Jennifer Smith : photo ASP/Roxy/Aquashot
Roxy Jam Biarritz
ASP Womens World Longboard Championship
Cote des Basques, Biarritz France
10 - 14 July 2009
Jennifer Smith Wins Roxy Jam, Nabs 2nd ASP Women’s World Longboard Title > en francais ci dessous
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 14 July, 2009 : - - Biarritz, France -- Jennifer Smith (California, USA), 23, won the Roxy Jam in Biarritz today to claim the second ASP Women’s World Longboard title of her brilliant career after defeating fellow finalist and outsider Coline Menard (Reunion Island, FRA), 21, in the final exchange of the 2009 edition.
Smith, who dominated the final bout from the beginning until the end, confirmed her stellar Semifinal run where she managed to score a 9.25 point ride, the highest wave score of the event, defeating Menard confidently.
“To win a second world title is just unbelievable,” Smith said. “That heat against Chelsea (Williams)… I was ready to bow out in the semis and I had no idea I was going to get that wave and this score down. I was feeling pretty confident after that and when once I made the final I was definitely looking for the second title, for sure.”
Smith, who raised her world title trophy in front of a cheering crowd at La Côtes des Basques, signed an unexpected stellar come-back on top of the international hierarchy today, after several months without a win.
“I had no expectations this year as I had not won an event in months, maybe a year,” Smith said. “I came over here to give my best and see what happens, and I made the final and won it. It’s just so good to get a second one. I am going to celebrate with all my best friends that are here tonight and fly back home tomorrow.”
Jennifer Smith : photo ASP/Roxy/Aquashot
With three favorites and one outsider in the Semifinals, the 2009 Roxy Jam witnessed spectacular levels of surfing through the four-day waiting period, the new 32-woman format bringing more intensity into the ASP Women’s World Longboard title race. Menard’s final berth showed again how strong the French female longboarders were getting with a second representative making the final in three years.
“The level of surfing has gone so high these days,” Smith said. “Everytime I see Coline (Menard) at an event, she has improved since the last time and it shows that the talent in Europe and worldwide is huge. The European girls are ripping with Justine (Dupont), Coline and the other Justine (Mauvin) who will soon come up. I think Coline will be better next year.”
At 21-years-old, Reunion Island resident Coline Menard became the second French representative to reach the final of the international event after Justine Dupont in 2007 who lost to Smith as well, Menard confirming her status of best up and coming competitor on tour.
“Making the final is a dream coming true for me,” Menard said. “Everything went my way except for the final where I didn’t really get the waves but Jennifer (Smith) was the best and she deserves to win. I had no pressure before the final, I knew it would be very tough and I tried to stay relaxed.”
Menard, who has been improving fast in the last couple of years, came to Biarritz hoping to better her equal 9th place result from 2007 and ended runner-up in the most prestigious event.
Coline Menard : photo ASP/Roxy/Aquashot
“I spent four months in Australia this year competing at all events to get experience and improve,” Menard said. “I didn’t get any big result but it definitely helped me build my confidence and by the time I got here, I was able to put everything behind me and surf relaxed through the event which worked out pretty well.”
Placing 3rd after a dominating run from Round 1 up to the Semifinals was event favorite and last year’s ASP Women’s World Longboard No. 2 Chelsea Williams (Gold Coast, AUS), 23, the renowned powersurfer losing to Smith despite a solid performance and a 13.25 point heat score (out of a possible 20).
“It is very disappointing not to make it through,” Williams said. “I just couldn’t find the better waves and Jennifer (Smith) got that 9.25 and I knew it was going to be hard to catch-up by then. I just sat out there waiting and nothing came.”
Williams, the event’s best scorer with an impressive 16.50 point score (out of a possible 20) on Day 1 of competition, was much awaited on the highest step of the podium today but failed to counter Smith’s flawless attack and will wait another year before she can chase a first ASP World title in her division.
“I was feeling good before the heat and went out there with the same approach,” Williams said. “I didn’t get the opportunity to score and that 9 pointer was the turning point. I didn’t feel like it was going to happen for me.”
Chelsea Williams : photo ASP/Roxy/Aquashot
Justine Dupont (Lacanau, FRA), 17, was not able to advance to her second Roxy ASP Women’s World Longboard Championships’ final going down to fellow French surfer Menard in the first semifinal. Dupont, who was considered a favorite in her Semifinal duel, could not score any better than a 5.25 point ride (out of a possible 10) throughout the 30-minute semifinal.
“I am very disappointed with my performance and I didn’t enjoy my time out there,” Dupont said. “I made a first mistake and let the bomb go while Coline (Menard) was paddling into it. Then I waited for a good wave which came but I fell on the second turn and that was it.”
Dupont’s equal 3rd place finish makes her one of the most consistent female longboarders in the world after a runner-up in 2007 at 15-years-old only and an equal 5th last year.
ROXY ASP WWLC FINAL
1st, Jennifer Smith (USA) 12.25 pts
2nd, Coline Menard (REU) 9.55 pts
ROXY ASP WWLC SEMIFINALS
Heat 1: Coline Menard (REU) 11.75 pts Def. Justine Dupont (FRA) 9.15 pts
Heat 2: Jennifer Smith (USA) 15.25 pts Def. Chelsea Williams (AUS) 13.25 pts
Check the Full Results
www.roxyjam.com
www.aspworldtour.com
Coline Menard : photo ASP/Roxy/Aquashot
francais
Jennifer Smith est Championne du Monde de Longboard pour la 2ème fois.
La française Coline Ménard est vice-championne du Monde 2009
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 14 July, 2009 : - - Biarritz, France -- La californienne Jennifer Smith a remporté aujourd’hui à Biarritz son deuxième titre de Championne du Monde, deux ans après son premier sacre. A 23 ans, Jennifer Smith est la première surfeuse de l’histoire à réaliser le doublé.
Sa dauphine du jour est la française Coline Ménard, auteur d’un parcours fabuleux. La réunionnaise de 21 ans a battu sa compatriote Justine Dupont en demie-finale et réalise cette année, son meilleur résultat en Championnat du Monde. L’australienne Chelsea Williams est 3ème ex aequo.
Jennifer Smith, un doublé historique
Même Coline Ménard, la finaliste battue en convenait… Jennifer Smith mérite ce titre de Championne du Monde 2009. Reine du style et de l’élégance à l’eau Jen Smith incarne le beau longboard, conjuguant de manière toute personnelle, allure, technique et puissance.
« Je n’avais pas d’attentes précises en arrivant ici, juste l’envie de faire de mon mieux. J’étais confiante en entrant à l’eau aujourd’hui. C’était un tel bonheur d’être à nouveau en finale ! Quand elle a démarré, je surfais vraiment pour le titre. »
Auteur d’une époustouflante prestation en ½ finale contre l’australienne Chelsea Williams, Jennifer Smith a décroché la meilleure vague de la compétition notée 9,25 pts sur 10 dans cette série à haute tension, digne d’une finale.
Justine Dupont : photo ASP/Roxy/Aquashot
Contre Coline Ménard, la californienne a parfaitement géré la série. A sa sortie de l’eau, la double Championne du Monde a rendu hommage à son adversaire « Je félicite Coline, elle a fait un parcours magnifique et progresse à une vitesse incroyable. Si elle continue ainsi, elle est capable de s’imposer l’an prochain. Avec Justine Dupont, elles portent le surf européen à un niveau vraiment très compétitif et j’ai franchement peur pour l’an prochain ».
Coline Ménard, Justine Dupont, deux styles et un nouveau souffle pour le longboard européen
La Réunionnaise Coline Ménard avait fait forte impression dès le premier tour du Championnat du monde 2009. Elle a confirmé sa spectaculaire progression lors des tours suivants. A 21 ans, cette native de La Rochelle exilée à la Réunion avec sa famille durant son enfance, est diplômée d’une licence de biologie. Avec une 9ème place pour meilleur résultat aux précédentes éditions du Roxy Jam, Coline s’était fixé des ambitions modestes en arrivant cette année à Biarritz.
Malgré un début de saison chaotique en compétition, Coline a persévéré, persuadée que les 4 mois d’entrainement passés cet hiver en Australie porteraient leurs fruits à temps. « J’ai gagné en expérience cette année, j’ai beaucoup surfé et j’ai su rebondir ici. C’est déjà un rêve d’être en finale. L’an prochain je prendrai ma revanche. »
Pour se qualifier à sa première finale à ce niveau, Coline Ménard a battu la jeune surfeuse de Lacanau Justine Dupont (17 ans). Depuis son titre de Vice-Championne du Monde en 2007, la girondine qui évolue avec la même aisance en shortboard, a encore énormément progressé sur longue planche.
Cote des Basques : photo ASP/Roxy/Aquashot
Son style radical et agressif à l’eau font souvent mouche auprès des juges qui apprécient aussi son aisance dans les grosses vagues, la rapidité d’exécution de ses manœuvres et le contrôle dont elle fait preuve. Avec deux podiums en 3 éditions du Roxy Jam, Justine Dupont se présente maintenant comme l’une des futures candidates au titre.
Le résultat de la Finale du ROXY ASP Championnat du Monde de Longboard Féminin 2009
Jennifer Smith (USA) 12,25 pts bat Coline Ménard (Fra) 9,55 pts
Les résultats des ½ finales :
Heat 1 : Coline Ménard (Fra) 11,75 pts bat Justine Dupont (Fra) 9,15 pts
Heat 2 : Jennifer Smith (USA) 15,75 pts bat Chelsea Williams (Aus) 13,25 pts
Previous reports:
# 1 : Roxy Jam Biarritz celebrates 4th B-day on Basque Coast
# 2 : Roxy Jam Biarritz: Festival surf, musique, art au féminin
# 3 : Roxy Jam: les meilleures longboardeuses de la planète
# 4 : Joy Monahan to defend her title at the Roxy Jam Biarritz
# 5 : Best women longboarders chasing world title in Biarritz
# 6 : Roxy ASP World Longboard Champs Day 1 postponed...
# 7 : Roxy Jam Biarritz - Monahan exits while Williams flares
# 8 : Quarters done at Roxy Jam Biarritz, champ named Tues
www.roxyjam.com
www.aspworldtour.com
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