WQT Sintra: Centeno beats Kingy
Source: www.ibaworldtour.com
posted on 2nd September 2003
The Sintra Portugal Pro 2003
27-31 August
Portuguese Federation
The IBA WQT and WWT World Tour Events concluded at Praia Grande with Manuel Centeno from Portugal taking out the Men's Division and Neymara Carvalho from Brazil the Women's Division. They won $6000US and $4000US respectively.
Conditions for the final day were small in comparison with the 2m swell that blessed the middle days of the competition which resulted in some outstanding riding from the local riders as well as the many International Competitors.
In the WQT Men's Division, 9 of the 10 IBA World Super Tour (WST) riders present at the event progressed to the last 16 joined by Michael Chapple from Australia, Uri Valadao, Luis Villar from Brazil and local riders Manuel Centeno, Gonzalo Faria, Luis Perreira and current ETB leader Hugo Pinheiro. Many of the Man-on-Man heats featured great tube rides and exciting manoeuvres along with major tactical battles as riders who reached the lead tried to stop their opponents from catching a last good wave. This kept the large crowd entertained as each heat reached its climax. Each country's riders had its own cheer squad, but everyone appreciated the incredible standards set by the best riders in the World.
The in end, the Sintra Portugal Pro 2003 was celebrated with the victory of the Men’s WQT going to Portugal’s Manuel Centeno. Centeno is the first Portuguese athlete in the events history to win this prestigious WQT event on home soil.
The two semi finals for the Men’s WQT were always going to be of high Standard with waves of up to 3 to 4ft. Heat 1 of the semi finals saw the IBA World Super Tour and 6 x World Champion Guilherme Tamega (Bra) eliminated by the Portuguese athlete of 22 years Manuel Centeno, who surfed very powerfully in the days conditions. In the second semi, the leader of the IBA World Super Tour Damian King (Aus) eliminated Portugals Gonçalo Faria. Gonçalo who used his local knowledge to edge out and eliminated Hawaiian Jeff Hubbard in the quarter finals fought of constant ties with King to the end for the heat. In the end the Australian was to strong with his wave selection and precise moves.
In the Final of the Sintra Portugal Pro for 2003, Manuel Centeno from Portugal and Australia’s Damian King met head to head, the huge supporting crowd helped push the Portuguese athlete through out his heat. Centeno responded with excellent wave selection and finished each wave with good combinations. With his win Centeno became the first Portuguese bodyboarding Athlete to win the World Qualifying Tour (WQT) Event.
Manuel Centeno collected US$ 6,000 for the first place and won the boat trip for 2 to Java sponsored by Endless for being the highest placed Portuguese Men’s Competitor.
Top 8 Results - Men’s Division
1. Manuel Centeno
2. Damian King
3. Gonçalo Faria
3. Guilherme Tamega
5. Ben Player
5. Jeff Hubbard
5. Paulo Barcellos
5. Uri Valadao
The Sintra Portugal Pro 2003 - congratulations to the Portuguese Federation of Surfing and City council of Sintra for providing this spectacular – Europe’s longest standing and most prestigious bodyboarding event.
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