Semi-Final Showdowns Set for Final Day at Relentless Boardmasters

Marc Lacomare (FRA) [Photocredit:Aquashot/aspeurope.com]

NEWQUAY - England (Saturday, August 7, 2010) - Semi-final showdowns for the final day of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Relentless Boardmasters were decided during an intense day of surfing in fistral at the 120,000$US ASP 5-Star Men's Star Series sanctioned event. Russel Winter (GBR) will face Marc Lacomare (FRA) 18, while in semi-final nº2 Jay Quinn (NZL) comes up against Nathan Webster (AUS) as we get closer to decide this year's Relentless Boardmasters 2010 Champion.

Surfers competing in the Relentless Boardmasters 2010 are out to claim valuable ratings points in their bid to secure a spot on the ASP Dream Tour 2011. European competitors have the added challenge of building on their European Men's Series ratings at the Relentless Boardmasters which is stop nº 4 of 12 and will eventually crown this year's European Men's Champion.

Russel Winter (GBR) won through to the last day of the Relentless Boardmasters with a strong performance in both his heats. Breaking his board in his early morning heat Winter was forced to surf his quarter-final clash on an untried board knowing he had to go all out against his opponent Andre Teixeira (BRA).

"I snapped my board in my last heat one that I really liked but this new one feels quite nice under my feet but I have to get used to it so it was playing on my mind a bit out there but apart from that managed to get the scores I needed to get through. It took me a while to get my second wave so I was a bit frustrated but I did enough so I'm stoked."

A Newquay local and obvious crowd favourite Winter's pre-event training program came into play as his physical fitness helped him immensely on road to the semis.

"I'm glad I've been training for the last two months for this so I'm happy it is paying off with the focus and all the time I have put in out here. If I hadn't trained I would've been coughing and sputtering out there so I'm stoked to get through to the semis and if I get a third I'll be happy but I'd like to make the final for sure."

Marc Lacomare (FRA) overcame Russell Molony (AUS) to find himself pitted against Winter is his best ever result at the Relentless Boardmasters. Current European Junior Champion and definitely one of the inform surfers of the event with his fast powerful surfing Lacomare is more than capable of taking out the Relentless Boardmasters 2010 title.

"I'm really happy to make the semis and it is going to be really hard to be here in the semi final against Russel (Winter) because he has been surfing amazingly since his first heat so we will see what happens with the waves and I am going to try and do my best."

"My board is feeling good and my friends are here and there are some waves so just happy to be here and Haven't done many contests this year so to get a result is a good thing for me to start off like this."
 

Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 22, despite finishing second behind Nathan Webster (AUS) 36, in the final heat of the day was content with his equal 5th placing and although not competing full-time at the moment on the tour hopes to get back into full swing next year and therefore all these build-up results help on his ultimate goal.

"Of course I would have liked to have made it through that heat but in the end I couldn't find any waves so I am happy with this result and when I do my next event in Lacanau I hope to keep the results like this one coming."
 

Webster made the most of the trying conditions at the end of the day and is here in Newquay with his partner to enjoy the entire event something he found impossible to do when competing in his earlier visits.

"I haven't been doing this sort of thing for years now because I work full time so I have come here on a holiday and to win some prizemoney. I always try to stay at this level of surfing with these guys as much as I can because surfing is one of the most important things in my life so I just try to stay at the level. I'm a bit rusty in the competitive arena and tomorrow the waves will be a bit smaller so I'll take it as it comes.
I'm here with my girlfriend just enjoying Newquay," continued Webster in explanation as to how he ended up competing in the Relentless Boardmasters. "I didn't get to experience it much in the past so we are taking it all in this time and having a good time."

Webster will face an inform Jay Quinn (NZL) who took out the last remaining local in the event Reubyn Ash (GBR) in a one sided affair in which the Brit was unlucky not to find any high scoring rides.

First call will be at 12:30 (local time) for a possible 13:00 kick-off to the final day of the Relentless Boardmasters 2010.

All results, photos, news and daily releases are available on www.aspeurope.com

Upcoming Relentless Boardmasters Semi-finals

Heat 1: Russel Winter (GBR) Vs Marc Lacomare (FRA)
Heat 2: Jay Quinn (NZL) Vs Nathan Webster (AUS)

Relentless Boardmasters Quarter-Final Results

Heat 1: Russel Winter (GBR) 12.30 Def. Andre Teixeira (BRA) 9.33
Heat 2: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 12.00 Def. Russell Molony (AUS) 7.00
Heat 3: Jay Quinn (NZL) 14.50 Def. Reubyn Ash (GBR) 9.20
Heat 4: Nathan Webster (AUS) 11.73 Def. Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 6.60

Relentless Boardmasters Round Four Results

Heat 1: Andre Teixeira (BRA) 12.33 Def. Brendon Gibbens (ZAF) 8.83
Heat 2: Russel Winter (GBR) 16.00 Def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.83
Heat 3: Russell Molony (AUS) 14.77 Def. Sam Lamiroy (GBR) 6.76
Heat 4: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 14.84 Def. Leigh McMahon (AUS) 9.63
Heat 5: Reubyn Ash (GBR) 12.83 Def. Hugo Savalli (REU) 9.90
Heat 6: Jay Quinn (NZL) 12.33 Def. Killian Garland (USA) 8.13
Heat 7: Nathan Webster (AUS) 14.50 Def. Nick Riley (AUS) 12.67
Heat 8: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 10.67 Def. Matt Bemrose (AUS)

Relentless Boardmasters Round Three Results

Heat 1: Andre Teixeira (BRA) 11.14, Russel Winter (GBR) 9.66, Joao Guedes (PRT) 8.83
Heat 2: Travis Logie (ZAF) 11.83, Brendon Gibbens (ZAF) 8.90, Christophe Allary (REU) 8.83
Heat 3: Russell Molony (AUS) 15.07, Leigh McMahon (AUS) 12.37, Billy Stairmand (NZL) 12.03
Heat 4: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 15.00, Sam Lamiroy (GBR) 7.84, Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) injured
Heat 5: Reubyn Ash (GBR) 14.50, Jay Quinn (NZL) 11.90, Messias Felix (BRA) 11.60
Heat 6: Killian Garland (USA) 14.00, Hugo Savalli (REU) 11.93, Kyle Lane (ZAF) 9.80
Heat 7: Nathan Webster (AUS) 12.70, Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 11.93, Anthony Walsh (AUS) 9.33
Heat 8: Matt Bemrose (AUS) 12.57, Nick Riley (AUS) 12.03, Heath Joske (AUS) 8.83