Official ASP News
KANA MISS CUP 2007: FRANCESCA RUBEGNI IN SEMIFINALE VALIDA PER IL WWLT
19/05/07
La Campionessa Italiana Longboard ILT, Francesca Rubegni, approda in Semifinale al Kana Miss CUp, tappa valida per il World Women Longboard Tour, ASP 2007. Mentre Valentina Marconi, seconda in ranking nazionale ILT, esce ai quarti di finale.
THE YOUNG GUARD MARCHES ON FOR DAY 1 OF KANA MISS CUP.
Some unexpected clean conditions greeted the first day of the Kana miss Cup, a women only event where both longboarders and shortboarders came to fight for the $10 000 prizepurse. In 3 to 4 ft waves, defending champion and best european Claire Karabatsos (Fra) opened this 5th edition with her classic smooth style, mixing nice carved cutbacks and classic nose-riding on her nine-footer. She easily won her first clash, in front of italian Valentia Marconi (Ita), both of them reaching the semifinals.
One of the best regional surfers in both longboard and shortboard, Estitxu Estremo (Euk) surfed in heat 2 of the quarterfinals, taking advantage of the conditions to overtake her younger opponents until the outsider Justine Dupont (Fra) just rocked the scene, getting an amazing 8.33 pointer. Going vertical on a re-entry after some clean classic turns, the young woman secured her lead easily, backing up her first ride with a 6.17 and advance to the semifinals and get the best score of the event with a 14.5 pts total out of possible 20.
The weather got better and some blue skies eventually showed up by the time the first heats of the Kana Miss Cup were done. The eight girls qualified for tomorrow’s semifinals could leave the area, leaving the beautiful line up to their shortboard colleagues, thirty-two women including 2006 Asp Europe Champion Adelina Taylor (Cny) and famous sole european surfer on the 2007 Asp Women’s WCT Caroline Sarran (Fra). Heat #1 saw the clash of last year’s Asp Europe junior ratings leaders Lee Ann Curren (Fra) and Alizée Arnaud (Fra), both of them showing their improvment with efficient and styled maneuvers. Their exchange offered the crowd an amazing show, Lee Ann Curren getting an 8.5 to wrap up the battle and secure a spot in the afternoon’s quarterfinals.
2006 ISA Junior World Champion Pauline Ado (Fra) faced experienced former WCT surfer and team mate surfer Marie-Pierre Abgrall (Fra). With great comitment and style, the 16 year old girl looked for some critical sections and it paid off when she totalized a 14.16 pts total, being rewarded for her progressive surfing. She was followed in the water by WCT member Caroline Sarran (Fra), who was surfing for her first event of the year at home, after the two WCT events in Australia. With a poor total of 8 pts, she still managed to make it through to the quarterfinals but left the water disappointed by her performance. Round 1 finished under a nice sun and light winds, all favourites reaching the quarterfinals.
The four heats got underway straight after, some big clashes about to occur inbetween the best regional surfers and some international surfers. Defending Asp Europe champion Lee-Ann Curren was another standout when she paddled out for her spot in the semis. Pushing hard on the tail to finish her cutbacks with great style, the young girl led her battle easily. The first upset came when Paige Hareb (Nzl) eliminated regional #2 Alizée Arnaud (Fra), when she caught a wave in the dying seconds of the heat, two seconds before the hooter sounded in the air. The incoming tide changed the conditions and the positionning at the outside got crucial. And favourite of the event Caroline Sarran (Fra) had to accept an early loss, pretty surprising behind an inform Marie-Pierre Abgrall (Fra) and other favourite teen rising star Pauline Ado.
The last girls of the day enjoyed the clean conditions until 4.30 pm, taking advantage of those usually crowded conditions to surf their best and show some nice, performance surfing. With the young generation catching up with the best female level in the world, the KANA MISS CUP is a very good test for both young and experienced girls on tour, preparing for the peak summer period. Fifteen heats down today, three heats to go in the longboard division, and four in the shortbaord division. Adelina Taylor (Cny), defending european champion just got eliminated for another big upset, and the young guard will finish up the work tomorrow!
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