The last heats of this epic Reef Vendee Pro 4 Star WQS event started at 07h10 this morning. With all the surfers choosing to stay in Vendee and try and get all points possible for the race on both european and international ratings, what a good suprise it was to see the fog had eventually left and some remaining consistent waves were here at La Sauzaie.

The whole organization was stressed with the tide changes, as La Sauzaie offers fewer options at low tide. With great hope and determination, everyone answered the 7 AM call and only ten minutes were needed to have all surfers, internet and TV crew, judges, beach marshalls ready.

Former WCT member Miky Picon (Fra) was the first victim of the favorites’ pack and had to accept 825 pts reward, pocketing $ 1500 of prize money. Outsider Christo Hall (Aus) was still happy with his unexpected result, the aussie having quit the WQS two years ago, and coming back for fun to make a quarterfinal in a 4 Star graded event. The last quarterfinal took place straight after.

Eneko Acero (Euk) looked again ready to perform, even in this early schedule and managed to get the best out of the 3 ft conditions and open the heat with a 7.83 out of possible 10. Young man Vincent Duvignac (Fra), already achieving nice results with a quarter, battled all the way through the twenty minute decider, while Shaun Burrell (Usa) was getting some efficient rides to get back to second as five minutes were remaining.

The first semifinal followed up at the line up, current WQS #3 Aritz Aranburu (Eukà knowing a spot in the final four would give a further option for his WCT goal. After a good warm up standing on the reef, the Basque surfer paddled out, relaxed but determined to give all he could to reach the last heat ; with no hesitation, he got a 1 pointer to open his battle until a very good ride that gave him a direct option on the final, when he used most of a long righthander to carve his way up to the dry rocks and get an 8.83, best score of the morning at that time.

Backing up his ride with another great 8 pointer, Aranburu could take a deep breath before his last step towards the crown. Outsider James Athorn (Aus) looked unstoppable again, staying focused as he had been for the whole event. Unfortunetaly, Shaun Ward (Usa) came back from the bottom and stole second place in the last two minutes, advancing in the ultimate heat of the 4 Star WQS event.

The four following men had surfed less than an hour before, but had already jumped back in their wetsuit. Amongst them was current WQS #5 Tim Boal, favourite here, and in need of another very good result to stay on his stairway to the WCT. Facing newschool surfer Brett Simpson (Usa), classic efficient surfer Eneko Acero (Euk), and promissing Shaun Burrell (Usa), the task would be tough for Boal to join his fellow WQS top 5 mate Aranburu in the final.

Opening with a 5.33, his start seemed the ideal one to show why he had spent lots of euros changing his air ticket to South Africa. In the dying seconds, Brett Simpson (Usa) and Eenko Acero (Euk) had an ultmimate exchange, both being very close to second place. While Simpson went right, Acero took the left option and it all ended up with some cutback battle, both working their wave to the max to get their spot in the final. Acero was the one to get through, joining european fellows Aranburu, Boal and Shaun Ward in the final of the Reef Vendee Pro.

The last heat of the event paddled out in dropping low tide conditions, announcing a tough battle for the last four men of the event. With a thirty-five minute lenght, the boys knew the cool water would add some difficulty. Tim Boal (Fra) lost no time and surfed some average waves, while Eneko Acero (Esp) looked comfortable and relaxed, taking the lead with a good choice of wave.

In a close heat, Boal kept surfing with dtermination while Artiz Aranburu was sanctionned with an interference call and had to accept a fourth place. Only non european of the final, Shaun Ward (Usa) couldn’t get advantage of the small decreasing conditions, and finished third, leaving with $3000 and 1125 pts on the international ratings. Tim Boal managed to surf with style and efficiency until the last minutes, showing the crowd and judges nothing could stop him from giving everything for a winner’s award.

With this result, Tim Boal takes the lead of the European Pro Surf Tour and secures another crucial result on his way towards the WCT. Congratulations to all organisers and staff, and thak you for extending the event.