2 from 2 for Bianca

Bianca defeated Cannelle Bulard, from Reunion Island, who is also 18, making it two from two since the beginning of the European season after the South African's win earlier this year in Vendee.

Californian Courtney Conlogue, 19, won the main event - the ASP 6-Star Swatch Girls Pro France. She defeated Paige Hareb, 22, from New Zealand, in windy 2-3' waves after perfect conditions greeted competitors in the morning.

Buitendag had a difficult road to victory facing Leila Hurst (HAW) in the semis, and Johanne Defay (FRA) in the quarters but managed to always step it up and take a little advantage over her opponents. With the second best scoring wave of the event and some of the highest heat totals of the week, Buitendag proved once again to be one of the strongest Junior surfers in the World and will leave France satisfied with her performance.

“It took so long to get a visa I don’t know how long it’ll take to have the french passport but yeah I do love France, it’s been good to me so far! I plan on doing the full tour here in Europe and I’m also going to Peru soon for a Star event.”

Tanika Hoffman (Kommetjie) was the next best placed South African in the Pro Junior event, finishing ninth overall after winning her first two heats and posting the highest heat total of the entire event in Round 1.

Sarah Baum (Athlone Park) was the top SA campaigner in the 6-Star Swatch Girls Pro France, which was won by Courtenay Conlogue (USA). Baum finished equal ninth overall, collecting $900 and 920 points which moved her up to No. 14 on the ASP Women’s Star rankings, one place behind Buitendag, who placed 25th in the 6-Star event that ran in conjunction with the Pro Junior contest.

In the final, the last European standing Bulard stuck to her plan of selecting waves carefully despite difficult conditions brought by a strong onshore wind, and surfed a strong wave scored 6.60 but was unable to find a second high scoring wave for the remainder of the heat.

“It was a long final of 25 minutes,” said Buitendag. “I got my two good scores in the first few minutes so I kind of relaxed a bit but I had to keep an eye on Cannelle during the whole final! She only needed a small score in the end so she could have got it easily.”

In the main event, Conlogue started off strong in the final with an 8.83 for a combination of two strong maneuvers on a running righthander and kept the lead throughout the clash, further consolidating her dominance with a 7.00 out of 10. Conlogue was the most in form surfer today scoring the only perfect 10 point ride of the event and kept building momentum until the final.

“The final went really well and conditions definitely got super tricky towards the end there,” said Conlogue. “I just tried to go on a few waves and stick to the wall it was a lot of trouble out there but I’m super stoked to have won. I was just really trying hard to do well in this event having done it for the last three years. I really wanted it and hopefully it’ll be a good boost for Biarritz.”

The young Californian, who is currently ranked 4th on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, has gained consistency this season and is looking strong for the 2012 back end of the year’s ASP World Title race. Number one surfer on the Swatch Pro Team, Conlogue already placed third in last year’s edition of the Swatch Girls Pro France and climbed up a couple spots to win today.

“It’s definitely really cool to win the Swatch event” commented Conlogue. “They did such a great job this whole week. I had so much fun at this contest this year it’s probably one of my favourite contests right now. Yesterday’s beach activities I think probably amped me up to kick butt today!”

Taking her surfing to a whole new level in 2012, Courtney Conlogue consistantly stepped up her performances this week in France to claim the Swatch Girls Pro France 2012 title in a fantastic fashion.

“I’m kind of simplifying things this year, I’m not trying to make it so complicated and then I’m riding Tim Stamps surfboards which have been working really well in the beachbreaks,” Continued Conlogue. “I’ve been working with him, figuring things out and what works best in those conditions. I want to be in the Top 3 on the World Tour, that’s my goal for this year!”

Paige Hareb, was the defeated finalist today, a second place result confirming her great form this year. The goofy-footer placed third this year in New Zealand at the third stop of the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour and is enjoying her strongest season at the elite level showing once again in France that she’s a strong competitor.

“I would have liked to have won off course but this has been my best result on the Star tour since pretty much five years ago when I first started so I’m pretty happy!” said Hareb. “I’m still pretty up-and-down, I’m still trying to be more consistent with the results but yeah I was happy with that result in my hometown and this one now so hopefully I can just try to keep the ball rolling!”

Hareb, sitting in 10th position on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour rankings, has been surfing extremely strong all week, eliminating Hawaiians Alana Blanchard and recent World Junior Champion Leila Hurst on her way to the final. Hareb found two good waves in the final and had a heat total that would have seen her win many other heats of the event, but just fell short against an unbeatable Conlogue.

“I’m just having fun and not really thinking about it too much and it just sort of happens” Hareb stated. “I love France. I got fifth here last year and now this result, plus I love the food and the people so I’ll be back for sure !”

All results, photos, videos, news available through www.swatchgirlspro.com

SWATCH GIRLS PRO FRANCE FINAL

1- Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.83
2- Paige Hareb (NZL) 13.33

SWATCH GIRLS PRO FRANCE SEMI-FINALS

Heat 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.50 def. Sage Erickson (USA) 13.40
Heat 2: Paige Hareb (NZL) 9.33 def. Leila Hurst (HAW) 9.06

SWATCH GIRLS PRO FRANCE RD OF 12

Heat 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 17.35, Sage Erickson (USA) 15.35, Sarah Baum (ZAF) 13.60
Heat 2: Pauline Ado (FRA) 14.00, Alessa Quizon (HAW) 12.00, Cannelle Bulard (REU) 10.30
Heat 3: Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.80, Alizee Arnaud (FRA) 11.00, Malia Manuel (HAW) 6.35
Heat 4: Leila Hurst (HAW) 14.55, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 13.25, Suelen Naraisa (BRA) 8.20

SWATCH GIRLS PRO FRANCE JUNIOR FINAL

1- Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 12.33
2- Cannelle Bulard (REU) 8.60

SWATCH GIRLS PRO FRANCE JUNIOR SEMI-FINALS

Heat 1: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 9.96 def. Leila Hurst (HAW) 9.67
Heat 2: Cannelle Bulard (REU) 12.10 def. Philippa Anderson 9.00

SWATCH GIRLS PRO FRANCE JUNIOR QUARTER-FINALS

Heat 1: Leila Hurst (HAW) 10.50 def. Lucia Martino (ESP) 8.35
Heat 2: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 11.65 def. Johanne Defay (FRA) 9.60
Heat 3: Cannelle Bulard (REU) 13.25 def. Maud Le Car (FRA) 7.25
Heat 4: Philippa Anderson (AUS) 9.75 def. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 4.50