A classic escape for Europe-based surfers stricken alongside chilly grey water lineups, the appeal of the canary island archipelago relates chiefly to its latitude. Situated a few degrees north of the Tropic of Cancer, the chain of volcanic islands is located off the coast of Africa near the border of Morocco and Western sahara, and is fully exposed to swells generated in the north Atlantic, which most famously break with power over steep shallow reefs of the north and west coasts. Alongside an abundance of hollow reefbreaks, the various coasts around the islands also offer points and beaches, often set in to a kind of desert/lunar/lava landscape that definitely lets you know you’re far from home. With a variety of spots on offer in terms of technique an accessibility, the one constant is the year round mild water temperatures.

How much? Another major draw of these islands, to surfers and hordes of non-surfing tourists alike is their relative inexpensiveness. Cheap charter and scheduled flights, as well a tourist economy more catered to working classes than jet set glitterati, you can get quite a bit of bang for your buck. If you want guaranteed sun on your face, tubes and exotic surrounds, you’ll struggle to be get that combo for cheaper than you can on a trip to the Canaries.

Who goes there? Who doesn’t? If you’re on a tight budget and want some good to excellent chances of blue water/blue sky any time of year, you’re in luck. Meanwhile, many of Europe’s top pros also like to escape to the Canaries over winter, due to the chances of good photogenic pits as well as the variety of waves on offer for clips as well as to warm up for the upcoming comp seasons. Savvy students elect to join the Erasmus party here, and you’ll find couples, swell chasers, frost haters, all sorts.

Favourite son Jony Gonzalez once again makes the case for Tenerife. Photo: Gines Diaz

But which one? There are 4 main surf islands, all slightly different…

Lanzarote.The small-ish long thin one at the top left (NE). Lanza might get most of the mag exposure, particularly from El Quemao (the one that looks like Pipe) and The Slab, both in la Santa. Generally, a lot of lefts, quite barren landscape, with the north coast (where the surf is) being fairly remote and sparsely populated, and wee drive from town in the south (Aricife) If you are a goofy and are allergic to rights (and love lava) this might well be the Canary for you. Home to the San Juan Pro WQS. Spots…
Gnarly: Quemao
Medium: San Juan
Mellow: Famara
Who’s taking off
Thank you? Local pro Jose Maria Cabrera

Fuerteventura. Preferred by UK tube fiend Tom Lowe, who bases himself there over winter. Means ‘strong fortune’ or lucky. Fuerte has more rights that Lanza, so if you’re regualrfoot and like forehand surfing, you might indeed be in luck. A bit more to do perhaps than Lanza.
Gnarly: The Bubble
Medium: Lobos
Mellow: Cotillo

Gran Canaria. ‘Great Canary’ More or less in between Fuerte and Tenerife. Hosts the QS at El Confital, hollow right that has seen some classic conditions down the years.
Gnarly/Medium: Confital
Mellow: Playa Ingles
Who’s taking off deeper than you? 1000 boogieboarders and Julian Cuello.

Tenerfie. The main island in terms of tourists, also a big student population. It’s the biggest one with surf all over, more wind options. Crew tend to surf more in their own area. Seen more exposure in recent years compared with the past when kinda under wraps. Much more bustle in the scene for those who like discos and dancing as part of their cross training. Surf in afternoon with hangover.
Gnarly: The North
Mellow: Playa de las Americas
Who’s rad? Jony G, probably.

Did you know? The name has nothing to do with Canaries. Actually from the latin for dogs which may or may not have been in reference to monk seals…

What about the wind? Wind is a fact of life, everywhere, and the Canries are in the belt of wind where the NE trades are borne. You might notice these little rock wall structures by the beach that folk have built to get their bronze on out of the stiff breeze. This is just one example of the genius of mankind in overcoming nature’s obstacles. In the surf, you can’t build rock walls to make it go offshore, but you can go to another side of the island, swell permitting. That’s islands!

Jonathan Gonzalez, Gran Canaria by Alex Laurel

We went to Gran Canaria last week to shoot with new Hurley teamrider Jony Gonzalez. We took the plane from Bilbao, Jony took the boat from Tenerife, and it was game on. While the real goal behind the mission was to shoot the crazy slab that we were asked (repeatedly) not to name, there were also a couple of ‘hotdog’ sesh’s if, to be Frank, you had the relish and were were able to ketchup.

This one is from a right pointbreak with a lot of slippy slidey boulders. Entry and exit was perilous. Two older dudes bellowed insults at each other way out the back, while a dozen or so folk traded waves. Jony sat right on the inside and went bonkers, coz that’s what he does. The photog snapped this before locking the keys in car and forcing me to hang in my wetsuit in the dark for an hour, and was punished with a hangover the next day that lasted until 5pm.

Last week we went to the Gran Canary to shoot Jony Gonzalez ripping the booger slab. He sent his bro to pick us up form the airport, who is 19 and called Alberto. Alberto took us for lunch, took us to the spot, drove us around and generally was host with the most. It’s pretty much him and four thousand boogieboarders on that island, but he keeps his head up. He had original Barcelona ’92 Olympics RayBan Wayfarers and wore a tweetie pie dressing gown getting changed. I told him a ‘Prince Albert’ was slang for a cock ring, and he was stoked. Photog Laurel fucked us all over by locking Albert’s keys in his (dad’s) car while we surfed until dark one evening, and he didn’t even snap. Then, on the weekend, Albert went big at Carnival and stayed up till 8am larging it, but still showed up for the lunchtime shred. What a guy! Here’s a wee clip of Albert. Groovy style, no?

A L B E R T O G A R C I A from Luis Hernandez on Vimeo.

Pictured: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) is the 2012 ASP 3-Star Gran Canaria Santa Pro Junior Champion Credit: Aquashot

Portugal’s Vasco Ribeiro just won the 3-star Gran Canaria Santa Pro Junior at Playa de la Cicer, Las Palmas. The defending champion re-claimed his crown in fantastic fashion, dominating the final against Spain’s Vicente Romero.

“I knew it was going to be a tough heat, he (Vicente Romero) was probably the best surfer in this whole event” Ribeiro said. “I got lucky this first wave came to me, and from them I just kept getting waves and he didn’t. I’m super happy to win this important event!”

Ranking a final 3rd last year and widely considered Europe’s next big thing, this second win sets the 18-year-old Vasco on an early lead in this year’s European Junior title race. Nevertheless the young naturalfoot keeps a level-head about the rest of the season ahead and the work that’s left for him to do:

“I think it’s going to be the hardest season for sure because all the guys are ripping like Ramzi (Boukhiam), Frederico (Morais), Dimitri (Ouvre) and Vicente” stated Ribeiro. “It’s going to be really hard to win another event this year but I’m going to try and keep pushing myself and perform at my best level. I’m also going to try to do a few Star Events to gain points and get some experience against older surfers.”

The next Pro Junior, the Sooruz Royan Atlantique Pro Junior, is set to run 12-15th July along France’s Cote Sauvage shores.

Jonathan Gonzalez Claims Epic Movistar Ocean & Earth Pro Edition in Gran Canaria

Jonathan Gonzalez (Tenerife, CNY), 29, has won the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 2-Star Movistar Ocean & Earth Pro after defeating fellow finalist Ruben Gonzalez (Cascais, PRT), 31, in clean three-to-four foot (1 to 1.2 meter) waves at the world famous right-hand pointbreak of El Confital.

Second-to-last event of this year’s ASP European WQS tour, the Movistar Ocean & Earth Pro lived-up to its reputation of exceptional waves and world class surf witnessing an excellent three-day swell that turned the event into a tube and vertical-maneuver festival.

Gonzalez, who was considered a favorite for the crown, made his way through five rounds before dominating the playful conditions of the final encounter, the Canarian athlete posting four of the event’s top ten scores throughout the competition.

With a series of detonating forehand top turns and utilizing his experience for an impeccable wave selection, Jonathan Gonzalez was unstoppable towards the 2009 edition victory posting a 9.00 point score for his opening ride before backing it up with a 7.17.

“I am so happy right now, it’s been so long since my last win in an ASP WQS event,” Gonzalez said. “I was aiming at a final here and to take the win is really nice, especially in front of the Canarian crowd who has been so supportive for years now. It wasn’t an easy finish with fewer good waves but I really waited patiently for the better ones and got them.”

Finishing atop the 64-man pack, the nearby island of Tenerife resident was cheered by massive weekend crowds on his way from the dry reef of El Confital to the prize-giving stage, celebrating his victory with his public in the sunset.

“We’ve had another great edition with sick waves and the support of everyone here makes this win even more special,” Gonzalez said. “This venue deserves a big event and I hear it could happen sooner than expected so let’s hope to see the world’s best surf here soon.”

Placing runner-up after a solid run in the ASP WQS 2-Star event, Ruben Gonzalez got back in the spotlights of European surfing today netting his best result this year. Opting for a different positioning at the line-up in the 30-minute final bout, Gonzalez was not able to catch the better set waves and display his natural aggressive and vertical style.

“Getting a 2^nd place here is really great for me and is a true comeback after missing all the summer events due to a back injury,” Ruben Gonzalez said. “It’s not a major event but to make a final is always very satisfying and is a great confidence boost for the next one.”

Having stamped his authority over the competing contingent on Day 3 of the Movistar Ocean & Earth Pro with exceptional tube-riding in classic six-foot (two meter) conditions netting the only perfect 10.00 point ride of the event, Ruben Gonzalez leaves Gran Canaria island with solid confidence for the upcoming event starting in a week-time on the nearby island of Lanzarote.

“We had exceptional waves and I am super happy with the way I surfed the barrels the other day,” Gonzalez said. “To get that 10 was a bonus and I am already looking forward to the next event which I usually like.”

Getting a deserved equal 3^rd finish in the coveted event were Felix Ortega (Gran Canaria, CNY) and Abdel El Harim (Rabat, MAR), both men being stopped in the Semifinals respectively by Jonathan Gonzalez and Ruben Gonzalez.

Coming from Round 1 and representing the local community with great strength through the epic surf on the first couple of days, Ortega, 33, achieved his career best result in an ASP sanctioned event today, failing to counter his opponent’s effortless and solid style.

“I am super happy to make the Semis of this event and to get to surf against Jonathan (Gonzalez) was great,” Ortega said. “It’s my career best today in an ASP WQS event so I couldn’t hope for much more. The conditions were kind of small for my type of surfing and it definitely made a difference with such a technical and experienced opponent as Jonathan. It’s been a great event with good waves and I am stoked with my run, in front of my home crowd.3

Equaling Ortega with a 3^rd today after going down to Gonzalez in Semifinal No. 2, El Harim, 24, ended his run despite a tight exchange where he managed to score a solid 7.50 point score but lacked a good back-up wave to go further.

“It would have been better to make the final but I am relieved to get a 3^rd here in these good waves,” El Harim said. “It’s a good comeback since my best result this year in Portugal (5^th in ASP WQS 6-Star in Carcavelos) last April and I hope it helps me find a new sponsor because it’s been hard travelling across Europe. I am super–pumped for the next event now, especially for the main venue which is a left and it suits me better.”

The ASP European caravan will meet next in Lanzarote, from November 1 to 7, 2009, where the ASP European champion will be crowned.

The Movistar Ocean & Earth Pro was blessed with spectacular eight-foot (2.5 meter) waves for its kick-off, El Confital delivering testing conditions to all Round 1 competitors”]

[Photo credit: Aquashot/aspeurope.com by Masurel

The ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 2-Star Movistar Ocean & Earth Pro kicked-off today at the world famous venue of El Confital, some solid eight-foot (2.5 meter) sets greeting Round 1 competitors for a first day of exciting action.

Second-to-last event of this year’s ASP European WQS Tour, the Movistar Ocean & Earth Pro lived up to its reputation today again, the right-hand pointbreak of El Confital firing throughout the day.

With thirty locals in the event facing some of the world’s best qualifiers including nearby island resident Jonathan Gonzalez (Tenerife, CNY) and former ASP Top 45 member Leonardo Neves (BRA), things heat-up fast in a massive tube to vertical re-entry surf show.

Jonathan Gonzalez, currently ranked No. 6 on the ASP European WQS ratings and sitting no. 37 on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) ratings, took top honours on Day 1 of competition, the experienced surfer and multiple finalist at El Confital easily getting through Round 1 with the day’s best good heat score, 13.66 points (out of a possible 20).

“The waves were pretty solid but I believe it was a bit too low for our heat still,” Gonzalez said. “It wasn’t an easy heat out there but I managed to get a couple of okay scores and I am looking forward for tomorrow’s conditions becaue it should be definitely classic.”

Gonzalez, whose best performance in the Movistar Ocean & Earth Pro is an equal 3^rd place finish last year, is a favorite for this year’s crown, the good conditions expected giving the event top seed a promising week.

“I’ve made the finals of the event a couple of times at least but it’s only Round 1 now so I am not thinking of any win at this stage,” Gonzalez said. “I am looking to make the final of course and I am going to give everything I have to achieve that goal.”

From the field of locals who were all able to enter the coveted event, very few only were able to net some good scores, former top regional surfer and former equal 13^th here at El Confital Julian Cuello (Gran Canaria, CNY) getting the second best heat result of the day.

Cuello, a longtime Canarian competitor who grew-up surfing the famous righthander, showed he was back in good form after a year-off from competition and several trips around the world including several months in the Mentawaii Islands. Opening his encounter with rising Basque surfer Igor Muniain (EUK) with the day’s best wave score of 7.17 (out of a possible 10), Cuello easily secured his Round 2 ticket.

“It’s great to surf at home in front of my friends and to get to compete in good waves,” Cuello said. “I haven’t competed a lot for some time now but it’s a great feeling to get back into competition mode and get through to Round 2.”

Cuello, who peaked to a regional No. 18 rank three years ago, is one of the most talented surfers at El Confital, the regular-foot surfer knowing the wave and its different sections very well to find deep tube-rides and position himself perfectly at the line-up.

“I made the Quarterfinals once here and I am looking to better that result this week,” Cuello said. “Many of us are looking forward to tomorrow’s conditions that are said to be classic so hopefully we get some barrels.”

Cuello will face young and promising competitor from Lanzarote Manuel Lezcano (CNY) in Heat 5 of Round 2, tomorrow.

With the swell direction supposed to turn more west and slightly decrease to six to seven foot (2 to 2.3 meter) waves, Movistar Ocean & Earth Pro event promoter Federico Garcia is confident for El Confital to deliver its best face when competitors paddle back out tomorrow Friday, at 1 PM.

“The perfect set-up here is with more western direction and with the swell decreasing a little we expect a classic Confital,” Garcia said. “It’s been eight years of competition here and once again we get exceptional conditions.”

Event officials will reconvene tomorrow at 1 PM with a good chance to wrap-up Round 1 and Round 2 by tomorrow’s end.

All results, photos and press releases of the ASP WQS 2-Star Movistar Ocean & Earth Pro are available at www.aspeurope.com

The Movistar Ocean & Earth Pro is webcast LIVE at www.aspeurope.com

MOVISTAR OCEAN & EARTH PRO ROUND 1 RESULTS
Heat 1: Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 13.66, Gary Gonzalez Dominguez (CNY) 5.27, Bentor Gonzalez Dominguez (CNY) 3.83
Heat 2: Eduardo Acosta (CNY) 9.50, Luca Diaz (CNY) 4.66, Borja Nieto (EUK) 4.63
Heat 3: Norman Landa (EUK) 11.83, Alejandro Diaz (CNY) 7.46, Juan Carlos Castellano (CNY) 2.20
Heat 4: David Acevedo (CNY) 7.23, Haritz Mendiluze (EUK) 5.64, Nico Kalli (CNY) 4.36
Heat 5: Alexander Zirke (CNY) 11.06, Jose Maria Cabrera (CNY) 10.50, Carlos Arbelo (CNY) 4.63
Heat 6: Felix Ortega (CNY) 9.00, Carlos Marques (ESP) 8.14, Fernando Roca (CNY) 4.20
Heat 7: Jonathan Torres (CNY), Bentejui Tejera (CNY), Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) No Show
Heat 8: Antonio Marques (CNY) 11.66, Fabio Pagan (CNY) 6.94, Armando Navarro (CNY) 6.00
Heat 9: Manuel Lezcano (CNY) 9.77, Ruben Gonzalez (PRT) 9.74, Ivan Monagas Torres (CNY) 7.44
Heat 10: Julian Cuello (CNY) 12.00, Igor Muniain (EUK) 5.74, Marcos Imbernon (CNY) 4.57
Heat 11: Ricardo Lange (DEU) 5.83, Hector Baldeon (CNY) 5.77, Juan Jose Lucas (CNY) 4.24
Heat 12: Jose Roman Grau (CNY) 7.50, Felipe Mendes (CNY) 3.83, Alexander El Naib (DEU) 1.00
Heat 13: Abdel El Harim (MAR) 10.66, David Machin (CNY) 4.80, Juan Manuel Florit (CNY) 4.37
Heat 14: Damian Moro Ceballos (CNY), Javier Medina (CNY), Leonardo Neves (BRA) No Show

MOVISTAR OCEAN & EARTH PRO ROUND 1 REMAINING HEATS
Heat 15: Tatsuya Fukagawa (JPN), Aridane Navarro (CNY), Leandro Gomez (CNY)
Heat 16: Keito Matsuoka (JPN), Ruben Gonzalez (CNY), Mario Azurza (EUK)

MOVISTAR OCEAN & EARTH PRO ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1: Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY), Eduardo Acosta (CNY), Alejandro Diaz (CNY), Haritz Mendiluze (EUK)
Heat 2: Gary Gonzalez Dominguez (CNY), Luca Diaz (CNY), Norman Landa (EUK), David Acevedo (CNY)
Heat 3: Alexander Zirke (CNY), Felix Ortega (CNY), Bentejui Tejera (CNY), Fabio Pagan (CNY)
Heat 4: Jose Maria Cabrera (CNY), Carlos Marques (CNY), Jonathan Torres (CNY), Antonio Marques (CNY)
Heat 5: Manuel Lezcano (CNY), Julian Cuello (CNY), Hector Baldeon (CNY), Felipe Mendes (CNY)
Heat 6: Ruben Gonzalez (PRT), Igor Muniain (EUK), Ricardo Lange (DEU), Jose Roman Grau (CNY)
Heat 7: Abdel El Harim (MAR), Damian Moro Ceballos (CNY), TBA, TBA
Heat 8: David Machin (CNY), Javier Medina (CNY), TBA, TBA