Monday, April 20, 2015
First edition of the MARTINIQUE SURF PRO:
it all begins tomorrow
The excitement is building and everything is on track on the island of Martinique for this new event, the only Caribbean leg of the World Surf League Qualification Series (QS) in 2015. The opening evening on Saturday launched the MARTINIQUE SURF PRO in fitting style. The event itself begins tomorrow, Tuesday 21st April, with the first series taking place. Meanwhile, the surfers are sharpening their fins and getting into the swing of things at this fantastic location in Basse-Pointe in the north east of the island. Everyone is ready to compete in this event, which promises to be an exciting one. The good news is that the swell forecasts are good and the 112 international class surfers will be able to put on a great show until 26th April.
Even before the MARTINIQUE SURF PRO has begun, the level moved up a notch at this spot in Basse-Pointe. Last weekend, no fewer than forty surfers registered for this World Surf League Qualification Series (QS) event were out there training on these long right-handers (wave breaking towards the right when being surfed). It was an impressive sight and it will be even greater when the 112 surfers from around the world enter competitive mode in this QS 3000 event, which will allow the winner to get 3000 points in the qualifying circuit. A significant number of points, which could make all the difference at the end of the season, when they could obtain a place in the QS Top 10 and join the World Championship Tour (WCT), the top division of world surfing, which brings together the leading 34 surfers. For this very first MARTINIQUE SURF PRO, the conditions are looking just right and should allow the surfers to express themselves fully out on the water, which is a good thing for them, but also for the many spectators that are expected to attend.
A successful opening evening
Proving how attractive this event is, the opening night of the MARTINIQUE SURF PRO was certainly very successful on Saturday. Almost 1000 people present at the Domaine Saint Aubin, a charming hotel located in La Trinité, were able to enjoy a concert by Erik Pédurand, a famous artist from Guadeloupe, as well as two performances by local DJs, DJ Antoine Fletcher and DJ Dream. This special evening lived up to expectations and was the perfect opening for this event. All the artists, spectators, partners, journalists, officials and surfers attending went away completely won over.
The first series begins tomorrow (Tuesday)
It all begins tomorrow for some of the competitors at the MARTINIQUE SURF PRO. In this competition format with 112 competitors, the first round brings together the 32 surfers the least well placed in the Qualification Series before the Martinique event began. But let there be no mistake, these 32 competitors are still excellent riders. They will be divided up into eight pools of four. In each series, the four surfers will do battle against each other in a pre-defined time. The two surfers with the best scores will qualify for the second round, which brings together 64 competitors. To remind you, the top 28 surfers in the QS will then enter the competition in the third round, alongside four benefiting from Wild Cards, awarded by the organisers and the World Surf League (WSL). With a fine mix of confirmed surfers and promising youngsters, the line-up for the MARTINIQUE SURF PRO promises a spectacular show out on the water.
Back on dry land, the competition village and the commercial village are also ready and waiting. A large number of special events are planned during the day, but also during the evenings following on from the competition. A very high standard out on the water and a festive atmosphere ashore. We are certainly not likely to get bored during this event, which is not only a major sporting competition, but also an important cultural and musical event.
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