An amazing day of surfing unfolded at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Oakley Pro Junior San Sebastian where Europe’s finest under-21 male and female surfers showed off what talent is on offer at the moment with Pauline Ado (FRA) coming out on top in the Oakley Girls Pro Junior San Sebastian while Medi Vemenardi (REU) 19, claimed the Oakley Pro Junior San Sebastian men’s title.

Excellent 3-4ft (1m) peeling lefts and rights greeted event officials and surfers this morning offering competitors the perfect playing field to do battle in the 2010 edition of the Oakley Pro Junior San Sebastian. With a poor swell prediction for the following days officials did not hesitate to take advantage of the conditions to run the finals.

In a highly contested 35-minute men’s final Medi Veminardi (REU) held on to take the victory and the lead in the ASP Europe Pro Junior ratings with his maiden win here at the Oakley Pro Junior San Sebastian over Tom Cloarec (FRA), Damien Chaudoy (REU) and Basque surfer Alex Gironi who finished in second, third and fourth place respectively.

From the opening siren Veminardi had a set stratedy opening his account strongly with a 5.83 and a 7.50 out of 10 to take the lead in the first half of the final knowing that with the tide rising waves with scoring potential would be scarce in the remaining minutes and sticking to his game plan despite heavy pressure from his opponents managed to hold on until the final siren.

“I knew the tide was getting higher so I was sure I would have to get my waves in the first half of the heat. I was lucky enough to get those two waves in the first five minutes and after that I just waited for 30-minutes saying to myself that no more waves would come so I am so happy now with the win.”

“With the high tide there is only one peak,” explained Veminardi. “Everyone wanted to get the good ones and there is only one spot and we were very close to each other so everyone was paddling for anything that came through so there was a lot of pressure for the entire heat. I tried this board yesterday and it went really well so I have used it today and it worked. I want to win as many pro juniors as I can that is my goal and hope I can make it. It is three years now in the top 5 and I really want to make it this year.”

Local Basque surfer Alex Gironi (Sopelana/EUK) was the crowd favourite after securing his best result in an ASP Europe Pro Junior sanctioned event. Surfing hard on his backhand to impress the judges Gironi battled it out like a seasoned veteran not throwing in the towel in his attempt to get into the heat.

With his fourth place finish here and the Sopelana Pro Junior coming up next week Girioni will be hungry to better his result on home soil.

“I am happy but in the final I couldn’t catch any waves that would let me do any turns but it was great to be in the final with these guys and with all the people here on the beach. My semi was better because I got a wave with only two minutes left and I did some strong turns and made it through to the final, I just don’t know what to say I am just so happy right now.”

RESULTS FINAL OAKLEY PRO JUNIOR SAN SEBASTIAN
Medi Vemenardi (REU) 13.33, Tom Cloarec (FRA) 10.60, Damien Chaudoy (REU) 8.50, Alex Gironi (EUK) 6.27

RESULTS SEMI-FINALS OAKLEY PRO JUNIOR SAN SEBASTIAN
Heat 1: Medi Vemenardi (REU) 13.40, Alex Gironi (EUK) 11.66, Martin Dambreville (FRA) 10.27, David Leboulch (FRA) 10.17
Heat 2: Tom Cloarec (FRA) 14.00, Damien Chaudoy (REU) 14.00, Jules Thomet (FRA) 12.03, Tristan Guilbaud (FRA) 9.97

Photo credit : Aquashot