2015 Quiksilver Pro France
Tube pig and last years Quik Pro France winner John John Florence, styles his way though a French drainer. Photo: WSL/Damien Poullenot
Bonjour Madames and Missures! Ca va?? (How’s it going!?) Welcome to stop number 9 of the Samsung Galaxy World Surf League Championship Tour.
Wow! Things are really heating up in the world title race as we head to Hossegor on the South West coastline of France to kick off the European leg of the tour. Hossegor is known for its throaty beach break barrels and powerful conditions; this combined with the amazing French culture makes for some must see surfing!
Firstly lets do the usual re-cap of the previous event, the Hurley Pro at Lowers. All politics aside (Freddy P’s retirement, Kelly’s uncanny incomplete air and Sebastian Zeitz’s interference on Michel Bourez ) we saw Mick Fanning take the win and Jeep gold leaders jersy. Mick layed down his trademark rail to rail surfing to take care of Adriano De Souza in the final. This puts MF and Adriano at number one and two in the world rankings. Filipe Toledo was favourite to take the W, but came up short against Adriano in the semi final. Julian Wilson who now sits at number 5 in the world, wasn’t so lucky. With his world title campaign on thin ice after bowing out of a lack luster round 3 match up against Miguel Pupo, who had a realitvy good result overall. All top five surfers are still mathematically in the title race at this stage.
Towards the back end of the table. The likes of your Dusty Payne’s, Riccardio Christie’s, Brett Simpson’s and even your Jordy Smith’s are all fighting a different battle of re-qualifiying for 2016. All these guys will be scratching for a decent result to cement their place for a run next year. Watch these surfers very closely.
While 2015 has seen quite a few injures, here’s a few in’s, out’s and wildcards. Matt Banting will most likely not be seen in France due to an ongoing knee injury, although this is not confirmed. Alejo Muniz will replace Taj Burrow, who’s about to have a baby, and Tomas Hermes will take Freddy Pattacchia’s spot due to his retirement. Jordy Smith is set to make his return to the elite level and everyone’s favourite Dane Reynolds will be one of the Wildcards. The second wildcard will be decided in the final of the Allianz Billabong Pro which is a WQS 10000 event.
As I mentioned earlier the beach breaks of France can be super intimidating if it’s at decent size. On the other side of the coin however, if France does not deliver, we could have a Brazil beach break type contest. Either way we should be in for a treat with world title campaigns and re-qualifications on the line.
This event could possibly be the dagger in the world title heart for Mick or Adriano if they get a win here. Or maybe not? Time will tell.
Be sure to check into worldsurfleague.com from the 6th of October to catch all the live action. Dawn Patrol will kick off around 3pm AEST.
Au revoir and see you at the beach!
Official 2015 Quiksilver Pro Teaser
(Due to WSL having the official teaser on lock, I’m unable to share the video here, once it becomes unlocked ill post it, for now you can view it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSzO9GD2WtA&list=PLQ3-3sUOFLfH9Jzo5-liqd_muXMHbvab6&index=1)
Official Surfline Forecast
Brief Overview
A minor mix of W and WNW swells is expected during the opening days of the contest waiting period. A more favorable storm track over the North Atlantic sets up the potential for more surf towards the 8th/9th and into the following weekend.
Mens Round 1 Match Up’s
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA), Jadson Andre (BRA), Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 2: Julian Wilson (AUS), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS), Sebastian Zeitz (HAW), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Adam Melling (AUS), Tomas Hermes (BRA)
Heat 5: Adriano De Souza (BRA), Keanu Asing (HAW), TBD
Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS), Michel Bourez (PYF), TBD
Heat 7: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Matt Wilksinson (AUS), Riccardo Chrsitie (NZL)
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA), John John Florence (HAW), Glenn Hall (IRL)
Heat 9: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Matt Banting (AUS)
Heat 10: Nat Young (USA), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Kolohe Andino (USA)
Heat 11: Josh Kerr (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), C.J Hobgood (USA)
Heat 12: Wiggolly Dantes (BRA), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Jordy Smith (AUS)
GoPro Break Breakdown: Flores Tour de France
Its on!!!
Great conditions for round 1. Just watched the highlights. 
Local madman, Jeremy Flores find a thick drainer in round 2. Photo: WSL/Poullenot
The first two days of competition have been firing. The beachies around Hossegor have been presenting some big caverns for the worlds best to get slotted in.
Round 1 of the mens saw Julian Wilson, John John Florence, Mick Fanning and Adriano De Souza take the reins by winning their match hp’s. Julian posted the highest heat score total for round 1 with a solid 18.80 out of a possible 20. All these guys are well on track for their world title campaign.
Wilson Scores Big, Flies High
Fannings Near Perfect Score
Day 2 saw trickier conditions, but a few gems in the rough were still found. Unfortuantely for Filipe Toledo, he was taken down by local wildcard Maxime Huscenot and is now out of the event. Kelly Slater and Owen Wright owned their heats and advanced to round 3.
Slaters Round 2 Revival
Sadly for Alejo Muniz, he was injured during his round one clash suffering a knee injury and will not be returning to competition.
Check out the highlights for all the action from Round 1 & 2
Heavy Surf in Hossegor: Quik Pro Begins
Heart-Pounding Moments in Hossegor
Round two results:
Heat 1: M. Huscenot 6.10, F. Toledo 5.90
Heat 2: O. Wright 14.57, C. Ibelli 12.07
Heat 3: K. Slater 17.37, A. Aranburu 1.93
Heat 4: J. Flores 10.56 D. Payne 1.33
Heat 5: I. Ferreira —, A. Muniz Injured
Heat 6: N. Young 12.66, R. Christie 12.27
Heat 7: J. Kerr 9.67, G. Hall 7.16
Heat 8: M. Bourez 7.67, W. Dantas 6.40
Heat9: K. Asing 11.17, J. Parkinson 2.86
Heat 10: K. Otton 12.00, A. Melling 7.17
Heat 11: M. Wilkinson 10.17, S. Zietz 8.16
Heat 12: J. Andre 9.20, M. Pupo 9.20
Round three match-ups:
Heat 1: J. Wilson, B. Simpson
Heat 2: N. Young, J. Andre
Heat 3: K. Slater, K. Andino
Heat 4: I. Ferreira, K. Asing
Heat 5: B. Durbidge, A. Buchan
Heat 6: M. Fanning, M. Huscenot
Heat 7: A. de Souza, T. Hermes
Heat 8: K. Otton, J. Florence
Heat 9: J. Flores, M. Bourez
Heat 10: G. Medina, C. Hobgood
Heat 11: J. Kerr, M. Wilkinson
Heat 12: O. Wright, D. Reynolds
White Lightening going to town on a super fun right hander in Hossegor. Photo: WSL/Poullenot
I’m not going to ramble on to much about whats what been going on in the Quik Pro France. I will say it has been mind blowing with dreamy conditions.
Check out the highlights and oh yeah Gabriel Medina’s 10 point corked out, sky high punt.
Highlights:Mens Round 4
Highlights: Mens Round 5
Medina’s Perfect Air
Stay tuned for finals day!
Tyler Wright and Gabriel Medina 2015 Quik and Roxy Pro Champs. Photo: WSL/Kirstin Scholtz
What a massive finals day! Congrats to Gabriel Medina and Tyler Wright, your 2015 Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Champions. Big pros to runner ups Bede Durbidge and Tatiana Weston-Webb.
Final Day Highlights
Mens Final Recap
Medinas Perfection
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE FINAL RESULTS:
1- Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.50
2- Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.44
ROXY PRO FRANCE FINAL RESULTS:
1- Tyler Wright (AUS) 17.10
2- Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 10.93
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.73 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 10.84
SF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.67 def. Adriano De Souza (BRA) 12.50
ROXY PRO FRANCE SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 6.87 def. Sage Erickson (USA) 4.43
SF 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 11.27 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 3.83
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.00 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 9.00
QF 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.10 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.57
QF 3: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 15.37 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 13.83
QF 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.43 def. John John Florence (HAW) 13.10
WSL Men’s Top 10 (after Quiksilver Pro France):
1. Mick Fanning (AUS) 49,900 pts
2. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 49,450 pts
3. Owen Wright (AUS) 43,600 pts
4. Julian Wilson (AUS) 41,450 pts
5. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 40,650 pts
6. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 40,200 pts
7. Kelly Slater (USA) 34,150 pts
8. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 34,100 pts
9. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 33,000 pts
10. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 31,200 pts
WSL Women’s Top 5 (after Roxy Pro France):
1. Carissa Moore (HAW) 59,500 pts
2. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 58,600 pts
3. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 51,200 pts
4. Lakey Peterson (USA) 47,000 pts
5. Tyler Wright (AUS) 45,200 pts