PLAYA DE PANTIN, Galicia – Spain (Thursday, September 3, 2015) – The Pantin Classic Galicia Pro resumed in clean surf at the iconic ‘wave factory’ of Pantin to decide the final four women remaining in contention for the event crown.
In the opening quarterfinal, Leticia Canales Bilbao (EUK) 20, wore the hopes of the entire country of Spain, taking on current World No. 15 Alessa Quizon (HAW) 21. In an exciting 25-minute bout, both surfers went blow for blow and kept building on their scoreboard, while stealing the heat lead from each other after every wave. Eventually, Canales’ efforts paid off as the Basque surfer learnt out of the water that she had belted a ticket for the semis.
“This is my best result ever and I can’t even imagine this happening right now,” an ecstatic Canales Bilbao said. “Competing against some of the best surfers in the world is just a dream come true and I’m so happy I could win a few heats. This was such an intense heat, I am exhausted right now and will need some rest before the semis. Alessa was ripping and I really had to step it up to match her level, I’m so happy right now.”
Malia Manuel (HAW) 22, left nothing to chance in quarterfinal No.2, belting a near-perfect 9.57 on her third attempt. Staying very active in the lineup, Manuel kept chasing every moving wave and built on her total with other good scores until netting an 8.17 to put the final nail in her opponent’s coffin.
“The conditions change so much, and I finally got that lucky heat where everything went my way,” Manuel explained. “I wanted to give myself no pressure for the end of the CT year and finish the QS strong. This is my fifth event and to make it to the semis is a relief and I think that will be enough points for me to stay on tour. Now I just want to stay confident in myself and my equipment and I can’t wait to be back competing here in Europe for the CT events.”
Philippa Anderson (AUS) 23, had a very selective strategy where the young Australian rode only four waves in her quarterfinal against France’s Pauline Ado (FRA). Anderson opened her account with an excellent 8.50 and quickly backed it up with a 6.67 to control the matchup and ultimately take the win.
“I’m super lucky with those two, I had one on the left and one on the right,” Anderson commented. “Malia dropped a 9 before so I was just really happy to get high scores of my own. It’s tricky for sure but my boards work really well in those conditions and I was quite confident paddling out.”
Ado, unfortunate equal 5th placer in Pantin, did however claim today her fourth European Women Champion Title, going back-to-back after claiming the title in Pantin last year as well. The talented French surfer, who has spent four consecutive years on the Samsung Galaxy Women’s Championship Tour, has had up-and-downs in 2015 and ends her season right on the doorstep of requalification.
“That day was very emotional, I had a great start in an all-French heat, then had a close-call against Coco but made it, and finally I’m a little dissapointed with that loss against Philippa.” Ado explained. “I always want to do good in Europe so that title is great news for me. Alize, Justine, Maud and I have had a good battle this year and it was exciting in Anglet and here in Pantin to fight for it. We’ve all had good results in some QS events and I think when we can be more consistant throughout a whole season we have a chance at joining the Top17 again.”
The final matchup of the day between Tia Blanco (USA) 18, and Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 19, didn’t disappoint either with numerous lead changes despite lower scores dropping on the incoming tide. Tuach, who is still campaigning for a maiden accession to the elite Championship Tour nets the fourth and last ticket for the semis and will look to advance into the final when the event resumes.
Early morning, the final four heats of the men’s second round were also completed, with the notable win of Wednesday’s top scorer Jorgann Couzinet (REU) 21, who will be joining the event’s top seeds when competition recommences.
The next call has been set to 9:30AM Friday for both men and women, to decide of Day 4 schedule.
The Pantin Classic Galicia Pro is scheduled from August 26-31, 2014 in Pantin, Spain. For all results, photos, video highlights, press releases and LIVE webcast, log on to worldsurfleague.com.
The Pantin Classic Galicia Pro is supported by Turkish Airlines, Zumosol, Turgalicia, Mahou, Renault, Abanca, Coca Cola, Gadis, Appeiros, Avansing, Coge3 and Arnette among others.
UPCOMING PANTIN CLASSIC GALICIA PRO WOMEN’S SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS:
SF 1: Leticia Canales Bilbao (EUK) vs. Malia Manuel (HAW)
SF 2: Philippa Anderson (AUS) vs. Chelsea Tuach (BRB)
PANTIN CLASSIC GALICIA PRO WOMEN’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Leticia Canales Bilbao (EUK) 11.00 def. Alessa Quizon (HAW) 10.56
QF 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 17.74 def. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 13.33
QF 3: Philippa Anderson (AUS) 15.17 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 13.50
QF 4: Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 10.40 def. Tia Blanco (USA) 8.67
PANTIN CLASSIC GALICIA PRO WOMEN’S ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Alessa Quizon (HAW) 10.77 def. Sophia Bernard (AUS) 10.60
Heat 2: Leticia Canales Bilbao (EUK) 12.77 def. Justine Dupont (FRA) 10.83
Heat 3: Malia Manuel (HAW) 12.83 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 9.63
Heat 4: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 10.66 def. Mahina Maeda (HAW) 9.16
Heat 5: Pauline Ado (FRA) 12.47 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 12.43
Heat 6: Philippa Anderson (AUS) 11.33 def. Alizé Arnaud (FRA) 9.10
Heat 7: Tia Blanco (USA) 9.33 def. Lucia Martiño (ESP) 5.26
Heat 8: Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 6.70 def. Ana Morau (FRA) 4.74
PANTIN CLASSIC GALICIA PRO WOMEN’S ROUND OF 24 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Sophia Bernard (AUS) 11.87, Leticia Canales Bilbao (EUK) 10.33, Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) 9.50
Heat 2: Justine Dupont (FRA) 16.90, Alessa Quizon (HAW) 15.63, Keely Andrew (AUS) 10.70
Heat 3: Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.93, Mahina Maeda (HAW) 10.37, Reika Noro (JPN) 6.53
Heat 4: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 9.64, Malia Manuel (HAW), Meah Collins (USA)
Heat 5: Pauline Ado (FRA) 16.73, Alizé Arnaud (FRA) 13.14, Maud Le Car (FRA) 12.10
Heat 6: Philippa Anderson (AUS) 14.30, Coco Ho (HAW) 14.07, Bailey Nagy (HAW) 12.80
Heat 7: Tia Blanco (USA) 14.33, Ana Morau (FRA) 10.37, Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 9.60
Heat 8: Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 15.03, Lucia Martiño (ESP) 14.04, Ella Williams (NZL) 8.83
UPCOMING PANTIN CLASSIC GALICIA PRO MEN’S ROUND OF 64 MATCHUPS:
Heat 1: Mateia Hiquily (PYF), Cody Robinson (AUS), Nelson Cloarec (FRA), Gony Zubizarreta (ESP)
Heat 2: Takumi Yasui (JPN), Mihimana Braye (PYF), Ethan Egiguren (EUK), Gatien Delahaye (GLP)
Heat 3: Vicente Romero (ESP), Lucca Mesinas Novaro (PER), Nomme Mignot (FRA), Harrison Mann (AUS)
Heat 4: Medi Veminardi (REU),Imanol Yeregi (EUK), Joao Kopke (PRT), Mitch Parkinson (AUS)
Heat 5: Thiago Camarao (BRA), Johnny Noris (USA), Leandro Usuna (ARG), Robertson Goncalves (PRT)
Heat 6: Miguel Tudela (PER), Nicholas Squiers (AUS), Andy Criere (FRA), Shane Campbell (AUS)
Heat 7: Oney Anwar (IDN), Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF), Anthony Fillingim (CRI), Caina Barletta (BRA)
Heat 8: Joan Duru (FRA), Luis Rodriguez (ESP), Jake Davis (USA),Eduardo Fernandes (PRT)
Heat 9: Willian Cardoso (BRA), Eneko Acero (EUK), Guy Sato (JPN), Thiago Guimaraes (BRA)
Heat 10: Dimitri Ouvre (BLM), Paul Cesar Distinguin (FRA), Lliam Mortensen (AUS),Aldric God (FRA)
Heat 11: Pedro Henrique (PRT), Mitchell James (AUS), Nic Hdez (USA),Dean Bowen (AUS)
Heat 12: Miguel Blanco (PRT), Tristan Guilbaud (FRA), Hodei Collazo (EUK), Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK)
Heat 13: Bino Lopes (BRA), Timothee Bisso (GLP), Jorgann Couzinet (REU), Luis Perloiro (PRT)
Heat 14: David Van Zyl (ZAF), Keoni Yan (HAW), Robson Santos (BRA), Riley Laing (AUS)
Heat 15: Victor Bernardo (BRA), Reo Inaba (JPN),Facundo Arreyes (ARG), Marlon Lipke (PRT)
Heat 16: Deivid Silva (BRA), Raphael Seixas (BRA), O’Neill Massin (PYF), Kalani Ball (AUS)
PANTIN CLASSIC GALICIA PRO MEN’S ROUND OF 96 RESULTS:
Heat 13: Jorgann Couzinet (REU) 13.00, Riley Laing (AUS) 10.57, Martin Cortijo Gonzalez (ESP) 9.83, Jerome Forrest (AUS) 6.44
Heat 14: Robson Santos (BRA) 14.13, Luis Perloiro (PRT) 9.50, Allen Schuyler (HAW) 9.20, Manuel Garcia (ESP) 6.56
Heat 15: Facundo Arreyes (ARG) 15.50, Kalani Ball (AUS) 11.27, Saxon Lumsden (AUS) 10.67, Natxo Gonzalez (EUK) 9.14
Heat 16: O’Neill Massin (PYF) 15.46, Marlon Lipke (PRT) 13.87, Teale Vanner (AUS) 13.13, Alonso Correa (PER) 9.40
