It's at the end of June that the best junior surfers in Europe return to surf in Portugal for the second stage of the European Pro Junior. After a start at full throttle in Costa da Caparica, the circuit continues with the Prozis Surf Pro Espinho, included in Espinho Surf Destination, an event that goes to its second edition. The entry list has been revealed, and the portuguese accession is still somewhat low.
Departing for north Portugal, the European junior ranking leaders are two portuguese surfers. Miguel Blanco and Teresa Bonvalot were the winners in Caparica and placed automatically at the top positions of the title fight, which last year was won by Vasco Ribeiro. However, Blanco still has not appeared in the subscribers list.
Best junior surfers come to surf in Portugal in late June
At this time, and at a time where surfers still have many days to sign up - though they won't enjoy the seeding and have to start the competition in the first rounds - Portugal currently has only eight entries. Teresa Kemp Bonvalot and Camilla are the portuguese representatives in the women's race, where there are so far 28 registered, especially the defending champion Tessa Thyssen.
In the men's race, Guilherme Fonseca, Jácome Correia, Luis Perloiro, Francisco Duarte, Lourenço Alves Diniz and Vasco are the national representatives so far, the ones who are going to defend the honour of national surf in Portugal. The European runner-up Tim Bisso and Natxo Gonzalez Basque are some of the prominent names in the list, which already has more than 50 surfers.
Some countries less expressive in surf also come to Espinho
Besides Blanco, also Tomás Fernandes is a noticeable absence in this list. And if the first could have been a delay in the registration issue, the entry of the Ericeira surfer can even be at risk, since the June 29 start in Ballito, South Africa, a QS10000 for which it has guaranteed entry.
The Espinho Surf Destination has a waiting period from 25 to 28 June and will receive surfers from all parts of Europe, including less expressive countries in surf, such as Israel, Turkey, Finland or the Czech Republic. It is also expected that the accession of Portuguese youth will increase considerably. It's a great opportunity to take surf vacation in Portugal, maybe in a surf hostel in Portugal.