One of the European surfing calendars major events – the Islas Canarias Santa Pro 2009 – kicks off on Lanzarote at the start of next month. With all of the high adrenaline board based action taking place at Playa San Juan in Caleta de Famara – on the island’s wilder and more rugged North West coastline. Attracting leading male and female riders from around the world.
The Islas Canarias Santa Pro is the traditional finale to the European surfing season. And enjoys 6 Star Prime status in the Association of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series. The highest possible category on the world circuit, just a rung on the ladder below a WCT world championship event.
A measure of this contests importance is that it draws some of the worlds best known board riders. Such as the American prodigy Clay Marzo. Who will be making his first ever European appearance at the Lanzarote event. And who is regarded as one of the most special talents to have emerged on the scene in many years.
According to nine times world champion Kelly Slater “Marzo knows things I don´t know. He knows things that all the guys I´m surfing with don´t knowâ€?. Besides, the director of the film “Just Add to waterâ€?, Jaimie Tierney, confessed after recording the movie about the life of Marzo that “Clay makes instant natural connections with the waterâ€?.
Other top international talent includes Nic Muscroft (AUS), Marlon Lipke (DEU), Drew Courtney (AUS),), Patrick Gudauskas (USA), Brett Simpson, (USA), Owen Wright (AUS), Heitor Alvés (BRZ), Joan Duru (FRC), Parick, Dean and Tanner Gudauskas (U.S.A) and Liam McNamara (HAW) .
Along with plenty of Spanish representation in the shape of are Eneko Acero (EUK), Aritz Aranburu (EUK), Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY), José MarÃa Cabrera (CNY), Hodei Collazo (EUK), Goni Zubizarreta (ESP), Francisco Saénz (CNY), Leny Perdomo (CNY), Eduardo Fernández, Christian Jiménez (CNY), Antonio Marqués, Carlos Marqués and Miguel Ximénez.
Who will be battling it out for 145,000 dollars worth of prize money as well as much-coveted slots on the surf world’s senior world tour.
WQS Mens Leader Board
Currently, the men´s top ten leaders board looks like this:
1. Joan Duru (Fra) 7156 Points
2.Gonazalo Zubizarreta (Esp) 5673 Points
3.Glenn Hall (Ire) 4935 Points
4.Roman Cloitre (Fra) 4152 Points
5.Txaber Trojaola (Euk) 4028 Points
6.Jonathan Gonzalez (Cny) 3721 Points
7.Justin Mujica (Prt) 3686 Points
8.Christophe Allary (Reu) 3513 Points
9.Hodei Collazo (Euk) 3486 Points
10.Eric Rebiere (Fra) 3362 Points
WQS Female Leader Board
Whilst the women’s rankings – dominated by French riders – are shaping up as follows:
1.Justine Dupont (Fra) 788 Points
2.Lee-Ann Curren (Fra) 788 Points
3.Amandine Sanchez (Fra) 683 Points
4.Francisca De Santos (Prt) 683 Points
5.Pauline Ado (Fra) 630 Points
6.Joana Rocha (Prt) 630 Points
7.Carlone Sarran (Fra) 546 Points
8.Ana Sarmento (Prt) 546 Points
9.Marie Dejean (Fra) 476 Points
10.Anne Cecile La Tallec (Fra) 476 Points
Where & When
The action kicks off daily between 10.00 and 17.00 at Playa San Juan – which is located on the opposite side of the village of Famara from the large main beach. Drive through the village if approaching from Teguise and follow the dirt track as the main road peters out.
View Lanzarote Map
As in previous years there will be a whole raft of other activities surrounding the event. Which is partly designed to promote wider aspects of surf and beach culture. Including demonstrations, exhibitions and various competitions such as skateboarding and a beach football contest.
All of the action culminates in a major music festival on the last night of the event which last year attracted a 7,000 strong crowd.
