A bit disappointed after the Roxy Pro on her home break in Biarritz, the French ASP hope is already back on track and embarking on new adventures!
Interview by Anna Langer
You’re headed to Peru – what are you doing down there and how long are you gonna stay?
I’m going to Peru for a 6* WQS event in Lobitos. I’ve never been there but I heard the waves are really good so I’m excited. I’ll be there until the 28th when I’m flying to California for the US Open.
What other plans do you have for the summer?
I have two contests in California before I’m off on a surf trip to Mexico with Rip Curl. After that I’ll go home for a couple of weeks before an important WQS European leg.
How did the Roxy Pro last week go for you?
Not good at all. I lost in round 2 and was very disappointed. I couldn’t find any waves in my heats. It’s very frustrating because I was surfing good in the freesurf [which you can withness here] and felt good but didn’t do anything in my heats. Very frustrating!
What’s it like to surf a contest on your home break?
It’s a mixed feeling. I’m super excited because it’s the beaches I surf all year. But I can also feel the additional pressure of family and friends, medias, sponsors…
Is it different from other contests in other locations?
Yeah definitly. The pressure is always there because you’re surfing against the best in the world, there is no room for mistake and you’re chasing points and results. But at home you also have to deal with people’s expectations.
How did the ASP tour go for you this year?
The World Tour didn’t go very well. I had a couple of 13th places and that’s not what I’m here for. I guess after a few losses my confidence went down a bit and it’s been hard to get back in the rythm. I’ve done better on the WQS getting three good results in four events. Hopefully I can finish strong on this tour and re-qualify through it.
So you’re gonna be back next season?
I believe I can. Nothing is done yet. There are still 5 events left but I’m gonna do everything I can to re-qualify and do better next year!
This was your second year on the tour – did you notice any differences?
The level of surfing has been increasing. The locations for the events are the same but I’m starting to know them better now… Obviously my results have been better last year…
You and Justine Dupont are the only European girls on tour – is that hard sometimes?
Yes sometimes… It’s hard when you start doing the tour and don’t know anybody. You don’t speak the same language (even though we speak english), no one knows who you are, you’re in countries you don’t know…
But once you start to know people it’s fine, everyone is pretty cool. And it’s cool to be 2 frenchies, we support each other.
What would we need to do to get more Euros on the tour?
I think there are already a couple of girls in Europe who could make the tour. It’s just a matter of time. It’s not always easy to adapt to the WQS. I think if we want more Euro surfers in the World Tour we need to support kids more. Help them build a career, train, compete, make them travel and see the level overseas. We have good waves and talent! And when you’re young you need people to guide you.
Anything else you wanna get off your chest?
Just a big thanks to my family and friends who are always here to support me no matter what!
Watch out if she makes the tour again and what she comes back with from Peru on paulineado.fr and follow her on twitter @paulineado
