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Eric Geiselman records highest score in France
by George Mojo
17/04/2008:// Californian Eric Geiselman recorded the highest score of round two at the Vendee Pro, in France.
Animpressive 18.77 point heat tally at La Sauzaie gave Geiselman an easy victory over fellow American Bobby Morris in the clean 3ft waves.
"I had a bad result here last year so I just tried to stay loose and have fun," said Geiselman. "The water is cold but the consistency of the waves today made it really fun, very similar to Lowers in California so I just felt good."
Geiselman, who will be a favorite in Round Three, posted a near-perfect 9.77 out of possible 10 during the 25-minute decider showing great speed and control on his board.
"I have been surfing new boards shaped by my dad and they just work really well so it should keep me turned on for next round," said Geiselman. "I cannot wait to get back out there and surf these waves."
The top seeded surfers entered the World Qualifying Series event in perfect timing with the swell increase.
Aussie Luke Campbell was one of the rounds top scorers posting a solid 17.34 point heat score to qualify.
Campbell, who surfed in the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime event of Margaret River last week, adapted well to the 10°C water and finished ahead of Arthur Bourbon, both getting their Round Three ticket ahead of Euskadian Norman Landa and Alexandre Ferreira, from Portugal.
Twenty-one-year-old Dale Lovelock had secured an impressive 16.76 point heat tally in Round 1.
Lovelock, who dominated the small tricky conditions, defeated Hawaii's North Shore charger Tamayo Perry and local Vincent Primel to advance ahead of heat second Adrien Toyon.
"I am stoked to get such scores, and I could not hope more than this 9.33 to start my first event in France", Lovelock said. "The waves were pretty good out there and I felt in rythm and got the good ones."
Lovelock, who surfed his first heat ever in the French cold waters today, became a full ASP World Qualifying Series campaigner this year and hopes for a solid result in the Vendee Pro before going to Scotland next week.
"The water is so cold here it was tough when I first paddled out yesterday," Lovelock said. "It was my fourth surf since I got here and I am getting used to it now. I am looking for a quarterfinal finish and anything above that will be perfect before the event in Scotland next week."
Lovelock will meet veteran European surfer Frederic Robin, Devon Tresher and Joao Guedes in Round .
Frenchman Joan Duru, a former ASP European Pro Junior Champion, showed promissing skills posting the fifth best wave score of the event in Heat 14 of Round 1 with a 9.00 point ride.
Duru, a World Qualifying Series top European surfer, easily advanced to Round 2 with a 15.00 point final score (out of possible 20).
"The waves were better than I thought and I am happy with that heat," Duru said. "I did not plan to come here as I was supposed to be in the 6-Star Prime event in South Africa, but now that I am here I want to get the best result possible."
Duru, who will turn 19 next week, is now a full time WQS surfer and is already thinking of possible qualification for the 2009 ASP World Tour.
"I want to give my best at every event I will go to this year and why not end up in the top 16 to join the ASP Top 45," Duru said. "I feel good right now so I will see how things go."
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