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Russell Winter slips to 40th in WQS rankings
by George Mojo
20/08/2006:// British number one Russell Winter has slipped to 40th place in the World Qualifying Series rankings after a disappointing showing at the Sooruz Lacanau Pro in France.
Winter finished the competition in equal 73rd place after bowing out at the third round stage.
The British Bulldog had started really well winning his opening round two encounter against Australian Yerin Brown and leaving Sam Page and TJ Barron in his wake.
It was a promising start, in tricky five to seven feet stormy surf, but there was no repeat peformance in the round of 96, with a single figure wave score never pressurising heat winner Brazilian Ordirlei Coutinho.
The result earned Winter, who is originally from London, but currently lives in Cornwall, 479 points to add to his season's pro tally.
Former 2000 winner American Rob Macahdo also finished fourth after a disappointing heat, won by the surprise of the round, local Sooruz Teamrider wildcard Adrien Valero who managed to get from thrid to first place in the dying seconds of his heat, after riding a long righthander from the outside to the shore finishing with the most radical re-entrie of his heat.
“So stoked... Just can’t realize that. It will remain one of the best days of my career for sure... I had nothing to lose so I went to the far outside as five minutes were remaining and got the bomb of the heat,” said the 20 year old French surfer.
The final was won by Australian Mick Campbell - nicknamed the "Ginger Ninja" who defeated Frenchman Jeremy Flores.
In soft 2 ft waves, Campbell opened the battle with a good 6.83 ride after some efficient classic and powerful off-the-lips.
Flores answered with a throw-away score. With fifteen minutes remaining, the young gun looked a bit nervous whereas Campbell was taking off to take a 7+ point score that gave him the lead.
Four minutes before the final hooter, Flores went on a lefthander to link three huge radical re-entries up to the shore by the time the aussie was still waiting for a set wave.
In he last minute, the Reunion Island surfer rushed again to try and get the 7.2 points needed as the whole crowd was cheering to push him further.
After huge efforts, the scores appeared on the speaker’s computer leaving Campbell ahead to secure first win of the year in this six star event.
“So stoked to get back for a win. It’s been a great year so far and getting a win in the european leg is just all I needed to move ahead in the ratings,” said the experienced champion.
“Congratulations to Flores for going on such a year, it’s just so amazing for him and I hope we’ll meet next year in the top 45,” added Campbell, who grabs fifth place on the international ratings with 8,492 pts.
Flores meanwhile is in top place in the WQS rankings following his runner-up finish: “I am so happy for French and European surfing as I feel a lot of things could change the way it’s going. We are doing more and more to knock on the WCT door and if I make it this year I hope I won’t be alone. There’s still a lot of events but the European leg is crucial and it’s going good for sure for many of us.”
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Newquay surfer Russell Winter narrowly missed out on a place in the last 80 of the Sooruz Lacanau Pro, in France
Britain's Russell Winter bounced back from a disappointing first round exit at the recent Rip Curl Boardmasters in Newquay to make it through to round two of the Sooruz Lacanau Pro in France
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