Oxbow WLT Champion To Be Crowned Today
E365> Surfing - Sunday May 11 2008
E365 -- The Oxbow WLT got closer to its business end yesterday and the 2008 Oxbow WLT Champion will be crowned today. The pressure rose at Les Dunes, and favorites took the best of the three foot waves on offer to secure a spot in the finals. From the sixteen men who surfed in Round 4 yesterday, only eight remain in the race for the title.
Matthew Moir, 30, posted the best ride of the day on his way to defeat best scorer of the Oxbow WLT Taylor Jensen in Heat 3. Moir, who surfed with great speed and comitment, secured an excellent 9.35 point ride and finished with a 16.85 point heat score (out of a possible 20) to take the win and advance through to the quarterfinals.
"I am stoked to finally get an excellent wave," Moir said. "Taylor (Jensen) let go two good ones in the beginning of the heat and I was ready to seize the opportunity and surf my best. Luck went on my side today."
Moir, who will now surf against Oxbow WLT defending champion and reigning ASP World Longboard Tour Champion Phil Rajzman, has been among the world’s best longboarders for a decade now and targets the title at Anglet.
"At this stage of competition with excellent surfers, you need that kind of big scores to make the difference," Moir said. "In the last two heats nothing really came to me but this one allowed me to do my things so I am happy to get the right feeling back. I am stoked to be in the last day of competition."
Antoine Delpero, a local from Anglet who placed fifth last year in the Oxbow WLT, won a 100% French heat in Round 4 over Romain Maurin to advance. Delpero, who will face Amaro Matos tomorrow, surfed with confidence with his custom made classic longboard style and now looks forward to bettering his last year’s result.
"We had a great heat together with Romain (Maurin) and it was just about fun," Delpero said. "I am still stoked to win it and have a chance to better my performance tomorrow. I feel like I delt well with the time and waves out there and did what I had to do."
Delpero, who defeated Matos in Round 3 last year, will be a favorite in Quarterfinal No. 3. Matos, 42, remains a serious opponent and will be confident after creating the upset of the day when he defeated 2007 Oxbow WLT runner up Danilo Rodrigo today.
"I got Matos last year and took the win so it is a good start," Delpero said. "He is surfing good still and defeated Rodrigo but I will be focused to go as far as I can. I would love to take the title here, in front of all my friends and family."
Carlos Bahia, 24, semifinalist in the Oxbow WLT last year, flew the Brazilian flag winning Heat 2 over fellow countryman Jamie Viudes to advance through to the quarterfinals. Bahia, who was defeated by Rajzman last year in the semifinals, remains a serious contender for the crown.
"It was a tough heat against Jamie who is a good friend of mine," Bahia said. "He is a very good competitor and I battled until the last seconds to get this win. I am stoked to make the quarters and I am proud to fly the Brazilian colours tomorrow."
Bahia, one of three Brazilians still in the event, will surf against Harley Ingleby when competition resumes at Anglet for the final day.
Bonga Perkins and Colin McPhillips, both ASP World Longboard Tour veterans, advanced as well and will meet in a 100% former ASP World Longboard Champion quarterfinal tomorrow.
The Oxbow WLT will come to an end today and crown its champion in the afternoon. Seven heats remain in the event and some clean conditions are expected to give the last eight men a beautiful finish.
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