Ouvre Unleashes Spectacular Moves to Lead Round 3 of Islas Canarias Santa Junior

Dimitri Ouvre (Capbreton, FRA), 18, was the day's most impressive surfer with his custom-made progressive surfing [Aquashot/aspeurope.com]

LA CICER, Gran Canaria (Friday, August 6, 2010) - The ASP Grade-2 Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior rose in intensity today, Round 3 being completed in improved three-foot (one meter) launching ramps and giving Europe's best Under-21 surfers the opportunity to unleash their best progressive style.

With the regional ratings' race and ASP World Junior Tour qualification campaign being on everyone's mind, the crucial steps towards the event's Round 4 brought more pressure upon those in contention, paddle battles and wave choice making the line-up an explosive cocktail of surfing and tactics.

France's Dimitri Ouvre (Capbreton, FRA), 18, showed he was more than ready to take the challenge and deliver his now famous air reverses and up-side-down top turns to best defending event champion Charles Martin (GLP) in the highest scoring battle of the event thus far, both men advancing through to Round 4.

"I am really excited with that heat because I had a great time and being out there with Charles (Martin)," Ouvre said. "The waves were actually really suiting my style and as I've been doing for some time now, I just went for big airs and was lucky enough to land them."

Ouvre, who got onto the ASP European Junior tour in 2009 shining at a couple of events, confirmed his potential today, the Capbreton resident being a favourite on the potential ASP World Junior tour qualification list, if not the regional title if he was to win this week.

"I have missed out my start this year and did not do well in the first two events," Ouvre said. "I put too much pressure on myself and was not able to feel comfortable so for that event, I decided to enjoy and let my surfing speak."
 

Ouvre, a longtime top French junior, has been one of Europe's most spectacular progressive surfers for a couple of years now being able to produce alley-oops, backside airs, 360 reverse and any tailslide or grabbed air maneuver possible. The 18-year-old athlete has though to focus on more classic moves to fit in the ASP criteria.

"I've found myself doing airs before really controlling all the classic turns of surfing so that's my focus now," Ouvre said. "I've been training with my coach Philippe Malvaux on the basis of surfing and I am looking to improve on that now."

Delivering a solid performance as well today was another French surfer, Guadeloupe native and resident Charles Martin (GLP), the Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior defending champion keeping his hopes of a second consecutive win alive.

Martin, a former ASP World Junior No. 3 (2008) and considered Europe's next possible ASP World title race qualifier, comes from a win in the last ASP Grade-1 Pro Junior in Euskadi (Basque Country) and is on a good roll.

"Winning an event always gives you confidence and coming to an event you have won before is also positive," Martin said. "I was confident but knew Dimitri (Ouvre) was able to do well so we kind of pushed each other for the best possible score."

While France's Ouvre and Martin were taking control of proceedings, top regional Basque rider Mario Azurza (Zarautz, EUK), 19, stood right behind the day's top scorers eliminating current regional ratings' leader Medi Veminardi (REU) in the final heat of Round 3 with a convincing 13.66 point total to secure his Round 4 ticket.

Sixteen men remain in contention for the 1500 ratings' points on offer for the champion and tomorrow's schedule features four 4-man battles before the Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior enters its business end and man-on-man rounds.

The ASP Grade-2 Islas Canarias Santa Pro will offer LIVE scoring facility, news, photos and videos at www.aspeurope.com

Islas Canarias Santa pro Junior Round 4

Heat 1: Pierre Rollet (FRA), Tom Cloarec (FRA), Igor Muniain (EUK), David Leboulsh (FRA)
Heat 2: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT), Filipe Jervis (PRT), William Aliotti (FRA), Jules Thomet (FRA)
Heat 3: Charles Martin (GLP), Ramzi Boukiam (MAR), Kosme Fernandes (EUK), Kevin Bourez (PYF)
Heat 4: Luis Eyre (GBR), Dimitri Ouvre (FRA), Mario Azurza (EUK), Hugo Dubosc (FRA)

Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior Round 3 Results

Heat 1: Pierre Rollet (FRA) 13.84, Filipe Jervis (PRT) 11.76, Asier Makeda (EUK) 8.77, Ander Mendiguren (EUK) 4.90
Heat 2: Igor Muniain (EUK) 12.60, Jules Thomet (FRA) 10.37, Edouard Delpero (FRA) 9.90, Damien Chaudoy (REU) 9.20
Heat 3: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 8.66, Tom Cloarec (FRA) 8.33, Nico Von Rupp (DEU) 7.87, Natxo Gonzalez (EUK) 5.53
Heat 4: William Aliotti (FRA) 12.27, David Leboulsh (FRA) 10.96, Frederico Morais (PRT) 9.87, Borja Agote (EUK) 9.33
Heat 5: Dimitri Ouvre (FRA) 15.83, Charles Martin (GLP) 14.44, Marcos Sansegundo (EUK) 9.00, Fransisco Alves (PRT) 8.84
Heat 6: Kosme Fernandes (EUK) 10.67, Hugo Dubosc (FRA) 10.56, Tristan Guilbaud (FRA) 8.43, Txaber Gaminde (EUK) 5.94
Heat 7: Luis Eyre (GBR) 11.23, Ramzi Boukiam (MAR) 10.77, Alex Gironi (EUK) 10.60, Kieran Bulard (REU) 9.40
Heat 8: Mario Azurza (EUK) 13.66, Kevin Bourez (PYF) 11.07, Medi Veminardi (REU) 9.74, Ian Fontaine (FRA) 7.56