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The Super Bock Pro and the Buondi Pro Junior, two competitions that count towards the rankings in different categories, will be back in the Algarve between 9th and 15th July. The first in the water will be the best of the under-21 internationals, in the Buondi Pro Junior which will take place from 9th to 11th July at the Praia do Amado in Aljezur. The competition is a ranking event for the men’s and women’s European tour, with prize money of 5,000 and 1,500 dollars respectively.
In the men’s competition, Frenchman Jean-Sebastien Estienne is the current title holder of the Buondi Pro Junior, but he will have to fight hard to defend his title, against surfers such as Joan Duru, Marc Lacomare, Nicolau Von Rupp, Reubyn Ash, Frederico Morais, César Rosa, Miguel Mouzinho and the Guichard brothers, who will want to win when they are competing at home.
In the women’s competition, the highlight is the presence of Lee-Ann Curren, daughter of the legendary three time world champion Tom Curren, who won the leg in 2006. From Portugal, surfers such as Francisca Santos, Margarida Guerra and even Francisca Sousa should provide plenty to talk about.
Following the Buondi Pro Junior, the organisers’ tent will shift to the Praia da Cordoama in Vila do Bispo, for the stage in the WQS (World Qualifying Series) between 12th and 15th July.
Tiago ‘Saca’ Pires, current number two in the world rankings, will not be there, but the competition will be fierce with surfers such as Joan Duru (last year’s winner), Justin Mujica, Ruben Gomzalez, Arthur Bourbon, Jose Maria Cabrera, Hodei Collazo, João Antunes, David Luís, Thomas Bady, Aécio Flávio, Francisco Canelas and Marlon Lipke, the Portuguese-German competitor who won here in 2005 and at the first of this year’s stages in Europe, in Peniche.
Abílio Pinto of Billy Eventos, the company organising the two competitions, said that the waters were excellent, people were friendly, the climate was mild and the athletes loved the spirit that lasts for a week; he added that this was the reason they kept coming back every year and they made a point of trying to improve a little each time.
‘Dance in Sagres’ closes the week on 14th July
After the last day of the competition at Cordoama, attention will be focussed on the Praia do Tonel in Sagres, where the closing party for the week of waves on the Costa Vicentina will be held.
Zé Salvador, João Maria, Toby One and Mary B. are the DJs who will be providing the entertainment, which will also include visual effects and other performances.
source: Algarve Observer |
