PLAYA DA FRAGATA, Ferrol, Galicia / Spain (Sunday, June 29, 2025) - Today, the World Surf League (WSL) GADIS Surf Festival Ferrol crowned the Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) 1,000 and Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) 1,000 winners to cap off an incredible week at Camping As Cabazas in Ferrol. Maria Salgado and Alfonso Suarez won the Pro Junior, and António Dantas and Ginger Caimi won the Pro Longboard.
It was a warm summer's day in Ferrol, with pumping two-to-three foot surf providing excellent scoring opportunities, from long nose rides and stylish carves, to high-performance surfing from the next generation of surfing stars.
Maria Salgado, Alfonso Suarez Win First-Ever Pro Junior Title
Europe's surfing future is looking bright with the level of competition and performances displayed at the GADIS Junior Pro Ferrol this week. The event's standouts featured in the Finals today, and they did not disappoint.
Maria Salgado (POR) showed up in a big way on Finals Day, posting the highest heat total in the Semifinals and going all the way for her first-ever Pro Junior victory. Salgado had fierce competition in the Final, and was trailing behind Carla Morera De La Vall (ESP) with France's Naïa Monte and Clemence Schorsch on her heels. Salgado found her two best waves in the last quarter of the heat, drawing out her turns with style and power, and committing to the heavy end section. She shut down the heat with one huge turn into the cascading lip for a 7.90 (out of a possible 10) and a combined total of 14.83 (out of a possible 20).
The exhilarating men's Final kept everyone on the edge of their seat, featuring big hitters João Mendonça (POR), Matias Canhoto (POR), Dylan Donegan Dos Santos (ESP) and Alfonso Suarez (POR).
A perfect set rolled through at the start and there was a flurry of waves which saw Mendonça, Dos Santos and Canhoto lock in strong opening rides. Waiting for his moment and the right wave to arrive, Suarez opened his campaign with beautiful top to bottom surfing, adding extra flair to his turns and earning an excellent 8.83.
The heat was on and as the waves continued to pulse, Mendonça and Dos Santos stayed busy and took control of the heat as they improved their heat totals with solid backup rides. As time ran out, there was another great set that offered opportunities to all competitors, but it was Suarez that picked off the gem for a 7.40, securing his first-ever Pro Junior victory.
Ginger Caimi - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Ginger Caimi, António Dantas Victorious In Pro Longboard
Longboarding phenom, 13-year-old Ginger Caimi (ITA) won the GADIS Longboard Pro Ferrol over rankings leader Alice Lemoigne (FRA), Ophelie Ah-Kouen (FRA) and local favourite Julieta Rodriguezvillamil (ESP). Caimi's graceful time on the nose and stylish transitions saw her open with a 6.67, which turned out to be the best score of the heat. Lemoinge came close with a great ride, but Caimi did enough with a 12.67 total and get the edge over Lemoigne's 12.50.
Antonio Dantas - WSL / Laurent Masurel
In the men's Pro Longboard final, they left their best performances for when it mattered. There were great scores all around, but it was António Dantas (POR) who held off a late surge by Thomas Le Breton to get the win.
An exciting exchange in the final minute saw almost everyone improve their scores. Dantas, who was already in the lead, locked in an excellent 8.50 to add even more distance between him and second place, Eduardo Delpero (FRA). It wasn't over yet, as the judges were left deliberating the flurry of activity. Le Breton (FRA) jumped from fourth to second with a stylishly long nose ride, hanging back and drawing out a beautiful carve, pushing Delpero to third.
The GADIS Longboard Pro Ferrol concludes the European Longboard season, and with that António Dantas and Alice Lemoigne are crowned the regional longboard champions.
The GADIS Junior Pro and Longboard Pro Ferrol ran from June 25-29, 2025 at Praia da Fragata and Esmelle, Ferrol, Galicia / Spain.
The GADIS Junior Pro and Longboard Pro Ferrol are organized by Classic Surf Pro and has the institutional support of the Xunta de Galicia, Axencia Turismo de Galicia, Deputación de A Coruña, Concello de Ferrol Deporte Galena and the Federación Galega de Surf. It is also sponsored by Gadis, Jael Joyería, Parque de Ferrol, Opticas Noroeste, Intermax Technology, Caetano Fórmula, Quincemil, Diario de Ferrol, Rock FM, Pepsi, La Rampa Skate and Surflogic.
For more information, visit WorldSurfLeague.com