The ASP World Tour may be having a break over Summer, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing happening in the world of surfing. More to the contrary as the World Qualifying Series is in full swing, not only giving new up and coming talents a chance to ripping their way to the top but also inviting many pros for some practice sessions over the long break.

The Billabong Azores Islands Pro is the 5th events on the Women’s tour with a 6-star status, drawing the top surfers from around the world to the Atlantic to fight for important rating points as well as 180.000 USD prize money.

Current world number two Sally Fitzgibbons, whom feature in the current issue of Cooler,  a previous multiple winner at portuguese events, along with Billabong’s Paige Hareb and Courtney Conlogue and some of the top women’s surfers, including former World Champion Sofia Mulanovich and young guns such as Coco Ho, Tyler Wright, Laura Enever (World Junior Champion), Alana Blanchard, Bethany Hamilton or Lee-Ann Curren, alongside local Portuguese surfers like Billabong team rider Joana Rocha and 2009 WQS number 20 Francisca Pereira dos Santos, will all be looking to do well this year at the event.

Watch all the action live on aspeurope.com/live or billabongpro.com