News

Surf

2009-04-21
15:01

Surf

 

The world's elite are due in Biarritz for aSp women's world longboard Championships.


A total of 32 professional women surfers, all noseriding virtuosos from the four corners of the planet, will come to the Basque Coast to compete for the title of ASP Women's World Longboard Champion 2009.
With Schuyler McFerran taking the trophy in 2006, followed by her compatriot Jennifer Smith in 2007 and the surprise victory of Hawaii's Joy Monahan last year, the event has been dominated by the United States... despite increasingly tough competition from Australia, Europe and Asia. Will 2009 be the year surfi ng's other great nations strike back? The consistent progress of surfers from France (Justine Dupont, Coline Ménard, Claire Karabatsos), Spain (Estitxu Estremo), and the UK (Candice O'Donnell) means Europe has a real chance of bringing the title back home to Europe. The Australian contingent, led by Chelsea Williams (2nd place in 2008) will be formidable opponents. Yet the biggest challengers for Joy Monahan's title will most likely be her fellow Americans: Jen Smith harbours dreams of winning the championship back, whilst Kassia Meador and Leah Dawson will be fighting hard for a maiden victory, as will the Hawaiians Kelia Moniz and Crystal Dzigas.

 

The Roxy Jam Biarritz has a new, more compact and competitive format. With a contingent of 32 girls instead of 48 last year, the line-up for Biarritz will represent the cream of women's world longboarding. The Top 16 girls from the 208 Worlds will be seeded. The remaining 16 competitors will be selected in regions where no ASP Tour events are held this year. Like the ASP World Tour for the shortboard, the Roxy Jam Biarritz 2009 will not include a repechage round. If they are defeated in the fi rst round, the competitors will be directly eliminated. In other words, the competition will be merciless and the competitors will be forced to produce their best surfing from start to finish, or risk being knocked out early on. There's no safety net.

 

Top 16 Seeds at the roxy Jam Biarritz 2009


Joy MONAHAN (HAW)
Chelsea WILLIAMS (AUS)
Leah DAWSON (USA)
Jennifer SMITH (USA)
Kassia MEADOR (USA)
Julie COX (USA)
Justine DUPONT (FRA)
Rachel BARRY (USA)
Claire KARABATSOS (FRA)
Miku UEMURA (HAW)
Claire DEREUX (FRA)
Kelly NICELY (USA)
Schuyler McFERRAN (USA)
Yuko SHIMAJIRI (JAP)
Jennifer FLANNIGAN (USA)
Isabelle BRALY (AUS)

 

Roxy