Hawaiian ripper Carissa Moore claimed top podium spot at the Roxy Pro Junior today. The 15-year-old defeated Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Justine Dupont (FRA) and Joahnne Defay (FRA) on her way to victory at La Cote des Basques in Biarritz. Moore, who was surfing in her first contest ever in France, dominated the event with great levels of surfing, even defeating reigning ASP European Women’s Champion Lee-Ann Curren (FRA) on her way to the title.
Moore, who was one of two international surfers in the event, posted several high scores throughout the event including an impressive 18.80 point heat tally (out of a possible 20) in her opening heat, and another excellent 17.50 point heat score in the quarterfinals. “I am so happy to win this event,” she said. “It is my first time in France and it was a great event. I had some good scores and eventually won the final.”
“I was pretty nervous during the heat because the battle was hard with Bianca Buitendag and Justine Dupont until the very end”, Moore said. “I did my best to catch the best waves, to watch my positioning and be creative but still had lots of fun.”
Bianca Buitendag, 15, placed second in the Roxy Pro Junior for her first appearance ever in an ASP European event. Buitendag, who put on an impressive performance throughout the event, lacked good waves during the final and could not catch up with Moore. “I am stoked, this is the best result of my life,” she said. “It was very challenging to surf with the best including Carissa.”
Buitendag, who posted a 17.00 point heat tally in the Quarterfinals, was the event’s second best scorer behind Moore and is already focused on the next event she will attend at home. “I am stoked to get back home with this runner-up finish,” she said. “It is a great confidence boost and I am sure it will help for the next contest in South Africa next week.”
Justine Dupont and Johanne Defay were the two French representatives in the final. Dupont was in good form today and will no doubt be spending tonight conserving her energy for the quarterfinals of the Roxy ASP Women’s World Longboard Championships tomorrow…
RESULTS
Final
Heat : Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.55 pts, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 10.95 pts, Justine Dupont (FRA) 10.50 pts, Joahnne Defay (FRA) 8.50 pts
Semifinals
Heat 1: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 15.10 pts, Joahnne Defay (FRA) 13.00 pts, Pauline Ado (FRA) 8.00 pts, Lea Mengual (FRA) 6.90 pts
Heat 2 : Carissa Moore (HAW) 13.00 pts, Justine Dupont (FRA) 10.00 pts, Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 9.55 pts, Canelle Bulard (REU) 9.40
Quarterfinals
Heat 1: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 17.00 pts, Joahnne Defay (FRA) 11.50 pts, Laetitia Sudre (FRA) 8.60 pts, Camille Davila (FRA) 4.95 pts
Heat 2: Pauline Ado (FRA) 13.65 pts, Lea Mengual (FRA) 11.25 pts, Marie Dejean (FRA) 6.85 pts, Sarah Baum (ZAF) 4.65 pts
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 17.50 pts, Canelle Bulard (REU) 11.00 pts, Joahnne Panzini (FRA) 8.65 pts, Merril Delanne (FRA) 5.25 pts
Heat 4: Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 15.15 pts, Justine Dupont (FRA) 12.40 pts, Alizée Arnaud (FRA) 11.35 pts, Garazi Sanchez (EUK) 9.80 pts
ASP EUROPEAN WOMEN’S JUNIOR TOP 5
No. 1, Cannelle Bulard (REU), 917 pts
No. 2, Pauline Ado (FRA), 831 pts
No. 3, Marie Dejean (FRA), 814 pts
No. 4, Joahnne Defay (FRA), 787 pts
No. 5, Lea Mengual (GLP), 729 pts
On the other side, The Roxy ASP Women’s World Longboard Championships (WWLC) will come to an end tomorrow at La Cote des Basques in Biarritz, and the 2008 ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion will be crowned.
Only seven heats remain to complete the contest. All eight quarterfinalists will meet at 8am with contest officials to make the call, but with a new swell on the way and consistent waves predicted, it’s looking like it will be game on…
