Ado, a former ASP Women’s World Junior champion (2009) and multiple regional champion, delivered all her talent to make her way through to the final of the event, posting a near perfect 9.33 point ride in the Semifinals to make her intentions clear. Second until the last two minutes of the final behind Arnaud, Ado came back with a solid 7.33 score to take the lead and secure both event and ASP regional crowns.

“It’s so good to win an event and I wasn’t really hoping for much coming here so it makes it just great,” Ado said. “I’ve been training hard to surf more vertical and fast and I found my rhythm well despite the small conditions so it is great to see it pays off. Now knowing I am qualified for the ASP World Junior Tour is just icing on the cake. I am super stoked !”

Ado, much expected in Lacanau and coming from a convincing equal 5th finish in the ASP 6-Star event in the Azores, has confirmed she is France’s best chance towards the highest international level of surfing, the ASP Women’s World title race she hopes to qualify for this year.

“Coming from a good run in the 6-Star brought me confidence for sure and I am really excited to get back amongst the ASP World Junior Tour to try and get the title back after my win in 2009 and my equal 3rd finish this in January this year,” Ado said. “I am more focused on the ASP Star events now but to add a junior title is so good because it is the best encouraging thing to keep going in my career.”

With the ASP Regional Junior Women’s title in reach of all four finalists, the 30-minute decider was under pressure with the four French athletes seizing any opportunity to get points under their belt. Placing runner-up in the event and on the overall ASP European Women’s junior ratings, Arnaud will fly the French flag along with Ado in the upcoming ASP World Junior Tour events.

“Runner-up is never cool but I had a great run this year and this is what I’ll keep,” Arnaud said. “The waves were not easy to deal with but I felt I was surfing good and I couldn’t do much more in the final. “I am happy to finish the year off well and go into the ASP World Junior Tour for my last opportunity.”

Arnaud, one of France’s best female surfers, has yet to shine on the international stage before moving on to the ASP Star series where she will compete full time next year and will try not to miss any opportunity in Bali and Narabeen taking place respectively in October and January.

“I’ll be going for the title for sure but I know it’s a hard one,” Arnaud said. “I’ve trained hard despite a weak knee and surfed a lot this summer so I’ll keep on with this and try and wrap-up my Junior career as best as I can.”

The 2010 Oakley Pro Junior saw the crowning of the ASP European Junior Champions and is now followed by the ASP 6-Star Sooruz Lacanau Pro starting Tuesday.

– Press info ASP Europe / www.aspeurope.com