The 2021-2022 European Qualifying Series officially launched in August, and though the opening event was in theory the Rip Curl Pro Anglet, things didn't go quite as planned and now the actual first event will be the upcoming Men's QS5,000 and Women's QS3,000 Azores Airlines Pro.
The QS is where surfers battle in their own region, through the year, to earn a spot on the Challenger Series and fight for a chance at the big leagues, the Championship Tour. Multiple events, multiple destinations, various categories will award you a certain amount of points and by the end of the season the Top 9 Men (+1 Wildcard) and Top 7 Women (+1 Wildcard) will qualify for the 2022 Challenger Series.
Pressure's ON as each result count and the end of the qualifying season is set for April 10th, 2022.
Event Information
Stop No.2 of (likely) 6 on the European Qualifying Series, the Azores Airlines Pro will award 5,000 and 3,000 to the men and women's winners respectively. The 112-Men and 56-Women fields are filled with the very best of European surfing, experienced tour pros and up-and-coming juniors in the hunt.
Frederico Morais (PRT) Winner - WSL / Laurent Masurel
The top seeds already entered include European Champions Vasco Ribeiroand Leticia Canales Bilbao, the likes of Joan Duru, Ramzi Boukhiam, Kauli Vaast, Pauline Ado, Vahine Fierro and more.
Break Dynamics
Do we still need to introduce the Azores? Most will have seen footage of it over the years, a lucky few might even have traveled there and surfed its incredible spots. Right in the middle of the Atlantic, the archipelago consists of lush green, volcanic islands, much-like a European Hawaii and boasts a coastline battered by swells from all directions.
Lineup Azores - WSL
Sao Miguel is the largest of the 9 main islands and has been hosting QS events for years and even the World Masters Championships, showing the world how beautiful and surf-friendly its coast is with waves for surfers of all levels. Volcanoes, hot springs, lakes and fishing villages make a visit on the island an unforgettable experience.
AzoresMastersPR - WSL
Praia de Santa Barbara is a classic black-sand beachbreak with powerful waves, often tubular and that can handle some decent size. Highlights of past years include incredible barrels from some of the world's best surfers, crazy air sections and beautiful walls to carve on.
History
The World Surf League (formerly ASP) has been coming to Azores since 2009, and returns each year to this iconic archipelago that has become a staple on the European tour.
Epic battles have gone down in Azores in the past and the event has helped countless surfers qualify for the Championship Tour as a QS6,000, QS10,000, Prime, but it has also hosted junior categories, the World Masters Championships and other non-professional surfing events.
Frederico Morais (PRT) Winner - WSL / Laurent Masurel
The last winner of a QS there is none other than World No.10 Frederico Morais, and the list of past winners is prestigious with Yago Dora, Justine Dupont, Ian Gouveia, Jack Freestone, Jesse Mendes, Tomas Hermes, Bianca Buitendag, Messias Felix, C.J. Hobgood, Laura Enever.
When?
The Azores Islands Pro will unfold from November 1-6, 2021 and will be webcast LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.
In the meantime check out this selection of images from 2019 >>
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Wave and line-up
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Frederico Morais (PRT) is the winner of the Azores Airlines Pro 20019 and Mitch Crews (AUS) is the runner-up WSL / Masurel
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Gatien Delahaye (FRA) WSL / Masurel
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Jack Robinson (AUS) WSL / Masurel
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Joshua Moniz (HAW) WSL / Masurel
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Luel Felipe (BRA) WSL / Masurel
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Marcos Correa (BRA) WSL / Masurel
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Maxime Huscenot (FRA) WSL / Masurel
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Michael February (ZAF) WSL / Masurel
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Samuel Pupo (BRA) WSL / Masurel
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Miguel Pupo (BRA) WSL / Masurel
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Line-up WSL / Masurel
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Reef Heazlewood (AUS) WSL / Masurel
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Eric Rebiere (FRA) WSL / Masurel
- WSL / Laurent Masurel
Essentials: What You Need To Know About The 2021 Azores Airlines Pro
WSL
The 2021-2022 European Qualifying Series officially launched in August, and though the opening event was in theory the Rip Curl Pro Anglet, things didn't go quite as planned and now the actual first event will be the upcoming Men's QS5,000 and Women's QS3,000 Azores Airlines Pro.
The QS is where surfers battle in their own region, through the year, to earn a spot on the Challenger Series and fight for a chance at the big leagues, the Championship Tour. Multiple events, multiple destinations, various categories will award you a certain amount of points and by the end of the season the Top 9 Men (+1 Wildcard) and Top 7 Women (+1 Wildcard) will qualify for the 2022 Challenger Series.
Pressure's ON as each result count and the end of the qualifying season is set for April 10th, 2022.
Event Information
Stop No.2 of (likely) 6 on the European Qualifying Series, the Azores Airlines Pro will award 5,000 and 3,000 to the men and women's winners respectively. The 112-Men and 56-Women fields are filled with the very best of European surfing, experienced tour pros and up-and-coming juniors in the hunt.
The top seeds already entered include European Champions Vasco Ribeiroand Leticia Canales Bilbao, the likes of Joan Duru, Ramzi Boukhiam, Kauli Vaast, Pauline Ado, Vahine Fierro and more.
Break Dynamics
Do we still need to introduce the Azores? Most will have seen footage of it over the years, a lucky few might even have traveled there and surfed its incredible spots. Right in the middle of the Atlantic, the archipelago consists of lush green, volcanic islands, much-like a European Hawaii and boasts a coastline battered by swells from all directions.
Sao Miguel is the largest of the 9 main islands and has been hosting QS events for years and even the World Masters Championships, showing the world how beautiful and surf-friendly its coast is with waves for surfers of all levels. Volcanoes, hot springs, lakes and fishing villages make a visit on the island an unforgettable experience.
Praia de Santa Barbara is a classic black-sand beachbreak with powerful waves, often tubular and that can handle some decent size. Highlights of past years include incredible barrels from some of the world's best surfers, crazy air sections and beautiful walls to carve on.
History
The World Surf League (formerly ASP) has been coming to Azores since 2009, and returns each year to this iconic archipelago that has become a staple on the European tour.
Epic battles have gone down in Azores in the past and the event has helped countless surfers qualify for the Championship Tour as a QS6,000, QS10,000, Prime, but it has also hosted junior categories, the World Masters Championships and other non-professional surfing events.
The last winner of a QS there is none other than World No.10 Frederico Morais, and the list of past winners is prestigious with Yago Dora, Justine Dupont, Ian Gouveia, Jack Freestone, Jesse Mendes, Tomas Hermes, Bianca Buitendag, Messias Felix, C.J. Hobgood, Laura Enever.
When?
The Azores Islands Pro will unfold from November 1-6, 2021 and will be webcast LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.
In the meantime check out this selection of images from 2019 >>
Vahine Fierro
Tahiti's Vahine Fierro starts her Saquarema campaign with an impressive first heat but will need to keep this winning streak alive if she
Tahiti's own, Vahine Fierro, takes down World No. 1 Carissa Moore with back-to-back Quarterfinal wins at home over the 5x World Champ.
Local wildcard threat Vahine Fierro utilized her knowledge of the reef and wave selection to post an impressive 7.50 over 2x World Champ
As we head into the 4th stop on the Challenger Series at the Wallex US Open Presented by Pacifico, take a look at the top 5 of our Women's
The Tahitian goofyfooter Vahine Fierro sets the tone on Finals Day with a dynamic Semifinal win for her first Challenger Series Final.
Azores Airlines Pro
Two Wins and a Quarterfinal in 4 events crowned Reunion Island's Maxime Huscenot as the 2021/22 European QS Winner!
Maxime Huscenot and Teresa Bonvalot come out on top of a stacked finals day to claim their second tour win.
And then there were 8.
Only 8 surfers remain as the Azores Airlines Pro wraps up the quarterfinals in super fun conditions again and surfers make their way into
Pressure builds as we approach the final rounds of the Men's QS5,000 and Women's QS3,000 Azores Airlines Pro.