Hiquily and Moniz Reach New Heights in Ericeira

Caption: Joshua Moniz (HAW) took things to the air today.
Image: ASP/Poullenot

Allianz ASP World Junior Championships

PLAYA DE RIBEIRA D’ILHAS, Ericeira / Portugal (Tuesday, October 28, 2014) – The Allianz ASP World Junior Championships resumed in clean 3-to-4-foot waves at the iconic Ribeira D’Ilhas pointbreak and completed the third round of the men’s competition, as well as the first four matchups of Round 4.

The World’s Best juniors took proceedings to another level today, posting a flurry of scores in the excellent range all-day and putting on an exciting show for the crowds.

Mateia Hiquily (PYF) 18, was in sizzling form, firmly cementing himself as the form surfer of the day, dispatching of Australian Kai Hing in Round 3. Hiquily lacerated the Ericeira walls with unmatched speed and flair to post the highest combined heat total of the event so far, an incredible 18.80 out of 20 points possible.

“I’m really happy, but I can’t shake the feeling that I didn’t complete the two waves, I kept falling at the end,” Hiquily said. “This wave can be hard to surf on your backhand, if you get a flat one you’re just going to do cutbacks all the way, so I was stoked to get those more punchy ones.”

Hiquily dismantled a clean set wave with three critical turns and showcased his technical repertoire with variations of his signature backhand hooks, to net a near-perfect 9.80 and stamp his authority on the heat.

Joshua Moniz (HAW) 18, came very close to tying Hiquily for the highest total with an impressive 18.37 against South Africa’s Slade Prestwich. In a series of exciting exchanges, Prestwich had a slight advantage at first posting a 9.50 against Moniz’s 9.00, but the Hawaiian stayed focused and patient in the lineup. Eventually Moniz found another gem at Ribeira d’Ilhas and took maximum risks on a long and fast floater before attacking the lip for a 9.37 and the win.

“The set waves are all pretty much nines, so you just have to be patient and wait for the bigger ones,” Moniz said. “I got a bit nervous after Slade posting that nine and since we’ve had a pretty slow start, so I was just really hoping for a good set to come. You only get a couple of good sections, so you need to make sure to hit them right. If you make one mistake you could end up with a four instead of a nine.”

Parker Coffin (USA) 19, took down an in-form Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF) in the dying seconds of their round 3 matchup in an incredible come-from-behind victory. Lightfoot, sitting on a 17.17 heat total with only seconds on the clock already had a foot in the fourth round, but Coffin took off late on a runner and tagged it multiple times on his backhand for a 9.57 and the win.

“I was sitting out there and I felt out of rhythm with priority, but you know in those last minutes when you need a big score, as long as you believe in yourself, it’s totally doable,” Coffin said. “I’ve worked all-year for that and I’ve re-played it in my head like a milion times. The wave was amazing and I just surfed it to its potential.”

Coffin unfortunately couldn’t find the same momentum in the fourth round and placed equal 9th in Ericeira.

Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) 18, went on a tear in his round 3 matchup against local boy Miguel Blanco (PRT), opening the show with a solid 8.67. McGonagle kept building momentum and started on a bomb to clock four massive turns for a 9.20 out of 10, and put his opponent in a combination situation.

“It was a good heat, the waves were really good,” McGonagle stated. “I’m glad I was able to get two great waves and make it through. Miguel is a good friend of mine and he killed it too, that was a tight heat.”

In a valiant last-minute effort, Blanco caught a great wave of his own, and rode it all the way inside, but ended up coming just short of the required score he needed, giving McGonagle the win and a ticket for Round 4.

“When that last set came, the first wave looked good and I took it, but it ended up not doing it so I kicked out. Miguel got the next one, I couldn’t really tell from the back but I saw him ride it all the way through and the crowd was cheering him on. It was super nerve-wracking so I’m glad the score wasn’t enough.”

McGonagle managed to keep his rhythm up in Round 4 to eliminate Seth Moniz (HAW) and advance into the quarterfinals where he’ll face Italo Ferreira (BRA) when the event recommences. 

Tomas Fernandes (PRT) 18, pleased the Portuguese crowds with a solid win over Miguel Tudela (PER), capitalizing on home-court advantage and his forehand attack.

“That was definitely my best wave, I was super patient and waited for it like 15 minutes but it was worth it,” Fernandes said. “I do feel like I have an edge because I know that wave so well, but you know everyone can surf this wave really well so choosing the best ones out there is crucial.”

Fernandes later confirmed his new found form and qualified for the quarterfinals, topping Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) in a tight back-and-forth battle for first place.

Wednesday’s morning call at 6:30am (local time) may be the final one as organizers are looking at a potential finish and crowning of the 2014 ASP World Junior Champions.

The Allianz ASP World Junior Championships is scheduled from October 25 – November 2, 2014 in playa de Ribeira d’Ilhas, Ericeira / PORTUGAL. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to aspworldtour.com. 

The Allianz ASP World Junior Championships is supported by Allianz, Portuguese Waves, Moche, Ericeira Surfshop, Mafra, City of Ericeira, Sagres and Villa Gale Hotel among others.

REMAINING Allianz ASP World Junior Championships Men’s Rd 4 MATCHUPS:

Heat 5: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Mateia Hiquily (PYF) 

Heat 6: Tom Cloarec (FRA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)

Heat 7: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) vs. Joshua Moniz (HAW)

Heat 8: Kanoa Igarashi (USA) vs. Takumi Yasui (JPN)

Allianz ASP World Junior Championships Men’s Rd 4 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Soli Bailey (AUS) 14.50 def. Kaito Kino (HAW) 8.76

Heat 2: Tomas Fernandes (PRT) 12.16 def. Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 9.53 

Heat 3: Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) 14.27 def. Seth Moniz (HAW) 12.47

Heat 4: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 15.50 def. Parker Coffin (USA) 11.76

Allianz ASP World Junior Championships Men’s Rd 3 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Soli Bailey (AUS) 11.00 def. Cooper Chapman (AUS) 10.50 

Heat 2: Kaito Kino (HAW) 11.90 def. Shun Murakami (JPN) 8.20

Heat 3: Tomas Fernandes (PRT) 14.00 def. Miguel Tudela (PER) 11.06

Heat 4: Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 11.66 def. Luan Wood (BRA) 10.73

Heat 5: Seth Moniz (HAW) 8.83 def. Hiroto Arai (JPN) 7.93

Heat 6: Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) 17.87 def. Miguel Blanco (PRT) 16.64

Heat 7: Parker Coffin (USA) 17.74 def. Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF) 17.17

Heat 8: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.40 def. Luke Dillon (GBR) 9.83

Heat 9: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 14.60 def. Benji Brand (ZAF) 14.17 

Heat 10: Mateia Hiquily (PYF) 18.80 def. Kai Hing (AUS) 14.47

Heat 11: Tom Cloarec (FRA) 14.80 def. Lucas Silveira (BRA) 13.90

Heat 12: Deivid Silva (BRA) 14.67 def. Timothee Bisso (GLP) 7.40

Heat 13: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 13.90 def. Jake Marshall (USA) 13.90

Heat 14: Joshua Moniz (HAW) 18.37 def. Slade Prestwich (ZAF) 16.83 

Heat 15: Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 13.00 def. Cam Richards (USA) 8.00

Heat 16: Takumi Yasui (JPN) 13.40 def. Takumi Nakamura (JPN) 12.16

UPCOMING Allianz ASP World Junior Championships Women’s SEMIFINALISTS MATCHUPS:

SF 1: Chelsea Tuach (BRB) vs. Tessa Thyssen (GLP)

SF 2: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) vs. Mahina Maeda (HAW)