Tessa Thyssen Wins Inaugural Teguise 2014 Franito Pro Junior

In an all-Guadeloupean Women’s final, Thyssen and Kim Veteau (GLP) 17, started on medium scores to gradually build towards excellence with powersurfing in a regular vs. goofy opposition. Thyssen on her forehand capitalized on her powerful and stylish snaps to post two solid scores and take the win.

“I was so stoked to surf against Kim in the final because I knew this was the culmination of the whole season,” Thyssen commented. “We didn’t get as many waves as we hoped but we had a good fight and in the end I was lucky to find the two good waves. I concentrated on really pushing the first bottom turn and first snap cause I knew the judges like when we attack the first and most critical section.”

With one victory each under their belt before the final showdown in Lanzarote, Thyssen and Veteau battled not only for the event crown but also for the European Junior title.

“I’m so happy with my season,” Thyssen added. “I won the first and last event this year so it’s definitely satisfying to put together a consistent year. I’m super proud to represent Europe with Kim at the World Junior, I know we’ll both give our maximum and I’m looking forward to the next couple of Junior seasons as well, they should be really exciting !”

Veteau, author of the event’s highest combined heat total of a 17.43 earlier this week, couldn’t unfortunately keep her excellent rhythm into the final heat, missing on the best waves coming through the lineup during the 35-minute heat.

“We had a long lull in the final and I needed a big scores” Veteau said. “I knew I could do it, but I also knew an average wave wouldn’t be enough so I waited and never found a set. It’s a little frustrating, but I’m super stoked for Tessa and I’m happy to qualify for the World Junior too.”

Going head-to-head with Thyssen all-year, Veteau put on a great fight and will be a force to be reckoned with when the season recommences in 2015. The two French Carribean surfers, only just starting their professional careers, carried maturity and fair-play everywhere they competed and will be great role models for the up-and-coming crowd of talent hailing from their native island.

“We’ve competed together and against each other for years with Tessa,” Veteau admitted. “We love where we’re from. Guadeloupe is just starting to show on the global surfing map and we want to represent it the best we can. In the water it can get tense, but out of the water we’re great friends and always supporting each other through highs and lows.”

The ASP 2-Star Teguise 2014 Franito Pro Junior is scheduled from September 24-28, 2014 in Teguise, Lanzarote / Canary Islands, SPAIN. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to aspworldtour.com. 

The Teguise 2014 Franito Pro Junior is supported by Ayuntamiento de Teguise and Franito Surf School as well as Cabildo de Lanzarote, Rusty, Be Live hoteles and Lineas Romero among others.

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