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Is surfing thriving in Saint-Barthélemy? The answer lies in the long list of qualifiers for the French Championships. Among the 573 athletes who will compete from October 17 to 25 in the southern Landes region—between Hossegor, Seignosse, and Capbreton—across nine disciplines, Saint Barthélemy and the Ajoe Reefer Surf Club will be represented by nine young surfing stars, all selected for the Guadeloupe team.
On the women’s side, the unmissable Tessa Thyssen and Anaïs Blanchard will defend the island’s colors against thirty other competitors in the shortboard Open. They will be the only women from Saint-Barthélemy competing in this 62nd edition of the French Championships. On the men’s side, however, the list of qualifiers is a bit longer.
An “ever-rising” level
In the Open shortboard division (48 qualifiers), Kalani Giraud and Noé Lédée will be competing. In the under-18 shortboard division, Louka Giraud will aim to shine in a field of 46 surfers. The teenager will also be competing in the under-16 division, alongside another member of the Ajoe Reefer Surf Club, Preston Gréaux.
In bodyboarding, Saint-Barth will also be well represented. To defend its colors, the Reefer can count on Athanaé Blanchard in the Open and Under-18 divisions, as well as on Lilian Laplace in the Under-18 division and Noé Brin Idatte in the Under-16 division.
“The level of competition is getting higher and higher at the French championships,” notes David Blanchard, president of the Reefer. “Our advantage is that there are plenty of competitions in Guadeloupe, which has allowed us to earn the points needed to qualify. ” It goes without saying that parents will make the trip all the way to the Landes region to cheer on their champions. The nine surfers from Saint Barth will compete as part of the Guadeloupe delegation. “The competition level in the Open division should be high,” warns David Blanchard. “For Noé Brin Idatte, it’ll be a whole new experience!” For every Ajoe surfer, the goal will obviously be to win the trophy. “In the Junior division, a victory puts you one step closer to the French national team,” the coach points out.
