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(February 1, 2001) Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) A World Championship Tour (WCT) event in France has been added to the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 2001 tour, making the European leg the strongest ever with the addition of the Quiksilver Pro France. Together with the Billabong Pro at Mundaka (Spn) and the Figueira Pro in Portugal, Europe will now host three WCT events in 2001. The WCT European Tour events are as follows: For more than 10-years France has been the strongest leg of the WCT Tour with WCT events at Lacanau, Hossegor, Anglet and Biarritz. The ASP felt it was time that the WCT event schedule evolved to a stage where wave quality was first priority, and with Mundaka as a prime location supported by Portugal and France, the European leg of the WCT remains the strongest globally. With the re-scheduling of all WCT events to a better wave period, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) will now become the strongest WQS leg in 2001 during the month of August and September. 4, 5 and 6 Star WQS events European Tour events are as follows: * THE RIP CURL PRO Newquay, UK: August 1st - 5th. The strength of the WQS leg in Europe will allow some of Europe's own 'home grown' surfing talent to compete with the most gifted young surfers in the world today. "Europe has cut itself the largest part of the cake at the international level of surfing, serving to confirm the excellent health of the industry. This will ensure the public will have before them during the WQS tour the rising stars of the surfing world plus some of the biggest names from the WCT tour. There will also be the large presence of European surfers who will have the chance to perform in front of their own public. It will be a summer of great surfing in front of a large public; you couldn't ask for anything more," said Francois Payot, PDG of Rip Curl Europe and President of ASP Europe. The WCT leg of the tour is now being held from mid September through to the end of October which is historically when Europe produces its best waves. "Derek O'Neill from Billabong, Francois Payot from Rip Curl and ASP, as well as myself worked on finding suitable dates and venues for the Quiksilver event, and together we were able to adjust schedules and dates to ensure there is a WCT event in France," said Harry Hodge, CEO of Quiksilver Europe and President of Eurosima. Derek O'Neill, President of Billabong Europe said: "In the past the European leg of the WCT has been slightly out of what we call the 'wave window' and over the past two years Billabong has tried to lead the way by holding our events further into this period when waves are at a premium. Holding our event during the October period gives us the best possible chance of getting the classic lefthanders that Mundaka can produce." Quiksilver will be meeting with the various Mayors and Towns along the Basque and The Landes coast to confirm the final locations for the WCT event in France. "It is important that we showcase the very best surf that France has to offer with a principal location site with no less than two mobile sites that all complement each other," said Hodge. The key sponsors and ASP believe the evolution of the European tour is an indication of the strength of the surf industry in Europe. For Further information contact: RIP CURL Europe: 33-558-417-800. BILLLABONG Europe: 33-558-434-205. QUIKSILVER Europe: 33-559-515-732. ASP EUROPE: 33-558-723-996. Forwarded by: |
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