Sean Poynter Wows and Wins at Barbados Pro

BATHSHEBA, Barbados - The final day of competition at the Barbados Pro delivered in every sense: the best waves of the week, glassy conditions and the final 8 Men and Women lined up to do battle for victory at Stop #3 of the 2019 APP World Tour.

From the outset, Sean Poynter has managed to post a 9+ point ride in every single heat on his way to the final, clearly one of the stand outs of the Barbados Pro with the highest heat score totals of the event. Faced with an on-form Leco Salazar, a throwback to the battle for the Title in 2012 where Leco came out on top to take the World Championship Crown, Sean started slower than in previous heats, but delivered progression at its best with a cleanly landed aerial followed by a series of well linked turns to get him back in the mix, after a strong start from the 2012 World Champion.

Leco Salazar makes a massive comeback in Barbados to finish in a close second for the event, moving to 3rd overall in the World | Photo courtesy: APP World Tour

But it was not over yet, as the two World Champions went blow for blow in one of the most exciting finals in years on the APP World Tour that saw Leco in an incredibly strong position with a pair of eights with just minutes to go in the heat. However, clearly in rhythm with the Soup Bowl all week, one of the best set waves of the day appeared and Sean Poynter was in the perfect position, dropping in to link together one of the best waves of the event, and just when it mattered, posting a 9.1 and setting a challenging heat score total for Leco to overcome with just minutes left.

For Sean, it was a dream ending to a dream event - he has a special connection with the break, and it was clear that his brand of surfing is ideally suited to the performance focused surf at the Soup Bowl. With his parents in attendance for the first time at an APP World Tour Event, Sean not only won the event, but put himself back into contention for the 2019 World Title: while he needs to win the Gran Canaria Pro-Am in order to retain his Title in 2019 and would need Poenaiki to finish 4th or worse, given his performance here and his track record in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the 2019 World Title is far from decided.

Left: Poenaiki Raioha, 4th place finisher. Right: Tamil Martino, 3rd place finisher. | Photos courtesy: APP World Tour

As we come to the end of an incredible week here in Barbados filled with spectacular action, dramatic competition and unparalleled 'good vibes', the APP would like to thank the incredible people of Barbados and the Community of Bathsheba for welcoming us so wholeheartedly to their magical home.

Outside of the World Class waves and stunning surroundings that never cease to amaze, the experiences that the APP World Tour athletes were able to share this week in Barbados are unmatched. Barbados has been an instant hit, and has fast become a favorite stop on the APP World Tour after just one edition.

A big thank you to the BTMI / @visitbarbados for their support of this inaugural edition of the Barbados Pro, and to Sea2see eyewear for their patronage of the event and the Tour. We can't wait to come back in 2020!

For all highlights, photos, special features and more from the Barbados Pro, please visit appworldtour.com and @appworldtour and for more on the beautiful island of Barbados, please go to visitbarbados.org

A big thank you to the incredible island of Barbados, the close knit community of Bathsheba and all our partners of the Barbados Pro. | Photo courtesy: APP World Tour

About the APP World Tour & Waterman League International

The APP World Tour is the Professional World Championship Tour for the Sport of Paddlesurfing (also known as SUP / Stand Up Paddling / Paddleboarding), officially sanctioned by the IOC recognized Federation for Surfing Sports, the ISA (International Surfing Association). Re-branded in 2017 as the APP World Tour (previously known as the Stand Up World Tour and Series) the APP has been crowning the sport’s World Champions for both Men & Women across Racing and Surfing since 2010. The APP World Tour produces a complete inventory of programming, including live and post produced broadcasts from its events, with distribution to over 100 countries worldwide via premier global networks such as CBS Sports and Fox Sports Asia & Australia.