Young and Andre advance through rounds at Martinique Surf Pro

The Martinique Surf Pro continued on Thursday in tricky two-to-three foot surf, with the men’s third and fourth rounds of competition to whittle the field down to only sixteen remaining hopefuls.

The mid-period east swell delivered shifty peaks and lulls, posing a tough equation for surfers trying to figure out conditions. Competitors with the most experience clearly made their mark on Day 6 of the event’s waiting period, with former CT athletes leading the way.

Goofy footers Nat Young (USA) and Jadson Andre (BRA) dominated in Round Three, winning their heats with a two-point plus margin, before finishing first and second respectively in their Round Four matchup together.

“It’s tough to get a good wave out there but when you put yourself on the good ones with a cleaner face it’s easier to score,” Young said. “It’s pretty similar to stuff I surf at home, that inside section is identical to parts of the wave at Steamer Lane so I feel really comfortable out there.”

The two surfers add up to an impressive twelve years on tour and both look eager to re-join the elite, the sooner the better. Hailing from California, Young has already spent a full year trying to re-qualify and looks to redefine his approach to competing, enjoying the perks of traveling to tropical paradise every once in a while.

“My goal is definitely to get back on tour,” he continued. “I’m taking things a little slower and going event by event, stop looking so far ahead. I’m focused on this one right now and having a lot of fun surfing in the Caribbean, it’s a first time for me.”

Miguel Pupo (BRA) and Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) also made it through to Round Five, the last four-man heats before the finals.

A surfer that hasn’t yet had the chance to mingle with the World’s best surfers is Jorgann Couzinet (FRA). However his recent progression, moving from No. 112 to No. 18 on the QS in one season last year, is a testament to the work the surfer from Reunion Island has put in and the experience he’s picked up along the way.

Today, Couzinet’s mental game was tested as the young surfer applying a very selective approach to wave choice, spent a whole fifteen minutes sitting empty-handed in the lineup. When he finally got an opportunity, the powerful regular foot methodically tore it apart for an impressive 8.17. He waited another while but finally picked up a smaller, shorter wave for the winning ride.

“I’ve been working on wave selection with Martin Dunn and he’s got this sick little tool like a chart to help,” Couzinet said. “Analyzing the spot I’ve also found the spot I wanted to sit in and thankfully it worked out, even though I have to admit I was definitely feeling the pressure.”

The Caribbean contingent suffered through a rollercoaster day with good performances in Round Three of Guadeloupe’s Charly Martin (FRA) and Timothee Bisso (FRA) and the unfortunate losses of St-Barth’s Dimitri Ouvre (FRA) and Martinique’s very own Alexandre Viguier (MTQ) and Arthur Lassee (FRA). Martin and Bisso suffered a similar fate later in Round Four to the disappointment of the local crowds.

The only Caribbean surfer surviving through today’s harsh two rounds of competition was Barbados’ Joshua Burke. Fresh off his first-ever QS victory in Florida, Burke continued to progress through the rounds and brimmed with confidence in virtually home turf.

“I decided to sit deeper than everyone and as soon as I paddled over there that set came to me and I got that 8.17,” Burke said. “Even without priority I figured sitting way out if a set came the other guys couldn’t get it, so I’m happy it worked out well. It’s similar enough that it feels like home out there in the water so I’m stoked. I’m super happy with how my season is shaping up and hopefully I can keep it up.”

Competitors and event officials will be on deck early again Friday with a 7:30 a.m call for both men and women athletes.

MagicSeaWeed, official forecaster of the World Surf League (WSL) European Qualifying Series (QS) called for:

A mix of northerly swells and trade windswell is on tap over the weekend and through early next week. Northerly swells will ease next week as trade windswell takes over. Trade windswell will be the dominant source of surf Wednesday into next weekend

The event will be webcast LIVE on worldsurfleague.com.

UPCOMING MARTINIQUE SURF PRO WOMEN’S ROUND 3 MATCHUPS:

Heat 1: Emily Nishimoto (JPN), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Teresa Bonvalot (PRT), Frankie Harrer (DEU)
Heat 2: Rachel Presti (USA), Pauline Ado (FRA), Mikaela Greene (AUS), Isabella Nichols (AUS)
Heat 3: Sophie McCulloch (AUS), Brisa Hennessy (HAW), Alessa Quizon (HAW), Holly Wawn (AUS)
Heat 4: Chelsea Tuach (BRB), Philippa Anderson (AUS), Brianna Cope (HAW), Melanie Giunta (PER)

UPCOMING MARTINIQUE SURF PRO MEN’S ROUND 5 MATCHUPS:

Heat 1: Jorgann Couzinet (FRA), Imaikalani Devault (HAW), Nat Young (USA), Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 2: Tristan Guilbaud (FRA), Kei Kobayashi (USA), Mihimana Braye (PYF), Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 3: Benji Brand (HAW), Bino Lopes (BRA), Miguel Blanco (PRT), Marco Fernandez (BRA)
Heat 4: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Miguel Tudela (PER), Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) , Josh Burke (BRB)

MARTINIQUE SURF PRO MEN’S ROUND 4 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) 12.73, Kei Kobayashi (USA) 11.93, Davey Cathels (AUS) 11.90, Charly Martin (FRA) 11.30
Heat 2: Nat Young (USA) 13.67, Jadson Andre (BRA) 12.17, Tomas Tudela (PER) 9.16, Santiago Muniz (ARG) 5.70
Heat 3: Tristan Guilbaud (FRA) 12.57, Imaikalani Devault (HAW) 11.66, Timothee Bisso (FRA) 7.96, Luke Hynd (AUS) 7.40
Heat 4: Mihimana Braye (PYF) 11.00, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.03, Thiago Camarao (BRA) 8.93, Ricardo Christie (NZL) 4.70
Heat 5: Benji Brand (HAW) 12.50, Miguel Tudela (PER) 11.03, Rafael Teixeira (BRA) 10.64, Andy Criere (ESP) 9.73
Heat 6: Miguel Blanco (PRT) 12.17, Jacob Burke (BRB) 11.87, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.73, Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 11.00
Heat 7: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 14.17, Bino Lopes (BRA) 11.03, Yuri Goncalves (BRA) 10.83, Michael Dunphy (USA) 7.83
Heat 8: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 12.66, Marco Fernandez (BRA) 12.46, Deivid Silva (BRA) 12.17, Hiroto Arai (JPN) 11.77

MARTINIQUE SURF PRO MEN’S ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) 13.54, Santiago Muniz (ARG) 11.90, Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 9.47, Luel Felipe (BRA) 8.60
Heat 2: Davey Cathels (AUS) 13.57, Tomas Tudela (PER) 10.33, Victor Bernardo (BRA) 10.30, Taichi Wakita (JPN) 6.24
Heat 3: Nat Young (USA) 14.50, Charly Martin (FRA) 11.30, Juninho Urcia (PER) 10.63, Nomme Mignot (FRA) 10.20
Heat 4: Jadson Andre (BRA) 13.27, Kei Kobayashi (USA) 12.43, Nelson Cloarec (FRA) 12.00, Kaito Ohashi (JPN) 7.10
Heat 5: Tristan Guilbaud (FRA) 12.43, Thiago Camarao (BRA) 11.23, Evan Geiselman (USA) 11.20, Daiki Tanaka (JPN) 7.60
Heat 6: Timothee Bisso (GLP) 12.90, Ricardo Christie (NZL) 10.10, Reef Heazlewood (AUS) 9.33, Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) 8.77
Heat 7: Mihimana Braye (PYF) 12.50, Imaikalani Devault (HAW) 11.30, Kiron Jabour (HAW) 10.44, Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 8.26
Heat 8: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.66, Luke Hynd (AUS) 10.50, Dimitri Ouvre (FRA) 8.77, Alexandre Viguier (MTQ) 6.77
Heat 9: Andy Criere (ESP) 13.50, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.00, Arthur Lassee (FRA) 11.26, Diego Mignot (FRA) 8.70
Heat 10: Miguel Tudela (PER) 12.67, Miguel Blanco (PRT) 12.10, Lucas Vicente (BRA) 10.93, Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 9.03
Heat 11: Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 10.97, Benji Brand (HAW) 10.34, Jackson Baker (AUS) 8.23, Ben Coffey (USA) 7.90
Heat 12: Joshua Burke (BRB) 15.34, Rafael Teixeira (BRA) 11.90, Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 11.80, Joaquin Del Castillo (PER) 10.03
Heat 13: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 13.84, Hiroto Arai (JPN) 8.80, Stevie Pittman (USA) 8.66, Ruben Vitoria (EUK) 8.13
Heat 14: Bino Lopes (BRA) 12.84, Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 12.83, Samuel Pupo (BRA) 10.93, Marc Lacomare (FRA) 8.83
Heat 15: Marco Fernandez (BRA) 14.10, Yuri Goncalves (BRA) 12.80, Lucas Silveira (BRA) 11.63, Lucca Mesinas (PER) 9.90
Heat 16: Deivid Silva (BRA) 12.43, Michael Dunphy (USA) 12.13, Liam O’Brien (AUS) 11.57, Adrien Toyon (FRA) 5.30