Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri and Adur Amatriain from the Basque Country (EUK) won the Pro Taghazout Bay, a QS 4,000 surfing event on the World Surf League (WSL) tour, after a week of tough competition.
The finals were at Anza, with three- to four-foot waves giving surfers lots of chances to score on both left and right breaks. Picking the right waves and performing bold moves was key. The event was part of both the European and African QS circuits. It was the last European QS stop of the 2025/2026 season and the second-to-last for Africa.
Etxabarri, who came into the event ranked third, finally took the top spot a year after finishing as runner-up in 2025. Her season included four finals, third place at the Saquarema Pro Challenger Series, and a gold medal at the World Surfing Games in El Salvador. Her last QS win was in 2023 at Pantin. This victory also secures her the 2025/2026 QS Europe title and a spot in the 2026 Challenger Series.
“I’m so happy to win here,” said Etxabarri. “After coming back from an injury that kept me out of the last two Challenger Series events, this win and the title feel amazing. I’m ready for the new season and excited to compete full-time with the Basque team.”
In the final, Etxabarri built her lead with strong moves on key sections, including a right-hand wave scored 8.00 out of 10. She stayed in control against Britain’s Alys Barton, who couldn’t catch up, finishing with 14.83 out of 20. Barton, reaching her first QS final since Caparica last year, moved from 12th to fifth overall.
Adur Amatriain also surfed brilliantly all week. Coached by Basque legend Aritz Aranburu, he stayed calm under pressure, beating France’s Justin Becret in a close semi-final and Spain’s Conor Donegan Dos Santos in the final. Entering the event 25th in the rankings, he finished with 13.40 points and claimed the QS Europe title.
“I knew I needed a good result to qualify for the Challenger Series, but I didn’t expect to win the European title too,” said Amatriain. “It’s a great surprise and I’m really excited for the next season.”
Dos Santos, in his first QS final, also recorded his best result so far and looks likely to be a serious contender in the QS circuit soon.
Challenger Series qualifiers confirmed
The European QS season is over, and the top seven men and top four women automatically qualify for the 2026 Challenger Series. The qualifiers are:
Men: Adur Amatriain (EUK), Guilherme Ribeiro (POR), Ido Hagag (WRL), Yago Dominguez (EUK), Sean Gunning (ESP), Conor Donegan Dos Santos (ESP), Tiago Carrique (FRA).
Women: Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK), Maria Salgado (POR), Alys Barton (GBR), Ariane Ochoa (EUK). Wildcards are still to be announced.
The African QS circuit continues with the Royal St Andrews Rip Curl Cup QS 4,000 in Port Alfred, South Africa, from 3 to 6 April 2026.
Taghazout Bay and WSL
Taghazout Bay has hosted WSL events since 2020, including the Pro and Junior Pro Taghazout Bay. Its world-famous surf spots, like Anchor Point, attract surfers globally and help promote local talent. The area combines eco-tourism, culture, modern facilities, and year-round experiences including beaches, outdoor activities, and local cultural visits.
Pro Taghazout Bay 2026 results
Women’s final:
- Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) – 14.83
- Alys Barton (GBR) – 11.33
Men’s final:
- Adur Amatriain (EUK) – 13.40
- Conor Donegan Dos Santos (ESP) – 12.10
Women’s semi-finals:
- Alys Barton (GBR) 11.16 beat Maria Salgado (POR) 4.77
- Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 11.10 beat Maelys Jouault (FRA) 8.07
Men’s semi-finals:
- Adur Amatriain (EUK) 13.50 beat Justin Becret (FRA) 12.96
- Conor Donegan Dos Santos (ESP) 11.27 beat Yago Dominguez (EUK) 10.60
The 2026 event ran from 22 to 29 March. Highlights are on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app.
The competition was supported by local authorities, tourism agencies, sponsors including Afriquia Gaz, Marsa Maroc, Seat Maroc, Radisson Blu Resort Taghazout Bay Surf Village, and media partners 2M, 2M Radio, Hit Radio, and Radio Mars.
