Upsets and Breakthrough Performances at SATA Azores Pro

Pictured: Italo Ferreira (BRA) will face Maxime Huscenot (FRA) when the event recommences.

Credit: © ASP/Poullenot

SATA Airlines Azores Pro
Stop No. 4 of 5 on the 2014 ASP Europe Men Qualifying Series
 

Praia de Santa Bárbara, Sao Miguel / Azores Islands (Thursday, September 4, 2014) – The SATA Azores Pro pres. by Sumol resumed mid-morning in bumpy 2-to-3-foot surf. The dropping tide gave organizers a 7-hour window of contestable conditions to complete one and a half rounds of competition.

Reigning European Junior Champion Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 16, created the biggest surprise of the day when he advanced into the quarterfinals of his first-ever Prime event, defeating Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 28 in the process.

“I’m so stoked, that was such a hard heat,” Fioravanti said. “The waves weren’t that good but I told myself I had to give everything anyway. I’m on a roll at the moment, I’m just enjoying myself out there and it seems to be paying off.”

Sitting in the lineup for over half of the 30-minute exchange without surfing a wave, Fioravanti kept calm and seized the only two opportunities he was given. Catching a final wave on the buzzer, the high-flying regular-footer put it all on the line to throw a Hail Mary manoeuver and take the win.

“I told myself I was going to have to be patient, Pat’s such a good surfer I really needed to be on the best two waves of the heat,” the young Italian added. “I waited super long for the first one, and that last wave felt like it would never come, but thankfully I got it right before the horn.”

Defending event champion, Tomas Hermes (BRA) 27, rounded up the day’s action with a decisive win over local hero Vasco Ribeiro (PRT). The explosive lightweight surfer manage to capitalize on the challenging waves on offer to make the quarterfinals.

“Conditions have changed everyday, we’ve had big, medium and small waves, clean and sometimes not so, on the QS you have to be able to adapt and surf it all,” Hermes stated. “I’m prepared and feeling great so I’ll take it heat by heat and see how far this takes me.”

Currently sitting in 11th position on the QS rankings, Hermes is in an ideal position to strike hard again in Azores, and will look to go back-to-back after his breakthrough victory of 2013 on Sao Miguel.

“You know every surfer wants to win every event, that’s why we do this,” he added. “I’m in a good season, there’s plenty of events left but I like my chances of qualifying in 2014. I’m super happy when I compete, I think that’s why I win, I just enjoy myself so much doing this.”

Matt Banting (AUS) 20, displayed a great deal of maturity, controlling his first heat against Tour veteran Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 29. The young Australian got busy early on, trying to build a scoreboard, then adapted halfway through when his opponent chose to surf another peak. Utilising his priority advantage smartly, Banting found a nice wave to score an excellent 8.33 and seal the deal.

“I just wanted to have the same opportunities as Aritz you know, so I joined him on the other peak,” Banting confirmed. “I was so determined to get through that heat, I’ve just bettered my lowest result so I’m over the moon. I just woke up this morning feeling good, had a big breakfast and tried a new board for the shorey, the waves are a lot smaller today and it works amazing.”

Banting couldn’t unfortunately keep his rhythm in the Round of 16, placing equal 9th. With already two 6-Star event wins under the belt, and an excellent fifth place at a Prime, Banting is still looking very strong to join the prestigious Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour next season. He will then only reinforce an already massive lineup of Australian athletes in the Top34, hoping he can match the level of performance.

“I’ve dreamt to be on the CT since I was about 5 or 6 years old, as you get closer and closer it feels unreal,” he added. “That heat this morning I felt a lot of pressure to improve my situation. There’s still four big events to go, and I’ve already done the events in Hawaii last year. I made a few rounds there and feel comfortable so hopefully I’ll do good there. The next six months I’ll be trying to build my surfing stronger, more like the guys on tour at the moment.”

Banting’s defeat came at the hands of New Zealand’s Ricardo Christie (NZL) 25, who has been lacking consistency since his excellent start at the Quiksilver Saquarema Prime earlier this year. 

“I’m stoked to get through that heat, Matt is a tough draw in waves like that,” Christie said. “I tried to stay relaxed and do my own thing. I got a sponsor after my result in Brazil and I was stoked on that, so hopefully I can keep the ball rolling, keep having fun and make a few more.”

The next call will be Friday at 12pm local time (AZOST). Up first in the water will be Maxime Huscenot (FRA) against Italo Ferreira (BRA) in Heat No.5 of the Round of 16.

The ASP Prime SATA Azores Pro pres. by Sumol is scheduled from September 2-7, 2014 in Sao Miguel, Azores Islands. For all results, photos, video highlights, press releases and LIVE webcast, log on to www.aspworldtour.com. 

The SATA Azores Pro pres. by Sumol 14 is organized by DAAZ Events and Atlantic Action Sports Association, with the support of the following event partners: SATA Airlines, Azores Tourism, Ribeira Grande City Hall, Sumol, Seat, MOCHE, Vip Executive Azores Hotel, SPORT.TV, Mega Hits, RTP, Jornal i, Surf Portugal, OnFire, Surf Total, Beachcam and Puro Feeling.

UPCOMING SATA AZORES PRO QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS:

QF 1: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Jesse Mendes (BRA) 

QF 2: Ricardo Christie (NZL) vs. Tomas Hermes (BRA) 

QF 3: TBD

QF 4: TBD

REMAINING SATA AZORES PRO ROUND 5 MATCHUPS:

Heat 5: Maxime Huscenot (FRA) vs. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 

Heat 6: Joan Duru (FRA) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA) 

Heat 7: Yadin Nicol (AUS) vs. Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 

Heat 8: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Michael Dunphy (USA) 

SATA AZORES PRO ROUND 5 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 11.57 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 10.57

Heat 2: Jesse Mendes (BRA) 13.90 def. Jack Freestone (AUS) 11.43

Heat 3: Ricardo Christie (NZL) 14.00 def. Matt Banting (AUS) 12.73

Heat 4: Tomas Hermes (BRA) 11.43 def. Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 6.10

SATA AZORES PRO ROUND 4 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.17 def. Frederico Morais (PRT) 9.90

Heat 2: Jesse Mendes (BRA) 13.00 vs. Nathan Hedge (AUS) 8.63

Heat 3: Matt Banting (AUS) 15.16 def. Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 10.40

Heat 4: Tomas Hermes (BRA) 14.23 def. Santiago Muniz (ARG) 13.27

Heat 5: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 11.50 def. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 9.17

Heat 6: Willian Cardoso (BRA) 14.17 def. Mitchel Coleborn (AUS) 9.90

Heat 7: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 10.50 def. Keanu Asing (HAW) 8.54

Heat 8: Michael Dunphy (USA) 12.54 def. Cooper Chapman (AUS) 12.17