Gabriel Medina (BRA), winner of last year’s Sooruz Lacanau Pro.
CAPBRETON, France (Wednesday, June 27, 2012) - The oldest event on the European calendar and one of the most prestigious surfing competitions in the region, the Sooruz Lacanau Pro is back in 2012 as an ASP 5-Star event from August 14-19. The Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior is also confirmed on the European schedule and will run right before the main event from August 10-13, 2012.
Every year thousands of surf fans and tourists invade the small town of Lacanau and especially ‘La Grande Plage’ where the event runs, to try and get a glimpse at the World’s Best aspiring World Tour surfers on a mission to grab points and prize-money ! 2012 will be no different with a total prize-purse of $130,000 and important ranking points on offer. Iain Buchanan, ASP Europe’s Head Judge and a past competitor in Lacanau has seen the evolution of the Tour throughout the years and offers his take on this exceptional event.
“It’s great news that the Lacanau Pro, one of the longest running events in Europe, is back on again, in 2012″ stated Buchanan. “Although it’s downgraded to a 5-Star, it’s a very important event, with a strong history, dating back to 1979, with pretty much all the past ASP World Champions, having a Lacanau Pro trophy on their wall. It’s a good opportunity for European surfers to gain valuable seeding points, leading into the next events of the ASP Europe summer leg.”
Ideally placed on the Atlantic coast of France, Lacanau often sees its share of perfect conditions and despite the waiting period sitting in the middle of European summer, the event always delivers when the surfers come to Lacanau. With the summer leg of events starting a week earlier in Newquay and continuing after Lacanau with a pan-European caravan stopping in Spain, the Azores and the Canary Islands, there is no doubt that once again Lacanau will host some major surfing talents like in the previous editions.
“The past couple of years experienced some classic conditions, and were a stepping stone of launching the careers of Gabriel Medina and Jon Jon Florence, into the big leagues.” Buchanan said. “Always a crazy week, with big, enthusiastic crowds, enjoying the action on the beach and after hours, and the Lacanau Surf Club team, always put in a huge effort.”
Every year, the Sooruz Lacanau Pro and Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior are also completed by an array of after-surf entertainment activities, concerts and exhibitions on the beach and nearby. Registrations for surfers have just opened online and we invite everyone, surfers and fans to prepare for an amazing edition of the Lacanau Pro !
The ASP 5-Star Sooruz Lacanau Pro will run from August 14-19 in Lacanau, France; preceded by the ASP 1-Star Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior from August 10-13. The To find out more, please visit www.aspeurope.com.
