Surf in Biarritz

Miarritze is redefining itself according to this article that comes to us via Irish Times:

Surf's up, m'lord

BIARRITZ: Once the preserve of royalty and the superwealthy, Biarritz has been reinventing itself as the destination of choice for avid windsurfers, writes Peter Cluskey

IF EVERY grand-but-fading seaside resort dreams of reinventing itself to meet the quick-fire demands of the 21st century, they have a role model: Biarritz.

For centuries it was the glamorous spa town of choice for the crowned heads of Europe. Today its award-winning beaches are regarded as some of the best windsurfing coastline in the world – and its wealthier regulars mix quite happily with an international parade of,well, beach bums.

It has been an extraordinary transformation. Perched at the southernmost point of France’s Atlantic coast, on the border with Spain, Biarritz first appeared on the radar of Europe’s elite in 1854, when Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, built a magnificent white palace on cliffs just outside the town.

The British royal family, including Queen Victoria and Edward VII, were regular visitors. So were Alfonso XIII of Spain, Leopold II of Belgium and even Germany’s Iron Chancellor, Otto Von Bismark. But republic replaced empire, and in a sign of the times Villa Eugénie, as it was dubbed by les Biarrots, was bought by Banque Parisienne and reopened as Hôtel du Palais Imperial Resort Spa in 1893.

The clientele changed but the hotel’s cachet remained unassailable. A new royalty replaced the old – the shah of Persia, Frank Sinatra, Jayne Mansfield, Bing Crosby, Hemingway, Chaplin and Stravinsky – although the duke and duchess of Windsor remained loyal to the end. And while some of the glamour of Biarritz was usurped over the years by the Côte d’Azur, and Saint Tropez in particular during the 1960s, the town remained a byword for high-end leisure and sophistication.

Why does the history matter? Because it’s what has made Biarritz the charming, relaxed and welcoming place it is today. The ancient split-windscreen VW campers with fading anti-nuclear stickers may outnumber Rolls-Royce Silver Shadows; more holidaymakers may arrive by no-frills airline than by private jet; more waitresses may be speaking French with distinctly Aussie accents, but Biarritz is more vibrant than ever. It has made the journey from chic to cool. And the celebs are coming back: the iconic designer Karl Lagerfeld bought a holiday home here last year.

Place Georges Clemenceau, in the centre of town, is where you’ll find yourself as you get your bearings. Almost everyone starts by taking a walk along the promenade, Quai de la Grande Plage, which gives a magnificent view of the crescent of apartments, hotels and restaurants overlooking the bay.

At one end you’ll find the Hôtel du Palais, still the reserve of those with five-star budgets. At the other there’s the less-than-exclusive Casino Municipal, where you can choose between an informal section with slot machines and a more elegant section with table games.

By day, if you fancy your chances, there are numerous surf schools on the Grande Plage. Given the town’s elite background, golf is popular, with five top-class courses within an hour’s drive. Biarritz’s Basque heritage is most evident in the food and in the souvenir shops, which sell intricately-sewn Basque tablecloths, antiques, jewellery and handmade sandals.

To spoil yourself, there are a a number of famous local chocolatiers and one or two still-demure tea rooms. Or, for something healthier, there’s thalassotherapy at the Thalassa Institute, at Hôtel Miramar, and thermal seawater baths on Rue de Madrid.

When the sun goes down, relax in a deckchair with a cocktail at Côte 57, nibble some tapas at Le Bistroye or head to Chez Albert for some memorable local seafood. And while you tuck into the house speciality – steak de thon rouge aux saveurs douces, confitures d’oignons au vinaigre balsamique et croustillant de pommes de terre aux pieds de porc – remember the old Basque saying “To know how to eat is to know enough.”

Where to stay, eat and go

5 places to stay

Hôtel du Palais . 1 Avenue de l’Impératrice, 00-33-559- 416400, www.hotel-du-palais. com. If you need to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford to stay here. But we all have special occasions – and it is one of the world’s historic hotels.

Sofitel Thalassa Miramar . 13 Rue Louison Bobet, 00-33-559-413000, www.sofitel.com. A luxury hotel incorporating the Institute of Thalassotherapy (sea-water spa treatment), and with a golf course just a stone’s throw away. High-season rates for a double room go as high as €544, with breakfast €27.

Radisson SAS Biarritz. 1 Carrefour Hélianthe, 00-33-559-011313, www.biarritz.radissonsas.com. It may not be the Hôtel du Palais, but it’s luxurious nonetheless, and only a short walk from the centre. Rates begin at about €350 for a double standard room with an ocean view.

Hôtel Mercure Thalassa Régina et Golf. 52 Avenue de l’Impératrice, 00-33-559-413300, www.mercure.com. The thalassotherapy centre is very popular here. High-season rates for a double are around €240.

Hôtel Centre-Biarritz . 7 Rue de Gascogne, 00-33-559- 223654, www.hotel-centre biarritz.com. This is a nice quiet hotel just two minutes’ walk from the centre. The high-season rate for a double room is about €72.

5 places to eat

Hôtel du Palais. 1 Avenue de l’Impératrice, 00-33-559- 416400, www.hotel-du- palais.com. The hotel has three restaurants: La Rotonde, overlooking the ocean; Hippocampe, by the pool; and Villa Eugénie, for foodies.

Chez Albert. Allée Port des Pecheurs, 00-33-559-244384, www.chezalbert.fr. Bright, colourful, buzzing seafood restaurant with large outside terrace and Basque specialities.

Café de Paris . 5 Place Bellevue, 00-33-559-241953. If you fancy eating well, with the ocean and the Grand Plage spread out below you, this is the place to soak up the atmosphere.

Le Bistroye . 6 Rue Jean Bart, 00-33-559-220102. If you’re looking for fresh, authentic Basque cuisine in a friendly atmosphere, this is the place to go.

Bar Jean . 5 Rue des Halles, 00-33-559-248038. A relaxed bistro atmosphere with excellent tapas – after all, Spain is just 35km away – and grilled langoustines.

5 places to go

Russian Orthodox Church, 8 Avenue de l’Impératrice. Located right next door, this extraordinary church was built for Russian aristocrats who visited Hôtel du Palais before the 1917 revolution.

Chocolate museum (Planète Musée du Chocolat). 14 Avenue Beaurivage, 00-33-559-232772, www.planetemuseeduchocolat.com. The history of chocolate, how it’s made, and best of all, a hot-chocolate tasting. Pretend it’s for the kids.

Rocher de la Vierge (Rock of the Virgin). On the outskirts of the town, this outcrop, which you reached over an old iron footbridge, is topped with a celebrated statue of the Virgin Mary. It’s a popular stroll, with great views right along the Basque coast.

Asiatica Museum of Oriental Art, 1 Rue Guy Petit, 00-33-559-227878, www.museeasiatica.com. This is reputed to be one of the best oriental art collections in all of Europe. Don’t miss it.

Créations Jean-Vier, 58 Avenue Edouard VII and 25 rue Mazagran, 00-33-559-222936, www.jean-vier.com. Basque linen has a big reputation in France, and Jean-Vier is where the renowned Parisian chef Alain Ducasse buys his table linen.

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Coast Full of Contrasts

This article about the strikingly beautiful coast of the Basque province of Bizkaia comes to us thanks to EITb:

The Basque Coast in Bizkaia: A coast full of surprises

09/13/2008

Mundaka is the destination of surfers all over the world. They come to surf the best left hand wave in Europe.

The winding coast of Bizkaia is dotted with small fishing villages and jagged coves that make up a landscape full of contrasts. Beaches, harbors and cliffs merge into the nearby summits along the whole length of the Basque coast. From Bakio to Sukarrieta, the route is full of visual surprises.

To get from Bilbao to Sukarrieta, we must take the road towards Mungia and continue on towards Bermeo. 5 km down the road is the turnoff for Bakio, the cradle of Bizkaia's txakoli. This town, a local tourist destination, has a large beach which is packed with beachcombers during the summer months.

The coast road takes us to the beautiful view of the San Juan de Gaztelugatxe promontory. This rocky island, which is joined to the mainland by a small bridge, together with the hermitage on the top, is a nearly sacred place for many Bizkaians. A little bit further down the road we arrive at the lighthouse and Cape Matxitxako.

The town of Bermeo, with its gothic church of Santa Eufemia, the Medieval Ercilla tower, and the port, is one of the most important towns along the coast. It has a lively street atmosphere and excellent restaurants, which are two of many good reasons to visit the town.

Just a couple of kilometers down the road is Mundaka. The view from the Atalaya or vantage point is one of the most beautiful and relaxing in the whole of Bizkaia: the mouth of the Urdaibai estuary, merging into the ocean, and Izaro island on the horizon. This symbiosis originates the best left-hand wave in Europe, which attracts many surfers from around the world.

The same view can be contemplated from Portuondo lookout, on the road to Pedernales-Sukarrieta, which is the next town down the coast. This secluded place has a few and beautiful caves on the banks of the estuary. Each valley, each fishing port, each of the summits in the Basque Country is yet another beautiful spot to be discovered.

I've been to all the places described in the article and I fully recommend that you take any chance in the future to visit them.

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The 2008 Billabong Pro in Mundaka

This article comes to us via Global Surf News:

The Billabong Pro returns to mythic barrels of Mundaka

Billabong Pro Mundaka

ASP World Tour event #9
Mundaka, Basque Country
29 September - 12 October 2008

The Billabong Pro returns to Europe’s mythical Mundaka rivermouth

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 August, 2008 : - - - Mundaka has become a reference in worldwide surfing for its mythical rivermouth left-hander located at the opening of the river of Gernika and the North Atlantic Ocean. Since the inaugural event in 1999, surfing legends from all over the world have come over to surf this mythical wave, renowned for its long and hollow waves.

However, the wave of Mundaka is also known for its fickle conditions. This was made evident with the absence of a workable sandbar, reason for the cancellation of the event in 2005. According to the latest studies and the comments of the surfing locals, the barrels of Mundaka are in perfect condition.

This year, Billabong will set up an alternate site on the beach of Sopelana, a place that offers fantastic waves. The site is only a few car-minutes away from the center of Bilbao. The decision to surf either at Mundaka or Sopelana will be taken on a daily basis by the contest director, after assessing the conditions in both sites with the surfers and the ASP officials.

The Billabong Pro Mundaka plays a crucial part in deciding world champions. Being the third last event on the 11 stop tour intense competition ensues as tour leaders jostle for rating points leading into the final two events of the year in Brazil and Hawaii.

Bobby Martinez (USA) will be back to try to make it 3 wins in a row at Mundaka along with prestigious names such as Joel Parkinson (Australia), Taj Burrow (Australia), 07 World Champ Mick Fanning (Australia) and current tour leader Kelly Slater (USA).

Alongside the 45 world´s best surfers, three “Wild Card” surfers have also been invited to compete in the Billabong Pro Mundaka: surfing legend Marc “Occy” Occylupo (Australia ), local charger Hodei Collazo (Basque Country) and rising star Marcos San Segundo (Basque Country).

More information about rankings, surfer profiles and the tour can be found on aspworldtour.com.

The opening of the Billabong Pro Mundaka sees a truly traditional show with dances and music. At the start and end of the competition, surfers and officials will be greeted by the Aurresku, an honorific and traditional dance, and the 2008 winner will be carried by the local surf club members to be thrown in the port.

Winners always accept their trophy wearing a wetsuit and a newly-won Txapela (a traditional large hat)! That is the price to pay to have your name carved in the white stone of the perpetual Billabong Pro trophy. The Billabong Pro Mundaka is supported by Euskaltel, Kustom, Von Zipper, Nixon, Yamaha and Cobra Jetski, as well as the villages of Mundaka and Sopelana with their respective Surf Clubs and the EHSF.

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A Basque Goes to the ASP World Tour

Aritz Aranburu - Mundaka (Foto Artzai Gómez)00018
Originally uploaded by Artzai

This interview comes to us thanks to Surfline:

Aritz Aranburu First Ever Basque and Spanish Surfer To Qualify For The ASP World Tour

February 4, 2008
PRESS RELEASE

Name:Aritz Aranburu
Age: 22 years old
Lives in: Zarautz, Euskadi
Sponsors: Quiksilver, Pukas , DC

After almost a decade of competition and training, two runner-up places on the ASP Europe Junior ratings in 2005 and 2006, several wins on the European Pro Surf Tour events including his latest and mot exciting Zarautz Pro Surf crown at his home town of Zarautz, Basque Country, Aritz Aranburu has become the first ever Basque and Spanish surfer to get his ASP World Tour pass. It all started in Zarautz, world famous surf town of the Basque country which used to host some of the biggest events of the World Qualifying Series in the past. Being a smart and focused kid, Aranburu grew up fast with the right state of mind to become a champion. Always ready and fit, Aritz made his way to the top of surfing's hierarchy step by step, learning all the keys to becoming a professional surfer with great determination.

"My coach always told me that I had to get through every level to believe in my ASP World Tour chances. To become a top 45 member, I always had it clear that I had to be champion of my town first, then my country, then the ASP Juniors, then the ASP European Pro Surf Tour, etc... I missed out the Junior title twice but eventually got the 2007 European Pro Surf Tour championship, before finishng the year with this great qualification for the ASP World Tour. All I could hope for..." says Aranburu when asked about his career.

Since he became a full time WQS campaigner in 2006 where he impressed by his attitude and focus, getting a 3rd place finish in the O'Neill Highland Open 5 Star WQS, Aranburu lost no time and kept working hard to reach his goal. In 2007, he started the year with a win at the Hang Loose Pro 5 Star Prime WQS and then kept pursuing his dream, securing his elite spot in the second last event of the year, the Reef Haleiwa Pro 6 Star Prime WQS in Hawaii. Aritz Aranburu will be one of Europe's Fantastic Four to start at the end of the month his maiden ASP World Tour year, and we wanted to get a few words from the man himself.

1. You are the first Basque, and Spanish to make it to the top 45. How has it been at home? Crazy? Difficult?

Its been an amazing time... After my final in Lacanau, things got bigger and bigger at every event. When I won the Zarautz event at home, local people and were going crazy and I felt a big support. It was really nice to see how people get involved and support you because they feel like you can represent them well. I had a couple of great emotions, and off course some big parties to celebrate! I don't party a lot but when it comes with the results, it's just so good!

2. You secured your spot in Haleiwa with this beautiful semifinal. How was the end of the year?

The contest in Haleiwa was some big time.The waves were huge, powerful and massive but I was having a lot of fun every heat I was paddling out for. I got smashed a couple of times by really big sets but it ended very well for me. It was really amazing for me to end up the year like that. I feel like this semifinal in such a major event, and moreover in Hawaii, gave me a lot of confidence and I prooved to myself I could keep going this way. Perfect before the ASP World Tour kicks off, very soon...

3. You had a very focused and serious training in 2007. Do you feel prepared and fit to sur against some world champions?

I am definitely ready to face some of the big names of the top 45. I mean wouldn't I? I've been training hard, always focused on my targets and I will keep going like this for the whole year. Everything starts now, because once you are on tour, you don't want to miss it because of stupid mistakes. The only thing I've had on my mind so far is to start the tour with the best feeling possible, regarding mental and physical aspects, and boards.

4. What about the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast and its Superbank?

I just love this wave. I've been surfing there for a few winters now and I can't wait to hit the water for my first heat of the year.

About ASP

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing's undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the Foster's ASP World Tour, the ASP Women's World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world's best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

I find the insistence on adding "and Spanish" right after the mentions that Aritz is Basque quite amusing. Makes me wonder why the main stream media does not rely on the "ethnic Basque" label like they do with the "ethnic Albanians" from Kosovo.

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Mundaka to Host the Billabong Pro

This was published at World Surf News:

Billabong Pro Mundaka

ASP World Championship Tour Event #8
Mundaka Basque Country
2 - 14 October 2007

FOSTER’S ASP WORLD TOUR WILL MAKE IT WAY TO MUNDAKA NEXT WEEK

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 September, 2007 : - - Mundaka – The official waiting period for the Billabong Pro Mundaka, stop No. 8 of 10 on the Foster’s ASP World Tour, begins just one day after the completion of the Quiksilver Pro France currently underway in Hossegor. The Billabong Pro waiting period stretches from October 2-14, 2007.

The Spanish event plays an integral role in the race for an ASP World Title, as illustrated last year when Kelly Slater (USA) sealed his 8th world title at Mundaka with two events to spare. Slater also credits his sole Billabong Pro Mundaka win as being a precursor to one of surfing’s most exciting title races – the 2003 battle between himself and 3X World Champion Andy Irons (HAW).

“Mundaka has set me up for a couple of really good years,” Slater said. “In 2003 it set me up pretty good because I had a win there and then last year, obviously, to win the title in Mundaka felt nice. The Spanish people have been really, really supportive and if the waves go off it's one of the most beautiful places in the world to surf. Hopefully we get some swell.”

Halfway through this season, five surfers sit in strong contention for the title. Australian Mick Fanning sits atop the ratings, followed by Slater, Taj Burrow (AUS), Andy Irons (HAW) and Joel Parkinson (AUS). Though Burrow, currently rated World No. 3, has fared well at Mundaka, he has never won the event.

"I've nailed a 3rd place and a runner-up finish back in ‘03 when Kelly won so I'm pretty excited to step it up and turn this last result into a 1st,” Burrow said. “Mundaka is crucial for sure, last year Kelly won the title there, and this year, the title race looks crazier than ever. So I'm definitely focused on this event.”

Defending Billabong Pro Mundaka Champion Bobby Martinez (USA) won last year’s event as a rookie – scalping his second win on the 2006 Foster’s ASP World Tour with the victory. His first win was at another barrelling left –Teahupoo, Tahiti.

“It's cool to go back to Mundaka, but last year is last year and I might do what I did in Tahiti this year and get a 17th,” Martinez said. “I’m looking forward to going back because I had fun, but that’s as far as it goes. It’s not like I have a lot of confidence because I won there, that was last year. Hopefully we’ll get some waves and just see how it goes.”

Held at Europe’s best left-hand wave in the fishing village of Mundaka, the venue boasts a long and hollow wave barrelling over 200 meters at the river mouth of the Guernika river.

World Qualifying Series (WQS) No. 3 Tiago Pires (PRT), Tahitian charger Manoa Drollet (PYF) and local surfer Hodei Collazo (SPN) have been given wildcards into the main event. Pires has already qualified for the 2008 ASP World Tour, Drollet, a Teahupoo specialist, will experiment the hollow tubes of Mundaka for the first time in his career and Collazo delighted the local community with his 2006 Billabong Pro clash with Slater.

Collazo will be utilizing his fourth Billabong Pro Mundaka wildcard to gain added experience against the world’s best. "Mundaka is a fantastic opportunity for me to compete against the world's best surfers,” Collazo said. “I've been doing the WQS for a few years now and my goal is to qualify for the World Tour so getting a wildcard every year at Mundaka is a good way to see how my surfing is evolving."

The Billabong Pro Mundaka will officially start on October 1st, with the inaugural ceremony and press launch to be held at The Casino at 10:30am, and surfing to potentially begin the next day..

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Surf Tournament in Zarautz

Playa de Zarautz
Originally uploaded by 1000fotos

When one hears "surf" and "Basque Country" one usually thinks immediately of Mundaka, well, this note published by Global Surf News comes to us from Zarautz. Here you have it:

Zarautz Pro Surf

ASP WQS 3 Star Mens Event
Zarautz Basque Country
13 - 16 September 2007

JAMES ATHORN (AUS) DOMINATES DAY 1 OF ZARAUTZ PRO SURF!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 14 September, 2007 : - - It wasn’t a typical summer day for the kick off of the Zarautz Surf Pro, clouds and light winds greeting the first competitors of the 3 Star WQS event. With 2 ft contestable waves on offer, the first heat got underway at 9.15 AM in the beautiful Basque village of Zarautz, an hour drive from both the French border and world famous wave of Mundaka.

Twenty-one heats were ran today in the tough small conditions, the 3 Star WQS event kicking off with all round 1 and a few heats of round 2. The man of the day was undoubtly 21-year-old James Athorn (AUS) when he opened his basque campaign in heat 3 of round 2.

With his light weight and speed surfing, Athorn waited for the best scoring potential waves and remained focused throughout his 20-minute decider against Jeremy Massières (FRA), morning’s highscorer Lawson Hayles (AUS) and Omer Levin (ISR).

Looking more and more confident throughout the heat, Athorn scored a solid 8.67 on his thirs ride before reaching an impressive 9.17 score out of possible 10 to total a two wave combined total of 17.84 points and easily qualify for round 3.

“The waves got better with the tide and I’m glad I surfed at this time of the day. I knew there were a few righthanders breaking giving the opportunity to link up to the shore so I just waited for the set and those two strong rides. Stoked to get the chance at the right time of the day, and I hope everything will be better,” said James Athorn (AUS).

Scoring the highest wave score of the day in heat 2 of round 2 with a 9.33 out of possible 10, former Foster’s ASP World Tour surfer Chris Davidson (AUS) dominated his battle in style, showing tomorrow’s best seeded surfers his intentions for his return to the Basque country.

“It was good to have this break during low tide and we restarted in better waves. I waited for this good wave and it came to me, and I surfed it well. Hope the expected increase in the swell comes tomorrow and we can end up in pretty good conditions,” confessed Davidson aka Davo.

Ready to give the best for the only Basque event of the year apart from the Foster’s ASP World Tour Billabong Pro Mundaka, longtime pro juniorcompetitor Txaber Trojaola (EUK) opened round 2 in top form when he stuck to the right option of the competition area, leaving his three opponents fighting for the same waves.

Getting a convincing 7.77 out of possible 10 on his second ride before backing it up with a 7.17, Trojaola got an impressive 14.94 points out of possible 20, for the third best total of the day. Trojaola will face defending European Pro Surf Tour champion Michel Bourez (PYF) when competition resumes tomorrow.

Earlier in round 1, all favourites had passed their test battle, using their knowledge of competition tactics to get the best waves and find their way out. Dealing with the tricky small conditions, Lawson Hayles (AUS) found the second best heat score of the day with an impressive 15.34 pts out of possible 20. Facing former European Pro Surf Tour champion Didier Piter (FRA), Hayles left his followers in the need of a combination of two scores to catch up.

“It wasn’t looking easy but I found two good waves that gave me some potential and I surfed them well. We’ve had average waves in a few events till now and I hope the expected clean consistent waves will come soon.” He was eliminated in round 2 despite his performance, overtaken by an onfire Chris Davidson (AUS)

Amongst the few performers of the day was moroccan Yassine Ramdaini (MAR) who posted the fifth highest tally of the day after finding some vertical sections to total 14.00 pts out of possible 20. Beating ASP Europe junior campaigner Antonin De Soultrait, Ramdaini showed his skills and definitely rises as one of the most promissing moroccan surfers.

Surfing against other local Indar Unanue (EUK) and Heimoana Zaveroni (PYF), Oier Illaramendi (EUK) was much awaited for his start in his home town. Cheered by his friends and family in heat 14, Illaramendi opened his campaign with a solid 7 pts ride that gave him his qualification twenty minutes later.

“It’s a pleasure to be at home and surf in an event. I have been travelling a lot to as much events as I could this year and this 3 Star WQS means a lot to all of us here in Zarautz. I hope I can keep going and that the swell increases soon.”

The Zarautz Pro Surf 3 Star WQS will restart tomorrow at 9 AM and will go all the way through to round 4, the big names of the event including local star and current WQS #11 Aritz Aranburu (EUK) and European Pro Surf Tour championship contender Eneko Acero (EUK).

European Pro Surf Tour Current Top 5

1. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
2. Tim Boal (FRA)
3. Marlon Lipke (DEU)
4. Miky Picon (FRA)
5. Eneko Acero (EUK)

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Mundaka's Left Wave Is Back!

I spent a few days in Mundaka last week so it makes me real happy to find out that the town's world famous Left Wave is back for this year's edition of the Billabong.

Here you have the article by Global Surf News:

Billabong Pro Mundaka

ASP WCT Mens Event
Mundaka, Euskadi-Spain
3 - 14 October 2006

Billabong Pro Mundaka: The Bank Is Back

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 August, 2006 : - - Following the cancellation of the Billabong Pro Mundaka in 2005, Billabong and the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) are pleased to announce that the tenth event of the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour is officially back from October 3rd to 14th, 2006.

Sand dredging in the years prior to 2005 caused the perfect left breaking sand formation of the Mundaka bank to shift, resulting in waves of a substandard nature for a World Championship Tour (WCT) event to take place.

It was the second cancellation in the events six-year history, after the second half of the WCT was canned in 2001 following the tragic events of September 11 in New York. Although the event has been on the 2006 tour event schedule since January, the ASP and licensing sponsor Billabong have closely monitored the formation of the sand bank, declaring that 2006 will offer quality waves, suitable for the top 45 dream tour.

The world’s best left-hander and the associated shifting silt river mouth bank is back, longer, thicker and better than ever. During the month of April in 2006, one of the best swells in 15 years pounded the Basque coast, turning on epic 8ft (2-3m) waves at the mythical left, surfers scoring some of the best tube rides ever ridden at the break.

The Billabong Pro Mundaka plays a crucial part in deciding world champions, an intense competition where tour leaders jostle for ratings points leading into the final two events of the year in Brazil and Hawaii.

Mark Occhilupo (Aus), Kelly Slater (USA), Andy Irons (Haw), Shane Dorian (Haw) and Luke Egan (Aus) are the only surfers to have enjoyed the ritualistic practise of being thrown into the river from the wharf following event wins at Mundaka, since the events inception in 1999.

ASP president and 1978 world surfing champion Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew said Mundaka is crucial to the ASP World Tour.

"ASP International is delighted to see the return of the Billabong Pro Mundaka following a one year hiatus,” said Bartholomew. “The fears associated with the temporary disintegration of the fabled river mouth sandbar have been allayed, the result being the world’s best surfers once again gracing this world class surfing arena."

Reid Pinder, Brand Manager of Billabong Europe said bringing the tour back to the Basque region of Spain is beneficial not only to the ASP tour but vital for surfing in Europe. "Returning to Mundaka for the Billabong Pro event is great news for all involved,” said Pinder. It was definitely a hard decision to cancel last years event, since then we have not stopped monitoring the situation.”

“It's great to see Mundaka pumping again and that Mother Nature could restore what human hands had wrecked. On behalf of Billabong, I would like to thank the ASP and the WCT surfers for their patience in a wave like Mundaka and expressing so much interest in its progress. We look forward in returning the WCT event back to its natural home in the Basque Country, at Europe's best left.”

“Billabong would especially like to thank Mundaka, the town and the surf club, for their concern, support and commitment in bringing back such a special event to their beautiful home."

The world’s top 45 surfers hold Mundaka in high regard, a favourite stop among many for the unique local culture, epic waves, beautiful scenery and friendly nature of the Basque people.

“When Mundaka was called off I couldn’t believe it,” said three times world champion Andy Irons (Kauai). “Mundaka is such a good wave and the place is so beautiful; I wasn’t really sure of what happened to the wave, with the dredging and the sand bank, and how long it would take to return, so I was really bummed.”

“I was hanging out with Occy at the time and he was the same,” said Irons. “That’s his spot down there, he’s the man, he’s kind of the unofficial Mayor of the place. When he shows up, everybody comes to see him, they know about his first name! He loves it, and he surfs the wave like no one else.”

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