<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/sam-piter" target="_blank">Sam Piter</a></strong> (FRA) and <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/janire-gonzalez-etxabarri" target="_blank">Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri</a></strong> (ESP) have won the Quiksilver and ROXY Junior Pro 40 today, claiming victory in the Final bouts held in rippable two-to-three foot surf at Culs Nus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The last stop on the 2021 World Surf League (WSL) European Junior Qualifying Series (JQS), the Quiksilver and ROXY Junior Pro 40 enjoyed great little conditions over the past two days, culminating with today’s finals.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The reduced format and 4-surfer heats all the way allowed event officials to capitalize on two days of very good waves at Culs Nus while Friday seemed less qualitative. Competition wrapped up right before dark with the award ceremony.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the women’s Final, Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (ESP) continued to outperform all her competitors on a wave that looked tailor made for her surfing. The light goofyfoot dismantled the perfect little lefts on offer to pick up a second event win and cap off an amazing season with the women’s European Junior Title.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I’m super happy,” Gonzalez Etxabarri said. “It feels like all the work I’ve done this year really paid off. My sister has beaten me a couple of times so honestly she was the one I was most concerned about in that final but I managed to take it so I’m very happy.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Behind her in second place is another bright young talent starting to make her mark, Tahiti’s <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/aelan-vaast" target="_blank">Aelan Vaast</a></strong> (FRA), followed by Etxabarri’s younger sister <strong>Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri</strong> (EUK) and local surfer <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/juliette-lacome" target="_blank">Juliette Lacome</a></strong> (FRA) in fourth place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The men’s Final was a little less one-sided with a good battle between <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/jacobo-trigo" target="_blank">Jacobo Trigo</a></strong> (ESP), <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/mael-laborde" target="_blank">Mael Laborde</a></strong> (FRA), <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/afonso-antunes" target="_blank">Afonso Antunes</a></strong> (PRT) and <strong>Sam Piter</strong> (FRA). All four surfers posted waves in the good range and fought off for the lead until the very last moments. Eventually it was Piter’s time to shine as the young local surfer claimed his career-first win on the WSL tours. His very solid season sees him finish runner-up on the regional rankings with a couple more opportunities coming up to fight for the title. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“It was a dream of mine to win here right at home so I’m super happy I managed to do it today,” Piter said. “Now onto bigger and better things, I hope I can win again in bigger events!”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Behind Piter, Antunes placed second, Trigo third and Laborde fourth of the 2021 Quiksilver Junior Pro 40.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite losing in the Semis, <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/adur-amatriain" target="_blank">Adur Amatriain</a></strong> (EUK) had built a big enough lead in the regional rankings to secure the 2021 European Junior Title. The young surfer from the Basque Country had a stellar run this year, claiming back-to-back wins in the first two events of La Torche and Ferrol before finishing 7th today. At 17 years old, Amatriain has two more years to surf in the Junior series and continue to build the foundations of a very bright future competitively.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I calculated how many heats I needed to make to clinch the title and when I did it was a lot of pressure lifted,” Amatriain stated. “I also really wanted to try to win here cause I love France and the waves here, so I’m still a little hungry and I’ll be back to try again!”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With the completion of the the Quiksilver and ROXY Junior Pro 40, the European rankings are now final, here is the Top 5:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>European Men’s JQS Top 5:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 - Adur Amatriain (EUK) *** European Champion***</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 - Sam Piter (FRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 - Kai Odriozola (ESP) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">4 - Afonso Antunes (PRT) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">5 - Joaquim Chaves (PRT) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>European Women’s JQS Top 5:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 - Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (ESP) *** European Champion***</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 - Lucia Machado (CNY) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 - Francisca Veselko (PRT) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">4 - Aelan Vaast (FRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">5 - Nahia Milhau (FRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Junior series are now over for 2021 in Europe, the next event will likely be the Espinho Pro Junior in March/April 2022. The World Surf League has decided to extend the age limit back to 20 starting next year, opening the tour to surfers born until 2002, who will turn 20 years old during the season.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Next Up: The Quiksilver & ROXY Pro France</strong></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div style="text-align: justify;">The event window for Stop No. 3 on the Challenger Series, the Quiksilver and ROXY Pro France, opens on Saturday, October 16 and runs until Sunday, October 24, 2021. Conditions are expected to be minimal for the first few days but look promising for next week.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">All the Quiksilver and ROXY Pro France action will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL app and the WSL's Facebook Page. A broadcast with French commentary is also available on the WSL French broadcast partner MCS Extreme’s platforms. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>COVID-19 Updates</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The health and safety of athletes, staff, and the local community are of the utmost importance and there are a robust set of procedures in place to keep everyone safe. Athletes, staff, media and the public will be required to show proof of the “Health Pass” before accessing any of the event facilities or the beach.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The WSL encourages fans to follow the event online and catch up on all results, photos and videos at WorldSurfLeague.com.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 2021 Quiksilver and ROXY Junior Pro 40 will unfold from October 13-15, 2021 at Capbreton / Hossegor / Seignosse, Landes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine - France. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to <strong><a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">worldsurfleague.com</a></strong>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Quiksilver and ROXY Junior Pro 40 are made possible with the support of the cities of Capbreton, Hossegor and Seignosse, MACS, Landes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Quiksilver and ROXY.</div><div><br /></div>