ASP 6-Star Lusiaves Figueira Pro Goes Mobile and Scores Excellent Conditions on Day 1

FIGUEIRA da FOZ, Portugal - The Lusiaves Figueira Pro went mobile today and found some clean 3-4ft (1m) peaks at the back-up site of Praia do Murtinheira for the running of Round One and eight stunning heats of Round Two of this Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) sanctioned event.

Competitors reveled in the fun conditions, some of the best seen during the entire European Summer Leg of ASP Star-Series events. Event officials made an early call to go mobile after finding the swell direction on offer was not entering the main event site and offered the option of a punchy beach break a mere 20 minutes drive North. With little or no winds and temperatures soaring, it was a long hot day on the beach as the top-seeds got their chance to hit the peak during the sweltering afternoon heat.

Current ASP European Junior Champion Charles Martin (GLP) 20, summed up the conditions on offer after his early morning heat win.

“I made it through that heat so I am super stoked. I have been here in Portugal a couple of times already and I really like the country and the people. It’s good here because it almost looks a bit like France at this beach so I love it. It is really good out there today, a typical beach break with lefts and rights and some push so it is really nice.”

An in-form Heitor Alves (BRA) 27, kicked proceeding off and continued his recent good form by storming through his two performances to lead the charge into Round Three of the Lusiaves Figueira Pro. After his win a fortnight ago in the ASP 6-Star in Zarautz, Alves has trained even harder during the break and is pumped to make it back-to-back titles.

“I felt so good out there especially since I won the contest last week in Zarautz. Now here in Figueira da Foz the weather is perfect with really good waves so I am very happy about this.”

Currently sitting in a strong position on the ASP World Rankings, Alves is more motivated than ever to keep his momentum going and finish the season with a solid performance.

“I have trained a lot after the last contest and here in Portugal the waves are very good and I am happy to stay here. I am definitely looking for the best result possible again. (laughs)

Andre Silva (BRA) 27, scored the highest single score of the event with a long, deep backhand barrel to claim a 9.67 out of 10. Riding his favourite board which is in a state of repairs at the moment with a loose fin and a heavy double crease through the tail section, Silva scored the bomb of the day and was ecstatic with the wave, the score and the result.

“I arrived here this morning from France and I haven’t surfed in two days and I have some problems with my board because it has a fin that might fall out and a crease on the bottom but I just made the most of it and won the heat.”

“That set came in and the wave was big and looked like it was going to close-out,” began Silva when describing the wave. “In the last minute I went and the wave was so good and the barrel really deep. I had the sun in my eyes so I couldn’t see that much and then I saw a little bit of space for me to exit and I went for it and it was great. I am so happy to make that wave and the heat.”

Tanner Gadauskas (USA) 22, arriving straight from Tahiti to Portugal enjoyed himself this morning scoring a combined heat total of 16.50 out of 20. Starting off with a solid 7.83, Gudauskas then built on his tally to finally nail an 8.67 for two excellent backhand smashes.

“It was sick that heat, just out there in my own little world really. I am stoked to be here and I can’t wait to get into the next round. I’ve just come back from Tahiti so I am fresh to Europe and excited, I love it here.”

A first-call will be made at the backup site of Praia do Murtinheira at 09:30am tomorrow for a restart to Round Two shortly afterwards. Up first in heat nº 9 will be Jayke Sharp (AUS), Joao Guedes (PRT) up against Madison Williams (AUS) and Jeronimo Vargas (BRA).

Lusiaves Figueira Pro Round 2 Results
Heat 1:
Heitor Alves (BRA) 15.94, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 12.33, Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) 9.63, Alexander El Naib (DEU) 1.33
Heat 2: Alain Riou (PYF) 11.34, Eneko Acero (EUK) 10.40, Jason Torres (CRC) 9.47
Heat 3: Richard Christie (NZL) 12.93, Blake Jones (USA) 10.33, Marlon Lipke (DEU) 8.50, Casey Brown (HAW) 5.43
Heat 4: Jean Da Silva (BRA) 10.67, Austin Ware (USA) 8.24, Alexandre Ferreira (PRT) 7.00
Heat 5: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 11.50, Txaber Trojaola (EUK) 11.40, Klee Strachan (ZAF) 10.06, Indar Unanue (EUK) 5.67
Heat 6: Andre Silva (BRA) 13.94, Miguel Mouzinho (PRT) 9.67, Cheyne Willis (HAW) 3.84
Heat 7: Rudy Palmboom (ZAF) 9.83, Manfred Adrio (ZAF) 5.43, Ricardo Calabaca 3.26
Heat 8: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 11.16, Charles Martin (GLP) 10.56, Ryah Arthur (USA) 8.30, Hugo Savalli (REU) 8.10

Lusiaves Figueira Pro Round 1 Results
Heat 1:
Heitor Alves (BRA) 13.33, Alexandre Ferreira (PRT) 9.27, David Raimundo (PRT) 7.27
Heat 2: Casey Brown (HAW) 9.17 , Indar Unanue (EUK) 4.40
Heat 3: Charles Martin (GLP) 14.27, Jeronimo Vargas (BRA) 8.16, Nuno Silva (PRT) 4.70
Heat 4: Francisco Bellorin (VEN) 13.07, Messias Felix (BRA) 9.17, Robertson Goncalves (PRT) 5.23
Heat 5: Tanner Gadauskas (USA) 16.50, Nuno Florencio (PRT) 2.96
Heat 6: David do Carmo (BRA) 14.86, Joao Antunes (PRT) 8.17
Heat 7: Tonino Benson (HAW) 10.83, Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 8.10, Goncalo Paula (PRT) 3.13
Heat 8: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 14.10, Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA) 8.27

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