The Longboard Classic Galicia continues and surfers pull out their best act to score big on day 2 of action in Pantin.
The Longboard Classic Galicia continued today and as conditions improved from Day 1, surfers started to get comfortable in the lineup and put on an incredible show for the passionate Pantin crowds.
The women went up first this morning and two complete rounds were surfed throughout the day, with epic performances from some of the world's top athletes. The reigning WSL Longboard Champion Soleil Errico bounced back from a somewhat early exit in Noosa earlier this year with a great display of nose riding to post a 7.83 into Round 3.
"The practice sessions have been really busy so it was super nice to be out there with two other girls out," she said. "I didn't try to over do it on that good left and just surfed it simple, that inside section I actually didn't think I'd make it but when I did I was stoked. I'm riding the same board I rode in Taiwan last year and it's just the best board ever."
Her compatriot Avalon Gall picked up right where Errico left off and posted the day's strongest heat total of 14.16 in the following heat.
WSL hosts Sam Bleakley and Shannon Hughes go over the second day's best action from the Longboard Classic Galicia.
Current rankings leader, Chloe Calmon made her way into Round 3 as well without any drama or fireworks and might need to step up her game in the following heat as she faces newcomer to the tour Ophelie Ah-Kouen in a two-surfer heat.
"It's such a great opportunity for all of us to have a proper tour this year," Calmon said. "It's been a really exciting year for the whole longboarding community. It's our first time here in Pantin and it's an amazing place with great waves and incredible landscapes. Having more opportunities throughout the year and a chance to compete in very different conditions kind of takes the pressure off and I'm taking each event as a new chapter."
Ah-Kouen along with French compatriot Zoe Grospiron were responsible for the day's biggest upset as they eliminated 5-time European Champion Alice Lemoigne in a tight Round 2 matchup.
Ophelie Ah-Kouen - WSL / Laurent Masurel
In the men's event you'd have thought with the top seeds entering in Round 3, things would have gone their way but in fact it was yesterday's standouts who continued to lift their level and thrusted discussions.
Kaniela Stewart posted the first excellent score of the entire event with 8.00 points for a right that peeled forever and offered him perfect nose riding sections all the way in.
"I just saw this right lining up really good and I just went for it," he said. "It's really fun out there with plenty of opportunities to get good scores and I was lucky enough to get one of those good waves."
Justin Quintal went one better in the following heat with two big scores and the highest combined total of the event, 14.86 out of a possible 20. Quintal dominated in his Round 3 bout against 3-time WSL Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen.
Justin Quintal (USA) - WSL / Laurent Masurel
"This little left looked like it was going to work better as the tide came in and I managed to get a couple and link them up," Quintal said. "Taylor is a great surfer and he's been doing this for along time so it was a little nerve-wracking to surf against him. I remember as a grom in Florida going to see him and Kai Sallas and Joel Tudor, so to be here years later and competing against those guys is pretty cool."
Kai Sallas completed the picture in the next heat again, bombing down the line of a left on his forehand, alternating hang-5 and hang-10 with clean carves for a 7.83, the second-highest single score of the event and the win.
"I love surfing and I love competing so even though it's a long way from home I'm super happy to be here," he said. "I appreciate what WSL is doing, putting on multiple events for longboarding, it's something I've always dreamed of having throughout my career so for sure I wanted to be here this year and participate in this effort."
Kai Sallas - WSL / Damien Poullenot
Surfers will be back at 9 a.m Friday to continue battles at the Longboard Classic Galicia.
The Longboard Classic Galicia is scheduled from August 28 - 31, 2019 at playa de Pantin, Galicia / Spain. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to worldsurfleague.com.
Epic Classic Longboarding Battles Go Down in Pantin
Nicolas Leroy
The Longboard Classic Galicia continued today and as conditions improved from Day 1, surfers started to get comfortable in the lineup and put on an incredible show for the passionate Pantin crowds.
The women went up first this morning and two complete rounds were surfed throughout the day, with epic performances from some of the world's top athletes. The reigning WSL Longboard Champion Soleil Errico bounced back from a somewhat early exit in Noosa earlier this year with a great display of nose riding to post a 7.83 into Round 3.
"The practice sessions have been really busy so it was super nice to be out there with two other girls out," she said. "I didn't try to over do it on that good left and just surfed it simple, that inside section I actually didn't think I'd make it but when I did I was stoked. I'm riding the same board I rode in Taiwan last year and it's just the best board ever."
Her compatriot Avalon Gall picked up right where Errico left off and posted the day's strongest heat total of 14.16 in the following heat.
Current rankings leader, Chloe Calmon made her way into Round 3 as well without any drama or fireworks and might need to step up her game in the following heat as she faces newcomer to the tour Ophelie Ah-Kouen in a two-surfer heat.
"It's such a great opportunity for all of us to have a proper tour this year," Calmon said. "It's been a really exciting year for the whole longboarding community. It's our first time here in Pantin and it's an amazing place with great waves and incredible landscapes. Having more opportunities throughout the year and a chance to compete in very different conditions kind of takes the pressure off and I'm taking each event as a new chapter."
Ah-Kouen along with French compatriot Zoe Grospiron were responsible for the day's biggest upset as they eliminated 5-time European Champion Alice Lemoigne in a tight Round 2 matchup.
In the men's event you'd have thought with the top seeds entering in Round 3, things would have gone their way but in fact it was yesterday's standouts who continued to lift their level and thrusted discussions.
Kaniela Stewart posted the first excellent score of the entire event with 8.00 points for a right that peeled forever and offered him perfect nose riding sections all the way in.
"I just saw this right lining up really good and I just went for it," he said. "It's really fun out there with plenty of opportunities to get good scores and I was lucky enough to get one of those good waves."
Justin Quintal went one better in the following heat with two big scores and the highest combined total of the event, 14.86 out of a possible 20. Quintal dominated in his Round 3 bout against 3-time WSL Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen.
"This little left looked like it was going to work better as the tide came in and I managed to get a couple and link them up," Quintal said. "Taylor is a great surfer and he's been doing this for along time so it was a little nerve-wracking to surf against him. I remember as a grom in Florida going to see him and Kai Sallas and Joel Tudor, so to be here years later and competing against those guys is pretty cool."
Kai Sallas completed the picture in the next heat again, bombing down the line of a left on his forehand, alternating hang-5 and hang-10 with clean carves for a 7.83, the second-highest single score of the event and the win.
"I love surfing and I love competing so even though it's a long way from home I'm super happy to be here," he said. "I appreciate what WSL is doing, putting on multiple events for longboarding, it's something I've always dreamed of having throughout my career so for sure I wanted to be here this year and participate in this effort."
Surfers will be back at 9 a.m Friday to continue battles at the Longboard Classic Galicia.
The Longboard Classic Galicia is scheduled from August 28 - 31, 2019 at playa de Pantin, Galicia / Spain. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to worldsurfleague.com.
Antoine Delpero
Sam Bleakley and Shannon Hughes talk over all the best moments of the third day of action at the Longboard Classic Galicia in Pantin.
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