Frederico Morais wins the 2016 Martinique Surf Pro in great conditions on the final day of the event's waiting period.
Frederico Morais, 24, has won the Martinique Surf Pro over Gony Zubizarreta (ESP), 30, in excellent three-to-five foot peelers down the Basse-Pointe point.
An emotional Morais celebrates with good friend Vasco Ribeiro. - WSL / Poullenot/Aquashot
A slow start to the final saw both surfers exchange medium scores, patiently awaiting the bigger set waves that graced the final day of the event. Such a set came at the 20-minute mark, giving both surfers an opportunity to showcase their talent, with Morais taking a slight edge on a bigger wave and a combination of three good carves against Zubizarreta's progressive moves on a smaller ride.
Morais' carve game was flawless in Basse-Pointe. - WSL / Poullenot/Aquashot
A second major set gave Morais a perfect canvas to perfectly apply his signature forehand powerful carves for an 8.93 and a solid grasp on the heat lead. Zubizarreta fought back but fell on his third turn, claiming a 7.30 for his two first major moves. Few waves turned up from that point on and despite a last-minute effort from the Spaniard, Morais took away the win.
The young Portuguese attacked the lip like no one else this week. - WSL / Poullenot/Aquashot
"That's my first QS win and I've been waiting for this for a long time, it's the best feeling ever !" he stated. "My secret today was just to be relaxed and enjoying myself on some of the best waves I've ever had in a QS. This place is amazing, you can do airs, turns and big carves, you can't ask for much more at a contest. That's definitely motivating me to keep working hard and hopefully I can keep my momentum going."
Another standout this entire event with solid heat wins and a great display of both traditional and progressive maneuvers, Zubizarreta claims the runner-up spot and an important 2250 ranking points counting towards his 2016 qualifying campaign.
Zubizarreta laid down some huge moves like this to reach the final. - WSL / Poullenot/Aquashot
"I think my last podium was in 2010 with my good friend Hodei Collazo and I got second there too, I really wanted to win this but Frederico was surfing great so congrats to him !" he said. "My first visit in Martinique, it's an amazing place, the people, the waves were really fun, the island is beautiful and I hope I can come back."
One of the most impressive surfers all-week in Martinique, Deivid Silva (BRA), 21, was stopped in the semifinals by runner-up Zubizarreta. The Brazilian tore apart the rights of Basse-Pointe and wrote the book on how to ride the now famed point break on your backhand.
Silva's fins probably spent more time out of the water than in the wave this week. - WSL / Poullenot/Aquashot
"Gony got the best waves and surfed really well so there wasn't much I could do but I'm happy with this result," he analyzed. "I'm going to go to El Salvador now and keep training, these are good points but I'm going to need more so I'll continue to work hard. It was my first time here and I absolutely loved it, I'll be back !"
Luke Hynd (AUS), 20, had a similar path to the semis as Silva and unfortunately couldn't match Morais' momentum in their matchup. Hynd reaches a career-best equal third in Martinique and will take a big leap in the Qualifying Series rankings before the next events this season.
Hynd caught a big break this week and will want to confirm his excellent form in the next event. - WSL / Poullenot/Aquashot
"Frederico was probably the form surfer today he's been dropping 8s and 9s all-day so I knew it was going to be tough," he reflected. "I sat in my spot but it wasn't really doing its thing, I did fight back with that 8 and thought I only need one more bomb and I might get him. This is the biggest QS I've ever done and to make it this far I'm really happy it was well worth a trip over. Just watching him (Matt Wilkinson), him being an underdog and a goofy especially really got me fired up for this event so I definitely take a lot of inspiration from him."
Frederico Morais Claims 2016 Martinique Surf Pro
WSL
Frederico Morais, 24, has won the Martinique Surf Pro over Gony Zubizarreta (ESP), 30, in excellent three-to-five foot peelers down the Basse-Pointe point.
A slow start to the final saw both surfers exchange medium scores, patiently awaiting the bigger set waves that graced the final day of the event. Such a set came at the 20-minute mark, giving both surfers an opportunity to showcase their talent, with Morais taking a slight edge on a bigger wave and a combination of three good carves against Zubizarreta's progressive moves on a smaller ride.
A second major set gave Morais a perfect canvas to perfectly apply his signature forehand powerful carves for an 8.93 and a solid grasp on the heat lead. Zubizarreta fought back but fell on his third turn, claiming a 7.30 for his two first major moves. Few waves turned up from that point on and despite a last-minute effort from the Spaniard, Morais took away the win.
"That's my first QS win and I've been waiting for this for a long time, it's the best feeling ever !" he stated. "My secret today was just to be relaxed and enjoying myself on some of the best waves I've ever had in a QS. This place is amazing, you can do airs, turns and big carves, you can't ask for much more at a contest. That's definitely motivating me to keep working hard and hopefully I can keep my momentum going."
Another standout this entire event with solid heat wins and a great display of both traditional and progressive maneuvers, Zubizarreta claims the runner-up spot and an important 2250 ranking points counting towards his 2016 qualifying campaign.
"I think my last podium was in 2010 with my good friend Hodei Collazo and I got second there too, I really wanted to win this but Frederico was surfing great so congrats to him !" he said. "My first visit in Martinique, it's an amazing place, the people, the waves were really fun, the island is beautiful and I hope I can come back."
One of the most impressive surfers all-week in Martinique, Deivid Silva (BRA), 21, was stopped in the semifinals by runner-up Zubizarreta. The Brazilian tore apart the rights of Basse-Pointe and wrote the book on how to ride the now famed point break on your backhand.
"Gony got the best waves and surfed really well so there wasn't much I could do but I'm happy with this result," he analyzed. "I'm going to go to El Salvador now and keep training, these are good points but I'm going to need more so I'll continue to work hard. It was my first time here and I absolutely loved it, I'll be back !"
Luke Hynd (AUS), 20, had a similar path to the semis as Silva and unfortunately couldn't match Morais' momentum in their matchup. Hynd reaches a career-best equal third in Martinique and will take a big leap in the Qualifying Series rankings before the next events this season.
"Frederico was probably the form surfer today he's been dropping 8s and 9s all-day so I knew it was going to be tough," he reflected. "I sat in my spot but it wasn't really doing its thing, I did fight back with that 8 and thought I only need one more bomb and I might get him. This is the biggest QS I've ever done and to make it this far I'm really happy it was well worth a trip over. Just watching him (Matt Wilkinson), him being an underdog and a goofy especially really got me fired up for this event so I definitely take a lot of inspiration from him."
Deivid Silva
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Martinique Surf Pro
A selection of images from where you'd rather be.
Frederico Morais wins the 2016 Martinique Surf Pro in great conditions on the final day of the event's waiting period.
Good waves allow competition to restart and complete the Round of 32 to set an exciting final day Sunday.
A new swell comes right in time for competition to recommence and run the fifth round to prepare for a great finish on Sunday.
Difficult conditions provide perfect ground for major upsets as top seeds continue to fall short against up-and-comers.