The elite of the Championship Tour (CT) is currently competing in Australia at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, the first stop on a circuit celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Critics are pointing out the new competition format. The issue is the introduction of a seeding round only involving wildcards and the lowest-ranked surfers, including newcomers to the circuit. This round proved fatal to our Polynesian compatriots from the Hossegor surf club, Tya Zebrowski and Vahine Fierro, who narrowly lost to Alyssa Spencer (USA) and Anat Lelior (Isr) respectively. However, Basque surfer Nadia Erostarbe from Zarautz managed to defeat Bella Kenworthy (USA). In the men’s division, Marco Mignot (Hossegor SC) and Kauli Vaast (Vieux Boucau SC), who were exempt from the seeding round, will face Crosby Colapinto (USA) and Leo Fioravanti (Ita).
Taghazout Euskadi
The Basques from Hegoalde, Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (Zumaia) and Adur Amatriain (Zarautz), won the Pro Taghazout Bay in Morocco and, in the process, clinched the European title of the WSL. Breton surfer Maylis Jouault and Landais surfer Justin Bécèret reached the semi-finals, both being eliminated by the eventual winners. This important Qualifying Series (QS) 4000 event, the third tier of professional surfing, was the final stop of the 2025-26 European QS circuit, a qualifier for the 2026-2027 Challenger Series (the world’s second division). Securing their spots in the next stage are Biarritz’s Tiago Carrique, Adur Amatriain, Guilherme Ribeiro (Por), Ido Hagag (Israël), Yago Dominguez (Eusk), Sean Gunning (Esp), Conor Donegan Dos Santos (Esp), Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri, Maria Salgado (Por), Alys Barton (GB) and Ariane Ochoa (Eusk).
Lycras de proximité
The 64th open championships of shortboard and kneeboard were held at Lafitenia, Saint Jean de Luz, on Saturday, March 28th, in relatively good marine conditions. The winners were young surfers Lily Hirigoyen (Hendaye Bidassoa SC) and Malone Vieuge (Bidarteko) in shortboard, and the not-so-young Jérémie Blanco (Urkirola Guéthary) in kneeboard. A regional junior open, the third and final stage of the “Vissla Crevette Tour,” will take place in Mimizan on April 11-12 and is reserved for those aged 18 and under. The Regional League and Santocha surf club are organizing the bodyboard and dropknee championships of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in Capbreton on April 18 and 19.
National Opens
Landais surfers Nahia Milhau (Messanges) and Sam Piter (Hossegor) won the second stage of the Banque Populaire Surf Tour, part of the Elite National Open circuit, on Sunday in one-meter waves at Santocha in Capbreton. The competition was particularly tough with almost all the best French surfers, except those on the CT, in attendance. Congratulations to Biarritz surfers Juliette Lacome (3rd) and Lilou Rumiel (4th), who made it to the finals. The juniors were set to compete on Monday, with results coming soon. They will then head to Brittany for the third stage of the Junior Banque Populaire Surf Tour at La Torche from April 15 to 19.
Great Eco-Mobilization
The weekend of April 18-19 will be marked by over fifteen clean-up events with the Retrace! program organized by local Surfrider groups and citizens from all over France, along the coastline and near watercourses. The goal of these ex-Ocean Initiatives is to give Surfrider’s historic program a more scientific focus while retaining the essence of the project, tracing the origin of litter to identify its source and combat aquatic pollution at the root throughout Europe. More information on surfrider.fr
