Pictures Amaury Lavernhe

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25 février 2018 In

2017 – FRONTON KING GALLERY

Galdar, Gran Canaria – October 2017

VICEROY OF THE FRONTON

For the 2017 edition, I have to defend the crown that I have wun for two years in a row ( 2015 and 2016).
It is a big challenge and I know I am the favorite and the man to shoot down…

I definitely appreciate to compete at El Fronton, there is a very special atmosphere.
First, the local riders have an incredible level and they really enjoy fighting with the world elite.
Second, the inernational riders who come to Galdar, Gran Canaria really enjoy the local lifestyle, the food, the landscapes and the quality of the waves they ride.
Third, the organisation is perfectly well-oiled and the competition site which overlooks the spot is just perfect for both public and judges.

Mates, Tubes and Scores

In quarter-final, I compete with Ryan Hardy, Australia. He is a rider who has been inspiring me since I started and the REEFLEX wetsuits brand owner.
I score two good waves (9,33 pts + 9,44 pts) then Ryan in a combo position and he never can overpass me.
In the semi-final against my best friend and rival, Pierre-Louis Costes, I wait more than 10 minutes before taking a wave.
PLC tries to score at the beginning, but the spot is lazy. He takes the lead while I patiently wait for the ocean offering a tonic awakening.
And it comes…
PLC and I are taking the same wave : PL on the right and me on the left. The right wave closes on Piere-Louis while mine on the left allows me a deep 8 pts-tube.
About one minute later, I go one a right for a tube and a big invert scoring 8,83 pts. I let him combo too

LENDING MY CROWN ?

The other semi-finalist joining me for the last heat of the day is Jared Houston. I remember that his mother and father are here coming from South Africa.
But in the final, when the tide is high and the waves lazier, with cramps in my legs, Jared Houston resists and wins the title.
It was a good fight and I lend him my crown of King of the Fronton with a good grace.
Jared deserves this victory, as he could catch and optimise the few good scoring waves of the final.

Bravo Jared. Tribute to the Fronton for its superb waves and riders.

2 décembre 2016 In

2016 – FRONTON KING – KEEPING MY CROWN

Gran Canaria, October 2016

I KEEP MY CROWN

Last stop of the 2016 APB World Tour. The conditions are hard, the waves are strong for the 2016 edition. It is what one calls a Big Fronton ! It’s the lottery for the contestants depending on whether you go high or low tide. The conditions change radically. The two contenders for the WT title are PLC and Jeff Hubbard.
As the tide is getting low and the waves are getting too big, the organizers decide that the finals will take place with 4 riders-heats and not man-on-man.

I am in the final with Igor SANCHEZ, Uri VALADAO and PLC. He is already the brand new 2016 World Champion as he wins his semi-final. It will be an incredible moment. Here is what I want : a high-level scored heat, big tricks, suspense and celebrate this game with my best friend on the Tour. PLC gets a good score with a belly-air, on landing he cuts his tongue with his teeth. I follow him with a good vague and I get 9pts.

PLC & ME

Then I take and I keep the leadership of the final. Five minutes before the end, the two other riders are combo and PLC still needs a good score to beat me. About a 8,5 or 9 pts wave. It is not impossible for Pierre. But he tells me :
» Ok guy, let’s stop the game now. I feel I won’t beat you. You dominate the contest and the final, you desserve to be the Fronton King and I am already the World Champion. What more do we need ? «
So the three last minutes pass and the bell rings. We congratulate each other, we have reached our aim.
He is sincerely happy that I win the 2016 Fronton King and he needs nothing more.
And I am deeply happy that he is the 2016 World Champion and I need nothing more. For this year …

This moment illustrates the strong and unseen link that there is between us, friendship, rivalry and brotherhood.
We are so happy to celebrate !

For 2016, French bodyboarding is at the top of the World : PLC is the World Champion and I am the 2016 World Vice-Champion

I want to give a special tribute to the local organization that made a very big job.

And I thank heaven that made me come to live in this incredible spot with my beloved family sorroundig me.

Click here to see my Videos Fronton King 2016

8 octobre 2016 In

2016 – PORTUGAL – Competing and cruising

A GIPSY TRIP BY THE COAST

During the three steps of 2016 APB Bodyboarding World Tour in Portugal, I decide to travel with my family on a camping-car.
We spend one month cruzing together Malennhy, Oliver and I, on the Portugal coast between Sintra, Nazaré and Viana.
Usually I leave my home just to go for a contest. But in Septembre 2016, I chose a new package. I vote for sports, competing, driving, camping, cruzing, training ,lifestyle and family.
It is a very different way that makes you feel balanced, relax and focused.

A NICE ROAD TRIP

Portugal is an incredible place for surfing, with hudge beachbreaks and a big riders community.
I enjoy empty waves on vast beaches, with fresh water and big pleasure and we meet nice people overthere too.
If you want to spend beautiful moments of freedom, natural life and free surf in good conditions, Portugal is really the ideal experience.

A FINAL IN VIANA

According to competitions, my results were not so high (Top 9 in Sintra – Top 5 in Nazaré). I enjoy the Viana event, with my final with Ian Campbell, then I finish Top 2.
Sometimes, your body and mind need something else than big results : harmony, discovery, liberty and fancy moments as a family as well as a competitor.
As I come back to Gran Canaria,The Fronton King is in my sights and I want to keep my crown… The 2016 APB WT is not over yet.

Bodyboarding spirit is still in action. Ever.

10 juillet 2016 In

2016 – ARICA CHILEAN CHALLENGE

ANOTHER BIG FINAL

As I arrive in Arica, Chile on June 2016, I feel confident and I want to enjoy every heat on the wave of El Flopo.
This wave is solid and regular, I really love riding on it.
After my victory at Arica in 2014 and my second place in 2015 after a memorable finale against Jared Houston, ZAF, I want to confirm a good position.
My quarter-final against Jeff Hubbard and my semi-final beating the Brazilian Eder Luciano lead me to the final.

Another South African on the top

I have the big pleasure to ride in final agains another talented South Africain rider, Ian Campbell.
And it seems like ZAF riders are hungry…
Ian wins after a very interesting final, I surf my best and so he does.
I am admirative and respectful for his combativity and this victory.
When the bells rings the end of the heat, we both congratulate each other with a sincere joy.
Pictures do not lie…

When I fly back to Europe, the 2016 APB World Tour program leads us to Portugal :
Sintra, Viana, Nazaré before the last step in Gran Canaria at El Fronton.
All hopes are allowed for scoring high and trying to keep on the upper steps of the 2016 World Tour ranking.

16 juin 2016 In

2016 BRAZIL- Itacoatiara Pro

A mate on the podium

After my good entering in the comp, with my 2015 title in mind I want to go as far as possible in the board. I am surprised and disappointed as I fail in semi-final. Anyway, the competition is as usual a success for the organizers and all peopole sitting down the Itacoatiara Elephant Mountain. I am glad to see Alex Uranga winning the event. He is a strong rider and he is a SNIPER team rider with me. So that I an proud to see his SNIPER board on the podium.

Just once won’t hurt…

To be at the top level is really an extraordinary situation but you have to be humble enough to accept what happens. At the same time, you need to be strong enough to go ahead and project yourself into new victories.

7 mai 2016 In

2016-Teahupoo Tahiti Challenge APB Tour

TEAHUPOO BACK ON THE WORLD TOUR

After twelve years long without any Bodyboarding Professional contest, Teahuppo welcomed us with the Sparkgreen Teahupoo Tahiti Challenge in April-May 2016.
This majestic wave demands a big organization. All is ruled by the APB Team that takes care of any detail ( security, action film, live webcast).
I feel a big motivation in front these good waves to ride.

I keep so good memories in mind, even my failure against Jeff Hubbard – the winner of the contest.
It gives me more to learn with such an incredible rider : to be more offensive, to tempt aerial manoeuvres although you are the leader of the heat, even when you have the priority. I know that I will progress again and again. That is one of my motos : You can’t stop progress…

A tribute on my skin

Although I get only Top 13 on the comp, I capilise on my pleasant journey in Tahiti. This island is a magical place where the ocean is a sovereign and the waves just amazing.
The island is a natural treasure and I feel attracted by all the French Polynesia islands.
I am lucky to stay at Mana’s home, with his wife and daughters, in an authentic Tahitian lifestyle.
Never forget : Tahitian people are friendly, nice, hospitable and I can’t wait to be back there for a new Teahuppo or for a trio, why not ?

I leave with some grey pearls in my pocket to offer to my beloved wife Malennhy and with a tatoo on my leg, another tribute to Tahitian islanders and waves.

30 janvier 2016 In

2016 QUEMAO CLASS

2016 QUEMAO CLASS

The QUEMAO CLASS is an invitation event of 32 surfers and 32 bodyboarders selected from all over the world for their qualities in reef waves. It happens in Lanzarote island (Canarias) taking place in La Santa on the famous spot El Quemao in early January 2016. On this event both surfers and bodyboarders compete on the same wave, on the same contest with two draws: one for surf and the other for boogie. I am happy and proud to win this 2016 Quemao Class edition : all the riders are so dedicated and the level is really impressive !

23 décembre 2015 In

2015 ISA GAMES – CHILE

Iquique, Chile – December 2015

ANOTHER GOLD MEDAL

The 2015 ISA GAMES are my last competition of the year.
I am the captain of the French Bodyboarding team for the ISA World Championship competing with 69 athletes from 14 National Teams.
We all that travelled from around the world to compete for Gold Medals in the name our nations.
In every team you have an U18 boy and U18 girl, a Women, 3 Open men and one dropknee rider representing all the facets of bodyboarding.

It is a great sporting adventure and a rich human experience that I will remember all life long.
Lets’s celebrate the ISA Champion title for Anne-Cécile Lacoste in Women category.
In 2015, the French team wins the Gold Medal in the Tag Team : we save the title that we got in 2014 !

Want to know more about the final day and our Tag Team victory ? Click here

15 octobre 2015 In

2015 – FRONTON KING – A big wave and a crown

October 2015 – Galdar, Gran Canaria

A BIG COMP ON A WORLD CLASS WAVE

I am so honored to be the King in my training field.
El Fronton is among my every day waves, with el Agujero and la Guancha, in Galdar. I live here as it is my training residence.
It is a mythical wave with incredible local riders. They are brave, talented and proud of their waves. Thanks to you amigos for sharing your wave with me and accepting me in your community.
Then, I share this victory with all the riders who showed their level to all the international audience on the live webcasting

This event is classified as a 2015 APB Tour Special event. Therefore the Fronton King is on the way to go back in the World Tour legs. So I do hope it will be OK for next year !
A big Bravo to the organisation and to the Galdar headtown and Canary Government for supporting this event which soon will be a Gran Slam in the World Tour od bodyboard.

Thanks to Elements Prod – Cayetano González – Jesus de Leon – Richard Aleman for the pics.
Don’t miss the video down the gallery with the highlights of FK 2015

5 octobre 2015 In

2015 – PUERTO RICO – A big suspense for the world title

October 2015, Puerto-Rico

Crazy Encanto Pro 2015

The 2015 World Champion title is decided in Puerto Rico !
This spot is such a nice place, situated in a tropical paradise with a good bodyboarding community. This APB contest, the Encanto Pro Cultura takes place in Isabela.
It is an amazing professional event with big promos, meetings in schools and exposure for the sport. That is exactly what bodyboarding needs today !
A big bravo to the local organizers, particularly to Natasha, Jared Houston’s wife who made a big job too.
Before the contest, me and my family stay at Jony’s – Jonathan Perez. He is the official dealer of SNIPER in Puerto Rico (perezdelcarril@gmail.com).

Focused on the target

I spend the first week really focused for the contest, training everyday and trying to have the healthiest routine possible. I am actually really exited to compete for a new title.
It is a new goal in my career and a great battle between Jared, PLC and myself. But the competition offers Jared a big suspense as is out in the 1/16 final. He watches the final day of the comp from the beach with anxiety. PLC and me are the only ones able to steal the world title to him. I have to win my 1/8 final heat against Jacob Romero to get the title… With a big pression, I lead my heat until 3 minutes before the end, then Jacob scores a good wave and I answer him 30 seconds before the bells ring, unsuccessfully. I am out and the title won’t be for me. PLC has now the advantage. He fights until the final for his chance, but Jeff Hubbard wins the contest, making PLC unable to get the Wold Title. Jared leaps with joy on the sand and we rejoice with him.

After a big deception for being so closed to the victory, I sincerely enjoy Jared winning his first world title.
Anyway, he wins in the island where he is living now, with his wife and his daughter. He deserves this title and we celebrate it all together. It is fabulous and it inspires me a lot.

My 2015 APB Award

By the way, I have the honour to receive the 2015 SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR APB award from Alex Leon, the APB CEO. This trophy rewards me for my sporting commitment and my competitive spirit

Thanks to and Alex Diaz and Jony Perez for the pics.
Read the FFS reporting about this comp in French.
More items about my results on the World Tour