Back to the 59th 2023 French Surfing Championships edition
From October 29 to November 1, Biarritz vibrated to the rhythm of the waves and high-level competitors during the 59th edition of the French Surf Championships. Despite a shortened competition due to strong swell and storm Ciaran, many titles were awarded to the talented athletes present. Indeed, the poor conditions led to the cancellation of disciplines such as parasurf, skimboard, longboard, bodysurf, and tandem surf, with 22 titles out of the 38 initially planned being awarded.
For the second consecutive year, we were fortunate to be present at the event with our HawaiiSurf booth. Numerous activities punctuated these championships to share moments of joy and passion around surfing and gliding together. You can read a brief recap of this week, admittedly shortened, but still full of emotions!
The summary of disciplines: Surf & Bodyboard
1. Le Shortboard
Open Category - Women:
1. Maud Le Car (Guadeloupe)
2. Sarah Leiceaga (New Aquitaine)
3. Tya Zebrowski (New Aquitaine)
4. Hina Conradi (Pays de la Loire)
Maud Le Car once again confirmed her reign in Biarritz. Already French champion in 2018 and 2022, the 31-year-old Antillean surfer won her third title this year. She outperformed the young generation represented by Sarah Leiceaga (2nd), Tya Zebrowski (3rd) and Hina Conradi (4th), aged 18, 12, and 19 respectively!
Open Category - Men:
1. Maël Laborde (Martinique)
2. Tristan Guilbaud (Pays de la Loire)
3. Jorgann Couzinet (La Réunion)
4. Inigo Madina (New Aquitaine)
Among the men, it was youth that shone! At only 20 years old, the Martiniquais Maël Laborde won his first national crown by narrowly defeating Tristan Guilbaud (2) in the final; Jorgann Couzinet (3rd) and Inigo Madina (4th), aged 16. An achievement all the more deserved for Maël Laborde, who made his comeback after a one-year competitive break following several injuries.
2. Le Bodyboard
Open Category - Men:
1. Yann Salaun (Brittany)
2. Louka Zaninotto (New Aquitaine)
3. Victor Le Gleut (Brittany)
4. Ethan Capdeville (New Aquitaine)
In particularly difficult conditions, it was the bodyboarder Yann Salaun who won! A well-deserved title for Yann who, despite waves over 2 meters during the day, delivered an exceptional performance throughout his session. He thus secures his fourth French Bodyboard Open Championship title! At the close of these Championships, he also made the event memorable by achieving the only 10 of the competition. On the podium, very close behind, is Louka Zaninotto in second place. The third place was deservedly taken by Victor Le Gleut and the fourth by Ethan Capdeville!
Open Category - Women:
1. Lisa Labadie (New Aquitaine)
2. Manon Jarry (Pays de la Loire)
3. Perrine Gourcuff (Brittany)
4. Christelle Giust (La Réunion)
Among the women, it was Lisa Labadie, the local favorite, who won her third title, her very first in Biarritz! The podium of the Bodyboard Open - Women category at the French Surf Championships in Biarritz was the stage for exceptional performances, highlighting the undeniable talent of the participants. Champion Lisa Labadie is closely followed by Manon Jarry in second place. Perrine Gourcuff from Brittany impressed by taking third place, while Christelle Giust from La Réunion stood out in fourth position.
To view the full results and titles won by category, we invite you to read the various blog articles on the official site of the French Surfing Federation.
The Partners' Village & the HawaiiSurf booth
Located on the casino terrace, the Grande Plage site hosted the "partners' village," an experience open to all. Hawaiisurf made its presence known with a booth offering many activities! Our booth was the meeting point for many enthusiastic visitors and competitors who actively participated in our mini-golf to access the Ferris wheel and try to win many gifts and vouchers.
We are delighted to have participated in the French Surf Championships in Biarritz for the second consecutive year. A big thank you to the city of Biarritz, the French Surf Federation, the various partners present on site, as well as everyone who visited our booth. Joy and good cheer were always present; the booth shone thanks to your smiles and your participation in the many activities available.
Despite difficult wave conditions, the competitors put on an exceptional show, demonstrating their talent and determination. We salute their unwavering courage throughout the competition.
These Surf Championships were a dream opportunity to meet you and share with you our common passion for surfing. We look forward to sharing more surfing moments with you. See you soon for upcoming adventures!
