VIDEO: France looking good for Quik Pro

Quiksilver Pro France

ASP Men's World Tour Event
Seignosse, Hossegor, Capbreton, Saint Jean De Luz France
28 September - 8 October 2012

Live Coverage | Results/Photos/Videos etc

34 best surfers in the world will take part in the Quiksilver Pro France

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 25 September, 2012 : - - Between the 28th September and the 8th October 2012, France's incredible waves will host the World's Top 34 surfers to compete in the 7th of the 10 events on the ASP World Tour 2012.

A generation separates Kelly Slater aged 40 and Gabriel Medina, 18 years ... The first is 11 times World Champion, a record, the second is the reigning champion of the Quiksilver Pro France. When Kelly Slater won his first World Champion title in 1992, Gabriel Medina was not even born! Slater vs. Medina, is one of the most stand out moments of the Tour. Last year, Gabriel defeated Kelly in France. However his revenge came this year in Fiji, where the King beat the 2011 revelation.

Alongside these two outstanding athletes, all the stars from the ASP elite will be present at the Quiksilver Pro France to contest one of the most famous events of the tour. It is also one of the most crucial in the race for the title of World Champion, being 3 events from the end of the 2012 Tour.

Other surfers to particularly follow in the event are: the Australian Mick Fanning, double World Champion in search of his third title, Aussies Taj Burrow and Joel Parkinson as well as the young talents like John John Florence. And of course, French Jeremy Flores who will be surfing his home breaks.

KELLY SLATER

Born on the 11th February 1972 in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Career wins: 11-times Champion of the World (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011).
50 victories on the ASP World Tour. Both the youngest and the oldest World Surfing Champion in history.

And if the living legend of surfing, Kelly Slater won the Quiksilver Pro this year? Twice a finalist in France, the Floridian has not succeeded yet in winning this event. With his 11 World Champion titles and his 50 Tour victories, King Kelly is not yet done. He could still take home a 12th World Title at the end of 2012... Phenomenal!

GABRIEL MEDINA

Born on the 22nd December 1993 in Maresias, Brazil.
Career Wins: Winner of the Rip Curl Pro Search in San Francisco and of the Quiksilver Pro France in 2011. Second season on the ASP World Tour.

Last year the precocious Brazilian became the youngest ever winner of the Quiksilver Pro France at age 17, one year after winning the final of the 16 years and under King of the Groms comp with a perfect 20/20 score. Stunning for a first year among the elite!

MICK FANNING

Born on the 13th June 1981 in Penrith, Australia.
Career Wins: World Champion in 2007 and 2009.

Mick Fanning, 3-times a winner in the Landes, is on great form this season (two victories at Bells Beach and Tahiti and semi-finalist in Rio and Fiji). The double World Champion is a strong candidate for another victory, his 4th in France. That would make him the surfer with the most Quiksilver Pro France titles.

JEREMY FLORES

Born on the 27th April 1988 in Reunion.
Career Wins: Winner of the Pipemasters in 2010, ISA World Champion 2009, WQS World Champion 2006.

Jeremy Flores from Reunion Island, the leading European on the ASP World Tour, dreams of adding a Quiksilver Pro France victory to his list of career wins.

The youngest surfer in history to qualify for the ASP World Tour, winner of the legendary Pipemasters in 2010, 10th in the world last season despite an injury that caused him to withdraw from the last 3 events of the season... he has all the necessary advantages to win in these waves that he knows by heart in front of his fans. Last year, Jeremy was prevented from continuing in the competition by an ankle injury despite having qualified for round 4. He wants his revenge.

DANE REYNOLDS / WILDCARD

Born on the 7th September 1985 in Long Beach, California.
Career Wins: Qualified for the ASP elite in 2008. Spent 3 years on Tour before an injury in 2011.

The most charismatic, creative and certainly inspirational surfer of his generation. Dane Reynolds is an enigma to whom competition is only of moderate interest and who prefers to express his talents by freesurfing. An authentic surfer whose every turn is analysed. Even as a wildcard, he will be dangerous.

The second wildcard will be allocated to the winner of the Surfdome trials.

TIAGO PIRES

Born on the 13th March 1980 in Alcantara, Portugal.
Career Highlights: 5th consecutive season on the ASP World Tour.

Portuguese surfer Tiago Pires speaks French, knows the Landes like the back of his hand and surfs in France as if he were home in Ericeira. A member of the Quiksilver Team like Kelly Slater and Dane Reynolds, Tiago is one of the only 3 Europeans on the Tour along with Jeremy Flores and Michel Bourez. He is also one of the most experimental surfers and a real star of his sport in Portugal. Tiago is on the hunt for his first win among the elite.

THE SURFDOME TRIALS

The trials of the Quiksilver Pro France start on Thursday 27th September. The stakes are high as the winner joins the main event of the ASP World Tour.

Dede Suryana - Indonesia
Garrett Parkes - Australia
Balaram Stack - USA
Wiggolly Dantas - Brazil
Berrick de Vries- South Africa
Mar Ohno - Japan
Aritz Aranburu – Basque Country
Patrick Beven - France
Marc Lacomare - France
Alain Riou - France
Dimitri Ouvré - France
Leonardo Fioravanti – Italy

Leonardo Fioravanti: At only 15 years old, the young team Quiksilver surfer will be at his first ever WT trials event. Winner of the European Final of the King Of The Groms in 2010, Leonardo Fioravanti possesses all the qualities of a pro: technique, speed and power. By way of the trials, the young surfer hopes above all else to qualify and then surf against his idol Kelly Slater in the main event.

Balaram Stack: Balaram is certainly one of the most talented surfers to come from the East Coast of America. Born in Florida, he grew up at Long Beach, the well proven wave of New York. In 2011, he received a wildcard to participate in the Quiksilver Pro New York.

Marc Lacomare: Wildcard last year, Lacomare must this time surf through the trials if he is to take part in the final rounds of the Quiksilver Pro France. Eliminated in Round 2 in 2011, the DC team rider wants to prove to the public that he can qualify and deserves to surf with the best.

Aritz Aranburu: The Basque surfer Aritz Aranburu will also participate in the Surfdome trials. Former member of the ASP elite, he is a connoisseur of Landaise surf spots and a seasoned pro surfer at the highest level.

THE KIDS

On the sidelines of the Pro event, the Quiksilver Pro France will also welcome the world elite of young surfers under 16 for the world final of the King of the Groms. The stand-out competition for this age category, the event is a right of passage towards a professional career. Taj Burrow, Jeremy Flores and most recently Matt Banting and Gabriel Medina, all made their mark here before progressing onto the world stage.

It will be in front of the best surfers in the world that the 18 groms will compete for the 2012 trophy in the hope of succeeding Yan Daberkow from Brazil, the winner in 2011.
This year, two French surfers, Elliot Ivarra and Nomme Mignot emerged victorious from the European qualification event in Portugal. They hope to win their international crown in front of their home crowd.

The final of the King of the Groms is expected to run from 27th September and will be over by the 8th October at the latest.

STEPHANIE GILMORE

The five-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore will be back in France for the Quiksilver Pro France. After winning her 5th World Title in Biarritz in July, the Australian can enjoy the Landaise waves without pressure and can encourage her friend Kelly Slater. She will present her project Surfers for Africa, a charity of which she is patron. The program includes the renovation of a health centre in the village of d'Anambe in Senegal.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Quiksilver Pro France sights on September perfection
# 2 : VIDEO: Teaser airs for the Quiksilver Pro France
# 3 : Coming Soon
# 4 : Coming Soon

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Source: Quiksilver / ASP Media

Author: Manon Barbay / Dave Prodan / The Editors

Tags: Quiksilver Pro France, Hossegor, King of the Groms, ASP Men's World Tour

Events: Surfersvillage