Context: The article discusses the changes in the organization of a surfing competition in Biarritz, France, in its 40th edition.
In its 40th edition, the organizer had to face a dilemma and choose a new date for the competition, settling on the Pentecost weekend. “Easter falls very early this year on April 5. And we will have just come out of the municipal elections,” calculated Robert Rabagny. He preferred to avoid potential conflicts, as the importance of the surfing competition mobilizes city officials and volunteers for several days to ensure setup and dismantling.
Robert Rabagny aims for the competition to have a prize pool of 30,000 euros this year, up from 20,000 euros in previous years, such as the Lacanau Pro. His goal is to strengthen Biarritz’s image as the European surfing capital. The competition is now known as “Biarritz Pays basque Maider Arosteguy” and attracts top surfers.
Rabagny is reaching out to partners to achieve his goals, focusing on increasing prize money and organizing a special evening event. He highlights the evolution of the competition over the years, moving from a casual image to a prestigious event where even influential individuals are invited.
