The last day of the Roxy Jam was a belter of a contest. The first semi was an all French affair with local surfer Justine Dupont taking on Coline Menard (and her pink and black stripy longboard) from the Reunion. Even though Justine (who was runner-up at the 2007 Roxy Jam, aged just 15) was the favourite, Coline scored the better waves to clinch her place in the final.

The second semi saw one of the best head to heads of the whole comp with Jenn Smith from the US battling Chelsea Williams from Oz. The standard was so insanely high that the large crowd sitting on the stone wall and rocks were constantly whooping and cheering. It helped that the tide was pretty high so we could see the duel up close.

Before the final all the other longboarders, bar the two finalists, donned neon outfits for the expression session in which former cover star Candice O’Donnell bagged the prize for best old school manoeuvre. Go Candice!

Coline surfed well in the final but couldn’t match the power and style of Jenn Smith who took her second ASP World Longboard title in three years with a 9.25 ride, the highest wave score of the whole event. She said, “To win a second world title is just unbelievable. That heat against Chelsea (Williams)… I was ready to bow out in the semis and I had no idea I was going to get that wave and this score down. I was feeling pretty confident after that and when once I made the final I was definitely looking for the second title, for sure.”

“I had no expectations this year as I had not won an event in months, maybe a year. I came over here to give my best and see what happens, and I made the final and won it. It’s just so good to get a second one.”

Treat your eyes to some highlights of the final day here

And here’s the final day scorecard:

ROXY ASP WWLC FINAL
1st, Jennifer Smith (USA) 12.25 pts
2nd, Coline Menard (REU) 9.55 pts

ROXY ASP WWLC SEMIFINALS
Heat 1: Coline Menard (REU) 11.75 pts Def. Justine Dupont (FRA) 9.15 pts
Heat 2: Jennifer Smith (USA) 15.25 pts Def. Chelsea Williams (AUS) 13.25 pts

And so that was it for the Roxy Jam, my favourite of all the surf events, for another year. The vibe, location, friendliness of all the Roxy peeps and smooth-running organization makes it an absolute pleasure to attend. Thanks guys!

I had one last surf on the amazing Cote des Basques beach and then went to party with the surfers and Roxy team, and enjoy the fireworks with the Biarritz massive on Bastille day. And yes I got the hangover I deserved for the plane ride home!