Portugal finishes 3rd in Eurosurf Júnior de Santa Cruz – Surf
Portugal did not achieve the desired end in Eurosurf Júnior, which ended this Saturday in Santa Cruz, missing the collective title and leaving the scene without an individual title. The National Team reached the final day with six surfers still in the competition, four of which were already in the finals. Even so, the accounts didn’t go in the best way for the national nuclei, which still managed to hold the collective podium for very little. The final party ended up smiling for Spain. After Jaime Veselko, in under-16 men, and Ordonhas, in under-18 men, failed to reach the finals via repechages, the Portuguese armada still entered with some hopes in the finals. However, quickly everything began to fade. In longboard Under-18 Frederico Carrilho couldn’t get any better than the 4th final place, just like Martim Nunes in Under-18 men. In women’s under-18s Gabriela Dinis was 3rd classified, while the best national performance belonged to Matias Canhoto, who was European vice-champion in men’s under-16s. Unlike Portugal, who had a superlative final day for the English team, the big surprise of this Junior Eurosurf. The English won three individual titles, with the triumphs of Alys Barton in the women’s U-18, Lukas Skinner in the men’s U-16 and Arthur Randall in the men’s longboard. Even so, the English don’t have any better points than the 4th place in the general classification, failing to overtake Portugal by just 106.
Besides England, the other team in three categories was Spain. Annette Etxabarri won a women’s U-16 category, while Kai Odriozola won a men’s U-18 category and Daniela Sevillano won a women’s longboard. Trio that allowed Spain to Stamp France in the collective title.
In addition to Portugal, France also had a final day to forget. The French led the event from the start to the last day. However, despite having eight surfers in the finals – twice as many as Portugal -, there was no medal, which made them fall from the lead to the 2nd final, with a difference of 171 points. One place behind, but at long distance, was the Portuguese national team, with 8084 points, more than 1000 points behind the Gauls and Nuestros Hermanos.
“As he no longer had the success of the championship, the favorites were Spain and France and it was the teams that deserved this result”, began by saying David Raimundo, national coach. “The places all shoulder to shoulder with these selections were selected during the moments of the last day with chances of camps that took place during the last day of surfing. However, we continue to fail in the moments of Europe. Therefore, congratulations to the champions Spain. also the idea that European surfing is no longer just Portugal, Spain and France. We have seen flags gain preponderance and that is good for all of us”, he stressed.