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Down the stretch they come... Photo: ASP/Quiksilver

Down the stretch they come… Photo: ASP/Quiksilver


The Inertia

ASP World Championship Tour stops number eight and seven, Quiksilver Pro France and the Roxy Pro France, of the respective Men’s and Women’s 2013 seasons will commence on September 24th. The ladies kick things off at the hard hitting sandbars of Hossegor on the southwest coast of France. Quiksilver is also running a grom competition alongside the mens event pitting qualifying youth from around the world competing for the coveted King of the Groms title. All three events are primed to showcase the talent of the world’s best surfers matched up on some of the most deceptively beautiful beachbreaks on earth.

With five former Quiksilver Pro France champions slated to compete in the 2013 event, along with an equal number of second-tier surfers capable and poised to produce their inaugural win at La Graviere, look for the competition to be even more fierce than usual. Three time event winner Mick Fanning, current world number one, looks to be a heavy favorite to take the win in France.

Reigning event and world champions Kelly Slater and Joel Parkinson will both be looking to get back on the tracks after their uncustomary round three derailments at last week’s Hurley Pro Trestles. Both Kelly and Joel are in world title contention but are carrying multiple poor event outcomes. They cannot afford to count another low result. Conversely, an event win by Kelly could spell doom for Mick’s endeavor at a third World Title.

Gabriel Medina (2011) and Ace Buchan (2008) are also former event champions at the Quiksilver Pro France and are both formidable challengers no matter who they come up against.

After a five year absence from Hossegor, the women’s tour returns after being forced to reschedule from Biarritz in July due to a lack of contestable surf. Five time ASP WCT World Champion Stephanie Gilmore won the last ASP Women’s WCT event held at Hossegor, the 2008 Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle, and has an approach that suits the Basque coast beachbreaks perfectly.

Carissa Moore (current world number one) and Tyler Wright (current world number two) are locked in a tight race for the world title. A win at the 2013 Roxy Pro France would solidify either of the ladies’ world title campaign. Both Courtney Conlogue (current world number three) and Sally Fitzgibbons (current world number four) are strong event title contenders and, although mathematically still in world title contention, both would need a win at the 2013 Roxy Pro France as well as early exits from both Carissa and Tyler to have a realistic shot at the 2013 World Title.

Action for all three events will be broadcast Live and On Demand at the ASP World Tour website starting on September 24th.

 
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