La Torche, Plomeur, Pays-Bigouden, Finistère - Bretagne / France (Sunday, September 17, 2023) - Today, Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri and Sam Piter won the E.Leclerc Pont-l'Abbé Junior Pro La Torche, Stop No.2 on the 2023 World Surf League (WSL) European Junior Qualifying Series (JQS), defeating Sarah Leiceaga and Elay Bochan respectively in the Finals, held in clean two-to-three foot waves and light offshore winds.
It was a short finals day that resumed on the outgoing tide with the men's Semifinals before running straight into the event Finals.
Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri Goes Back-to-Back in Brittany, Solidifies Rankings Lead
In the women's Final, rankings leader and defending event winner Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) took on first-time Finalist Sarah Leiceaga (FRA). The Basque surfer was quick to start with a couple of quick waves to open her account. She found her first score of consequence on a good left on her backhand with a combination of turns for a 7.00 (out of possible 10). Leiceaga roamed the lineup but couldn't quite find the open walls and good sections.
At the 10-minute mark, both surfers split the peak, Leiceaga on the right and Gonzalez Etxabarri on the left, both surfing on their backhand. The Basque once again got the nod with a 5.57 to further assert her lead and quickly upped the ante with an excellent 8.50 to take the win.
Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) claimed her second win of the season after Casablanca back in May, and cements her position atop the regional rankings with one event left next week in Galicia. Today marks her career-third win as she goes back-to-back in La Torche.
"I feel very happy, I love this place," Gonzalez Etxabarri stated. "This wave is perfect for me with all the lefts and it's becoming a special place for me. We trained a lot before we finally surfed and it was fun. I want to follow in my sister's footsteps and I'm excited for Razo."
Sarah Leiceaga (FRA) - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Sarah Leiceaga Claims Career-Best Result with Runner-Up in Brittany
The French surfer from Biarritz, Sarah Leiceaga (FRA) reached the two-surfer Final for the first time and continues to improve after an equal third place result in the season opener in Morocco. The powerful goofyfoot climbs up to second place in the regional rankings, one step closer to realizing her goal of qualifying for the next World Junior Championships (WJC).
"It was a long week cause we had to wait a few days before getting to surf but it was definitely the right call cause we had great waves yesterday and even today," Leiceaga reflected. "I struggled to find the right waves today and made a few mistakes but I'm still very happy to have reached the Final. I was anxious to get going and I'll just learn from it I suppose. I'm excited for the last event, I really want to keep my spot for the world juniors that's my only goal now."
Gonzalez Etxabarri and Leiceaga had previously dispatched Nahia Milhau and Ana Lua Elias Escudeiro respectively in the Semis on Saturday.
Sam Piter (FRA) - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Sam Piter Claims Second Career-Win, Takes European Rankings Lead
After a slow start to the heat, Sam Piter (FRA) and Elay Bochan (ISR) started to get loose and let go of the initial pressure of the Final midway through, going to the air on the little left ramps. Piter got an excellent 8.67 over Bochan's 6.17 and took a firm lead. The Frenchman quickly backed it up with a 7.00 to apply pressure on his opponent and continued to improve with another excellent score of 8.17 to seal the deal on his second tour victory.
The 2021 European Junior title race runner-up grabs the rankings lead ahead of the final event of the season in Galicia next week and looks a solid bet for the 2023 regional title if he can keeps his momentum up.
"I hadn't won in a while so I'm super happy of course," Piter said. "I had decent results on the QS but never managed to go all the way so I was a little discouraged and this definitely bumps up my confidence for the next events. I really had lots of fun this week, I took a more relaxed approach and it worked out great. The sandbank was really fun with that left so it was really fun to surf. I don't really feel any added pressure, I just want to keep doing what I've been doing right and I hope to qualify, if I can win the title that's just a bonus."
Elay Bochan (ISR) - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Elay Bochan Reaches First-Ever Final, Turns Season Around After Disappointing Start
Israel's Elay Bochan (ISR) has been a familiar face on the junior tour for the last couple of seasons and even started competing full time on the Qualifying Series (QS) this season but was yet to make a mark on either series. Today marked the first time he reached the two-surfer rounds and he displayed excellent surfing to reach the Final, unfortunately unable to counter Piter's flair in the little lefts of La Torche.
With the runner-up today, Bochan rockets up to third on the rankings and in striking distance of a spot at the WJC next year.
"This was my first Final so I'm really happy even if I wanted to win it of course," Bochan admitted. "I lost in the first or second rounds of almost all the comps this year so far and I was really starting to doubt myself, I almost wanted to take a break. But my coach told me he believed my time would come and that I just had to persevere. In my mind I knew I had the surfing but I just didn't know what to do. For some reason this week it just went my way and I started believing it. I loved my week here, the people and the energy was awesome, and the crepes wow they were delicious."
Piter and Bochan had previously dispatched Thomas Ledee and Jacobo Trigo respectively in the Semis earlier this morning.
With the E.Leclerc Pont-l'Abbé Junior Pro La Torche, stop No.2 on the 2023 European JQS in the books, here's an updated regional rankings Top 5:
Men's European JQS Top 5:
1 - Sam Piter (FRA)
2 - Tim Elter (DEU)
3 - Elay Bochan (ISR)
3 - Paco Alonzo (FRA)
5 - Thomas Ledee (FRA)
Women's European JQS Top 5:
1 - Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK)
2 - Sarah Leiceaga (FRA)
3 - Maria Salgado (POR)
3 - Nahia Milhau (FRA)
5 - Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (ESP)
Surfers will now head towards Galicia, Spain for the Cabreiroá Junior Pro Razo-Caión, starting Thursday, September 21, 2023.
The E.Leclerc Pont L'Abbé Junior Pro La Torche was scheduled from September 13-17, 2023 at La Torche, Plomeur, Pays-Bigouden, Finistère - Bretagne / France. Find out all about the event's live scores, results and updates at WorldSurfLeague.com, on the free WSL app as well as our social networks Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The E.Leclerc Pont L'Abbé Junior Pro La Torche is supported by Communauté de Communes Pays Bigouden Sud, Département du Finistère, Région Bretagne, TwentyNine SurfShop, École de Surf de Bretagne, LRJ Groupe, Le Rayon Vert, Le Télégramme, ESB Surf Club, Yelloh! Village La Plage.
E.LECLERC PONT L'ABBÉ JUNIOR PRO LA TORCHE MEN'S FINAL RESULTS:
1 - Sam Piter (FRA) 16.84
2 - Elay Bochan (ISR) 13.47
E.LECLERC PONT L'ABBÉ JUNIOR PRO LA TORCHE WOMEN'S FINAL RESULTS:
1 - Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 11.50
2 - Sarah Leiceaga (FRA) 8.36
E.LECLERC PONT L'ABBÉ JUNIOR PRO LA TORCHE MEN'S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Sam Piter (FRA) 15.30 def. Thomas Ledee (FRA) 11.40
SF 2: Elay Bochan (ISR) 14.13 def. Jacobo Trigo (ESP) 9.50