Marlon Lipke Wins ASP 3-Star Protest Vendee Pro !

La Sauzaie, Brétignolles-sur-Mer - FRANCE (Saturday, April 21, 2012) – Marlon Lipke (DEU) has won the 2012 ASP 3-Star Protest Vendee Pro in a close fought low scoring final in shifting 4-5Ft wind affected peaks progressing through the early rounds of competition to build momentum. Lipke eventually took out the Final heat of the day besting three hungry frenchman including 2011 ASP Europe Champion Romain Cloitre, powerhouse Joan Duru and the event overall standout Vincent Duvignac.

«The left here is so much fun, I remember surfing it like 10 years ago when I was staying at Gregory Pastusiak’s house and this whole event I’ve been surfing it despite everyone sticking to the right», Marlon said. «I guess it was kind of a risk for me but luckily it paid off ! The wind picked up again during the final and destroyed the waves, with very few offering a shoulder to work with, but I felt like when you put a lot of energy in and keep catching waves then eventually it pays off. I just blocked everything out, surfed my heat, tried my best and I’m very very happy to win here. It’s my sponsor’s event (Protest) so it’s even better !».

Marlon Lipke, who qualified and surfed on the World Championship Tour in 2009, rises back and takes an early lead on the ASP European rankings. The 28 year-old German based in Portugal has been remodelling his approach to surfing events and starts 2012 with a strong goal of building up on his result in Vendee.

«I’m not ready to give up competing yet, I still enjoy travelling so much with my friends and surfing events. Us European we’ve been pushing each others for the last few years a lot, and I think in this event it showed with Joan who was also a standout all week and I think with a little luck we’ll see one more european on the World Championship Tour. I’ll give it another go too for sure, I have to build it from scratch cause I’ve fallen down the rankings, but I’ve been training a lot and it feels good.»

After a couple years of average results in competition, Marlon Lipke recently started taking up new training methods and feels his condition has improved. Taking nothing for granted the German competitor had the courage to go back to essentials and his win in Vendee attests of a new found form.

«I’ve actually been taking up trampoline training for example, and I think it opens your eyes on what’s possible. You have to always try something different to move forward with your surfing, if you just do the same over and over you get stuck I think that’s what happened to me in a way..»

Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 24, places second right behind Marlon Lipke needing only a small score to overtake his opponent but never found the wave that he needed. Duvignac has been on fire during the whole event netting the highest single wave score and heat total of the 2012 Protest Vendee Pro.

«It was frustrating because I had a good score and I just missed a second decent wave but I felt great and with a good board under my feet», Duvignac stated. «It’s been a really hard contest with difficult waves breaking everywhere and the luckiest guys got two good waves in the previous heats. I’m a little disappointed because I was that close to winning my first Star event. But a second place is a great way to start the year, winning ranking points and a little prizemoney to allow me to travel to future events, which is becoming hard since I’ve lost my main sponsor.»

With an excellent first result this season, Duvignac hopes to capitalize on his ranking which will help him demonstrate his talent and open doors to new sponsorship opportunities. The young natural footer displayed a fantastic flawless style in Vendee this week and will soon export his abilities to compete against the World’s best in California for an ASP Prime event.

«My next event is in Trestles soon where I’m going to try and keep my seeding with a good result there, and then I’ll focus on the European Tour and make a run for the Title that’s one of my main goals.»

Joan Duru (FRA) 23, completes the podium today in Brétignolles. The South-West France resident was consistant during the whole event imposing his unmatched power carves but was unable to find the right waves in the final to claim his third Protest Vendee Pro event win.

«It was a really hard final in tough conditions,» Joan said. «I had two opportunities but I fell on both waves, I think I tried to push it too hard when really I had the chance to get the score quite easily. My goal coming here was to win heats and go as far as possible in the event so I’m super happy with this result. The final was really cool, all those guys are my friends, and I’m happy for Duvi (Vincent Duvignac) to place second, Marlon was impressive and deserved the win, and Romain I think he didn’t get any waves so it’s very unlucky for him !».

For more information, and all results, photos, video highlights, and press releases log-on to www.vendee.aspeurope.com

For any other media related information, contact us via www.aspeurope.com

The Protest Vendee Pro is made possible with the support of the following event partners: Brétignolles-sur-Mer, Région Pays de la Loire, Protest, Conseil Général de Vendée, Unbottle Yourself, Virgin Radio, Dynamips, Sport+, Super U, Bodard Construction Modulaire, Red Bull.

 

PROTEST VENDEE PRO FINAL RESULTS:
1: Marlon Lipke (DEU) 10.20
2: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 9.97
3: Joan Duru (FRA) 9.34
4: Romain Cloitre (FRA) 8.20

PROTEST VENDEE PRO SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
Heat 1: Joan Duru (FRA) 10.34, Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 9.74, William Aliotti (FRA) 6.50, Jayce Robinson (GBR) 6.27
Heat 2: Marlon Lipke (DEU) 12.43, Romain Cloitre (FRA) 8.83, Frederico Morais (PRT) 8.13, Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 6.00

PROTEST VENDEE PRO QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
Heat 1: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 8.83, Jayce Robinson (GBR) 7.26, Justin Mujica (PRT) 6.80, Indar Unanue (EUK) 6.16
Heat 2: William Aliotti (FRA) 14.93, Joan Duru (FRA) 14.57, Txaber Trojaola (EUK) 6.34, Yannick De Jager (NDL) 3.17
Heat 3: Romain Cloitre (FRA) 14.66, Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 9.20, Charles Martin (GLP) 7.93, Gordon Fontaine (FRA) 5.40
Heat 4: Marlon Lipke (DEU) 10.70, Frederico Morais (PRT) 8.56, Steven Pierson (PYF) 8.04, Nic Von Rupp (DEU) 6.90

Final Day of ASP 3-Star Protest Vendee Pro is ON at La Sauzaie !

La Sauzaie, Brétignolles-sur-Mer - FRANCE (Saturday, April 21, 2012) – The ASP 3-Star Protest Vendee Pro enters its final day of competition today starting at 3pm. Quarter finalists were decided yesterday during a long day that witnessed 24 Heats go down. The last 16 competitors will now compete in 2-3Ft bumpy swell to decide who the 2012 Protest Vendee Pro Champion will be.

The event will finish on the main site of La Sauzaie on a sunny saturday afternoon, with big crowds expected to show up in this natural arena surrounding the wave. The event will also be broadcasted LIVE through www.vendee.aspeurope.com.

The Protest Vendee Pro is scheduled from April 19-22, 2012. For more information, and all upcoming results, photos, video highlights, and press releases log-on to www.aspeurope.com

 

UPCOMING PROTEST VENDEE PRO QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Vincent Duvignac (FRA), Jayce Robinson (GBR), Justin Mujica (PRT), Indar Unanue (EUK)
Heat 2: Txaber Trojaola (EUK), William Aliotti (FRA), Joan Duru (FRA) Yannick De Jager (NDL)
Heat 3: Romain Cloitre (FRA), Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK), Charles Martin (GLP), Gordon Fontaine (FRA)
Heat 4: Marlon Lipke (DEU), Frederico Morais (PRT), Steven Pierson (PYF) Nic Von Rupp (DEU)

Top Seeds Light Up Day 2 of ASP 3-Star Protest Vendee Pro !


La Sauzaie, Brétignolles-sur-Mer - FRANCE (Friday, April 20, 2012) – The ASP 3-Star Protest Vendee Pro completed its second day of competition today which started at 9am this morning at the backup venue of Les Dunes. Conditions allowed the Top Seeds entering the competition in its third Round to display their fantastic abilities to the public’s eyes.

Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 24, was on fire this morning in the first heat of the day opening up with an incredible 9.33 out of 10, and confirming his overwhelming lead with a 8.33 to put his three opponents in a combination zone, needing two scores to try and get the first place.

«It’s a good start for me in this contest.» Vincent Said. «The conditions are once again not easy with waves breaking all over the place but I know this type of condition, I’ve surfed in Les Sables d’Olonne a lot and there’s the same kind of break.»

Confirming his great form later on by winning his Round of 32 confrontation, Vincent Duvignac showed his extreme motivation to move through the next rounds of competition and get closer to the final rounds.

«I just lost my major sponsor because they stopped their activity in Europe so it’s been tough for me. I had the opportunity to enter the prime events because I had a good season last year, and so far I’ve lost in Brazil and Australia in the first rounds at both events. I’m going to go to Trestles next but then because I don’t really have enough money to follow the international tour I’ll focus more on the European Tour».

Joan Duru (FRA) 23, was the other standout in today’s action, claiming two heat wins and netting the third highest heat total of the event so far, an excellent 16.50 out of 20. The Landes region native has been a force to reckon with for the past couple of years on the European and International stage and confirms he will be one to watch in 2012 !

«My first heat today went well, I had a decent wave from the start and it’s pretty hard to find the right ones that double up and offer a clean wall..» Stated Joan. «My last wave was fun too I had it way out the back and I did three good turns on it, I’m just a little dissapointed I fell at the end of it.»

Joan eventually qualified for the quarter-finals this afternoon and imposed his power in the cleaner sets at La Sauzaie. A serious contender for the 2012 Event win, Joan keeps his head in the game and sees further ahead with a hypothetical World Championship Tour qualification that he’s been eyeing for a couple years now.

«I came here to try to win obviously like every event I surf, and in the long term this year my  main goal is qualification for the World Championship Tour. I’m going to have to give my everything, it’s harder and harder every year I think with all the progressive kids coming up. I surfed a lot this winter and traveled to Hawaii, Brazil where I surfed in the quarter-finals of the prime event, and Australia».

Romain Cloitre (FRA) 23, the 2011 ASP European Champion navigated through today’s rounds of competition with a clear objective of getting to the business end of this event. After an excellent season last year, the young Reunion Island ambassador is looking to confirm his status of Europe’s favourite up-and-comer by placing high in this Protest Vendee Pro.

«It went great for me I found some fun waves.» Commented Romain. «My tactic was to concentrate on wave selection and I managed to get three good scores so I lead the heat from the beginning. I was tough with the cold, specially cause I don’t like surfing in boots so I went without and it’s quite hard ! I had to actually put wax on my board after every two waves out there..»

Today the conditions were cleaner at La Sauzaie, but a bumpy lineup still provided the surfers with a hard task at hands trying to place themselves in the best spot when a set of waves came rolling by. Originating from Britanny and with experience in all kind of conditions, Romain Cloitre managed to find the waves offering a higher scoring potential.

«I’m not an expert of La Sauzaie but I’ve been coming here for a few years now and I get used to it. This tide is probably the most complicated because waves can either break way outside or close to the shore, and it all changes very fast with the tide moving in.. I had my best waves out the back, and with a little luck they even reformed in the inside.»

Tomorrow event officials will reconvene at 2pm at the main site of La Sauzaie to decide when to start the quarter-finals. A champion might be crowned tomorrow as conditions may not be favourable on sunday. The Protest Vendee Pro is scheduled from April 19-22, 2012. For more information, and all upcoming results, photos, video highlights, press releases and LIVE webcast log-on to www.aspeurope.com

 

ASP 3-STAR PROTEST VENDEE PRO UPCOMING QUARTER-FINALS
Heat 1: Vincent Duvignac (FRA), Jayce Robinson (GBR), Justin Mujica (PRT), Indar Unanue (EUK)
Heat 2: Txaber Trojaola (EUK), William Aliotti (FRA), Joan Duru (FRA) Yannick De Jager (NDL)
Heat 3: Romain Cloitre (FRA), Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK), Charles Martin (GLP), Gordon Fontaine (FRA)
Heat 4: Marlon Lipke (DEU), Frederico Morais (PRT), Steven Pierson (PYF) Nic Von Rupp (DEU)

 

ASP 3-STAR PROTEST VENDEE PRO ROUND OF 32 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 11.47, William Aliotti (FRA) 9.10, Vicente Romero (ESP) 7.30, Medi Veminardi (REU) 4.77
Heat 2: Justin Mujica (PRT) 9.77, Yannick De Jager (NDL) 8.67, Tim Boal (FRA) 7.70, Borja Agote (EUK) 7.67
Heat 3: Txaber Trojaola (EUK) 9.23, Jayce Robinson (GBR) 8.83, Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA) 8.70, Eneko Acero (EUK) 5.60
Heat 4: Joan Duru (FRA) 16.50, Indar Unanue (EUK) 8.33, Filipe Jervis (PRT) 7.97, Stuart Campbell (GBR) 5.86
Heat 5: Romain Cloitre (FRA) 11.00, Frederico Morais (PRT) 8.34, Abdel El Harim (MOR) 6.73, Francisco Alves (PRT) 1.70
Heat 6: Charles Martin (GLP) 11.50, Nic Von Rupp (DEU) 11.40, Ruben Gonzalez (PRT) 7.87, Edouard Delpero (FRA) 5.47
Heat 7: Marlon Lipke (DEU) 14.34, Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 9.97, Yassine Ramdani (MOR) 8.50, Lars Musschoot (BEL) 7.17
Heat 8: Steven Pierson (PYF) 11.56, Gordon Fontaine (FRA) 9.16, Adrien Toyon (REU) 9.03, Aduardo Fernandes (PRT) 3.90

 

ASP 3-STAR PROTEST VENDEE PRO ROUND OF 64 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 17.66, Yannick De Jager (NDL) 9.73, David Tereva (PYF) 7.97, Nicolas Remi (FRA) 7.33
Heat 2: Medi Veminardi (REU) 14.33, Borja Agote (EUK) 8.10, Rafael Pereira (VEN) 7.30, Toby Donachie (GBR) 6.47
Heat 3: Justin Mujica (PRT) 12.40, Vicente Romero (ESP) 11.10, Pablo Gutierrez (ESP) 9.56, Jules Thomet (FRA) 9.33
Heat 4: Tim Boal (FRA) 11.67, William Aliotti (FRA) 10.74, Rudy Marechal (FRA) 8.96, Luis Eyre (GBR) 8.20
Heat 5: Jayce Robinson (GBR) 13.66, Filipe Jervis (PRT) 12.63, Didier Piter (FRA) 7.10, Hugo Dubosc (FRA) 6.20
Heat 6: Eneko Acero (EUK) 10.44, Stuart Campbell (GBR) 10.06, Tom Bellevergue (FRA) 6.37, Alexander El Naib (DEU) 0.80
Heat 7: Indar Unanue (EUK) 9.00, Txaber Trojaola (EUK) 8.20, Adrien Valero (FRA) 7.10, Vincent Primel (FRA) 4.33
Heat 8: Joan Duru (FRA) 13.93, Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA) 12.83, Pedro Correia (PRT) 10.20, Harry Timson (GBR) 9.26
Heat 9: Romain Cloitre (FRA) 14.50, Charles Martin (GLP) 10.50, Tristan Guilbaud (FRA) 7.90, Gregory Pastusiak (FRA) 7.20
Heat 10: Francisco Alves (PRT)  9.50, Ruben Gonzalez (PRT) 8.37, Jose Ferreira (PRT) 7.13, Romain Laulhe (FRA) 6.04
Heat 11: Nic Von Rupp (DEU) 11.57, Abdel El Harim (MOR) 9.14, Rowan Aish (NZL) 6.54, Ronald Reyes (VEN) 5.93
Heat 12: Edouard Delpero (FRA) 10.90, Frederico Morais (PRT) 9.66, Thomas Bady (FRA) 5.74, Hugo Palmarini (FRA) 5.70
Heat 13: Marlon Lipke (DEU) 13.27, Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) 7.70, Thimothy Latte (SWE) 6.07, Frederic Robin (FRA) 5.86
Heat 14: Lars Musschoot (BEL) 8.74, Steven Pierson (PYF) 8.40, Joao Guedes (PRT) 7.66, Roland Lefeuvre (FRA) 6.53
Heat 15: Gordon Fontaine (FRA) 11.67, Yassine Ramdani (MOR) 6.70, Norman Landa (EUK) 6.70, Pierre Rollet (FRA) 3.98
Heat 16: Adrien Toyon (REU) 9.17, Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 9.03, Ian Fontaine (FRA) 8.37, Luis Rodriguez (ESP) 7.13

ASP 3-Star Protest Vendee Pro Back On at Les Dunes !

La Sauzaie, Brétignolles-sur-Mer - FRANCE (Friday, April 20, 2012) – The Protest Vendee Pro is back ON this morning at the backup location of Les Dunes, starting at 9:30am. Conditions are still windy and the swell has dropped a little bit with waves in the 3-4Ft range on offer this morning.

The ASP 3-Star Protest Vendee Pro is the first event of the 2012 European season and as such gathers most of the highest ranked surfers the old continent has to offer. Precious ranking points and a $55,000 prize purse will motivate every surfer in Vendee to display their surfing repertoire and try to move through the later rounds of the event.

Julien ‘Vico’ Hamel, Contest Director and webcast commentator has an excellent knowledge of the main site of La Sauzaie and the waves around including the backup site of Les Dunes. With a low tide set around 11am, Vico has decided to start the third Round of competition at Les Dunes.

«Today we still have some tough conditions for Round Three with strong wind which should drop during the morning.» Vico said. «We are going to run 25 minute heats so the surfers have plenty of time to select their waves and also to paddle back out which is quite tough. This afternoon we will relocate to La Sauzaie with the incoming tide and we should witness some excellent surfing again.»

The Protest Vendee Pro is scheduled from April 19-22, 2012. For more information, and all upcoming results, photos, video highlights, press releases and LIVE webcast log-on to www.aspeurope.com

ASP 3-STAR PROTEST VENDEE PRO ROUND OF 64 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1: Vincent Duvignac (FRA), Yannick De Jager (NDL), Nicolas Remi (FRA), David Tereva (PYF)
Heat 2: Medi Veminardi (REU), Rafael Pereira (VEN), Borja Agote (EUK), Toby Donachie (GBR)
Heat 3: Justin Mujica (PRT), Vicente Romero (ESP), Pablo Gutierrez (ESP), Jules Thomet
Heat 4: Tim Boal (FRA), Rudy Marechal (FRA), William Aliotti (FRA), Luis Eyre (GBR)
Heat 5: Filipe Jervis (PRT), Jayce Robinson (GBR), Hugo Dubosc (FRA), Didier Piter (FRA)
Heat 6: Eneko Acero (EUK), Alexander El Naib (DEU), Stuart Campbell (GBR), Tom Bellevergue (FRA)
Heat 7: Indar Unanue (EUK), Adrien Valero (FRA), Txaber Trojaola (EUK), Vincent Primel (FRA)
Heat 8: Joan Duru (FRA), Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA), Pedro Correia (PRT), Harry Timson (GBR)
Heat 9: Romain Cloitre (FRA), Tristan Guilbaud (FRA), Charles Martin (GLP), Gregory Pastusiak (FRA)
Heat 10: Romain Laulhe (FRA), Ruben Gonzalez (PRT), Jose Ferreira (PRT), Francisco Alves (PRT)
Heat 11: Nic Von Rupp (DEU), Abdel El Harim (MOR), Rowan Aish (NZL), Ronald Reyes (VEN)
Heat 12: Frederico Morais (PRT), Edouard Delpero (FRA), Thomas Bady (FRA), Hugo Palmarini (FRA)
Heat 13: Marlon Lipke (DEU), Eduardo Fernandes (PRT), Frederic Robin (FRA), Thimothy Latte (SWE)
Heat 14: Steven Pierson (PYF), Joao Guedes (PRT), Roland Lefeuvre (FRA), Lars Musschoot (BEL)
Heat 15: Norman Landa (EUK), Gordon Fontaine (FRA), Yassine Ramdani (MOR), Pierre Rollet (FRA)
Heat 16: Adrien Toyon (REU), Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK), Ian Fontaine (FRA), Luis Rodriguez (ESP)

Day One of ASP 3-Star Protest Vendee Pro Opens with Solid Performances

La Sauzaie, Brétignolles-sur-Mer - FRANCE (Thursday, April 19, 2012) – The opening day of the ASP 3-Star Protest Vendee Pro ran through the first two rounds of competition on two different sites. This morning eight heats were surfed at the secondary site of Les Dunes in choppy 4-5Ft waves , before the decision was taken by event officials to move back to the main site of La Sauzaie for the rest of the day. La Sauzaie turned on with the incoming tide in the afternoon offering cleaner 4-5Ft lefts and rights on the famous reef of Vendee.

Pablo Gutierrez (ESP) 30, was the in-form surfer of the day displaying speed, power and flow, three qualities highly recommended to impress the judges in competition. The Spanish veteran impressed in the difficult conditions by powering his way through a heat against younger competitors.

«This morning the conditions were difficult with a little bit of size but an onshore wind.» Said Pablo. «It was  kind of a lottery out there, you could either surf good waves or not find anything at all. The paddle out was pretty exhausting it took us about 10mn to get out there, so it was definitely extreme !»

With a solid backhand and fronthand attack on the mid-sized swell on offer at the back-up venue of Les Dunes, Pablo Gutierrez managed to score the highest single wave score of the event so far, an impressive 8.67 out of 10, as well as the highest heat total of the event with 16.57 points.

«I had a good left of about 4-5Ft (1m50) that let me do two big manoeuvers on a clean open face and it was scored a 8.67. Then I had the whole 10mn paddling act all over again, and I managed to find a righthander that didn’t look like it was going to offer anything special. I started with a good cutback and it reformed in the inside section so I got to place three off-the-top manoeuvers that scored 7.9. So I guess I was pretty lucky this morning !»

A semi-retired surfer with a lot of experience on the ASP European Tour that he’s been surfing from the past fifteen years, Pablo Gutierrez prefers to not look ahead to a complicated Round 3 match-up against Justin Mujica (PRT) another seasoned European surfer.

«I never look at the next heat I’m going to surf. I know that because I’ve won this Round 2 Heat I’m going to be third in the next one and all the heats are difficult anyway. Sometimes the hardest your opponents the easiest the Heat because you’re giving everything you have and it can go your way, and the contrary applies too. I’m taking it heat by heat, I put on the lycra, go out, do my job and hopefully everything turns out alright !»

Luis Eyre (GBR) 19, was another standout today, posting two waves scored 7.5 to take the second place right behind Pablo Gutierrez. The Junior surfer residing in Portugal was consistent and displayed his strong progressive surfing repertoire to qualify for the third Round of competition.

«I don’t know Pablo personnaly but I know how good he is.» Stated Luis. «He was sitting right about 50m further to the right on a different peak and I saw he got a really long left with a big score and a smaller right but another excellent score. I just wanted to make the main round cause I missed the automatic qualification by just one seeding spot so I really wanted to make this first heat and go onto the next round. I’ve got a pretty solid heat coming up next so there’s not too much pressure on me I’m one of the youngest guys in the event.. I just want to have a good heat and try to maybe beat some of the older guys !».

Extremely active during the off season in Portugal where he lives, Luis Eyre has been releasing monthly video clips showing his progression throughout the winter. Coming off a difficult 2011 season on the ASP European Junior Tour, Luis is looking forward to his last Junior shot at making the top ranks.

«I didn’t travel like everyone else this winter cause I’d spent enough time away the previous summer and I really wanted to stay home. We had an offshore winter which was the first time in years so I stayed at home surfing and training a lot. I feel a bit more solid this year, I’ve been doing a lot of physical training and surfing a lot with the good guys at home like Gony Zubizaretta and Rowan Aish who’s in his heat now.. So it’s good to see them in the water and surf with guys that surf better than you, it helps a lot pushing your level !».

Lars Musschoot (BEL) 25, was the first Protest Team Rider to surf and qualify for the next Round, finishing second to Frederic Robin (FRA) in their Round 2 bout this afternoon on the main site of La Sauzaie. The famous Vendeean reef delivered cleaner waves but the navigation between big sets was difficult for everyone.

« I was completely lost out there, there were waves everywhere !» Commented Lars. «I looked at it and I saw a lot of righthanders breaking in the inside before my heat so I went out there looking for them but once I got there I felt just lost and didn’t find anything ! I’m pretty lucky to get through with two low scores, hopefully tomorrow the waves will be a bit better and I’ll surf better. It’s amazing just being here. Almost everyone surfing for Protest is here and hopefully we can all make a couple heats !»

Lars Musschoot originating from Belgium is used to cold water conditions and has developped interest for remote locations and extreme temperature. The event main sponsor Protest, just started releasing a new webseries starring Lars and the other Protest team riders.

«We’re doing a project with Protest that’s called ‘Stories from Here to There’ and it’s really cool I’m doing this trip from Norway to the South of Portugal, so I have a lot more travelling to do.. But for sure I’d like to mix it up a little with events during the year !».

The official next call is set to 9am tomorrow Friday, April 20 at the secondary venue of Les Dunes for an early start of the third Round of competition. Top seeds will enter this new round including 2011 European Champion Romain Cloitre (FRA), and more Protest riders: Yannick De Jager (NLD), the 2011 Protest Vendee Pro winner Tim Boal (FRA) and more.

The Protest Vendee Pro is scheduled from April 19-22, 2012. For more information, and all upcoming results, photos, video highlights, press releases and LIVE webcast log-on to www.aspeurope.com

ASP 3-Star Protest Vendee Pro Set to Commence Tomorrow !

La Sauzaie (Wednesday, April 18, 2012) –The ASP 3-Star Protest Vendee Pro will kick-off tomorrow morning in Vendée. A field of over a 100 competitors will gather for the opening day of competition. A first call will be made at 9am at the secondary site of Les Dunes for a possible start shortly after.

With a better outlook on the forecast for the remainder of the week, Julien ‘Vico’ Hamel gives us an estimated schedule and forecast for the Men’s event, set to start tomorrow morning in difficult conditions.

«We have a complicated situated here, the rest of the storm will come through tonight so tomorrow morning should still be pretty chaotic with up to 4.5 or 5m swell early in the morning. « Stated Vico. «The swell is decreasing fast during the morning so we might be able to start relatively early. The good thing is that we should be able to surf here at La Sauzaie at low tide, but for now we’re still considering both sites of La Sauzaie and the back-up site of Le Dunes.»

The 2012 edition of the Vendee Surf Pro is facing a global depression hitting the whole Atlantic coast of France and surfers entering the event are up for challenging heats and physical battles  out in stormy seas. The first round of competition will see an unusual crowd of seasonned European competitors including the likes of Jean-Seb Estienne (BLM), Frederic Robin (FRA) and Didier Piter (FRA) against young up-and-comers like Charles Martin (GLP) or Charly Quivront (FRA), all battling it out to try and qualify to surf more rounds of competition.

Julien Hamel confirms the Protest Vendée Pro is almost certainly starting early Thursday morning: «Tomorrow around 9am conditions should be similar to what we have right now with less wind. I checked Les Dunes this morning and even with an extremely low tide it was surfable. Basically we’ll meet early in the morning, and when the surfers, the ASP staff and us all agree on when to start, we’ll try to launch the event.»

Most of the European contingent will be here in this opening event of the season in Vendee, and with conditions looking to improve through the end of the week, everything is set for an amazing show.

«Friday should be easier with the swell dropping from 14 to 8Ft and a little bit less wind, and conditions are looking to stay the same for saturday.» Said Julien Hamel. «Sunday will most likely see another storm coming to us here in Vendee. Conditions evolve quickly in a storm setup like this, so we need to regularly assess the evolution and take it day by day. One thing is for sure, we’ll have a constant onshore wind for the whole waiting period of this event, and probably on-and-off rain.»

The official call is for a 9am meeting between organizers and surfers tomorrow morning at the back-up venue of Les Dunes to decide where and when the first round of competition will start. The Protest Vendee Pro is scheduled from April 19-22, 2012. For more information, and all upcoming results, photos, video highlights, press releases and LIVE webcast log-on to www.aspeurope.com