| TIME DIFFERENCE: GMT + 1
COORDINATES: 43º17’ N, 2º7’ W
BAGGAGE CLAIM: TBD
TRANSPORTATION: If you’re following the tour, you’ll more than likely just drive down from the event in France. However, if you wanted to fly in, ...
ATTITUDE: 2005 saw the famed lefthander up and vanish due to the dredging of the adjacent reservoir, but last season saw the wave turn back on and play host to Mr. Robert Kelly Slater clinching his unprecedented eighth ASP World Title. Both the country and the wave boast a phenomenally rich history.
THE WAVE: Goofies unite and sing praise for this reeling sandbar left. Hollow, long, rippable – this wave is heaven for those guided by the wisdom of their right foot. Fun at two feet, holds at 15, Mundaka is a fantastic place for competitors to flash their high-performance fangs.
PERKS: Mundaka’s sandy bottom is conducive to playful surfing. Win the event, and the locals chuck you into the harbour…
PERILS: Monstrous, sandy barrels that want to eat you, your board and your wettie. A crazy rip that, if you don’t have a jet-ski assist, may have you paddling for dear life.
APRES SURF: Spain is host to several hundred world-class tapas bars. Sample the local wine, grab some appetizers, and enjoy the beautiful Basque countryside.
ASP WORLD TOUR HISTORY: The inaugural Billabong Pro Mundaka was won by Australian legend Mark Occhilupo in 1999. Since then, the venue has served a critical role in deciding the ASP Men’s World Tour championship.
NOTABLE: The Billabong Pro Mundaka was cancelled in 2005 due to the absence of a workable sandbar at Mundaka. The dredging of the harbour has damaged the Urdaibai reserve and destroyed the sandbar thus voided the harbour of its normally world-class surf. Fortunately, local efforts have seen the sandbar partially restored to its world class form allowing the 2006 Billabong Pro Mundaka to run as planned.
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Billabong Pro Mundaka 2009
