CÔTE DES BASQUES, Biarritz – France (Thursday, July 12, 2012) ? The expected push in swell, organizers and surfers have been waiting for, is still not arrived in Biarritz and the conditions did not allow for a start of Round 1 at the Roxy Pro today.
For the third consecutive day, event officials had to call OFF competition due to a lack of swell on offer at the main venue of ‘La Côte des Basques’ in Biarritz. Wind affected 1-2Ft surf is breaking on the classic beachbreak setup of the event’s site today and with a confirmed 4-5Ft NW swell coming tomorrow things are looking up in South-West France.
“We waited all day today and there’s been a little increase in the swell but it’s still not much.” Jessi Miley-Dyer, ASP Women’s World Tour Manager said. “We’re looking at bigger waves tomorrow morning so we’re going to have a 7am call for a 7.15am start and we will definitely be starting the event tomorrow. It’s always interesting coming into the last events; here we obviously have the World Title race but we also have girls fighting for ‘Rookie of the year’ and also girls fighting for their careers and qualification, so there’s going to be a few little stories played out in the next couple of days and I’m looking forward to watching it !”
With a World Title on the line in Biarritz, everybody is itching to put on the coloured jersey and battle it out in the water. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 22, currently leading the rankings has a chance to claim her fifth World Champion Title this year at the Roxy Pro. Australia’s favourite had time to acclimate to the French rythmn during the first three days of the waiting period and is now looking forward to paddle out in Round 1.
“I’m not complaining that we’ve had a couple days off” stated Gilmore. “It’s been nice to get into the French lifestyle and enjoy the place that we’re in but yes it’s been a little frustrating, I haven’t even freesurfed cause it’s been so small. I have my family here, so we’ve been doing some tourist stuff, driving around the country side and having a look at everything, trying our best to stay away from the patisseries but it’s just too hard so we’ve been enjoying the food and the cofee you know, the good things !”
Defending World Champion and coming into this event ranked third, the Hawaiian Carissa Moore (HAW) 19, will be looking for a strong performance again this year in Biarritz to try to send the World Title showdown to the last event next month in California.
“I feel really good back here at the Roxy Pro”, Moore said. “It’s definitely different coming into this event in third place and you know I’m behind the eight ball, I have a lot of work to do to catch up if I want to be first at the end of the year. But for me I just don’t have as much pressure and hopefully I can perform in the last two events, so it should be a good week.”
“I’m really looking forward to paddle out and getting started with the event, hopefully the waves come up a little bit. I usually come out every morning really early and try to get a few before the crowd comes out or the tide’s too high so I feel warmed up and I’m really looking forward to putting on the jersey”.
When the Roxy Pro starts, up first will be World No.4 Courtney Conlogue (USA) 19, facing Coco Ho (HAW) 21, and Sarah Mason (NZL) 17, in the opening heat of Round 1 at the Roxy Pro.
