A preview of what’s to come? Photo: Mickael Plisson
The early autumn waiting period for the 2014 Quiksilver Pro France, stop number nine of the 11 event 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP Men’s World Championship Tour begins on September 25 and runs thru October 6.
Mick Fanning, defending event champion, as well as four-time Quik Pro France winner, looks in form to give the rest of the world’s finest a run for their money. Fresh off a quarterfinal result at the Hurley Pro Trestles, an event that saw Mick go down to eventual champ Jordy Smith, he will look to get on his horse in Southwest France and continue to climb up the ‘CT ratings. His extra incentive comes in defending his 2013 ASP WCT title.
Kelly Slater is slowly gaining ground on Gabriel Medina’s blistering 2014 ASP WCT title pace, making both Gabriel’s and Kelly’s heats at the 2014 Quiksilver Pro France highly dramatic, must-view surfing. Gabriel still maintains a daunting 6,700 point lead over Kelly with only three events remaining.
A strong argument could be made for current World #8 John John Florence, being the most in-form surfer at each of the two preceding events. With a track record of excellent results at the Quiksilver Pro France (semifinal finish in 2012 and a quarterfinal finish in 2013), JJF seems primed for success this time around too. The barrels of Hossegor also serve up long, rippable walls allowing for high-performance surfing which suits John John’s radical approach perfectly. Look for him to slay some giants.
Surf forecasts point toward an abundant run of contestable mid-sized surf during the waiting period with the possibility of a larger swell towards the end of the event’s second week. Favorable winds are also being forecast with mostly light offshore winds anticipated in the early mornings and late afternoons and moderate onshore conditions are expected mid-days.
ASP Commissioner Kieren Perrow will have to factor in these conditions along with Southwest France’s massive tidal swings to determine the best windows to run heats. Fortunately, morning lower tides look favorable for making the most of the combination of projected swell height and offshore winds.
Catch all the on demand action of the 2014 Quiksilver Pro France on aspworldtour.com and tune in here, to The Inertia, for the webcast.
