A mammoth day of competition decides most of the events' quarterfinalists and set the pace for an exciting finish on the weekend.
All four events took turns today in the wind-blown waist-high surf at Fistral, allowing the organizers to run multiple rounds and prepare for a potential great finish in improving conditions this weekend.
Jack Unsworth carried the home country's hopes in the Jeep Men's Longboard, advancing into the quarters with good surfing. The North Devon surfer currently sits in fourth position on the European rankings with two equal fifth places in the previous events and eyes a potential first qualification for the World Longboard Championships next year.
Current European leader Emilien Fleury lead the charge as well. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
"I felt a little bit shaky in this one, I found one nice wave and had trouble finding anything else above a 3," he said. "It was a very friendly heat, I've been surfing with these guys for years and we were just having a good time. I think British longboarding has improved a lot these past few years and I'm stoked to be part of the current generation of surfers trying to push it. This is my first year doing the whole European tour and I'm hoping to qualify for the World Longboard Championships next year."
In the Jeep Women's Longboard, Justine Dupont took control of the opening round and surfed her signature gracious way into the quarters. Justine then shortened her quiver of a few feet and made her two heats in the Boardmasters, Roxy Open to reach the quarters as well.
Not even Justine's longest board as her quiver counts a few guns for bigger days. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
"It was good to get back into competition mode after a couple of months off," Dupont stated. "Conditions were really hard but I managed to make it through. I have a super light epoxy board from Cabianca which works really well in those tiny waves so I had a bit of fun. I look forward to tomorrow, waves should be really fun and we'll appreciate it even more after what we had to surf today."
But the biggest performance in the women's QS was that of 17-year-old Tahitian Vahine Fierro who impressed with a solid 15.16 heat total in the opening round, before confirming her form and advancing in the quarters where she'll meet Aussie Mikaela Greene .
In the Boardmasters, Quiksilver Open, the Brits continued to make their local crowds proud with Jobe Harriss still leading the show, and Gearoid McDaid, Jay Quinn, Luke Dillon closely following.
Alan Stokes. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
It was South Africa's Slade Prestwich however, who claimed the day's most impressive performance with the event's two highest scores so far in the excellent range for a 16.67 combination. Slade left his three opponents comboed and walked away and into Round Four.
"I found those little fun double-ups with the tide coming in and it as super fun!" Prestwich said. "This is my first visit to Newquay and I've been here for nearly two weeks now, I had some great waves all along the coast and I really like it here. My season starts now really cause I'm not in the Top 100 right now, and I hope to build my rankings throughout the Europe leg."
Adam Griffiths. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Competition could resume as early as 8:30 a.m Saturday with the men's or women's QS division, while longboarders are invited to join the show at 12 p.m.
Check out all the pictures, video highlights, results and more right here.
Boardmasters Approach Business End of QS and Longboard Events
Nicolas Leroy
All four events took turns today in the wind-blown waist-high surf at Fistral, allowing the organizers to run multiple rounds and prepare for a potential great finish in improving conditions this weekend.
Jack Unsworth carried the home country's hopes in the Jeep Men's Longboard, advancing into the quarters with good surfing. The North Devon surfer currently sits in fourth position on the European rankings with two equal fifth places in the previous events and eyes a potential first qualification for the World Longboard Championships next year.
"I felt a little bit shaky in this one, I found one nice wave and had trouble finding anything else above a 3," he said. "It was a very friendly heat, I've been surfing with these guys for years and we were just having a good time. I think British longboarding has improved a lot these past few years and I'm stoked to be part of the current generation of surfers trying to push it. This is my first year doing the whole European tour and I'm hoping to qualify for the World Longboard Championships next year."
In the Jeep Women's Longboard, Justine Dupont took control of the opening round and surfed her signature gracious way into the quarters. Justine then shortened her quiver of a few feet and made her two heats in the Boardmasters, Roxy Open to reach the quarters as well.
"It was good to get back into competition mode after a couple of months off," Dupont stated. "Conditions were really hard but I managed to make it through. I have a super light epoxy board from Cabianca which works really well in those tiny waves so I had a bit of fun. I look forward to tomorrow, waves should be really fun and we'll appreciate it even more after what we had to surf today."
But the biggest performance in the women's QS was that of 17-year-old Tahitian Vahine Fierro who impressed with a solid 15.16 heat total in the opening round, before confirming her form and advancing in the quarters where she'll meet Aussie Mikaela Greene .
In the Boardmasters, Quiksilver Open, the Brits continued to make their local crowds proud with Jobe Harriss still leading the show, and Gearoid McDaid, Jay Quinn, Luke Dillon closely following.
It was South Africa's Slade Prestwich however, who claimed the day's most impressive performance with the event's two highest scores so far in the excellent range for a 16.67 combination. Slade left his three opponents comboed and walked away and into Round Four.
"I found those little fun double-ups with the tide coming in and it as super fun!" Prestwich said. "This is my first visit to Newquay and I've been here for nearly two weeks now, I had some great waves all along the coast and I really like it here. My season starts now really cause I'm not in the Top 100 right now, and I hope to build my rankings throughout the Europe leg."
Competition could resume as early as 8:30 a.m Saturday with the men's or women's QS division, while longboarders are invited to join the show at 12 p.m.
Check out all the pictures, video highlights, results and more right here.
Lliam Mortensen
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 2018 Boardmasters will launch an eight-week long European leg.
Check out a selection of the best shots from last year's Boardmasters.
Light winds and clean conditions saw some impressive surfing for the QS 1,500 men's event
Boardmasters, Quiksilver Open
Ella Williams and Lliam Mortensen claim QS1,000 titles at Boardmasters Quiksilver and Roxy Opens.
QS Champs emerge on final day of Boardmasters, Quiksilver and Roxy Opens.
A mammoth day of competition decides most of the events' quarterfinalists and set the pace for an exciting finish on the weekend.
Competition launched in wind-affected surf on Day One of Boardmasters, Quiksilver & Roxy Open.