Moore Claims Third Win at Roxy Pro France, Solidifies Rankings Lead

Medina Retains Jeep Leader Jersey heading into Penultimate Stop in Portugal

SEIGNOSSE / HOSSEGOR / CAPBRETON, Landes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (Friday, October 11, 2019) – Jeremy Flores (FRA) and Carissa Moore (HAW) have won the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro France in (historic fashion) today, claiming victory in the Final bouts against Italo Ferreira (BRA) and Caroline Marks (USA) held in firing surf at the infamous La Graviere tubes.

Stops No. 8 and 9 on the women and men’s 2019 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) respectively, the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro France, have been graced with excellent conditions, and featured amazing performances on both the thumping shore break of La Graviere and the long open walls of La Nord. The events culminated on a picture-perfect beach day in France to crown Flores and Moore in Hossegor.

Flores Makes History as First French Surfer to Win in Hossegor

Local hero Jeremy Flores (FRA) claimed a historic first win for a French surfer at the Quiksilver Pro France in his 14th appearance on home soil. Hailed as one of the best tube riders in the world, Flores demonstrated the immensity of his talent under the lip on Finals day today, locking in big numbers in four consecutive heats with barrels on his way to victory.

“Congrats to all the finalists today,” he continued. “And especially the girls, you guys stepped it up at La Graviere and that was amazing to watch. I honestly thought the day I win this event I’d retire straight after because that’s the one event I have dreamt of winning. But this feels a little early and I’ll be back next year to try and win another one!”

The Frenchman claims a career-fourth CT event win in the beach breaks that revealed him to the world and moves up to 9th on the Jeep leaderboard with his performance in Hossegor. His path to the Final today included victories over World No. 3 Jordy Smith (ZAF), last year’s event runner-up Ryan Callinan (AUS), Jack Freestone (AUS) and Ferreira in the last heat. Flores repeatedly found the best waves in his home lineup and posted huge numbers for his technical tube rides.

In the Final, Flores once again pulled the trigger first with a near-perfect barrel scored 9.67 in the opening three minutes of the exchange. Under pressure right away, Ferreira couldn’t quite select the right waves and despite a few attempts, only had minimal scores on the board for the majority of the heat. His required score of 9.51 to overtake Flores meant the Brasilian was never met and Ferreira had to settle for the runner-up spot.

Ferreira’s path to the Final started with a challenge in Round 4 when he took on Michel Bourez (FRA) in the big open walls of La Nord this morning. In the Quarterfinals, he then faced off his closest rival in the rankings in former World No. 4 Kolohe Andino (USA), and finally eliminated Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) in the Semis. The Brasilian claims a second runner-up finish this season and climbed up to fourth on the Jeep leaderboard to close the gap with Toledo and Smith.

“I’m so glad to have made a Final with Jeremy and congrats to him,” said Ferreira. “It’s been a crazy week for me and this is dedicated to my uncle who passed away a couple of days ago, life is crazy. I’m excited to go down to Portugal for the next event.”

“It’s been a pretty special year so far,” said Moore. “I feel like I’m learning so much, every step of the way, at every event and every year. This was definitely a special event, being able to share it with my husband and Mitch Ross, I have an incredible team of people behind me, my family and friends, my sponsors and the fans who were incredible.”

The current Jeep Yellow Leader Jersey Moore came into the Final against Caroline Marks (USA), bearing the confidence of two previous wins in Hossegor and it showed when the Hawaiian stepped up her game to start locking in deep La Graviere barrels. Moore started on her forehand with a clean tube scored 8.60 to take a strong lead. While Marks struggled to find her own waves, Moore continued to build momentum and eventually found an even bigger, longer and more technical barrel on her backhand this time to belt a 9.00 point ride and take the event out.

“It was so cool I’ve actually never spent much time surfing La Graviere,” she continued. “I didn’t have any expectations and when I got those two barrels I was elated and to share it with the crowds that were just a few feet away from me was special. ”

After a breakout rookie season last year, Caroline Marks (USA) continues to impress with dominant performances in all types of conditions as she demonstrated in France this past week. She earlier eliminated the 2018 event winner Courtney Conlogue (USA), and local favorite Johanne Defay (FRA) on her way to the Final. This result pushes the 17-year-old American up to 4th on the Jeep Leaderboard.

“It’s been an unreal event,” said Marks. “Thank’s to all the fans and congratulations to Jeremy, Italo and Carissa, it’s been such an incredible event and thank’s everyone from Roxy for their awesome support. I’m super stoked.”

Event favorite Johanne Defay (FRA) was forced out right before the Final in the second Semi, unable to replicate the deep tubes she found at La Graviere earlier this week. Marks got the better turns in the critical sections to eliminate the Reunion Island surfer in Equal 3rd.

In the men’s Semis, local hero Flores put on an absolute clinic in the first Semi and gave Jack Freestone (AUS) no room to breathe as he threaded the deep tubes to post an incredible 16.33 total. The Australian did post his season-best result with Equal 3rd in France.

In the second Semi, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) got his incredible return from injury campaign stopped by Ferreira. The Italian reached the Semis for the first time in his young career and will carry huge confidence into the remaining events of 2019.

The day’s biggest upset was the current Jeep Yellow Jersey Gabriel Medina (BRA)’s elimination in the Round of 16 this morning, the Brasilian’s worst-ever result in France, an event he’s won three times and made the Final five times. The Brasilian still retains the rankings lead heading into Portugal and Hawaii, two events he has won in the past as well.

2019 Men’s Championship Tour Jeep Leaderboard Following Quiksilver Pro France:

1. Gabriel Medina (BRA) – 48,015
2. Filipe Toledo (BRA) – 45,730
3. Jordy Smith (ZAF) – 43,515
4. Italo Ferreira (BRA) – 42,400
5. Kolohe Andino (USA) – 41,250

2019 Women’s Championship Tour Jeep Leaderboard Following Roxy Pro France:

1. Carissa Moore (HAW) – 57,260
2. Lakey Peterson (USA) – 49,935
3. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) – 46,815
4. Caroline Marks (USA) – 46,020
5. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) – 40,855

The next stop on the 2019 CT is the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, which holds a competitive window from October 16 – 28, 2019 and will for the first time ever feature both men and women.

The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL’s Facebook page, and the WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

Roxy Pro France Final Results:
1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 17.60
2 – Caroline Marks (USA) 7.00

Roxy Pro France Semifinal  Results:
SF 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 9.83 def. Lakey Peterson (USA) 3.66
SF 2: Caroline Marks (USA) 12.887 def. Johanne Defay (FRA) 7.06

Quiksilver Pro France Final Results:
1 – Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.00
2 – Italo Ferreira (BRA) 8.23

Quiksilver Pro France Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.33 def. Jack Freestone (AUS) 4.73
SF 2: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 11.60 def. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 10.83

Quiksilver Pro France Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.40 def. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.17
QF 2: Jack Freestone (AUS) 13.00 def. Marc Lacomare (FRA) 12.84
QF 3: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 13.30 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.00
QF 4: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.93 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 11.36

Quiksilver Pro France Round of 16 (Round 4) Match-Ups:
HEAT 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.50 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 6.67
HEAT 2: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 14.17 def. Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 12.83
HEAT 3: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 8.87 def. Wade Carmichael (AUS) 8.63
HEAT 4: Jack Freestone (AUS) 12.33 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 10.33
HEAT 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.00 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 9.50
HEAT 6: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 11.77 def. Seth Moniz (HAW) 8.83
HEAT 7: Kolohe Andino (USA) 10.33 def. Yago Dora (BRA) 6.00
HEAT 8: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.84 def. Michel Bourez (FRA) 8.06

More available at WorldSurfLeague.com.