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ARICA CULTURA 2022

Chile, Arica – May 2022

A MILESTONE IN  MY CARREER

May 2022 is the start of the 2022 World Tour with the Arica Cultura, the first stage of the Bodyboard Tour. I arrive directly from Galdar, Gran Canaria via Madrid, in Arica, in the north of Chile, for the contest. I come to this mythical wave that I have been venerating for many years… It is an ideal wave for bodyboarding, a monster hard to tame that allows to score. The finest of global and local bodyboarding flocks for this first stage of the World Tour 2022, it’s great to be here. After two years of interruption of the World Tour (2020 and 2021), business is back on track and the riders have not been prayed for !

I START FROM THE BOTTOM

I’m part of the game, my goal is clear: I want to resume the World Tour gradually to try to get back in the Top 16 in 2022.  I only participated in two stages in the last World Tour of 2019 – to dedicate myself to my family and my academy – then I came out of the Top 24. It means that I will have to go through the qualifications during the next events.

GAINING THE UPPER HAND FROM THE OUTSET

In the first rounds, I quietly score my opponents, winning each serie.
As I begin the 8th of the final, my strategy is simple : I want to score high and hard very early in the series to put pressure on the opponent and get ahead of the wave lines that sometimes delay to enter.
From
the 1/4 finals, I will go up a notch, leaving my opponents combo practically during all the series. Against Matias Diaz (CHI) local rider capable of the best, I score a tube at 10 pts from the beginning. And he will respond with a 9.40. This is the magic of Arica: all riders can make good scores, because the level is high.
In the semi-final, against the underdog Maxime Castillo (FR), same score, I put a 10 pts in the first minutes. I coach him during the series, it’s important to encourage him to choose the best waves. 

A MYTHICAL FINAL

In the final against Tristan Roberts (ZAF), I reissue the 10-pts tube at the very beginning, then very quickly a 9-pts to continue with another 10-pts. I feel that Tristan is no longer in the game. I also encourage him. It is important that he scores good waves. He has to fight to the end. He is a gifted rider, he must give the best. At the end of the time, I raise my arms to the sky. I am in shock.

Joy, emotion, fatigue but above all, pleasure.
I enjoy surfing these magic tubes, of making aerial inverts, of paying tribute to this wave.
I love feeling the fusion with the audience on the shore.
I appreciate climbing the technical cursor to surf at my best level because my opponents push me, because the level here is amazing.

When PLC and Yann Salaün (a French rider too) hold me up to the official stand, I feel moved and inspired, I have so much to say !

MY MESSAGES ON THE PODIUM

ABOUT MY VICTORY
 » The riders who come to Arica all want to win. My first win here was in 2014, it’s been a long time. And yet, I came back every year, I have been on podiums.
I kept training, fighting, dreaming about that moment.
There are so many good bodyboarders on this wave, the path is difficult to get back on this podium, I did not give up and today I am there again !
Never give up, work and keep your aim.
I am proud and moved because it was a tough and beautiful fight with excelllent riders. »

FOR YOUNG GENERATIONS
 » The
dream of a bodyboarder is not to be a professional in this sport.
First, it is to have the bodyboard always present in your life, with you and in you, to inspire you an healthy life, travel, meet different people and cultures on different oceans, learn other languages.

Bodyboarding is a beautiful sport that has been living in the shadow of surfing for so many years but that’s the way it is. We, bodyboards, have a spirit, a mentality.
We live in an atmosphere far superior to that of a simple lucrative sport.

Connect to the ocean the way you want, because the ocean is life.
And if you connect with the bodyboard, you will live an unique and unforgettable experience.

I am so proud to be a bodyboarder and to share this with you !« 

FOR THE FUTURE
« I just feel so thanksfull for what the universe has planned for me today and super gratefull for all the support I received during this event.
Definitely, it is a highlight in my competitive carrer and one of the best performance in the History of bodyboarding competition.
A huge congrats to all the competitors for putting the show during this contest.
The professional bodyboard Tour has now a new entity with the IBCWORLDTOUR.

So let’s work all together to push bodyboarding where it deserves to be ! »

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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.

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2015 – ARICA – Videos and highlights

August 2015, Chile

Videos for great memories

In the video produced by Boca Negra, we can celebrate my 10th year in Arica. It is a tribute to El Floppos, one of the best wave for bodyboarding in the world.
This spot is definitely a waves machine and a bombs raiser.

The 2015 Arica Chilean Challenge edition has been completely crazy with big scores for many competitors.
I was feeling focused, very motivated and the level of the waves and riders whet my appetite for 
fighting and ripping.
A big tribute to 
Jared Houston for this red-letter final who showed to anyone that even when everything seems to be lost, you must never give up.

Hope that through these videos you will see what bodyboarding really is : strong riding,  big focus and real friendship.

So long Arica. I already miss you. See you again and again.

Thanks to BOCA NEGRA for editing the video.
Thanks to Igor Sanchez, Jessica Becker and Nicolas Diaz for filming.

Click here if you want to see all the pictures of Arica Chilean Challenge 2015 Gallery

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2014 ISA GAMES – CHILE

Iquique, Chile – December 2014

4 MEDALS AROUND MY NECK

I fly to Iquique as the Captain of the Team France for the 2014 ISA  World Championship.
It is a great moment for all the team and we work hard all together to get the best possible rankings.

We are very closed to each other, we support everyone and we make the job !

France on the Top

TEAM MEDALS :
Gold Medal – Tag Team

Silver Medal -National Team

PERSONAL MEDALS :
Gold Medal – Drop Knee 

Silver Medal – Open

Congrats to all the French team for the job and the mutual support !

Sport and generosity

I support the French PETITS PRINCES non-profit organisation for diseased children.
I decide to take the mascot of the association with the Team in Chile whereas I launch a fundraising for the organisation Les Petits Princes.
My partner on this operation is the FFS and SNIPER, that offers a board to a donor drawn by lot.
Then « Le Petit Prince » mascot travels with the French Team  and it was our lucky charm.

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2014 Arica Chilean Challenge – CHILE

 

 

 

ARICA 2014 – MY VICTORY

After nine years surfing El Floppo on IBA then APB Tour, with a second place in 2010, I eventually conquered this fabulous wave that is my favorite one on the World Tour. I have spendt nine years, year after year, discovering this powerful slab, these strong and solid waves, the endless swell. Nine years enjoying  the big and opened heart of Chilean people.
The  2014 final against PLC has been an incredible duel and the talent of Pierre-Louis forced me to do my best to finish the job. I am so happy and proud to raise the trophy.  I was lucky to surf in such conditions, with such a good friend and rival and so big conditions.
Que Dios le bendiga a Chile !
Arica te quiero…
Never give up, always push up your limits.

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