The marathon of play-offs is drawing to a close and each team is taking stock of its squad. The top five on the eve of the final day are Portugal, Spain, Italy, France and England. The gap between these five teams is around 1,700 points, which is nothing when you consider the calibre of the contenders for the grand finals.
But watch out – Ireland, with home advantage, could still make a name for itself.
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| Kay Tanguay - Switzerland |
In the U16 girls’ category, Isabel O’Reilly continues her run, whilst the young Frenchwoman Charly Legay is performing well and confirming her talent in her first call-up to the national team. Whilst Lila Skinner (ENG) and Vida Mendoça (POR) have already secured their places in the grand final, there are still six contenders vying for the last two spots. It’s difficult to choose, given the sheer talent of these young surfers.
The waves will be the deciding factor in this category, as in the others.
In the U16 boys’ category, Tiago Hanssen (SWE) and Francisco Santos (POR) are biding their time whilst awaiting the grand final. Meanwhile, the final six qualifiers must battle it out. Italy, with Anglani and Agliani, are in top form and dream of retaining – or even improving on – their third place in the team event; who knows, perhaps an individual title is on the cards. And what about Switzerland, which still has two surfers in the running – Banto and Tangay – or France with Pommier? Nor should we forget Kamiel Deraeve, the Belgian who has excelled in the perfect conditions of the last two days.
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| Diana Giorgie - Italy |
In the U18s, Ireland are even more confident! Joshua Karbus (IRL) is causing a sensation by having already reached the grand final alongside Jaime Veselko (POR). With O’Reilly and Karbus, Ireland, the host nation, is already on cloud nine, but if they could bring home an individual title, that would be even better!
On the eve of the grand final, seven countries are represented in the U18 boys’ event, and it promises to be a superb spectacle!
In the U18 girls’ event, once again, Italy is in the mix with Cuppone (in the grand final) and Giorgi, who will have to overcome a formidable Clémence Schorsch (FRA), who just last night racked up a string of excellent scores with disconcerting ease.
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| Isabel O'Reilly - Ireland |
Julietta Rodriguez Vilamill (ESP) will be competing in two events, as she’ll also be in the longboard category; we’ll get a good idea of her form, as fatigue must be starting to set in.
Rose Calvez (FRA) and Emma Van Der Huls (NED) will also be in the mix, with Emma competing in both the U16 and U18 brackets.
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| Marthino De Barros - Portugal |
In the longboard event, the finalists have already been decided. Reggie Roynon (ENG) and Martin Garcia (ESP), regulars on the European circuit, will need to be wary of Italy’s Caponera and local rider David Fanning (IRL), who will also be keen to put Ireland in the spotlight.
In the women’s event, despite having to go through the repechage, Julietta Rodriguez Vilamill (ESP) won’t let Margaux Vieuge (FRA) go it alone in the hunt for the individual title, given that Mare Robroch (NED) will also be in the mix, as will Sylvie Puddyphatt (ENG), who carries the hopes of a nation aiming to reach the top three in the team event.
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| Samuel Agliani - Italy |
The competition resumes this morning at 9.15 am for the final day; tune in to the live stream to witness the crowning of the 2026 European Surfing and Longboard Champions.
