PLAYA DE PANTIN, Galicia – Spain (Sunday, September 6, 2015) – Thiago Camarao (BRA) 27, has won the QS1,500 Pantin Classic Galicia Pro over Deivid Silva (BRA) 20, in an all-Brazilian final.
An exciting 35-minute matchup saw the two surfers start on waves back-to-back for the most part of their exchange, with Silva taking a slight edge in the first few minutes. It wasn’t until the halfway mark that Camarao found a gem in the tricky lineup, a fast righthander that reformed as a left which the powerful regular footer destroyed for a 7.83 and the lead.
Silva tried everything from manufactured airs on the little sections to radical backhand hacks to claim the lead back but couldn’t unfortunately improve his situation. Ultimately Camarao’s lead was enough to clinch the win in Pantin, the first QS event title of the Brazilian’s career.
“It’s amazing, it’s my first final on the QS and it feels really good,” Camarao stated. “I believed in me and in my chances all contest. All the other guys were ripping and I really had to keep my focus and stay positive and motivated. All the hard work paid off today and I’ll try to keep the ball rolling in the coming events.”
“Deivid got active early and was taking so many waves, with the conditions deteriorating I wasn’t sure I was going to get the opportunity to fight back,” Camarao continued. “Then I found that little double up and got the score so I stuck to him and tried to keep him off any other good wave. I’ll be back to Europe soon for the two QS10,000 and look forward to it.”
Silva, who collected some of the highest scores of the entire event, including an impressive heat total of 16.67 in the semifinals, started the final well and was leading for a while before Camarao found his best scoring ride. Unable to repeat his earlier heroics, Silva placed runner-up.
“I’m super happy to surf a final and especially against a good friend like Thiago,” Silva admitted. “This contest was super fun despite the conditions and I’m really happy to have come here to Pantin. I’m stoked for him, I wish I’d won off course but hats off to Thiago and I’ll be back next year to try to win this time !”
Despite leading the first half of semifinal No.1, Basque Country’s Ethan Egiguren 21, couldn’t contain eventual winner Camarao’s assault and had to settle for an equal third place in Pantin. Egiguren, who just graduated to the QS league this season, nets his best result so far and will build confidence from his successful run in Galicia.
“I’m happy with this result, I felt really good and focused in this event,” Egiguren stated. “I think I wasn’t looking at the right enough and I saw too late that Thiago got some good waves while I was still chasing those lefts. I watched the other guys and the heats before mine and tried to learn a few things about placement and patience so I think I surfed a smart event and am very happy with my performance.”
The second semifinal was an intense battle with both Silva and Pedro Henrique (PRT) 33, starting with big scores from the get go. Halfway through the 30-minute bout though, with a solid 14.34 total Silva was out of reach for Henrique and despite multiple efforts to try and claim back the lead, Henrique placed equal third.
“I’m super happy, coming off a long work it shows I’m on the right way,” Henrique said. “I’m going to reflect on this event and find out what I did well and what I did wrong, but overall it’s a great result for me. It was awesome to be here with my family, we don’t get to spend too much time together when I’m away so this was a nice sort of vacation trip. We’re going to Morocco now and I’ll try to keep my good rhythm going there too.”
Following the completion of the Pantin Classic Galicia Pro, Maxime Huscenot (FRA) and Joan Duru (FRA) are tied in first place on the men’s European QS rankings, with Juniors Nomme Mignot (FRA) and Andy Criere (FRA) as well as Vicente Romero (ESP) right behind them, in the hunt for precious points comes next week and the RMSF Quiksilver Pro Casablanca at Anfaplace where the title will be decided.
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.
PANTIN CLASSIC GALICIA PRO MEN’S FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Thiago Camarao (BRA) 12.80
2 – Deivid Silva (BRA) 10.70
PANTIN CLASSIC GALICIA PRO MEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Thiago Camarao (BRA) 13.00 def. Ethan Egiguren (EUK) 11.00
SF 2: Deivid Silva (BRA) 16.67 def. Pedro Henrique (PRT) 13.23
PANTIN CLASSIC GALICIA PRO MEN’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Ethan Egiguren (EUK) 14.34 def. Ruben Gonzalez (PRT) 12.14
QF 2: Thiago Camarao (BRA) 12.83 def. Vicente Romero (ESP) 8.97
QF 3: Deivid Silva (BRA) 15.93 def. Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 12.83
QF 4: Pedro Henrique (PRT) 11.10 def. Victor Bernardo (BRA) 8.87
