CAPBRETON, France (Monday, May 14, 2012) - The ASP 3-Star Gran Canaria Santa Pro Junior will open the European Season to male surfers aged under-21. The event’s waiting period officially starts on Wednesday, May 16 and forecasts are looking good with a consistent swell in the 3-4Ft range for the whole duration of the competition.
Rob Gunning, ASP Europe’s Tour Manager, will return to the beautiful island of Gran Canaria for this classic event on the European Junior Tour. As an ASP 3-Star rated event this season, the Gran Canaria Santa Pro Junior will be on the forefront of the European Title race with the most rankings points on offer and an impressive $15,000 prize-money up-for-grabs.
“The ASP is thrilled to go back to Gran Canaria again this year”, Rob said. “This event is definitely becoming a classic on the European Junior Tour and all surfers, teams and officials are delighted to travel to the warm Canary Islands once again. This year it will be a decisive event for sure as it will offer the most rankings points and give the winner a great advantage towards the end of the year’s European Title hunt.”
With already close to 80 competitors entered in the heatdraw, the Gran Canaria Santa Pro Junior will once again host the “creme de la creme” of European surfers including last year’s frontrunners in the Title race, as well as a field of hungry local Canarian ambassadors who will try to match the competition and represent well their island’s surfing talent pool.
“Everyone is always eager to go to the Canary Islands. It’s warm, it’s beautiful and we always get good waves, it’s our dream destination in Europe ! This year I’m sure it will be no different and we will see some great battles between the seasoned competitors on Tour and all the uprising kids who want to prove their talent by beating older competitors.”
Efforts were made by the event organizers to facilitate the travel to and from the Canary Islands this year and the number of entries have already been rewarding their work. Jesus Aguayo, CEO of La Santa Surf will be at task all week to make sure the surfers feel welcomed in Gran Canaria and to host another quality event. Jesus has been developing a strong relationship with local authorities without whom any event would be impossible.
“Apart from being a huge responsibility it is an honour to be staging the most important Pro Junior event of the 2012 ASP Europe season”, Jesus said. “Without the support from the local and regional departments of the Canary Islands it would be impossible to organize this type of event. More and more they are realising the potential that the Canaries has and that is important because they hold the key for these projects to become a reality.”
The 2012 Gran Canaria Santa Pro Junior will run from May 16-20 at La Ciccer, Gran Canaria / Canary Islands. To find out more, please visit www.grancanaria.aspeurope.com
The Gran Canaria Santa Pro Junior is made possible with the support of the following event partners: La Santa Surf, the Consejería de Turismo del Gobierno de Canarias, the Patronato de Turismo del Cabildo de Gran Canaria, the Concejalía de Turismo del Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Hotel Best Western Cantur. Also an extended thanks to Halcón Viajes, Armas, InterSport, Café Central y Oceanside, Cajasiete amongst others.
