COTES DES BASQUES, BIARRITZ/France (Tuesday, July 5, 2011) – La Côte des Basques, world famous surf destination and cradle of French surfing, is set to host the Roxy Pro Biarritz, a unique competition format combining the traditional ASP Women’s World Longbard Tour event and the additional ASP Women’s World title season competition, from July 11 through 17, 2012.
Offering an unprecedented line-up of world-class female surfers including the elite ASP Top 17 chasing the prestigious ASP Women’s World Title, and the ASP Top 32 women’s longboard surfers, the Roxy Pro Biarritz is expected to bring some of the world’s most attractive surf action to France’s South West coast for a full-week of action, music and art happening.
Stage to two ASP World Tour elite events, the Roxy Pro Biarritz promises red-hot action as the world’s top noseriders get their 2011 campaign underway and the elite ASP Top 17 contingent battles towards the ASP Women’s World title, current rankings front-runner Carissa Moore (HAW), 18, being in reach of her maiden crown in Biarritz.
“I have definitely thought about the possibility of winning the World Title in France but I have also thought about all the other possibilities as well,” Moore said. “It’s a really exciting time and I am just trying to enjoy and embrace the journey at the moment. Whatever happens happens – I just want to give it my best shot.”
Having dominated the 2011 tour with three event wins and two runner-up finishes, Moore is expected to tear the quality beach breaks of Biarritz apart; Biarritz where she won the ASP 2-Star Roxy Pro Junior for her first appearance in France in 2008.
“I guess I have really just been enjoying myself, focusing on each heat and not over thinking the result,” Moore said. “I feel like I am really having fun traveling and surfing and have sort of found my rhythm finally. I am just stoked that it has worked out for me as it has.”
Standing in Moore’s way of an ASP Women’s World Title clinching in France is red-hot Australian Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 20.
“It’s been an exciting season for me so far,” Fitzgibbbons said. “I feel that everything seemed to click into place and I was able to draw off past experience to take my performance and results to the next level. My firsttwo wins on the World Tour stage definitely created that hunger to want to finish on the podium every time. I have the desire to want to continue bettering my performances but I have been enjoying just absorbing all the places we are travelling to also. I have such a great support team as well and they are helping to do everything possible so I just have to go out and surf.”
“It’s been great being in the title race for the second year running,” Fitzgibbons said. “I think this time around I know what to expect. I don’t mind being the position I am in and chasing down the lead. Anything is possible and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds. Carissa has been in great form too which will make for an exciting finish to the season.”
Starting July 11, the ASP Women’s World title event of the Roxy Pro Biarritz will be mobile having the option to move to the near-by consistent beach of la Grande Plage allowing flexibility towards the most wave quality on offer.
With La Côte des Basques’s renowned longboard wave quality set to host the opening contest of this year’s two-stop 2011 ASP Women’s Longboard season, the usual European Vs International battles will see mulitple ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion Jennifer Smith (California, USA) and defending ASP Women’s World Longboard champion Cori Schumacher (California, USA) lead the charge over the 32-woman field that includes local favorites Justine Dupont (Lacanau, FRA) and Coline Menard (Reunion Island, FRA).
Starting in a week and gathering the ASP’s elite female surfers in both longboard and shortboard divisions, the Roxy Pro Biarritz could see the crowning of the ASP Women’s World Champion, between July 11 and 17.
For more information log onto www.aspworldtour.com
