Dimitri Ouvre Wins Somo Pro Junior Cantabria Infinita

Dimitri Ouvre [Photocredit:Aquashot/aspeurope.com]

Playa de Somo, Cantabria, SPAIN (Saturday, May 7, 2011) - Dimitri Ouvre (Saint Barthelemy) 19, won the Somo Pro Junior Cantabria Infinita presented by Escuela Cantabra de Surf in a closely fought battle which saw the young goofy-footer pull a huge air-reverse to come out on top over Medi Veminardi (REU) 19, William Aliotti (FRA) 17, and Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 17, in a come-from-behind victory in clean 3-4ft (1m) peaks at the main event site in La Playa de Somo.

After officials called a halt to proceedings during the low tide mark, the green light was given to run through to the crowning of this year's Somo Pro Junior Cantabria Infinita which saw all four finalist exchange waves in the pulsing 35-minute final clash.

Ouvre, claiming his maiden Asp Pro Junior victory, trailed at the halfway stage after failing to find a quality set wave to pin back his rivals. With under 15 minutes remaining Ouvre found his wave and punted the manoeuvre of the event followed by a forehand snap to snatch a near perfect 9.00 out of 10 and the win.

"In the beginning Medi (Veminardi) got some really good scores and if I wanted to win I needed to get a big score and not fives or sixes so I waited. I made a couple of mistakes at the beginning because I was too impatient but after I knew I needed to wait for a good one and it came through to me. I was a bit lucky with that because after there were no sets for about 10 minutes so I am so stoked."

Ouvre jumps to nº1 position on the ASP European Men's Pro Junior rankings and now has his eyes set on a repeat performance at the upcoming Asp 3-Star Pro Junior in the Canary Islands.

"It is a good result before the Canaries event so I think I am confident for the Canaries and I just have to do the same thing. I have no pressure and I enjoyed this event with my friends and my time here in Spain. I am not really focused but I just want to win so it is great right now."

Veminardi, who had impressed during his Quarter and Semi-final appearance surfed the long rippable lefts with a series of precise forehand snaps to amass a two-wave combined total of 15.16 out of 20 to take a commanding lead early in the final.

"I think I had a good game plan for the whole contest. I really wanted to improve my surfing in every heat I surfed in and that's what I did but it was bad luck for me. Dimitri got that one wave that had the good ramp to do an air and he did it and took his chance and I lost by 0.15 of a point but that's the way it is. I'm just bummed for losing the prize money for first place, $1,100 for less than half a point is tough." (laughs)

Veminardi now looks ahead to his next Asp Pro Junior appearance starting in five days with a boost in confidence as well as his equipment and approach fine tuned after his performances at the Somo Pro Junior Cantabria Infinita.

"I had bad luck in Reunion with an interference and I was really angry over there but I had to figure everything out with my coaches and this contest has been a good warm up for the next event and I am ready for the Canaries and I hope I can do better next time."

William Aliotti (FRA) who finished third ahead of Boukhiam, survived an extremely close Quarter-final to proceed through to the Final where he showed his improved surfing on both the lefts and the rights to sit in nº3 position on the Asp European Pro Junior Rankings with Boukhiam sitting in 4º overall.

"It is true that I had a very difficult heat in the quarters," stated Aliotti. "It was very close but I am pleased to make it through that heat and to get to the final. I am more or less happy with the result but of course I would have liked to come first like everyone else but it is good to keep my points up on the rankings."

Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 13, the youngest competitor in the Somo Pro Junior Cantabria Infinita, finished equal 7th claiming his best career result to date. The ever smiling natural-footer who turned heads with his clean flowing rail turns and competitive skills displayed in all his encounters.

"I am really happy with this result. It is my first semi-final and I enjoyed surfing here in Somo. On the high tide the waves are incredible and I'll definitely come back next year for sure."
 

The Somo Pro Junior Cantabria Infinita presented by Escuela Cantabra de Surf is the second stop on the Asp Europe Men's Pro Junior Series 2011 which will determine qualifiers for the elite Asp World Junior Championships which start in Bali October 3 2011.

The Asp European Men's Pro Junior caravan moves to the idyllic island of Gran Canaria for the 3-Star Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior running from 11-15 May 2011 at the peaky beach break of La Cicer.

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Somo Pro Junior Cantabria Infinita pres. by ECS Results

Final

Dimitri Ouvre (BRB) 15.33
Medi Veminardi (REU) 15.16
William Aliotti (FRA) 13.37
Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 12.07

Semi-Final Results

Heat 1: Medi Veminardi (REU) 14.83, Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 12.40, Angelo Bonomelli (ITA) 10.07, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 8.67
Heat 2: William Aliotti (FRA) 13.34, Dimitri Ouvre (BRB) 11.36, Txaber Gaminde (EUK) 10.63, Tom Cloarec (FRA) 9.84

Quarter-Final Results

Heat 1: Medi Veminardi (REU) 12.10, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 10.13, Natxo Gonzalez (EUK) 6.87, Miguel Blanco (PRT) 6.26
Heat 2: Angelo Bonomelli (ITA) 15.00, Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 6.57, Marcelino Botin (ESP) 6.24, Tristan Guilbaud (FRA) 4.66
Heat 3: Txaber Gaminde (EUK) 12.43, William Aliotti (FRA) 9.83, Hugo Palmarini (REU) 9.44, Francisco Alves (PRT) 8.67
Heat 4: Tom Cloarec (FRA) 11.90, Dimitri Ouvre (BRB) 11.66, Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 11.37, Jules Thomet (FRA) 11.07