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FISTRAL BEACH, Newquay/England (Sunday, August 14, 2011) – Romain Cloitre (Les Roches Noires, REU) 22, today won the ASP 6-Star Relentless Boardmasters in assoc. with Vans defeating Mitch Coleborn (AUS) 24, in a lead swapping final 14.77 to 9.36, to claim his maiden ASP Star tour victory in windblown 3-4ft peaks in front of a huge crowd lining the Fistral beach shoreline.
Cloitre searched the longer rights with rapid fire forehand snaps to build his scores and gain a slight advantage through the first half of the encounter to eventually seal his victory with a combination of two powerful backhand smashes securing an 8.17 out of 10 and an unassailable lead.
“I am really happy right now. This is my best victory in my career and I haven’t had any good results in the last few months so I didn’t have a lot of confidence but now I have some and I am really happy. The start of the Europe leg I was travelling with Tom Whitaker a lot and Oakley and he helped me to get my confidence back. He was always saying that I was going to do well in Europe and it has helped me, so thanks Tommy for that.”
Cloitre, former ASP European Pro Junior champion, who had quietly moved through the draw was the form surfer on the final day and met the challenge thrown down by Coleborn in the final with carefully planned heat tactics and priority control against the powerhouse Australian.
“I saw that Mitch had a good left and competing against him is tough because he can get a 9-point ride with one turn so it is never over when you are against him. It was a hard final and I am stoked to have come through with the win.”
Coleborn, making his best podium finish of the season, almost pulled off a massive air-reverse with incredible rotation in the opening minute of the final. Had he made it the story may have been completely different from the start. That one missed opportunity eventually proving costly during the entire heat.
“I just cruised into that first wave,” explained Coleborn. “I didn’t expect such a big section off the bat. First wave of the heat I would have liked to have found my feet before I got that section. I fell off and it almost played on my mind a bit out there. I didn’t really consolidate on that opportunity so I was a little bit rattled. I then just tried to wait it out and the waves just never came to me.”
Coleborn, who was sitting outside the top ranked 100 in the world, will now rocket up the ASP World rankings to place himself in a better position for qualification into the crucial ASP 6-Star and PRIME events coming up over the following weeks in Europe.
Romain hacked into the rights, while Mitch focused his attention on the lefts.
“I’m stoked overall because it is the best result I have ever had. It is the start of the European leg as well and it has given me a bunch of confidence going into the next couple of 6-stars and I am just stoked to climb up the rankings a little bit.”
Mitch Crews (Currumbin, Gold Coast) 21, finished equal 3rd after a magnificent run through the entire event to eventually fail against Coleborn in a high scoring semi-final clash. The young Australian has achieved his first major result in an ASP Star tour event with his impressive high speed progressive surfing.
“I’m stoked with this result. I haven’t done many Star events this year so I’m happy to make it to the semis. I was determined to win because I had a flawless run to the semis with no seconds, just firsts in every heat. I am bummed to come so far and then get pipped at the end and I am a bit disappointed with myself. I felt that it was the heat that counted the most and I had my worst performance but I am still super stoked.”
Crews had the opportunity to take control of the heat early on however failed to consolidate his first scoring ride which eventually proved crucial in the final outcome of the semi.
“My very first wave might have been a good one,” continued Crews. “I did one good turn and then I got stuck on the bottom so I think if I had of got that first wave under my belt I might have had more confidence but every time I fall on my first wave I get a little nervous. I can’t take anything away from Mitch (Coleborn) and good luck to him.”
Surfers competing in the Relentless Boardmasters in assoc. with Vans capitalized on the valuable ranking points in their bid to climb the ASP World rankings and enter the elite Top 32 before the mid-year points cut off. European athletes built on their ASP European Men’s ranking as the main summer leg of events commences.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, The Relentless Boardmasters in assoc. with Vans was scheduled from August 9-14, 2011. For more information, and all results, photos, video highlights, press releases log-on to www.aspeurope.com
Relentless Boardmasters in assoc. with Vans Final
1 – Romain Cloitre (REU) 14.77
2 – Mitch Coleborn (AUS) 9.36
Relentless Boardmasters in assoc. with Vans Semifinal Results
SF 1: Mitch Coleborn (AUS) 15.34 Def. Mitch Crews (AUS) 13.57
SF 2: Romain Cloitre (REU) 16.16 Def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 10.00
Relentless Boardmasters in assoc. with Vans Quarterfinal Results
QF 1: Mitch Crews (AUS) 14.53 Def. Flavio Nakagima (BRA) 11.33
QF 2: Mitch Coleborn (AUS) 13.93 Def. Jesse Mendes (BRA) 13.17
QF 3: Romain Cloitre (REU) 15.36 Def. Glen Hall (IRL) 12.00
QF 4: Royden Bryson (ZAF) 14.40 Def. Garret Parkes (AUS) 9.83
ASP European Men’s Rankings Top 5
1. Alain Riou (PYF) 3775
2. Tim Boal (FRA) 3321
3. Joan Duru (FRA) 3048
4. Romain Cloitre (REU) 2991
5. Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 2928
