25/10/2026
What adjustments did we make to help win the U16 European title? 🏆
During the training days leading up to the event, our main focus was on choosing the right lines on the wave to create as many vertical sections as possible and maximise scoring potential.
After the very first heat, it became clear that the judges really valued turns that were set up with a strong, complete bottom turn. So rather than rushing in an extra turn with less quality in the bottom turns, we focused on taking time for high-quality bottom turns.
Throughout the event, we kept working on a few key details:
* Critical sections: Performing turns as much as possible underneath the board, right in the most critical part of the wave.
* Longer turns: Pushing the nose of the board further through the turn, towards 7–8 o’clock.
* Maximum spray: Committing 100% and pushing every turn all the way through.
* End sections: Often one of the trickiest parts of the wave in Bundoran. When the section had an awkward angle, the goal was to time the turn just a bit early. On a more normal end section, we wanted to connect the final turn directly with the lip line.
Before the final, my feedback to Kamiel was pretty simple:
“If you surf the way you’ve been surfing all week, but manage your first priority a little more carefully, you’ll become European Champion.”
What followed was a perfect heat from start to finish. Every single point we’d been working on was executed exactly as planned, and his priority management was spot on.
European Champion U16. 🏆🇧🇪
A perfect example of how small technical adjustments, smart heat strategy and attention to detail can make all the difference.
