What: Oakley Pro Junior, ASP Grade 1 Women’s Junior Event
Where: Lacanau Ocean, France
When: 7-10 August 2008

French surfing sensation Pauline Ado, 17, clinched the Oakley Pro Junior in solid 5-6 foot waves at Lacanau in France yesterday. Ado defeated reigning ASP European Women’s champ Lee Ann Curren, current junior ratings leader Joahnne Defay and Marie Dejean in a 100% French final.

Ado, who ended up winning with a a score of just 7.83 out of 20 due to the testing conditions, was a standout in the event, defending her podium spot with solid surfing. “It was really difficult to express my skills out there and I am a bit disappointed with my scores,” Ado said. ” Lee Ann dominated the whole final but I was lucky in the end.” Ado now remains in contention for a possible second consecutive ASP European Junior title.

Lee Ann Curren, 19, had to get through a 6-heat marathon-day to make the final, missing the crown by just 0.15 points. Curren posted both highest heat result of 17.33 out of 20 and a perfect 10.00 point ride during the proceedings, but couldn’t quite clinch the final. “I knew I had to find the best position and I chose the outside,” Curren said. “The waves doubled throughout the day and it was very hard to find big scores. I had to change boards to adapt but it did not pay off in the end.” Curren, who has competed in just two events this year, now sits at No.12 on the regional ratings and will need big results in a bid to bag a junior title at the end of the year.

Europe’s best under-21 competitors will meet next week end in Hourtin, France, for the ASP Grade-2 Kana Miss Cup Pro Junior, Stop No. 5 of 8 on the ASP European Women’s Pro Junior tour.

FINAL
Heat : Pauline Ado (FRA) 7.83 pts, Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 7.67 pts, Joahnne Defay (FRA), 3.73 pts, Marie Dejean

SEMIFINALS
Heat 1: Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 7.34 pts, Pauline Ado (FRA) 4.97 pts, Cannelle Bulard (FRA) 3.80 pts, Joahnne Panzini
Heat 2: Joahnne Defay (FRA) 9.33 pts, Marie Dejean (FRA) 7.20 pts, Nikita Robb (FRA) 6.23 pts, Alizée Arnaud

QUARTERFINALS
Heat 1: Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 6.00 pts, Cannelle Bulard (FRA) 3.10 pts, Francesca de Santos (PRT) 2.47 pts, Alix Cranet
Heat 2: Pauline Ado (FRA) 6.27 pts, Joahnne Panzini (FRA) 5.50 pts, Merril Delanne (FRA) 0.77 pts, Garazi Sanchez
Heat 3: Joahnne Defay (FRA) 7.73 pts, Alizée Arnaud (FRA) 6.76 pts, Justine Dupont (FRA) 2.00 pts, Marjolaine Ado
Heat 4: Nikita Robb (FRA) 10.10 pts, Marie Dejean (FRA) 6.74 pts, Fransisca Sousa (PRT) 6.60 pts, Camille Davila