Rip Curl Pro Anglet

Aug 19, 2021

The 2021 QS1,000 Rip Curl Pro Anglet is just around the corner and with it the start of the 2021/22 European Qualifying Series (QS) season. The event is scheduled from August 24-29 in the beautiful town of Anglet in the French Basque Country.
It’s the sixth edition of what has become a surfer and fan-favorite event thanks to the quality of the venue, waves and the general laid back vibe of Anglet. Each year the best surfers from all over Europe set up camp on any of the numerous Nouvelle-Aquitaine coastline spots in search for the perfect training ground. By the end of August, they descend on the Chambre d’Amour beachbreak where they’re met with fun summer conditions.
The competition is fierce and this year will be no different. The very best of European surfing will be there fighting for the event win and a solid start in their qualifying campaign for the 2022 Challenger Series.

Reigning European Champions Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) and Leticia Canales Bilbao (ESP) will headline the rosters alongside former Championship Tour athletes Joan Duru (FRA) and Aritz Aranburu (ESP). An army of perennial QS standouts and the best young up-and-comers will complete the 120 Men and 56 Women fields next week.
It’s also the first event back in Europe after the Tokyo Olympic Games, and the public can look forward to watching Olympians Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), Leon Glatzer (DEU), Anat Lelior (ISR), Yolanda Hopkins (PRT), Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) and Pauline Ado (FRA) compete in Anglet.

Rising young talent Kai Odriozola (ESP) and Sophia Medina (BRA), the sister of two-time World Champion Gabriel Medina, have been awarded wildcards into the event.

Iker Amatriain (ESP) on an Anglet gem Photo: © WSL / Poullenot

15 year-old Odriozola is the oldest of two Basque brothers who burst onto the junior scene this year, and he’s already making waves, currently sitting in second position on the regional Under-18 rankings.

At 16, Sophia Medina is also only starting to show up at events but already collecting accolades for her progressive surfing. Although points from this event won’t count towards her regional qualifying campaign, Medina will rack up experience against an unfamiliar field at a new location.

Season-Long Race for Challenger Series Qualification Starts in France
The 2021/22 European Qualifying Series started in July and will wrap up on April 10, 2022 before the brand new, full Challenger Series (CS) schedule gets underway. The Top 9 Men and 7 Women on the European rankings plus a wildcard in each field will get a seat at the CS table and a shot at qualifying for the ultimate battleground, the Championship Tour.

Between now and then, surfers will compete at various locations across the continent and beyond with events returning to the Azores, France, Portugal, Spain and more. All the events, dates are subject to change due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions in various countries.

For the first time, the final two days of competition at the Rip Curl Pro Anglet will be webcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL’s YouTube channel, and the WSL Qualifying Series Facebook page with English commentary. Event broadcast partner MCS Extrême will feature the event LIVE with French commentary for the final two days as well.