Photo: Poullenot

OAKLEY SURF SHOP CHALLENGE EUROPE
Event 1, Sables d’or, Anglet, France

SB3 of Soorts-Hossegor Victorious in Anglet

The Oakley Surf Shop Challenge France was held in pumping 4-5ft surf at Sables d’or beach, Anglet with an all-Hossegor final seeing SB3 take out Not So Classic. SB3 will compete in the European final, San Sebastian, Spain on 10th June for a chance to win a trip to Bali for the Oakley Pro Bali ASP World Championship Tour event 18-29th June.

A bright and early 7am start saw 8 teams from across France and the UK greeted by a fresh pulse of solid NW groundswell, with fast 5ft (overhead) lefts off the jetty groomed by a strong offshore wind giving ideal conditions. The tag team format, with four surfers per team competing in hour long heats required shrewd use of time as well as optimum deployment of the double whammy surfer (where the judges double the score).

Jayce Robinson of Natural Balance, St Ives forgot to double whammy this 7.0, and the Rosbifs went home… d’oh! Photo: Poullenot

Not So Classic were not so lucky in the final, with SB3’s Yann Martin opening up a strong lead which SB3 held throughout the hour and twenty minute final. Even with power surfer Jordan Oueslati forgetting to double whammy his high score and having to paddle back out in search of another wave, SB3 were glorious atop the podium in the mid-afternoon Anglet sunshine.

Edouard Delpero smashed a rare right for 8.67, but his BTZ team went down in the semis. Photo: Poullenot

Testamant to the level of surfing on display were excellent top scores of 9.0 for Jordan Oueslati (SB3) and 8.67 for Edouard Delpero (BTZ) in the semifinals. Tamarindo of Ile d’Oleron and Biarritz’s BTZ were the losing semifinalists, while the first round saw the elimination of Natural Balance from St Ives, UK, Avenue de la Glisse from Normandy, Waimea Surf Shop of Anglet and Twenty Nine from Brittany.

SB3 (red) 1st place, Not So Classic 2nd in an all-Hossegor final. Photo: Poullenot

In addition to the action in the water, the Oakley mobile O Lab was on site showcasing the latest innovations from Oakley, including the latest Blade 3 compression boardshort.

Oakley Surf Shop Challenge Spain including the European Final will take place 9-10th June in Sebastian, Spain.

Yann Martin of SB3 gets his tunnel on. Yep, it was pretty pumping. Photo: Poullenot

That’s what I’m talking about… 110% commitment form this grom. Could beach starts save the ASP? Probably. Make em run on sand! Photo: Poullenot