What: Roxy Jam Biarritz, ASP WLT Women’s Champs
Where: Cote des Basques France
When: 11 – 16 July 2008

The Roxy ASP Women’s World Longboard Championship (WWLC), the deciding event in the race for the 2008 ASP Women’s World Longboard Title, will be held at La Côte des Basques in Biarritz, France from July 11-16, 2008.

Almost 50 of the world’s best female longboarders, each eager to seize the prestigious ASP Women’s World Longboard title, will compete in the third edition of the Roxy ASP WWLC.

Jennifer Smith (USA), reigning ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion, will be looking to defend her title at La Côte des Basques when competition commences. (Check out Jenn in action at last year’s Roxy Jam here.) Several contenders are anxious to dethrone Smith, last year’s runner-up Justine Dupont (FRA) among them, and a close battle is expected in the Southwest Coast of France.

“I guess I feel a little anxious,” Smith said. “This event in Biarritz will be the biggest surfing event of the year and the biggest event of my life if I win it. I’m definitely going for a repeat but you never know who is going to be on fire during the competition.”

Smith, 22, who was runner-up to the ASP WWLC title in 2006 before claiming the crown in 2007, knows what it takes to raise the champion’s crown and her proven prowess in Biarritz’s waves will be a crucial weapon when the event gets underway.

“I’ve been doing some training this year,” Smith said. “I have mostly just been surfing recently though but I am looking forward to competing. I absolutely enjoy every part of Biarritz, you can walk everywhere and the waves are entirely longboardable. I especially like the long days in France in the summer.”

Justine Dupont, who reached the final in what was her first ever ASP World Longboard Tour event last year, will be one of Smith’s most challenging opponents in Biarritz.

At a mere 16 years of age, the rising star from Lacanau (two hours North to Biarritz) is now seen as a potential world champion and her second appearance in the Roxy Jam will be much anticipated by the local crowd. Dupont defeated several of the world’s best female longboarders on her way to the 2007 final, finishing ahead of favorites like Chelsea Williams (AUS) who placed equal 3rd.

Janna Irons (HAW), who also finished equal 3rd in 2007, will not attend the Roxy Jam this year. Irons, who remains a favorite at every ASP Longboard events she goes to, leaves an open door for potential world title contenders.

The Roxy ASP WWLC has become the biggest gathering of female longboarding talent on the planet and dedicated French summer crowds will once again answer the call. “Roxy is proud to present the third edition of the ASP Women’s World Longboard Championships and to be the deciding event in the race to the 2008 world title,” said Roxy Summer Marketing Manager Anne Mollet.

“Roxy, since its creation, has been supporting female surfing and longboarding and by organizing such a major event for women only, contributes to bringing more and more girls to this sport where grace and style keep the original values of surfing alive.”

Here’s how the rankings stand…
2007 ASP Women’s WLC Top 3
1. Jenifer Smith (USA)
2. Justine Dupont (FRA)
=3. Janna Irons (HAW)
=3. Chesea Williams (AUS)