In 2017, Internacional de Skimboard Ocean Spirit counting as a european step of UST (United Skim Tour), trying to be more global year by year and a few of our best team riders was there. One more time, Skimboarding was the jewel of an important and international board sports event in Santa Cruz (Portgual), being most important skim contest in all Europe.
Our rider ‘Xoxe’ Conde get the crown that has been fought and work for. Karma had a pending debt and pay it. After several attempsts to be in the final in past editions and be out for tenths or some questinable decisions this time, after win lots of events in Spain over her back, her victory in Portugal arrives finally.
Wave conditions during firt day was ok, pretty good; even though wind; but on sunday (finals day) was super windy conditions and was a adaptive battle and find best way in choppy conditions. Xoxe get it and Juanlu González too!
Juanlu shows his level in every heat. Great tima control and risks management, entering in final round by his own merits, in a championship where sorprises appearing every edition. This time was the cas of our guys Hugo Santos, Ricardo Dias o Simao Pinto (champions or second placed in a few times). Unfornatelly, Juanlu can not to stay confortable and can find his way to the victory during the final heat, but be that as it may equals the second best result of Spanish skimboarder ever there, Rafa Castillo has a 4th in 2014, who was kicked out by less than 3 tenths and lots of doubts with Blair Conklin, current world champion, who get the victory this year too.
In other way, Sergio Gil ‘Shein was 3rd in Másters disiona and our young Jesule’ González decided to compete in open division and not in juniors -will be good for his future-.
Our guys are always among the favorites to the victory, but this time was not as smoothy as we all expected, but we stay with good taste of Xoxe’s trionph and third consecutive year with a Dogflut rider into the final in Open division!
Here it it Juanlu’s video edit: