A first edition
While the world surfing competition has still not resumed, the French Surfing Federation has developed its own competition. If the surfers have already been able to go back to the sea since May 11th (instead of June 2nd), the professionals will be able to play the winner.
The 20 best French surfers - 12 men and 8 women - have been invited by the Fédé to participate in an event that will take place between the 1st of April and the 1st of September er and July 10th. This competition will take place over a day of less than 6 hours, depending on the ideal conditions in this niche.
Surfers will be scored on their best wave in 1 er tour and at the 2 e round (25 minutes per set). The addition of these two scores will allow the top four to advance to the finals (35 minutes).
"In July, our surfers will be able to put on their spandex and get their feelings back." says Michel Plateau, the National Technical Director. "The professional world tour is at a standstill until further notice. It is important for them and for us that they do not lose their automatisms. The idea is to give them a real competitive moment with heats, a time trial, judges, a winner, prize money."
A prize money of 10?000 euros
To help professional surfers - without activity since last March - 10?000 euros are put into play equally for men and women and will be distributed to the finalists.
10?000 euros breaks down as follows: 5,000 euros men and 5,000 euros women
1st. 2500 euros
2e. 1,500 euros
3e. 600 euros
4e. 400 euros
An invitational competition
Twelve men and eight women were selected based on the WSL CT, QS and Junior Pro 2019 rankings.
"We have contacted all the elite surfers to find out their motivation and availability explains Stéphane Corbinien, the performance director. " Jérémy Florès and Michel Bourez prefer to avoid a long trip from the South Pacific, but all the others are present. Johanne Defay arrived this weekend from Reunion Island, the Guadeloupians Gatien Delahaye, Charly Martin and Thomas Debierre should be here before the end of the month, as well as Vahine Fierro and Kauli Vaast who will be disembarking from Tahiti."
All eyes will be on the big favourite - No. 1 Frenchman and 8th in the world - Johann Defay and Joan Duru - No. 3 Frenchman -, who will be staying at the CT from 2017 to 2019.
Testing the resumption of competitions
This Federation Cup will also test the resumption of surfing competitions in France with a strict sanitary protocol. The competition area will be closed to the public, the jury will be limited in number, wetsuits will be disinfected and hugs are forbidden.
To avoid the public, the Federation will not communicate on the selected spot, but will offer a live streaming on its digital platforms YouTube and Facebook.
The participants
Ladies (8)
- Defay Johanne
- Fierro Vahine
- Bulard Cinnamon
- Le Car Maud
- Teenager Pauline
- Dupont Justine
- Lacome Juliette
- Jouault Maëlys or Conradi Hina (as the two surfers are tied on the rankings, a preliminary round will decide which junior will be invited)
Gentlemen (12)
- Duru Joan
- Couzinet Jorgann
- Delahaye Gatien
- Martin Charly
- Huscenot Maxime
- Charly will follow
- Distinguished Paul-César
- Lacomare Marc
- Bécret Justin
- Debierre Thomas
- Kauli Vaast
- Guerin Kyllian
