Frenchy Gordon Fontaine has taken his first ever ASP title at the O’Neill Cordoama Pro, posting some strong scores on his way to the final.

Gordon Fontaine (Brittany, FRA), 20, has won the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 1-Star O’Neill Pro Cordoama Pro pres. by Nissan in Portugal today, the Frenchman besting fellow finalists Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU), Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) and Luka Guichard (DEN) to claim his maiden ASP title. Fontaine, who was a standout throughout the three-day event, managed to find his way through the Quarterfinals and Semifinals finishing his run with good 13.50 point heat score out of a possible 20.

Fontaine, a longtime ASP European Junior tour contender, was at ease in the three foot (one meter) waves on offer during the event, posting several high scores en route to the final. With great determination and heat tactics, Fontaine finished on top of 64-man field led by many of Europe’s best rising competitors.

“I am so stoked, I don’t really realize I’ve won the thing,” Fontaine said. “I haven’t won an event in years and to get this one is really special. It was my first WQS final and to win it makes it just the perfect ending!”

With significant points counting for the ASP European WQS ratings and great confidence for his summer start, Fontaine will be looking to confirming his stellar start and build on his performance, a premiere in his young career.

“My focus this year remains the ASP European Junior tour as I want to qualify for the ASP World Junior Championships (WJC) and it means a Top 4 finish this year,” Fontaine said. “I surfed relaxed throughout the event after my Round 1 loss in the Pro Junior event at the beginning of the week and it worked out pretty well so I will try and approach the next events the same way.”

ASP WQS 1-STAR O’NEILL PRO CORDOAMA RESULTS
FINAL
1st, Gordon Fontaine (FRA) 13.50 pts
2nd, Nicolau Von Rupp (DEu) 11.83 pts
3rd, Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) 11.53 pts
4th, Luka Guichard (DEN) 9.80 pts

SEMIFINALS
Heat 1: Gordon Fontaine (FRA) 15.50 pts, Luka Guichard (DEN) 13.10 pts, Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 11.73 pts, Damien Chaudoy (REU) 7.88 pts
Heat 2: Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) 12.70 pts, Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU) 12.07 pts, Abdel El Harim (MAR) 12.00 pts, Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA) 8.43 pts

QUARTERFINALS
Heat 1: Damien Chaudoy (REU) 14.40 pts, Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 13.50 pts, Borja Agote (EUK) 11.50 pts, Alexandre Ferreira (PRT) 7.60 pts
Heat 2: Luka Guichard (DEN) 13.17 pts, Gordon Fontaine (FRA) 12.47 pts, Miguel Ximenez (PRT) 9.47 pts, David Luis (PRT) 5.40 pts
Heat 3: Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) 11.96 pts, Abdel El Harim (MAR) 11.63 pts, Miguel Mouzinho (PRT) 11.27 pts, Freddie Meadows (SWE) 10.13 pts
Heat 4: Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA) 16.33 pts, Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU) 11.06 pts, Mario Azurza (EUK) 7.44 pts, Mohamed Berrada (MAR) 4.93 pts

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Maresia Surf International

ASP Men’s 6 star WQS event
ASP Men’s South America Pro Tour Stop #4
Praia Mole, Florianópolis, Brazil
7 – 12 July 2009

Florianopolis, Santa Catarina — The young Brazilian Gabriel Medina (15) has taken out the win at the 2009 Maresia Surf International at Mole Beach on Florianopolis today, defeating Brazilian veteran Neco Padaratz (32) after putting on an amazing display of frontside attack surfing and big aerials.

The young Brazilian with only fifteen years old walked away with US$20,000 in prize money and 2,500 ASP WQS ratings points for the win, and became the youngest surfer ever to win a WQS event. With a heat score of 15.83 out of a possible 20, Medina proved the surfer of the event and deservedly took the title of Maresia Surf International.

In a beatiful sunny day and messy three-to-four foot conditions waves, the Brazilian goofy-footer was in amazing form, blasting some vertical maneuvers and big aerials on his way to victory. Medina officially announced his intentions when he logged a 7.50 to take early lead. Neco quickly answered back with a 5.50 and a 6.50 with solid backhand attack.

Remaining five minutes to go, Medina arrived back in the lineup he found himself sitting directly in the path of a long left. Medina squared up and went vertically up the face to smash a huge re-entry, racing down the line and with two additional turns secure a high score of 8.33 points out of a possible 10 and leave Neco needing a 9.33 score to win.

With no waves coming Neco was unable to found a high score, and Medina was crowned the 2009 Maresia Surf International Champion. “I’m really happy to have won this event here at Mole Beach” said the winner after spraying the crowd with champagne.

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Buondi Pro Junior /Cordoama O’Neill Pro
Presented by Nissan

ASP 1 Star WQS Mens event
Grade 1 ASP Pro Junior Mens event
Praia de Cordoama Portugal
6 – 12 July 2009

Coredoama, Portugal — The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-1 Buondi Pro Junior got underway today at Cordoama, in South Portugal, kicking off the busy European summer with exciting action displayed by some of Europe’s best Under-21 competitors.

With four foot (1.2 meter) waves breaking at the consistent beach break location, sixteen heats of the Men’s division were completed for the first day of competition. Half of the event’s top seeds were able to get their start in the event, France’s representative Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA) and Germany’s Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU) making the difference in their respective match-ups.

Pierre-Valentin Laborde (Hossegor, FRA), 18, a long time regional Top 10 member and event No.1 seed, came up with solid surfing, the young man unleashing his renowned classic technique to easily advance through to Round 3 of the Buondi Pro Junior. Laborde, who posted a good 13.50 point heat tally out of a possible 20 en route to his first heat win of the summer, showed he was in form and focused towards a first good result this summer.

“I came to Portugal to get the dust off my new boards and do some serious training,” Laborde said. “I’ve just received a few new boards and I feel pretty good with that new equipment so I will try to stay focused and keep things going my way if the conditions give us the opportunity to surf well.”

Laborde, who is been a top regional competitor and former ASP World Junior No. 5, has yet to clinch his first ASP European Junior crown and is considered one if the best French hopes towards the prestigious title. The 18-year-old favorite will now take on other event favorite and former ASP European Junior No. 2 Nicolau Von Rupp (Algarve, DEU), the other inform man of Day 1 of competition.

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