Pro Anglet Launches in Pumping Surf

Highlights: Day 1 Pumps at Pro Anglet

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Men's first two rounds completed in excellent surf at the iconic Chambre d'Amour.

The inaugural Pro Anglet, a men and women's QS1,500 launched today in decreasing, 5-to-8-foot surf at La Chambre d'Amour and completed the opening two rounds of the men's competition.

Andy Criere (FRA) 20, took top honors with a solid 14.83 heat total in Round 2 and displayed his signature sharp, open-face turns on the clean, Anglet waves. Coming off a recent equal third place result in Chile, Criere's meticulous approach was highly appreciated by both the judges and large crowds gathered on the beach and nearby promenade.

The kind of lefts Criere is fond of. - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"It was a good start for me today," Criere said. "The first heat this morning gave me confidence and I was comfortable out there. That left is fun, but waves here change a lot with the varying tides and you have to be smart and make the right decisions. It's good to be home while competing, sleeping in your own bed is extra nice."

Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA) 23, dominated his two 25-minute bouts on Day 1 to make his way into the third round of competition and get closer to his goal of joining the event's top seeds in the lineup.

Laborde slides into the green room early morning. - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"I want to win more heats and surf against my friends and the best surfers like Joan (Duru (FRA)), Marc (Lacomare (FRA)) and everyone," Laborde said. "I'm from Seignosse and I've been training and competing here for a long time, I know the waves and I know the tricky high tide. I'm happy to be back in the water here again."

The polished forehand approach of Laborde in this morning's barreling conditions earned him the second highest combined heat total of the event so far. Building up on today's performance, Laborde will want to keep his momentum going when the event resumes on Wednesday.

"I started early this morning and it was pretty meaty and not easy to surf, but I got a nice barrel on my first wave," Laborde continued. "It was a tough heat, Roberto (D'Amico (ITA)) had a 9.00 and Jatyr (Berasaluce (EUK)) has two good scores but I managed to stay ahead. This afternoon was easier to surf on the high tide, I got a fun couple of waves and am super happy to survive day 1."

Nomme Mignot (FRA), 18, recent runner-up of the Soöruz Lacanau Pro, kept the ball rolling into the opening day of competition in Anglet, to easily advance into the second round. The powerful goofyfooter particularly enjoyed the conditions with long lefts rolling into the crowded beach for his heat.

Mignot lies into a big layback turn. - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"I'm so relaxed coming here, I haven't really come down from all the excitement of last week and am still just really enjoying myself and not thinking too much about competition," Mignot admitted. "Today's a beautiful day, it's sunny and warm, the waves are pumping and I'm stoked to be close to home and having fun in quality surf."

Official forecaster of the Pro Anglet, Surf Report, has refined their predictions, expecting a west/northwest, 5-foot swell on Wednesday morning, with light cross-shore winds in the morning, building in the afternoon before easing again late afternoon and switching to the north/northwest.

Event officials and surfers will reconvene at 7 a.m. Wednesday for a potential launch of the women's event or the start of the men's third round.