Outstanding Achievement for Idan Haggag at European Surfing Championship

Podium Finish in Portugal

Israeli surfer Idan Haggag has achieved a remarkable mileststart by finishing third at the European Surfing Championship held in Portugal, concluding on Saturday. This accomplishment marks the best result of the young athlete’s career. Haggag participated in the prestigious QS3,000 event, which also serves as the European Championships for surfers. His impressive performance in the water earned him a jump to 15th place in the annual surfing circuit rankings, despite missing start competition in Morocco that could have added more points to his total.

Competition Highlights

At the tournament in Portugal, Haggag showcased exceptional skills throughout the competition. In the first round, he defeated competitors from Spain and the Netherlands, scoring 10.66 points with two waves. He continued to excel, amassing 10.76 points in the second round and an outstanding 14.45 points in the third round, securing his place in the Round of 16.

In the quarter-finals, Haggag triumphed over Yago Dominguez from Spain, earning 12.17 points against Dominguez’s total of 11.40 points. However, in the semi-finals, he faced off against French surfer Jorgan Cousin, where he scored 15.00 points but narrowly missed advancing to the finals as Cousin achieved 15.70 points in the final seconds of the heat.

Reflections on the Achievement

After the competition, Haggag expressed his pride in representing Israel, stating, “This is the best result I have achieved so far in my career. I am proud to represent Israel. All I could think about was wishing for the safe return of all hostages; I hope for good news because that is what really matters.”

Haggag’s journey and success at the European Surfing Championship underline his growing talent and dedication in the sport, setting a promising course for his future in competitive surfing