- WSL / aquashot
- WSL / aquashot

After a three-year hiatus, the quiet little Basque town returns to the Qualifying Series with a men and women's QS1,000 event to be held from March 31 - April 3, 2016.

Second stop on the European schedule, the Pro Zarautz will reignite the exciting battles that started in Israel two weeks ago and count towards the regional rankings that will ultimately crown the European Champions.

"It is with great pleasure that the WSL returns to Zarautz for this combined QS1,000 event," Rob Gunning, European Tour Manager stated. "The entire town is surf pumped and to bring an international surfing event here again is an honor. Zarautz is home to many incredible surfers and has a very strong base of young competitors coming through the ranks which this event will help to nurture."

In 2012, Zarautz was home to the last WSL event (then ASP) to date, crowning Moroccan up-and-coming talent Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) in classic summer conditions.

A long history of competitive surfing in the Basque Country has seen some of surfing's greatest battle it out in Zarautz, whilst encouraging local surfers to compete and travel the World through both the QS and Championship Tours. Most notably, Aritz Aranburu (ESP) hailed from the area and made it onto the World stage, competing against the sport's elite up until 2014.

"I'm happy to have a contest in Zarautz again, it may be a small QS event but it means a lot for the city and the people here," Aranburu said. "Growing up in this town I used to see all the pros come and do their thing. It really put a mark on my mind back in the days. Hopefully all the new generations appreciate the event and learn a lot from it."

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