BIARRITZ, France – The Roxy Pro, second-to-last stop on this year’s ASP Women’s World title season and first of two ASP Women’s World Longboard Tour events, will kick-off tomorrow Monday, July 11, at the famous Cote des Basques beach in Biarritz, France for a seven-day waiting period that promises intense world-class surfing in presence of surfing icon Lisa Andersen.
With an ASP Women’s World Title on the line for current ASP World No. 1 Carissa Moore (Oahu, HAW) and the ASP’s best female longboarders eyeing a solid start to their 2011 campaign, both competitions will be the stage to under-pressure hard-fought battles and decisive results.
« We have always seen the Roxy Jam as a very well done event and I am super happy to be here and part of an event gathering both shortboard and longboard divisions, » Fitzgibbons said. «With the art and surf culture around the competition, and hopefully the summer crowds attending, I am happy to be here and will enjoy surfing this week for sure. »
With all eyes on the much-expected battle between ASP Women’s World title top duo Carissa Moore and Sally Fitzgibbons (New South Wales, AUS), the ASP Top 17, including local representatives Pauline Ado (Hendaye, FRA) and Lee-Ann Curren (Biarritz, FRA), will be pushing the boundaries of women’s surfing again, this year’s title race already considered one of the most exciting ever witnessed. After a six-month domination that saw her take out three event wins and two runner-up finishes, Moore’s mindblowing performances have left her with just one opponent in her hunt for the prestigious ASP Women’s World title, New South Wales’ Sally Fitzgibbons. Coming
from a win in Brazil and looking confident after a few days of training at the Cote des Basques, Moore is a favorite in the Roxy Pro.
« I am really excited to be back in Biarritz, » Moore said. « About the odds of winning a title here, I know that anything can happen and Sally (Fitzgibbons) has
been in form all year surfing really well so I am trying not to overthink it. Hopefully I can relax, surf each heat and enjoy. »
With a surf forecast showing a slow start and good quality finish in the Biarritz area, event officials are confident in putting the world’s best women surfers in contestable rippable condtions throughout the week. With the usual French-summer massive crowds already hitting the South West renowned city of Biarritz and thousands expected along the famous Cote des Basques stretch, the Roxy Pro is set for an action-packed week.
Two-time Roxy ASP Women’s World Longboard champion and a favorite again in this year’s edition, Jennifer Smith (California, USA) will be back in competition mode from July 14 through 17, the four days scheduled for the ASP Women’s World Longboard Tour division. « I love Biarritz, it’s the ultimate summer destination and it’s so nice to have a contest here and get to come back every year, » Smith said. « The waves are always good for longboarding and I had a good session this morning so I am feeling good. There are upcoming surfers like Coline (Menard, 2009 ASP Women’s WLT runner-up) and some new faces that can definitely take-over. »
Opening the Roxy Pro tomorrow willl be the ASP Elite Top 17 contingent, officials and surfers set to meet at 7.30 AM Monday, July 11, at the main venue of La Cote des Basques. The ASP Women’s WLT Top 32 will start competition from Thursday, July 14.
Beside the surf competitions, the Roxy Pro showcases the global roots and faces of womens surfing with an art exhibition gathering talented Californian artists such as Brandon Lomax, Colin Whitbread, Kassia Meador and committed artists surfers of Skeleton Sea association. Another great artistic event will be the Venus project exhibition gathering international artists. The Roxy Pro also features a great musical line-up playing live on Saturday 16th of July evening at Port Vieux Beach and presented by Orange. Pendentif, Lilly Wood & The Prick and The Sounds will be the
live bands playing on a free entrance performance down on the beach.
ROXY PRO BIARRITZ ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1 : Tyler Wright (AUS), Courtney Conlogue (USA), Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Heat 2 : Silvana Lima (BRA), Pauline Ado (FRA), Alana Blanchard (HAW)
Heat 3 : Carissa Moore (HAW), Melanie Bartels (HAW), Lee-Ann Curren (FRA)
Heat 4 : Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Laura Enever (AUS), Felicity Palmateer (AUS)
Heat 5 : Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Heat 6 : Coco Ho (HAW), Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Roxy Pro will be live on www.roxylive.com since tomorrow morning (Monday) 7/30 local time with
ROXY PRO Programme
MONDAY 11th of JULY
ASP Women’s World Tour – Waiting period starts - Côte des Basques
TUESDAY 12th of JULY
ASP Women’s Longboard World Tour - Trials - Côte des Basques
ROXY PRO SURFERS NIGHT
6pm Movie screenings Lee Ann Curren’s TITAN KIDS movie
and L’APERITIF from Pandora Decoster
8pm Surfers Jam Session by Keep a Breast. - Ventilo Caffé
WEDNESDAY 13th of JULY
7pm Quiksilver Boardriders House Opening in Hossegor. (Presse & surfers only)
7pm Estelle S DJ Set - Bar les 100 marches
THURSDAY 14th of JULY
ASP Women’s Longboard World Tour – Waiting period starts - Côte des Basques
6pm Roxy Team signing session- Boardriders shop La Grande Plage
8pm Tandem demo - La Grande Plage
9pm Cocktail - Casino municipal (by invitation)
11pm Fireworks - La Grande Plage
Midnight ROXY Party - O’BAR
FRIDAY 15th of JULY
Midnight ROXY Party - Bar Jean
SATURDAY 16th of JULY
10am ROXY CHARITY SURF - Côte des Basques
8pm Orange presents PENDENTIF, LILLY WOOD & THE PRICK et THE SOUNDS concert
Plage du Port Vieux
SUNDAY 17th of JULY
End of surf & longboard waiting period.
