Sage Erickson (USA), 21, on the road to victory at the Cabreiroa Pantin Classic in Spain.

Credit: ASP/AQUASHOT

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Sunday, September 16, 2012) – Sage Erickson (Ventura, CA), 21, has won her second consecutive Women’s ASP 6-Star event, claiming the Cabreiroa Pantin Classic Pro over European standout Alizee Arnaud (FRA), 22, in clean three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves to take the No. 1 position on the women’s ASP World Ranking.

Erickson was a standout throughout the entirety of the Spanish event and displayed an impressive repertoire of backhand combinations on the running lefthanders of Playa De Pantin to secure her position atop the podium.

“This victory feels amazing, coming from California with a win and having so much support there and then coming here and you know the Spanish are so welcoming and their cheers have motivated me throughout the event. I’ve just been thanking God every heat, it’s been challenging conditions and he’s kind of helped me with my wave selection, so I’m just so grateful and excited to be back at number one!”

Erickson, who was responsible for several of the event’s highest scores, wasted little time in the final and built momentum in her run for the crown which culminated in a one-sided affair of Erickson’s 16.10 heat total to Arnaud’s 9.83 (both out of a possible 20).

“I’ve noticed great competitive surfers, they’ll start their heat strong with some good waves, so I think I just counted on having a quick start and then to build momentum throughout, not be chasing the scores but rather posting them early on.”

The Ventura native’s second major win marks a third consecutive standout performance among the world’s best female surfers which began at the Nike US Open of Surfing where Erickson finished equal 5th while defeating reigning ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 24. While Erickson failed to requalify for elite competition via the ASP Women’s WCT on her rookie year, her previous win in Oceanside, California coupled with her victory at the Cabreiroa Pantin Classic vaults her to the No. 1 position on the ASP Women’s World Ranking over fellow Californian Courtney Conlogue (USA), 19, to secure her position on the ASP WCT for 2013.

“Courtney is such an amazing competitor and a dear dear friend in California, and you know to be in that number one spot in the World Qualifying series is so amazing. The group of women is so prestigious and to be on top feels amazing! This is my third year coming to Pantin and it’s been an amazing experience, there’s so much natural beauty here and where I’ve been staying the people have been so welcoming and that’s been wonderful. I love Pantin and Europe and I’m so happy to finally win here!”

Erickson will compete again at the ASP 6-Star EDP Surf Pro Estoril in Lisbon, Portugal from September 21 – 23, 2012.

For highlights of the Cabreiroa Pantin Classic Pro log on to pantin.aspeurope.com

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org