Kelli Bean takes the time to ask some questions to Sofia Lopes winner of the Internacional de Skimboard de Santa Cruz.
Q: Tell us about the history of this competition?
A: The Internacional de Skimboard Contest in Santa Cruz started 11 years ago. In 2007, it started to be part of a wave sports festival called Ocean Spirit, which includes sports like surfing, bodyboarding, kayak surfing, windsurfing and others. The Internacional de Skimboard Contest is the biggest contest in Europe and it has the biggest prize money too.
Q: What were the conditions like for you competing?
A: On the first day of competition, the waves were small. On the second day, the waves were small before high tide, when we had the semi-finals happening. After high tide, the waves finally got bigger and the conditions in our final heat were really fun!
Q: What was your overall experience like?
A: My experience with this contest was good. We had nine girls competing. Some of them were fresh faces skimboarding, which was really cool. In the final heat, I tried to risk a little bit more and get waves further. I almost did it but the tide was getting lower. But in a global perspective the contest was really well organized, we made our heats in good conditions, so it was really fun for all the girls.
Q: Will you be competing again this year?
A: Yes, I will! I’m going to do some more contests this summer in Portugal and one in Spain (if I get the money to go)! Basically, I will go to every contest that I’m invited to haha!
Words by Kelli Bean. Photo by Artur Costa.
Internacional de Skimboard 2013 Competition
Santa Cruz, Lisboa, Portugal
July 20 & 21, 2013
Feminino Results:
1st – Sofia Lopes
2nd – Pipa Pinto
3rd – Sara Curado
4th – Tania Simões
