#wsl #atletas

Tya Zebrowski and Keoni Lasa Win Rip Curl Pro Anglet

Tya Zebrowski Wins Third QS Title, Extends Lead On Rankings Keoni Lasa Earns Career-Best Result, Claims Rankings Lead

30/Set/2024 - WSL

CHAMBRE D'AMOUR, Anglet / France (Friday, September 20, 2024) - Tya Zebrowski (FRA) and Keoni Lasa (EUK) won the World Surf League (WSL) European Qualifying Series (QS) Rip Curl Pro Anglet QS 3,000 today in small, contestable conditions. Challenged with a difficult forecast and deteriorating conditions, organisers relied on the double banks to run simultaneous heats to finish before the weekend.

Zebrowski and Lasa both lead the European QS rankings after Stop no.4 of the 2024/2025 season. With three wins to her name, Zebrowski has an incredible lead at the top with her worst result being a fifth place finish at the Lacanau Pro. Lasa's best result up until now was a third place at the BYD Pro, and after two disappointing results, the Basque surfer bounced back to claim 3,000 points in Anglet to take the top spot.

Tya Zebrowski Wins Third QS Title, Extends Lead On Rankings

There seems to be no stopping the 13-year-old Tya Zebrowski (FRA) from her dream run this season after she claimed her third QS title this season. Taking home another 3,000 points after she won the Pantin Classic two weeks ago, Zebrowski now has an almost insurmountable lead on top of the rankings.

The small conditions seemed to play in her favour as she sped down the line to whip her board around, staying in the pocket and executing her turns in the most critical part of the wave. Zebrowski peaked at the right time and her total scores for the Semifinals and Final were her best performances in the event. Despite her age, Zebrowski has a mature outlook on the future and has her eyes set on qualifying for the Championship Tour (CT).

"I'm very happy with this win," Zebrowski said. "My goal for the next year is to try and qualify for the Challenger Series and then I hope I can get some good results so I can qualify for the tour. I like to watch everyone on tour, because each person has a different style of surfing, and I'm learning from them."

Finishing runner-up and moving into the second spot on the rankings, Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) was happy with her performance. "I wanted the win, but I'm really happy with the result and well done to Tya," Etxabarri said. "The goal this season was to try and qualify for the Challenger Series, I don't know if it's going to happen, but I'm happy with this second place. I'm from Basque country so I love it here."

Rounding out the final results were Anat Lelior (ISR) and defending event winner Teresa Bonvalot (POR), securing a spot in the top 5 on the rankings.

Keoni Lasa Earns Career-Best Result, Claims Rankings Lead

It was an exciting Finals Day as the Basque region's surfers dominated. Hailing from Zarautz, 18-year-old Keoni Lasa (EUK) earned his career-best result and first-ever QS title today after going all the way in the men's Final which was stacked with fellow Basque-surfers Adur Amatriain, Yago Dominguez and Spain's under-18 champion, Jacobo Trigo.

Lasa was draped with the Basque and Venezuelan flags after his win, proudly representing the country he grew up in, as well as the country of his mother, and he represents Venezuela in ISA competitions.

"This means a lot to me," Lasa said. "The conditions have been really hard this past week, but I train in a lot of small waves so I'm kind of used to it. This is a huge boost for me, mentally, because I was kind of struggling this year but I really want to make the Challenger Series. This win edges me closer to qualifying and I'm really happy. Although Challenger Series is my main goal, I always want to make sure I'm having fun, and I have a few trips planned to just better my surfing while having fun," Lasa concluded.

Adur Amatriain (EUK) had a great run in Anglet, defeating the Pantin Classic winner Afonso Antunes (POR) in the Quarterfinals and winning the Semifinal ahead of Lasa to book his spot in the Final. Amatriain came just short of the win in the final, but was happy with his result.

"I'm happy, it's been a tough year for me," Amatriain said. "It feels good to be back on the podium. The goal remains to qualify for the Challenger Series, it's where I want to be. It was nice to see the Basque surfers beat the French, there are a lot of good French surfers and they're always winning so it's a fun battle."

Next up, the region's best juniors will compete at the Cabreiroá Junior Pro Razo while others will head to Portugal for the next Challenger Series stop, the EDP Ericeira Pro presented by Estrella Galicia.

After the culmination of the Rip Curl Pro Anglet, here are the current European QS rankings:

Men’s European QS Top 5:

1 - Keoni Lasa (EUK)

2 - Afonso Antunes (POR)

3 - Adur Amatriain (EUK)

4 - Yago Dominguez (EUK)

5 - Nicolas Paulet (FRA)

Women’s European QS Top 5:

1 - Tya Zebrowski (FRA)

2 - Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK)

3 - Noah Klapp (DEU)

4 - Anat Lelior (ISR)

5 - Teresa Bonvalot (POR)

The Rip Curl Pro Anglet is scheduled from September 17-22, 2024 at la Chambre d’Amour, Anglet / France. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to worldsurfleague.com.

The Rip Curl Pro Anglet is supported by Ville d'Anglet, Rip Curl, Caraïbos, Tourtel Twist, and Europe 2.

Rip Curl Pro Anglet Women's Final Results

1- Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 11.83

2- Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 8.23

3- Anat Lelior (ISR) 7.84

4- Teresa Bonvalot (POR) 5.17

Rip Curl Pro Anglet Men's Final Results

1- Keoni Lasa (EUK) 8.44

2- Adur Amatriain (EUK) 8.10

3- Jacobo trigo (ESP) 7.74

4- Yago Dominguez (EUK) 5.93

Rip Curl Pro Anglet Women's Semifinal Results