It's that time of year again, the time for your favorite pros to pack up their things and head to Europe for a couple of months on the road. Sure there'll be Insta stories of Cornish pasties, croissants, tortillas and pasteis de nata, but more importantly, there's a six-event stretch and a whopping 30,000 QS points on the line. Here's a little background about each of those events:
Stop No. 1: Boardmasters, GBR
Boardmasters is one of the leading music festivals in the U.K. But it also hosts both the final Longboard QS (UGG Men and Women's Longboard Pro) event in Europe, and a QS1,000 (the Quiksilver and Roxy Open) from August 8 - 12 at Fistral beach, Cornwall.
Boardmasters, best pictured here with local hero Ben Skinner on a cool little wave. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Stop No. 2: Lacanau, FRA
One of the oldest events on the continent, the Caraïbos Lacanau Pro has seen it all. From the classic days of the CT and every single legend of the sport that surfed there, to the junior series and major QS points in recent years. New event promoters came in last year to give this event a fresh new feel with the ambition of growing it back to its glory days. This men and women's QS1,500 runs from August 14 - 19.
Joan Duru putting on a show in Lacanau back in 2016. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Stop No. 3: Anglet, FRA
The Pro Anglet pres. by Oakley is a relative newbie on the European series but already a classic with three epic editions in the bag. The QS1,500 has already crowned prestigious winners: Pauline Ado, Claire Bevilacqua and Coco Ho in the women, Bino Lopes, current World No. 6 Wade Carmichael and Ramzi Boukhiam in the men's. The QS will unfold from August 21 - 26.
Plus there's the epic Surf de Nuit night surf event August 19 that will see six brands fight it out with three ambassadors each (two men, one woman), at night, on LED-lit boards and with massive helium-filled balloons lighting up the lineup. This event will stream live on the WSL but if you're in the area, make sure you come check out the bands and DJs playing before and after the contest.
Highlight reel from the past three editions of the Pro Anglet and specialty event Surf de Nuit.
Stop No. 4: Pantin, ESP
The Pantin Classic Galicia Pro is another long-standing event with a 30-year history. It will be a QS3,000 for the men this year and QS6,000 for the women, from August 27 - September 2. But the action will start even earlier as the Pantin Junior Pro by Gadis will be the European juniors' final stop the previous weekend from August 24-26.
2017 was a breakout year for Michael Rodrigues, pictured here sending it in Pantin. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Stop No. 5: Casablanca, MAR
The men and women's QS1,500 Pro Casablanca is also in its fourth year of existence and allowed a lot of surfers to discover North Morocco and the vibrant city of Casablanca. Held from September 4-9, this event will be particularly important for European surfers as the last counting in the region's QS title race.
The Pro Casablanca is a celebration for everyone involved each year. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Break + Azores
Surfers will enjoy a two-week break post-Morocco and before the culmination of their European grind, but it doesn't mean there won't be any surfing going on.
The Azores Airlines World Masters Championship will crown the 2018 Masters and Grand Masters World Champions in Sao Miguel where the QS was usually staged. There's also a world-first as the women will now also have a Masters event, headlined by seven-time World Champion Layne Beachley from September 18-23.
The Masters World Titles are back on the line this summer in Azores.
Stop No. 6: Ericeira, PRT
This is the continuation of the former QS10,000 in Cascais, that has now moved to the world-famous Ribeira D'Ilhas righthand point break in Ericeira. Picture this: the finest surfers in the world, taking on epic rights peeling down the Bells-like point, you do not want to miss this one! Check out the EDP Billabong Pro Ericeira LIVE from September 24-30.
That's how good this break gets. - WSL / Damien Poullenot/ Aquashot
French & Portugal CTs
Of course the European season wouldn't be complete without the two Championship Tour stops to wrap up the WSL footprint on the continent. The Quiksilver and Roxy Pro France will unfold first, from October 3-14, and the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal from October 16-27.
The Quiksilver Pro France was graced with incredible conditions last year and crowds were huge to watch the event. - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Qualifying Series Approaches European Summer Leg
Nicolas Leroy
It's that time of year again, the time for your favorite pros to pack up their things and head to Europe for a couple of months on the road. Sure there'll be Insta stories of Cornish pasties, croissants, tortillas and pasteis de nata, but more importantly, there's a six-event stretch and a whopping 30,000 QS points on the line. Here's a little background about each of those events:
Stop No. 1: Boardmasters, GBR
Boardmasters is one of the leading music festivals in the U.K. But it also hosts both the final Longboard QS (UGG Men and Women's Longboard Pro) event in Europe, and a QS1,000 (the Quiksilver and Roxy Open) from August 8 - 12 at Fistral beach, Cornwall.
Stop No. 2: Lacanau, FRA
One of the oldest events on the continent, the Caraïbos Lacanau Pro has seen it all. From the classic days of the CT and every single legend of the sport that surfed there, to the junior series and major QS points in recent years. New event promoters came in last year to give this event a fresh new feel with the ambition of growing it back to its glory days. This men and women's QS1,500 runs from August 14 - 19.
Stop No. 3: Anglet, FRA
The Pro Anglet pres. by Oakley is a relative newbie on the European series but already a classic with three epic editions in the bag. The QS1,500 has already crowned prestigious winners: Pauline Ado, Claire Bevilacqua and Coco Ho in the women, Bino Lopes, current World No. 6 Wade Carmichael and Ramzi Boukhiam in the men's. The QS will unfold from August 21 - 26.
Plus there's the epic Surf de Nuit night surf event August 19 that will see six brands fight it out with three ambassadors each (two men, one woman), at night, on LED-lit boards and with massive helium-filled balloons lighting up the lineup. This event will stream live on the WSL but if you're in the area, make sure you come check out the bands and DJs playing before and after the contest.
Stop No. 4: Pantin, ESP
The Pantin Classic Galicia Pro is another long-standing event with a 30-year history. It will be a QS3,000 for the men this year and QS6,000 for the women, from August 27 - September 2. But the action will start even earlier as the Pantin Junior Pro by Gadis will be the European juniors' final stop the previous weekend from August 24-26.
Stop No. 5: Casablanca, MAR
The men and women's QS1,500 Pro Casablanca is also in its fourth year of existence and allowed a lot of surfers to discover North Morocco and the vibrant city of Casablanca. Held from September 4-9, this event will be particularly important for European surfers as the last counting in the region's QS title race.
Break + Azores
Surfers will enjoy a two-week break post-Morocco and before the culmination of their European grind, but it doesn't mean there won't be any surfing going on.
The Azores Airlines World Masters Championship will crown the 2018 Masters and Grand Masters World Champions in Sao Miguel where the QS was usually staged. There's also a world-first as the women will now also have a Masters event, headlined by seven-time World Champion Layne Beachley from September 18-23.
Stop No. 6: Ericeira, PRT
This is the continuation of the former QS10,000 in Cascais, that has now moved to the world-famous Ribeira D'Ilhas righthand point break in Ericeira. Picture this: the finest surfers in the world, taking on epic rights peeling down the Bells-like point, you do not want to miss this one! Check out the EDP Billabong Pro Ericeira LIVE from September 24-30.
French & Portugal CTs
Of course the European season wouldn't be complete without the two Championship Tour stops to wrap up the WSL footprint on the continent. The Quiksilver and Roxy Pro France will unfold first, from October 3-14, and the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal from October 16-27.
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