CAPBRETON, France — The Association of Surfing Professionals 6-Star Swatch Girls Pro France and 2-Star Swatch Girls Pro France Junior beings its opening day competition and conditions look very promising for this week’s competitions in Seignosse, France. Julie Audibert, organizer
CAPBRETON, France — The Association of Surfing Professionals 6-Star Swatch Girls Pro France and 2-Star Swatch Girls Pro France Junior beings its opening day competition and conditions look very promising for this week’s competitions in Seignosse, France. Julie Audibert, organizer of the event, confirms the forecast outlook so far.
“We’re looking at a great weather for the whole week except for Sunday, so we hope it stays like this”, said Audibert. “The swell will peak on Saturday so fingers crossed we can have a great final day on Saturday. This obviously is only the outlook and we’re watching the forecast very closely to have the girls surf the best waves this week.”
Every year the organizers and the main sponsor Swatch, do everything they can to offer competitors one of the best event and venue there is in the world. Once again, they have been hard at work for more than a week already and had to face extreme conditions on the southwest coast of France.
“Last Monday we already started building the site, and we suffered a 100km/h winds storm and 10-foot waves, and unfortunately the ocean climbed up and flooded the structure, that was our first test,” said Audibert.
“We then built another dune in front of the site to protect it, and then Friday night there was a mini-tornado that ripped off some of the tents. It was quite a setback but at least now we’re prepared for anything .”
As part of the ASP World Tour and a qualifying event for the Elite level of competition, the 6-Star rated Swatch Girls Pro France attracts the best of what Women’s surfing has to offer worldwide and will once again host many of the Top 17 girls against the young up-and-comers who try to get their spot on the coveted ASP Women’s World Championship Tour for 2013.
“In those waves, many of the girls are legitimate contenders for a win here, so I’d say may the best surfer win,” said Audibert.
“We have the full Swatch Team here that we’ll watch closely, Courtney Conlogue (USA), Coco Ho (HAW) and Pauline Ado (FRA), and we also have the pleasure to welcome Kassia Meador (USA) who’s longboarder and will host the webcast and do some beach interviews during the week.”
The perfect weather and summer temperatures will undoubtedly attract the local and regional crowds to the beautiful beach of Seignosse Les Bourdaines where the event is held, and a full programme of after-surf entertainment is on-offer with something for everyone.
“We have a great after-surf line-up for the public. We’ll start on Friday with a night surf at the Prévent beach (Capbreton), then two concerts Saturday night at the Bodegon with ‘The Tatianas’ and ‘Please call me Madame,’” said Audibert.
“Finally on Sunday we’ll have the closing-party somewhere secret at the moment; there will be an iPod battle and we offer free tickets to the first 100 people who go ask at the Swatch store in Hossegor. It will be a fantastic opportunity for them to party with all the girls and maybe win some of the goodies we’ll throw in.”
The 2012 Swatch Girls Pro France and Pro Junior will run from today through Sunday in Hossegor / Seignosse, France.
All results, photos, videos, news and LIVE webcast will be available through www.swatchgirlspro.com.
