Congrats to Channel Islands team rider Mark Lacomare on his ASP European Title win!

Marc Lacomare added another great achievement to his career today after clinching his maiden ASP European title during the ASP 5-Star Islas Canarias Ocean & Earth Pro in Gran Canaria [Photo credit: Aquashot/aspeurope.com]

EL CONFITAL, Gran Canaria (Wednesday, November 3, 2010) – French surf phenomenon Marc Lacomare (Capbreton, FRA), 20, has added another great achievement to his young nonetheless brilliant career today after securing the 2010 ASP European Men’s title in Gran Canaria.

Lacomare, who was one heat win away from clinching the regional crown coming to the final event of this year’s European tour, the ASP 5-Star Islas Canarias Ocean & Earth pro, did not miss the opportunity today advancing through to Round 2 of competition with a brilliant performance including a near perfect 9.8 point ride.

“I didn’t expect it to happen so early in the contest,” Lacomare said. “I am really happy with the European title. It has been a good year for me for sure and I hope I can continue my good momentum [through the end of the year].”

Lacomare, a former ASP European Junior champion (2009), stepped-up against the world’s best for his first year competing on the ASP Star and Prime Series to finish his European run atop a hungry field of world-class athletes, including current regional ratings’ No. 2 Tim Boal (Anglet, FRA), former ASP Elite member and ASP European Champion (2008).

“That heat in the event today was really tensed as I started it slow falling on my first wave,” Lacomare said. “While paddling back out that wave stood-up in front of me, I turned around, pulled into the barrel and made it. It is perfect to win the title with a 9.8 point barrel.”

After an impressive year that includes a win in the ASP 5-Star event at Newquay (Relentless Boardmasters), a 3rd place in the ASP 6-Star contest at Ericeira (Quiksilver Pro Portugal) and a series of 5th place finishes at ASP 6-Star events of Thurso (O’Neill CWC Classic Scotland), Lacanau (Sooriz Lacanau Pro) and Zarautz (San Miguel Pro Zarautz), the 20-year-old Capbreton native has confirmed his unquestionable status of France and Europe’s most promising professional surfer.

“Congratulations to Marc (Lacomare) for his win after such a consistent year,” ASP Europe Regional Manager Greg Puget said. “Marc has been cutting his teeth on the ASP European Junior Series since he was 15, placed ASP Junior World No. 3 in 2008, won the Junior regional title last year and kept his momentum going through 2010 to win our most prestigious title in Europe. Impressive.”

Renowned on the international stage, famous on the European stage, Lacomare’s title makes him a potential ASP Elite qualification status holder in the upcoming years, statistics showing that two out of three past European champions qualified for the ASP Top 32 elite the year following their regional crowning (Aritz Aranburu in 2007 and Tim Boal in 2008).

Now aiming at a best possible finish in the ASP 5-Star Islas Canarias Ocean & Earth Pro, Lacomare will be surfing relaxed in the perfect righthand barrels of El Confital, stage of his maiden ASP European crown before flying out to Hawaii for the prestigious ASP showdown.

Check out all results, videos and photos of the ASP 5-Star Islas Canarias Ocean & Earth Pro. A photo gallery of Marc Lacomare’s 2010 highlights will be available through www.aspeurope.com

2010 ASP EUROPEAN EVENTS BEST RESULTS
5th, ASP 6-Star O’Neill CWC Scotland, Thurso – Scotland
1st, ASP 5-Star Relentless Boardmasters in asso. with Vans, Newquay – England
5th, ASP 6-Star Sooruz Lacanau Pro, Lacanau – France
5th, ASP 6-Star San Miguel Pro Zarautz pres. by Euskaltel, Zarautz – Euskadi
9th, ASP 6-Star Lusiaves Figueira Pro, Figueira de Foz – Portugal
3rd, ASP 6-Star Quiksilver Pro Portugal, Ericeira – Portugal

ASP CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2010, ASP European Men’s Champion
2009, ASP European Junior Men’s Champion
2008, ASP World Junior No. 3