Pictured: Reigning five-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current ASP No. 5 Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 25, will look to defend her Roxy Pro France Title in the world-class beachbreak of Hossegor.
Credit: ASP/POULLENOT
HOSSEGOR, France (Monday, September 23, 2013) – The Waiting period for the 2013 Roxy Pro France commences tomorrow, September 24, 2013 and with a healthy swell forecast for the opening days of the waiting period the ASP Top 17 could take to the water for Round 1 tomorrow morning.
The Roxy Pro France, Event No. 7 of 8 on the 2013 ASP Women’s WCT, was initially scheduled for July in Biarritz. However, poor conditions forced the rescheduling of the event and Roxy and the ASP’s commitment to putting the world’s best surfers in the world’s best waves will see the ASP Top 17 competing in Hossegor from September 24 – 30, 2013.
Carissa Moore (HAW), 21, 2011 ASP Women’s World Champion, is currently holding a narrow lead on the ASP Women’s World Title Race entering the Roxy Pro France. While Moore could potentially clinch the 2013 crown with a victory at the venue, the talented Hawaiian is honing her strategy for another top result in France.
“We’re all so close right now and I can’t really think too much about the pressure but just try to surf my best and I think it’s still anyone’s game,” Moore said. “Keeping your head, being positive and catching the right waves will probably be the key to succeed in this event.”
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 25, reigning five-time ASP Women’s World Champion and defending Roxy Pro France Champion, is currently sitting at No. 5 among the ASP Top 17, placing her outside of the current ASP World Title Race. While Gilmore is no longer in contention for a sixth crown this season, the Australian natural-footer is still hungry to find her first victory of the year in France.
“When we started the year at Snapper everyone was pretty excited and I thought I was surfing really well but the girls just surfed so much better,” Gilmore said. “It wasn’t the best season for me, but the pressure’s off us for the World Title and in that sense we can also become more dangerous. It’s been awesome to watch these girls battle it out, and a new World Champion this year will be pretty exciting for our sport!”
Courtney Conlogue (USA), 21, in to her third season among the ASP Top 17, has had a banner year in 2013, launching to a career-high No. 3 on the rankings. Conlogue is still mathematically in contention for an inaugural ASP Women’s World Title and is hungry to post a standout result at the Roxy Pro.
“I’m pretty thrilled to come in to these last two events and I’ve been very fortunate to be in the Top 3 right now,” Conlogue said. “I wasn’t really expecting that but rather just trying to perform this year. Tyler (Wright) and everyone have been pushing us and pushing me to the next level and I’m really looking forward to these next two events. I’ve been in France for awhile and I’m really looking forward to getting this show on the road!”
Conlogue, winner of a previous 6-Star event at Le Penon in Hossegor, is looking to use the confidence from her previous victory to her advantage, but knows an additional win will be no easy task while tackling the world’s best surfers.
“Winning the 6-Star in Hossegor definitely helps feeling comfortable on the wave at Le Penon especially since the first call will be there tomorrow morning,” Conlogue said. “Against the Top 17, you’ve definitely got to step up your game and I have a feeling there’s going to be a lot of high-performance surfing on this wave.”
Pauline Ado (FRA), 22, the lone European representative among the ASP Top 17 this season, has requalified for the 2014 ASP Women’s WCT via her efforts on the ASP Qualifying Series and is hoping for big result in the pristine beachbreak conditions in front of her hometown crowd.
“With the requalification secured on the Qualifying Series it does take a lot of pressure off of my shoulders, but I really want to stay in the top 10, and especially because we’re in France I really want to do well,” Ado said. “We were all disappointed when Biarritz was cancelled and I’m extra happy to see the WCT return to Hossegor. It’s the best time of year to score world class waves here in Hossegor so hopefully the conditions are great.”
The Roxy Pro France holds a waiting period from September 24 through 30, 2013 and will be webcast LIVE via http://roxylive.com/roxyprobiarritz/2013/
For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com
UPCOMING ROXY PRO FRANCE ROUND 1 MATCH UPS:
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Silvana Lima (BRA)
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Laura Enever (AUS), Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Malia Manuel (HAW), Lee Ann Curren (FRA)
Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS), Alana Blanchard (HAW), Sofia Mulanovich (PER)
Heat 5: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Pauline Ado (FRA), Sage Erickson (USA)
Heat 6: Lakey Peterson (USA), Coco Ho (HAW), Paige Hareb (NZL)
