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At the 61st French Surfing Championships, held last week between Hossegor, Seignosse and Capbreton, the Guadeloupe delegation shone in a particularly tough 2025 edition. To do so, it was able to count on the surfers from the Ajoe Reefer Surf Club and its team of coaches.
A total of 7 surfers from the Saint Barthélémy surf club braved the waves of the Landes region. On the podium, the major performance came from Cheyenne Patino-Ubeda, who was crowned French shortboard champion in the minime category. Louka Giraud took 4th place in shortboard, as did cadet Athanäé Blanchard, who also finished 4th overall in bodyboard.
Louka Giraud, who took 4th place in the minimes shortboard.
Célia Magras left the junior shortboard competition in the second round, while Preston Gréaux, in the minime category, and Anaïs Blanchard, in the open category, went out in the repechage. Last but not least, Aimi Ouvre, a former benjamine turned minime, took part in the French championships for the first time: "Aimi didn't make it past the first round, but it was all new for her to surf the waves in France.... I'm sure she learned a lot during the week," says Ajoe coach David Blanchard.
Cadet Athanäé Blanchard finished 4th overall in bodyboarding.
For the coaching team, it's time to take stock: Overall, despite a very high overall level, we came away with 1 title plus 2 podiums for 7 athletes entered, which is a good result," sums up David Blanchard. It reflects the work done by our instructors at the club. ". He continues: "I'm telling you, we're going to face a generational gap in the Ajoe, but I think this hole will soon be filled by the investment, level and progress of the very youngest, aged 10 and under..."In the midst of 550 surfers, the Saint Barths were well placed and won over the public, in the wake of the Guadeloupe selection, made up of some fifty surfers.This was followed by the Guadeloupe selection, made up of some fifty athletes, who finished the championship in 3rd place among the delegations taking part.
Cheyenne Patino-Ubeda, retained her title of French champion in the minime category.
David Blanchard concludes: "A big thank you to the Guadeloupe Surf League, of which our youngsters are members, and to the local authorities of Saint Barthelemy, for the support they provide to the associations, which enable the island's youngsters to travel and compete at the highest regional and national level".
Cheyenne Patino-Ubeda, French shortboard champion in the minime category
Originally from Tobago, the Ajoe resident continues to write her young history and add to her trophy gallery with a new French shortboard champion title, in the minime category, obtained at the French Surfing Championships in Hossegor (Nouvelle-Aquitaine).
For the Journal de Saint Barth, the young champion looks back on her performance.
Cheyenne, how did you prepare for the French championships?
Cheyenne Patino-Ubeda: To prepare for the French championships, I took part in Rip Curl France and Rip Curl Europe, which I also won. This put me in good conditions and enabled me to arrive in Hossegor full of confidence to win the title a second time.
This is your second French champion title. What's different about it compared to your 1st national title?
Definitely the atmosphere! Last year was my first big competition with the Guadeloupe team.The fact that I was able to see them again this year helped me a lot during the competition.
During the week of the championship, the Guadeloupe team was praised for its good atmosphere. Can you tell us more about it?
We have a very strong team spirit, we're a close-knit group of friends, we surf, we have fun and we encourage each other. This Guadeloupe team is a real family!
Staying with the family theme, what is your relationship with Ajoe, your surf club in Saint Barthélémy?
Coming from Tobago, I absolutely wanted to represent the Caribbean. The Ajoe Reefer Club, in addition to its great atmosphere, allows me to do so. I'm also very lucky to have my coach Jason Apparicio, who is also from Trinidad & Tobago. He's been with me since I started out, and it was he who encouraged me to compete.
What will you be working on in 2026?
Individually, I want to get better and better! To do that, I need to keep training regularly, to become more athletic, while keeping the notion of fun, which is essential.
