“It’s like we won the lottery”, this Breton surf club wins the French championships, and flies to Australia

In a month they will be in Australia. From February 13 to 16, they will line up against the best surfers in the world, far from their small club in Penmarch. So while waiting for the deadline, the preparation has increased in intensity. Between gym and cold Breton waters.

“30, 31, 32, come on, don’t give up, two more!” Supported by Clément, their sports coach, Ian and Thomas do push-ups and other exercises. Objective, work on explosiveness and endurance. Because in a month, they will leave the waves of Finistère to join Australia for the world interclub surfing championships.

For the five members of the team, it’s time to prepare. In these relay events, there is little room for chance. “You have to be efficient in the water, explains Ian Fontaine, but you also have to get out of the water very quickly, run on the beach, pass the baton… and whoever does the relay must run on the beach, the same, row on his surfboard and catch his wave, as quickly as possible! It’s very physical!”

In the room, there are two of them sweating. But the three other members of the team are also preparing, in Morocco, or in the South-West or in Australia. The 29 Hood Surf Club team is made up of five members aged 18 to 43, Ian and Thomas, but also Vianney, Gabriel and then a young woman, Montaine. A mixed and intergenerational team, a specificity.

“I’m really proud of this team!” rejoices Thomas Joncour, the co-founder of the club. Â To win the French championships in Mimizan last May, it was their mutual styles, ages and qualities that made the difference. “We were all united, it was one of the best moments of my life! It was unreal, it took me two months to realize that we had a place for Australia.“

Once the physical preparation session is over, the surfers go into the water, in conditions very different from those they will find in Australia. “We are in balaclavas, gloves and slippers, it’s not easy in these conditions” grelote Ian, “but we’re trying to get as close as possible to the efforts we’re going to have to make there.“

“We’re going to give everything, be 100, 150% of what we can dohe continues. The result will come if we work well.” “We work to be the best there, renchérit Thomas. There are huge teams, the best in the world… We’re going to have to bring out our best game on the big day. Going to Australia is more than the icing on the cake, it’s as if we had won the lottery three times in the same week.”

If Finistère surfers are preparing to represent France on the world stage, the club lacks the means to finance such a trip. Going to Australia with five people represents a huge budget, so an online prize pool has been launched, to experience the adventure in the best conditions.

Not even afraid of the 40 international elite teams they will have to face. “The Grall? It’s going to be winning the world championships!”

(With G. Bron)