France yesterday. With yesterday’s blustery windswell building and cleaning up into lined-up 3ft (head high) peaks, the top seeds entered proceedings as Round 4 kicked off early this morning. Suitably impressed with the standard of manoeuvres, the judges were handing out excellent (8-10 point) scores like hot croissants as the likes of Sage Erickson, Leila Hurst, Canelle Bulard, Alessa Quizon and Courtney Conlogue all put together excellent rides in the early heats.
“We were all super stoked when we got down here early and saw it had picked up and was glassy,” admitted Erickson. “I got lucky early and some good ones came to me, my board felt really good. It feels awesome to start off strong like that.” The American was full value for her combined heat total of 18.40 (out of 20), the highest of the event so far. Swatch Proteam rider Courtney Conlogue was also typically impressive in the morning’s predominant lefthanders, fitting in some vicious combinations of backside snaps to see herself through.
“When I saw the first set this morning as I was coming down the beach I was kinda amping,” said the current ASP World no 2. “I found my rhythm out there in the lefts and just had fun.”
ROUND FIVE COMPLETED, MIXED FORECAST ON OFFER
Round 5 ran in windier surf in the mid afternoon, with trickier conditions testified by less generous scores being awarded for most encounters. Nevertheless, usual suspects Erickson, Conlogue, and Quizon advanced as heat winners, along with Hawaiians Alana Blanchard and Malia Manuel and New Zealand’s Paige Hareb.
“That was super tricky,” said ASP World Title Race rising star Manuel, “the tides are so big here things change so quick, I was really stoked to make that heat. Luckily we all spread out a little bit and had a chance to surf, coz it’s easy to get all bunched together.” With Round 5 wrapped up, orgainzers will be keeping a close watch on developing conditions over the coming three days of the waiting period, with tomorrow (Friday) looking small, Saturday probably offering up the best window of opportunity to run the remaining rounds and crown an event champion before Sunday’s predicted Atlantic storm lashes the venue.
STOP PRESS! APRES SURF SCHEDULE CHANGED!
The SWATCH GIRLS PRO FRANCE après surf schedule has been subject to last-minute changes due meteorological and surf conditions. Friday’s Nightsurf Extravaganza in Capbreton has been cancelled, instead the SANDBLAST PARTY (competitors, invited guests and ticket winners only) will be taking place at the event site, Les Bourdaines on Friday 1st June from 19h00. The lineup for the event includes Lee-Ann Curren and Shinkickers playing live, a sunset DJ session and BBQ before the Fluro party and iPod Battle kicks off after dark.
Members of the public who won VIP passes to the party, please call +33 (0)558433215 for more information. Friday’s signing session (17h00) at the SWATCH Store Hossegor continues as scheduled. Saturday’s Please Call Me Madame & Tatianas concerts continue as scheduled at El Bodegon, Capbreton from 22h00. This evening of live music will now be the event’s Closing Party and numbers are limited, so arrive early to avoid disappointment. Sunday will be a lay day.
