.png){kind=logo}
When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference.
These cookies are essential to enable user movement across our website and for providing access to features such as your profile. These cookies cannot be disabled. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and cannot be used for marketing purposes.
These cookies allow us to analyze visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site and enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers, such as Google Analytics, whose services we have added to our pages. Information collected through these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly and/or we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts or content. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.
Gony Zubizarreta Grabs QS Win in Caparica
Nicolas Leroy
Gony Zubizarreta claimed his first QS win since 2010, in the Final of the Men's QS division at the Caparica Primavera Surf Fest. The Galician surfer with strong ties in Portugal waited for a last-minute effort to overtake the obvious favorite on Portuguese soil, Vasco Ribeiro.
"Vasco started really strong and I could barely find anything interesting at first," Gony said. "But those heats are so long, I knew everything could change. That last wave came and Vasco had priority but didn't go. I got it and it reformed really well, thankfully I got that 8. You have to fight until the end and I knew I could potentially get the score with a better opportunity."
A constant threat on the QS for the past ten years, Gony peaked in 2016 with his best-ever finish at No.41. He will continue to give the qualifying effort a good crack this season, but started shifting to select events and fun side-projects with his sponsors and co-owned brand Jam Traction with Marlon Lipke.
"I've been in the Canaries on a trip for Surfer Mag with Jonathan Gonzalez and we scored, surfed Cave also with Volcom international, those trips are really tiring you're surfing so much!" he continued. "We work so much with Marlon as well, all that gets us really busy but still every time I enter a contest I want to win and the big QS10,000s are coming in South-Africa and the US. I feel like I'm surfing better than ever, and I have more experience so we'll see how I go."
Vasco Ribeiro, a former WSL Junior Champion, had the final locked in until Gony's final effort, feeling the win slip through his fingers in the very last seconds of their exchange. With the support of recently retired Championship Tour competitor Tiago Pires, Ribeiro's 2017 season is shaping up to be his strongest-ever bid to join long-time friend Frederico Morais on the CT.
"I'm feeling good and confident in myself and my equipment," Vasco said. "This is a good way to launch that European Spring leg and I'll move on to the next two events, hoping I can go one better."
Lens Arancibia Avila and Pedro Henrique placed third and fourth respectfully. The Frenchman, Lens, still in high-school, is only just testing the QS depths. He is committed to finishing this year off, including exams, before fully immersing himself into the full-time qualifying experience.
"I got some fun waves in the Final, my goal was to win it obviously but this is how it goes," Lens reflected. "I'm still super happy to make a Final and I'll try again harder in the next one."
Pedro on the other hand, has been touring the world in search of those precious QS points for years and is a regular on podiums all-across the seven regions of the WSL.
"This was such a hard event considering the conditions and the level of surfing from everyone," Pedro said. "But it was a great warm-up and I look forward to surfing again soon."
Only longboarders have yet to crown champions in Caparica, and the organizers have convened them to a 7 a.m call Saturday for a potential early start, and finish, of their Portuguese campaigns.
All results, photos and videos of the events can be viewed here:
Men's QS Event
Women's QS Event
Men's JQS Event
Women's JQS Event
Men's LQS Event
Women's LQS Event
Lens Arancibia Avila
Action culminates after a lay day at Boardmasters and completes all divisions with four great winners at Fistral.
Boardmasters' surfing action resumes in building surf with large waves in the afternoon and shock eliminations of past winners.
The QS1,000 Quiksilver & Roxy Open launched surfing action on Day 1 at Boardmasters at Fistral beach.
The Quiksilver and Roxy Open continue on day 3 of Boardmasters and the UGG Men and Women Longboard Pro Start.
The World Surf League will host a first-ever Junior event in Brittany at the world-famous La Torche point in May 2018.
Caparica Pro
Small waves brings out high tension in Men's QS final at the Caparica Primavera Surf Fest.
Former Championship Tour athlete Justine Dupont takes out the inaugural QS1,000 Caparica Pro.
Another day, another couple of champions crowned at the Caparica Primavera Surf Fest.
A second day of action at the Caparica Primavera Surf Fest unfolds in good surf to advance through the rounds.
Men's and women's Qualifying Series and Junior contests were in the spotlight on the second day of action in Portugal.