The Lanzarote Quemao Class, has crowned the champions of its 9th edition: local surfer Conor Donegan and Tenerife bodyboarder David Pérez.
During two days in which the sea conditions exceeded all expectations, competitors pushed each heat to make the most of a demanding wave that once again demonstrated why it is a global attraction.
The surf final pitted Basques Adur Amatriain and Yago Domínguez, Frenchman Joan Durú and Lanzarote native Conor Donegan against each other. In a very tight heat, the local surfer managed to prevail after delivering two of the most impressive waves of the championship.
Donegan has also been one of the big surprises of this 9th edition. One of the youngest surfers to compete and very solid from his first heat, he grew round after round until consolidating himself as one of the most consistent competitors of the event, crowning his participation with a victory celebrated at home.
“Since the championship started, I felt very good, before it started, I had the feeling that this edition could stay at home, and I hoped I could take it. I felt very comfortable, in the end I know where to position myself and what waves to choose. What I didn't imagine were these results, and the truth is I have no words. I want to thank all the locals, in the end this prize is also theirs, because they are the ones who have helped me and pushed me since I was little,” he explained.
In bodyboarding, the final brought together Frenchman Pierre Louis Costes, Basque Alex Uranga, Majorero Ruyman Rey and Tenerife native David Pérez. A high-level heat in which the Tenerife native took the victory.
David Pérez has been one of the most outstanding competitors since the beginning of the championship. The Tenerife native excelled round after round, consolidating himself as the rival to beat in the final. “This year I have felt a pretty strong connection with the championship, a different motivation,” he explained after being proclaimed champion. “I have been competing for three editions and in the previous ones it hadn't gone so well for me, so maybe I had a thorn in my side. Here the atmosphere in La Santa, the people on the beach, the level of the wave… it all adds up. When you enter a final you know you have to take risks, give your best version and this time it worked out.”
The awards ceremony put the finishing touch to this 9th edition with a festive atmosphere in La Santa, where local artist Nase offered a live performance. The musician, author of the song that accompanies the official teasers of the event, brought to the stage a piece that is already part of the sound identity of the Lanzarote Quemao Class, reinforcing the link between sport, culture and territory.
The president of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, highlighted that “we finished a Lanzarote Quemao Class that was long-awaited, but it was worth it. These 64 competitors who have tried to meet the expectations of riding a very difficult wave in terms of the necessary strength and skill have taken us to all parts of the world. From the Insular Cabildo of Lanzarote we are convinced that we must continue to invest economically in this product. It is a product with which we not only talk about sport, we not only talk about tourism, we talk about gastronomy, we talk about identity, about culture and above all about the solidarity of the people of La Santa with the event,” he concluded.
For his part, the mayor of Tinajo, Jesús Machín, expressed: “this edition ends, very happy and with sadness, because what we have seen and lived here these two days is over, and it will be a while until we can see it again”. He continued highlighting that “this edition of the Lanzarote Quemao Class has said something today: we must empower more, we must take care of this, and they are demonstrating it, with the participation of all people these days”.
The sports councilor of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Juan Monzón, affirmed that “this edition of the Lanzarote Quemao Class we summarize in two words: absolute success. The truth is that everything we have experienced these two days has been a success; the waves have accompanied, and we have seen a great spectacle thanks to these riders who have come from different parts of the world to hold a sporting event on our island”.
From the area of Economic Promotion – Saborea Lanzarote, the councilor Nori Machín pointed out “as it could not be otherwise, by betting on our local product. Obviously, the Lanzarote Quemao Class is a product that has consolidated during these 9 editions, it is positioning itself internationally, it is a worldwide benchmark. What determines this event is to position our local product and the talent of our people.”
Thus closes the 9th edition of the Lanzarote Quemao Class, which has once again projected the island onto the international surf and bodyboard scene, gathering in La Santa, Tinajo the elite of the world sports panorama.
