a sick wave."
Campbell, who netted the highest combined heat-total of 18.43 in this event, also earned the biggest score in the Final -- a 7.17 -- but was unable to back it up and placed runner-up.
"It's hard to go all this way and not win but it's a great result," Campbell said. "I didn't really know what to expect here and I was really impressed with all the surfers here."
Enlisted in the QS 3,000 starting on August 18, Campbell has learned a lot during the seven Junior rounds and will be a force to be reckoned with in the main event.
"I'll probably be a lot more prepared than most other guys as I surfed this bank a few times over the last couple of days," Campbell continued. "I love it here in Lacanau, it reminds me a little bit of Manly back in Australia but a bit more chill, which I like."
A wave-starved first half of the women's Final saw local surfer Brice find a couple of opportunities and build her heat total to take a strong lead over Camilla Kemp (PRT).
At the five-minute mark, Kemp found a clean, long wave to perform three surgical turns for a 6.67 and a brief lead change, but Brice turned on the very next wave and took maximum risks to belt an excellent-range 8.50, reclaiming pole position and holding on to win.
"I just can't believe this just happened," an ecstatic Brice commented. "I couldn't have dreamt a better day. I'd love to win any of all contests but this one is definitely special for me. It's home."
Straight off an excellent runner-up spot in Sopela two weeks ago, Brice kept her momentum going and managed to balance the pressure and excitment of surfing in front of her family and friends to claim her maiden win on the European Junior Tour. In the process, Brice eliminated previous leader Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) and takes control of the regional rankings.
"I trained a lot here, and even though the banks changed with the last storm I felt great out there," Brice continued. "The Final was really stressful for me and I started pretty bad but I got a really good wave and turned it around. I'm extremely motivated and confident now looking ahead to the last junior event of the season."
Kemp, who's previous Junior final appearance was in her very first event in 2013, got the better of some of the event's top seeds on her way to the final and will bring confidence into her last Junior event come September.
"My last pro juniors weren't so great so I was really looking forward to this one," Kemp said. "I got some good scores and beat some of the best girls so I'm super happy with this result, and I love Lacanau. In that final I really needed to find a better wave but Juliette was on top of it so congrats to her."
Europe's best up-and-coming surfers will now enjoy a little break before the grande finale in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, which begins September 16.
The first call of the 2015 Soöruz Lacanau Pro will be Tuesday, August 18 at 7:30 a.m. for a potential start of the Men's QS3,000 first round.
Juliette Brice
Competition Gets Underway in Fun Conditions, Week-Full of Activities Aside Main Surfing Action.
Competitors get back to work post lay-day and take on a windy lineup.
Check out a selection of images from last year's Caraïbos Lacanau Pro.
Some classic shots from last year's Junior Pro Sopela.
The 2016 Pro Anglet launches in great conditions to complete the men's opening round and six heats of the women's Rd1.
Airwalk Pro Junior
Day 3 saw big performances and unlikely eliminations in a mix of morning pumping surf and a blown-out afternoon.
A field of European and International surfers take on pumping surf on the opening day of competition in Lacanau.
Stormy seas on the west-facing French coast forced a lay day at the Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior.
The Soöruz Lacanau Pro and Pro Juniors will see talent from around the world gather for the 36th annual event.
Take a tour of one of the most traditional stops on the European summer leg, Gironde's Lacanau Ocãan.