The 8th edition of the Lanzarote Quemao Class has crowned its champions: the Frenchmen, surfer Joan Duru and bodyboarder Amaury Lavernhe.
In two days where the wave conditions have exceeded expectations, the competitors have given their best to take advantage of the conditions and obtain the best scores.
In surfing, the final pitted the Frenchmen Joan Duru and Sam Piter, along with the Basque Aritz Aranburu and the Portuguese Joao Mendonça. All the athletes completed an incredible championship, but it was the Frenchman Joan Duru who led and took the victory.
He stood out in the two days of competition, obtaining the highest scores, and culminates by declaring himself champion of this eighth edition. “I am really happy with my result, this is a very special event for me, with one of the best waves in the world and all the competitors giving their best. This wave is very hard and powerful, but it is perfect. I have been invited to compete before and that has helped me understand the wave and know how to face it. It really is a dream, it forms a perfect tube. Also, coming to Lanzarote is the best, every year I discover new places, the food is incredible and the people are better,” said the Frenchman.
In bodyboarding, the final pitted Reunion Island bodyboarder Amaury Lavernhe, along with Basque Alex Uranga, Gran Canaria's Willian Lujan and Frenchman Ethan Capdeville.
Finally, it was Amaury Lavernhe who, leading from the beginning of the competition, took the title of champion of the Lanzarote Quemao Class. “I can't believe it, we always look forward to this event because we know that when it fits we are going to have exceptional waves. Every year there are new people, like William Lujan (3rd classified) or Ethan Capdeville (4th classified), and not so new like Alex Uranga (2nd classified), who know the wave well and pose a challenge. The conditions have been incredible, we are with mother nature for this event, and we are very privileged to have been invited,” is how Amaury Lavernhe described how he feels after winning the event for the fourth time.
The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, expressed how “we are facing an unprecedented international event. It is true that the largest wave in the world is in Nazaré, but the most perfect tube in Europe is here in Tinajo, Lanzarote. The Cabildo of Lanzarote is committed to reinforcing, promoting and promoting sports tourism”. “Everyone is looking at La Santa, and I have to congratulate the organizers, the Tinajo city council because it has understood that this profitability of the sports tourism model is around this wave, and therefore from the Cabildo of Lanzarote we are going to promote this sports championship, but above all promote it over time, creating an environmental project, philosophy, gastronomy, creating a town and island pride around this wave that is El Quemao,” he concludes.
Juan Monzón, sports advisor of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, wanted to congratulate the organization of this event first of all, since “these are two days of spectacular success, where the entire public enjoys, and all the fans who support this event and all the competitors”. He continued adding how “from the Department of Sports there was no doubt when planning and projecting a firmer commitment in all aspects so that this is an even greater success. Not only the event, but for all those locals who participate competing with those who come from another place in the world, the sports level that Lanzarote has demonstrated has been spectacular”.
Héctor Fernández, CEO of SPEL Turismo Lanzarote, highlighted the importance of this event for positioning Lanzarote as a preferred destination for surfing, and especially sports tourism, in these days in which all the competitors who come to compete become ambassadors of the island of Lanzarote internationally.
Francisco Aparicio, Minister of Security and Emergencies of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, highlighted how we must lend a hand and collaborate with events on the island, and especially this one, where he adds “the consortium cannot be missing. Just a few days ago we carried out a drill in preparation to provide assistance in any circumstance that may arise at sea”.
“The event has ended very well, I am very proud to see that international competitors highlight this wave as the best in the world, and of course it has turned out perfectly. The weather has been good and I want to thank all the staff who have been working, as well as the Cabildo of Lanzarote. We have to make this wave even bigger if nature requires it, and that it continues to reach the international level, to everyone,” highlighted Jesús Machín, mayor of Tinajo.
For his part, Héctor Rodríguez, co-director of the event, adds that “we ended the event with many emotions, a lot of spectacle, with very good waves, and very excited to see the young Makoa Gómez reach the semi-finals. Very happy with the participation of all the international competitors who came to compete. Being my first year as director I end very happy, it has been a success and hoping that the next edition will be just as good or better, always with expectations of improving.
This closes the 8th edition of the Lanzarote Quemao Class, which has once again made the island of Lanzarote a world reference for sports, bringing together the best surfers and bodyboarders in the world on the coast of Lanzarote.
