Lee Winkler checks out the banks at the contest site : photo ASP/Tostee

Quiksilver Pro France 2005
presented by Samsung in association with Evian and Wanadoo

ASP WCT Mens Event # 9
Southwest France
23 September - 2 October 2005

Live Webcast / Scores/Results/Photos/Videos etc

LAY DAY CALLED FOR QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE TOBY MARTIN OUT WITH A NECK INJURY

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, Monday 23 September, 2005. Hossegor, France: Organisers of the Quiksilver Pro France presented by Samsung have opted to call a lay day today due to wave and wind conditions being unsuitable for competition. 

The event is the ninth on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour and is being held at La Graviere, Hossegor and has a competition waiting period until 2 October. Needing only four days in total to complete the event, organisers will wait for optimum conditions before sending surfers out to compete.

Aiding the decision to call the lay day was the weather forecast indicating that conditions will be better suited for competition over the next few days.

“At 10am tomorrow we’re going to make the next call,” said Contest Director Rod Brooks. “Today the swell direction is unsuitable as it is hitting the sand banks straight on which makes the waves close out. And on top of that we are also experiencing south west winds which are slightly onshore. Tomorrow it is predicted that we will see more favourable winds and a slight swell increase so we will hope to kick off round one then.”

    
Damien Hobgood                                                    Rod Brooks

In late breaking news Toby Martin (AUS) has withdrawn from the event due to a serious neck injury. After undergoing surgery in California for what is believed to be a herniated disc, Martin will be out of the water for three months and will most likely miss the remaining events on the tour in Brazil and Hawaii.

The injury is a huge blow for Martin who was returning to form after recently recovering from damage done to both his knee and ankle. He scored a career best result two events ago finishing with an outstanding third placing at the Quiksilver Pro Japan.

Replacing Martin in the draw is Portugal’s Tiago Pires, an exciting regular footer who at present is competing on the ASP’s second tier World Qualifying Series (WQS). Pires placed third in the Quiksilver Trials on Wednesday to win a wildcard. Pires is Portugal’s highest placed surfer and he is on the cusp of qualifying for the main World Championship Tour (WCT) for next year.

As stated organisers will convene at 10am tomorrow morning (Saturday) to assess conditions and will make a decision regarding a start to round one.

It’s going to be a battle royale. Tune into the live webcast of the Quiksilver Pro France, presented by Samsung with Evian, at www.quiksilver.com/france05 and www.aspworldtour.com The broadcast will be in four languages – English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.

Official event website

http://quiksilver.com/profrance

Previous reports:
# 1 : Quiksilver Pro France prepares for world's best surfers
# 2 : Reynolds/Picon receive Quiksilver Pro France wildcards
# 3 : Patrick Beven & Maz Quinn win Quiksilver Pro wildcards 
# 4 : All signs pointing to another epic Quiksilver Pro France

# 5 : Coming soon
# 6 : Coming soon
# 7 : Coming soon
# 8 : Coming soon  
 

Updated & Revised European Surforecasts

More European surfing news available here

Contacts:

Cathy Rourre / Agence Olivia Payerne
payerne@club-internet.fr

Organisation :  Quiksilver Europe
ZI de Jalday - BP 119 64501 Saint-Jean de Luz cedex
Tel : +33 (0) 5 59 51 57 57

Mathieu Darrigrand / Event manager
mathieu.darrigrand@quiksilver-europe.com

Sophie Nicolet / Communication Manager
sophie.nicolet@quiksilver-europe.com

Garry Wall / Marketing Director
garry.wall@quiksilver-europe.com

Simon Wootton / Marketing Quiksilver
simon.woottoon@quiksilver-europe.com

Alex Ekstrand / Webmaster
alex.ekstrand@quiksilver-europe.com

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