Nikki Van Dijk of Austrailia wins the Swatch Girls Pro France and runner-up Mahina Maeda was awarded the wildcard place for the Swatch Women’s Pro in Trestles. The 19-year-old Australian defeated Maeda to take the US $8,000 first prize and 3,500 Qualifying Series (QS) ranking points.
“It was a difficult final with not a lot of waves and I really needed the ranking points so this win means a lot to me,” said Van Dijk. “I have had an amazing week in France, with both my little brother and big sister here and we have been surfing every day. The best thing though has been the crowds. They cheered me on before and after all my heats, something I have never felt before. The whole experience has been incredible.”
Maeda’s runner-up placing capped a fantastic week for the 16-year-old Ha-waiian. Not only did she secure her best ever career result, she also came third in the Pro Junior and received the coveted wildcard position into the Swatch Women’s Pro Trestles, an ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) event that starts on September 9, 2014. Maeda won the wildcard spot and an all expense paid trip to California for being the highest placed surfer in the event currently not on the WCT.
“It’s hard to believe that I made it to the final and received a spot to my first ever WCT event,” said Maeda. “I have grown up on the North Shore of Oahu watching great surfers like Carissa Moore, Coco Ho and Alessa Quizon, so to be able to compete against them in a few weeks is great. My dream is to one day make the WCT and to be given the experience now by Swatch is mind-blowing.”
News and Photos: Swatch Girl Pro News
