Pauline Ado Gets The Job Done In Spain At The Pro Zarautz

PAULINE ADO IS STILL HUNGRY TO BE THE BEST

EVENT //  Pro Zarautz pres. by Oakley 

Pauline Ado of France spent five years on the world championship tour (WCT). After failing to requalify for another season she’s putting her head down on the qualifying series to build her points in an effort to find her way back to the dream tour in 2019.

As the top 17 women in the world arrived at Margaret River in Western Australia, their former competitor Pauline, now 27 years old, was contesting the final in Spain for the Pro Zarautz presented by Oakley in which she was determined to win for the second time after her 2016 sucess.

As it stands, all the best European surfers made sure to be in the draw for this WQS 1500 event with not only points to assist with the international qualifying series rankings but also the European rankings. Many of the women having just returned from the Australian and Caribbean leg of the tour are now back in steamers in the European spring.

After a tough final against Letitia Canales Bilbao Pauline claimed her second victory at Zarautz, just ten Kilometers from San Sebastion in Basque Country.

“I’m super happy, I haven’t had great results in recent events so this feels really good,” Pauline said. “I really love this place, the people and the waves so it feels great to win again here. I love trying to improve myself in every way, surfing, physical and mental strength so that’s what keeps me going. I still have a lot of fun in my heats too.

“Obviously my goal is to re-qualify,” she added. “I haven’t had the best season on tour last year and I feel like I could have done so much better. Hopefully this win gives me a good boost and I can go and get more points on the bigger events.”

Unfortunate in the final, local Basque surfer Leticia Canales Bilbao had a good run through the earlier rounds and built momentum with each heat surfed. Runner-up in Pantin three years ago, she equalled her best-ever result with a second place today.

“I found some waves but I was really cold in the end and couldn’t really surf like I wanted,” she said. “It’s a pity because I’ve surfed better and better throughout the event. I wanted the ‘txapela’ (traditional Basque hat for the winner) but it wasn’t meant for me today. We were unlucky because the wind came up strong during the finals. I got a few waves but Pauline surfed better than me… This is part of the competition!”

The win for Pauline has moved her into 14th position on the WQS leaderboard.

PRO ZARAUTZ WOMEN’S FINAL RESULTS:

1 – Pauline Ado (FRA) 10.67
2 – Leticia Canales Bilbao (EUK) 7.57

PRO ZARAUTZ WOMEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:

SF 1: Pauline Ado (FRA) 13.10 def. Garazi Sanchez-Ortun (EUK) 9.07
SF 2: Leticia Canales Bilbao (EUK) 13.10 def. Camilla Kemp (PRT) 12.50

European Women’s QS Top 5:

1 – Pauline Ado (FRA)
2 – Camilla Kemp (PRT)
3 – Garazi Sanchez-Ortun (EUK)
4 – Marion Philippe (PYF)
5 – Leticia Canales Bilbao (EUK)

Mikaela Greene by WSL/Poullenot

Garazi Sanchez-Ortun by WSL/Poullenot