SA Juniors Drop Out
Wednesday 13 January 2016 The last remaining South Africans are out of the Ericeira World Junior Championships after the event resumed in solid 4' surf at the primary venue of Ribeira d’Ilhas north of Ericiera in Portugal yesterday.
Dylan Lightfoot was taken down by Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) while Shane Sykes lost to Deivid Silva (BRA), both in Round 3. They were the last remaining Saffas in the event.
Lucas Silveira (BRA), 19, secured the only perfect 10 point ride of the event. The young Brazilian attacked a clean wall with full power and rapid rail game to advance into the fourth round.
“The waves were really fun today, they finally cleaned up and we came back here to Ribeira, I’m really glad I survived the first few days in difficult conditions at the other beach,” Silveira reflected. “I've been to a lot of World Juniors and never went past round 3 and this is my last year so I’m super happy to improve on that.”
In the final heat of the day, Silveira continued to show his dominance with another one-way heat against form surfer Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI). Silveira started extra late on a set wave to defend his priority and managed to work around a long foamy section to reach a clean shoulder for a 9 point ride and a berth in the quarters.
Mihimana Braye (PYF), 20, secured one of the day’s top performances, building momentum from his Round 3 early morning clash to culminate with an incredible 9.67 ride to belt his ticket for the quarterfinals. The Tahitian’s backhand attack was flawless and his commitment on the meaty sections of Ribeira d’Ilhas were rewarded accordingly by the judges panel.
Perennial threat Soli Bailey (AUS), 20, continued his successful campaign in Ericeira and will now face another strong contender Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) when competition resumes. Bailey, who placed fifth in this event in 2014 will have the opportunity to improve in the finals today.
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), 18, dispatched Portugal’s last hope of a men’s junior title in Tomas Fernandes in an intense heat decided in the final moments.
Competitors and event officials will reconvene Wednesday at 7:30AM for the final call. MagicSeaWeed, official forecasters for the event, are calling for strong signs of improving conditions from Monday with Tuesday the first day of lighter winds and although it’s hard to pin final numbers on it at this stage signs that Wednesday *could* offer both lighter or offshore winds and contestable sized swell at the main venue.
The Ericeira World Junior Championships is webcast LIVE on worldsurfleague.com and via the WSL app.
The Ericeira World Junior Championships are supported by Ericeira, Billabong, Portuguese Waves, Moche and Hertz among others.
UPCOMING ERICEIRA WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN’S QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS:
QF 1: Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) vs. Soli Bailey (AUS)
QF 2: Timothee Bisso (GLP) vs. Mihimana Braye (PYF)
QF 3: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. O'Neill Massin (PYF)
QF 4: Kanoa Igarashi (USA) vs. Lucas Silveira (BRA)
UPCOMING ERICEIRA WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS WOMEN’S SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS:
SF 1: Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) vs. Mahina Maeda (HAW)
SF 2: Holly Wawn (AUS) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS)
ERICEIRA WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN’S RD4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 14.83 def. Hiroto Arai (JPN) 10.83
Heat 2: Soli Bailey (AUS) 14.70 def. Noah Schweizer (USA) 10.50
Heat 3: Timothee Bisso (GLP) 14.87 def. Nomme Mignot (FRA) 12.00
Heat 4: Mihimana Braye (PYF) 18.57 def. Deivid Silva (BRA) 12.34
Heat 5: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 15.10 def. Tomas Fernandes (PRT) 13.43
Heat 6: O'Neill Massin (PYF) 15.17 def. Kai Hing (AUS) 11.00
Heat 7: Kanoa Igarashi (USA) def. Kalani David (HAW)
Heat 8: Lucas Silveira (BRA) 16.83 def. Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) 12.17
ERICEIRA WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN’S RD3 RESULTS:
Heat 4: Soli Bailey (AUS) .11.50 def Jacob Willcox (AUS) 4.10
Heat 5: Nomme Mignot (FRA) 12.04 def. Daniel Glenn (USA) 9.27
Heat 6: Timothee Bisso (GLP) 12.06 def. Alcides Neto (BRA) 11.87
Heat 7: Mihimana Braye (PYF) 16.23 def. Takumi Yasui (JPN) 10.00
Heat 8: Deivid Silva (BRA) 11.50 def. Shane Sykes (ZAF) 10.67
Heat 9: Tomas Fernandes (PRT) 15.50 def. Natxo Gonzalez (EUK) 6.93
Heat 10: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 13.77 def. Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF) 8.40
Heat 11: O'Neill Massin (PYF) 13.50 def. Mateia Hiquily (PYF) 10.84
Heat 12: Kai Hing (AUS) 16.23 def. Joshua Moniz (HAW) 12.13
Heat 13: Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 14.83 def. Harry Bryant (AUS) 10.23
Heat 14: Kalani David (HAW) 14.70 def. Benji Brand (HAW) 13.37
Heat 15: Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) 14.50 def. Yago Dora (BRA) 9.20
Heat 16: Lucas Silveira (BRA) 18.77 def. Gatien Delahaye (GLP) 9.67