Pro Anglet Set for Exciting Finals Day Saturday

Highlights Day 4 in Anglet

2:51

The Pro Anglet ran through both men and women's rounds to decide the last remaining contender for a potential Champ.

The Pro Anglet resumed in clean three-to-four foot surf and advanced through both men and women's rounds to set up for an exciting final day on Saturday.

Joan Duru (FRA) 26, took his game to a whole new level on day 4 and surfed an incredible heat in the quarterfinals to outsurf good friend and fellow dangerous goofyfooter Marc Lacomare (FRA), with an 18.17 heat total, the highest of the entire event so far.

Duru was on point in Anglet - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"You could tell the waves were going to turn on and I was hoping we'd get some good ones," Duru said. "I wanted to get that first good wave and priority and it just happened, then the waves just kept coming to me."

Current No.8 on the QS rankings, Duru eyes a potential qualification for the World's elite competing on the Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour, and knows all too well any competitor at this level is capable of turning the situation in their favor. Focused on the task at hand, Duru backed up his first score of 9.67 quickly and built momentum to eventually belt an 8.50 and secure his semifinal ticket.

"With my first two scores I thought I could start to have fun, but thinking about it I realized Marc could get two nines in no time and I stayed on-point to try and improve my backup until the end," Duru added. "This event is basically right at home, so even though it doesn't weigh a lot on my season tally, I still really want to win it !"

Bino Lopes (BRA) 27, was another standout in Anglet, and the last remaining international surfer in the semifinals. The talented Brazilian went heat-to-head with good friend and compatriot Robson Santos (BRA) in the opening man-on-man matchup of the day and destroyed the clean lefts on offer to qualify for the semis.

Lopes and a classic Anglet scene. - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"I'm feeling great and super stoked to get through today, I want to keep going as far as I can," Lopes said. "This place is amazing and I'm very happy to be here. Robson is a good friend of mine and an amazing surfer. I've surfed a lot of heats since I'm here in Europe cause I entered the events late and it's great to build confidence when you win heats with good scores."

In the women's event, local favourite Pauline Ado (FRA) 24, bested fellow former CT competitor Paige Hareb (NZL) 25, to logically claim a ticket for the final day of competition in Anglet.

Ado forced to go right when she was looking elsewhere. - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"A couple days ago I wasn't really satisfied with my heat and fortunately I made it through," Ado admitted. "I was really eager this morning and wanted to do well, but the conditions changed a lot and I couldn't apply the strategy I had in mind. You just have to adapt, and I'm still happy I managed to find a couple of fun waves."

Reigning WSL Women's World Junior Champion Mahina Maeda (HAW) 17, took out an all-Junior matchup for her spot in the quarters and will face nearby Hossegor's Alizé Arnaud (FRA) in an exciting matchup against the former World Junior Champion when the event resumes.

Maeda charging on her forehand. - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"Europe is such a special place I love coming here, you have so much good food and I just love the vibe here," Maeda said. "In the beginning I sat where the girls had been sitting and I realized I didn't get any score over there, so I made the change to surf more towards the north side and the jetty and found a good wave there. I'm here with Philippe Malvaux, the French Hurley team manager and he knows this place by heart so it's great him as a local feedback to help me through the contest."

Surf Report, official forecaster of the Pro Anglet, confirmed clean two-to-three foot waves for the final day on Saturday with light winds, from the morning offshore to a light afternoon summer breeze.

The final Call is set to 7AM on Saturday, to potentially crown the event champions around lunchtime.