Quiksilver Pro France competition returned to the thumping barrels of La Graviere today and saw the world’s best surfers tear in to pulsing six foot (2 metre) swell to decide the event’s Semifinalists. Stop No. 7 of 10 on the ASP WCT, the Quiksilver Pro France saw several upsets unfold throughout the early rounds of competition, but the remaining ASP World Title contenders regained momentum over the course of a marathon day of competition which spanned from Round 3 through the Quarterfinals.
Kelly Slater (USA) 40, current ASP WCT No. 3Â Â …Â More
It was another day of high scores and close heats as the Quiksilver Pro France marched through the quarterfinals, setting up a dramatic final day to come.
World No. 4 John John Florence weaved his way into the semifinals, along with No. 2 Joel Parkinson and No. 3 Kelly Slater, making the world title picture a bit tighter. The semi-final matchups are nothing short of magical: John John versus a possessed Dane Reynolds in Heat 1, and Kelly taking on Joel in Heat 2Â Â …Â More
An emerging surf industry without any surfers
Off the coast of the South China Sea, on the island of Hainan, stands a 1,600-square-foot “surf facility†in an area the Chinese Government hopes will soon become a major surfing destination. The island, complete with its tropical climate, swooping beaches, and surprisingly hospitable lineups, has plenty of potential for fulfilling the government’s grandiose dreams of creating a “Chinese Waikiki.†There’s only one problem: currently there is no real surf scene in China. There are more than 1.3 billion people living in the country and only a few dozen of them call themselves surfers. But if the hopes of the Chinese government and a few major players in the surf industry come to fruition, all of that could potentially change.
In October of 2011, under the banner of the Swatch Girls Pro in Hainan, the ASP took a historical step for   … More
Dane Reynolds (USA), 27, former ASP WCT competitor and wildcard into the Quiksilver Pro France, caused the upset of the event this afternoon, eliminating current ASP WCT No. 1 Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, in Round 3 of competition.
Dane Reynolds scores a perfect 10 point ride in round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro France 2012.