Brazilians Dominate at Billabong Surf ECO Festival
E365> Surfing - Monday June 23 2008
E365 -- Current ASP World No. 4 Adriano de Souza defeated fellow countryman Marcelo Trekinho (BRA) to claim the 2008 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 5-Star Billabong Surf ECO Festival at Praia do Forte. Brazilian Silvana Lima claimed her first WQS title in the women's contest.
Defeating both Nathaniel Curran (USA) and Shaun Cansdell (AUS) en route to his finals berth, De Souza ensured an all-Brazilian final. It would be Adriano who took the honours, securing a 9.73 out of a possible 10, totaling a 17.40 out of a possible 20.
"I am so happy with my result here," De Souza said. "I am so excited because this is the second event that I compete in Bahia as a professional surfer. This is my second victory here and I want this feeling forever," said De Souza.
Runner-Up Trekinho enjoyed one of the best results of his career and greatly improved his standing on the ASP WQS.
"I didn’t compete in some events and now my plan is had a good result here," Tekinho said. "I started in a good way, with a great result. I wasn’t the best surfer in the event but I surfed in all my heats with intelligence and relaxed. On final de Souza had a best performance and got two good waves on heat."
Securing a phenomenal 8.50 out of a possible 10 in the dying moments of the women's final, Brazilian Silvana Lima scalped her first WQS title.
Lima’s win came as the current World No. 11 defeated current ratings leader on the ASP WQS, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS). Although Fitzgibbons led throughout the majority of the heat, Lima’s crucial last-minute wave proved the goods and saw the Brazilian take the victory in front of an ecstatic local crowd.
"I didn’t realise when she paddle to that wave, at this time she was really amateur because that wave was so bad. We she stand up, I spoke with God that this is my chance and the wave behind was way better. I took a risk on the first maneuver, one more came and I hear the score, I’m really happy.
"Unfortunately that wave was not so good, but I believed another one is coming, although we’re already at the end of the heat. I never though to loose that heat and everything goes good."
Last year, Silvana Lima was the finalist at the Billabong Itacaré ASP WQS and the ASP Women’s World Tour event, but failed to win either. Now, she can celebrate the title on her home soil.
"I almost won twice in Itacaré," Lima said. "Now, my time has come and this result was very important to get me motivated once more for this year, therefore I did not start very well in Australia. I decided not to run any ASP WQS to improve my technical and physical condition and this is was my first competition since march, and I’m very happy to beat Sally, she already won many events this year."
Fitzgibbons enjoys her runner-up finish at the Billabong Surf ECO Festival and further increases her lead on the ASP WQS 2008.
"She won this event, but I will try to beat her next time," Fitzgibbons said. "I knew that Silvana will going to fight until the last minute. I got the wrong wave at the end of the heat and she turn on the next one. Was my mistake and she deserves the victory because she took the best waves of the heat."
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