In solid 2 meters plus waves, Ethan Capdeville was awarded French Champion last week in Hossegor and gets back the French crown, after having left it to Yann Salaün last year.

Read the Ladies and Dropknee results, here.

Apart from the two sacred monsters that are Pierre-Louis Costes and Amaury Lavernhe, all the best French bodyboarders were present at the Gardians spot to compete in the France Championships.

Starting with Yann Salaün, reigning champion and three-time winner since 2015. The Breton also launched his competition perfectly with an 8.50 pts scored in the first round. A performance that he repeated in round 2 where his 8.73 allowed him to reach the semi-finals, then the final. Supported by a Breton public who once again made an appearance in large numbers to support him, he was unable to do anything in the final, falling against Martin Mouradian (3rd), Maxime Castillo (2nd), but above all an unplayable Ethan Capdeville.

Ethan was already French champion in 2021 and 2022, and managed to recover his crown stolen by Salaün last year in Biarritz. Author of a 9.50 pts in the 1st round and a 9.30 pts in the 2nd, the young Frenchman did it again in the final with a 9.33 pts ride which, combined with his back up wave of 5.77 pts, left their opponents with no chances. In fact, the 22-year-old bodyboarder seemed untouchable throughout the day, successfully positioning himself on a very complicated stretch of water.

Member of the World’s Top 10, Max Castillo failed to win the national title. He finished 2nd ahead of Guadeloupean Martin Mouradian (3rd), a triple French champion (2016, 2017, 2018). Reigning French champion, Yann Salaün took 4th place.

[fast forward to 1:05 for bodyboarding action]

“We had very good waves today. It’s cool to have the French Championships in good waves. Everyone was tearing up today, everyone was able to show what it’s like. It was just bodyboarding, even if it was very complicated because of the rip. I managed to get a nice one in the final, a big reverse air, it went well, but it was a hard landing. I was physically dead, I gave it all. But to end the season like this, it’s great”, said Ethan Capdeville.

Bodyboard Open final results:
01. Ethan Capdeville (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) – 15,10 pts
02. Maxime Castillo (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) – 12,67 pts
03. Martin Mouradian (Guadeloupe) – 10,00 pts
04. Yann Salaun (Bretagne) – 9,74 pts

Photos by FFSurf / WeCreative / Robin Aussenac