After a week of high-intensity surfing in the Landes region, the Guadeloupe delegation claimed three titles and ten podium finishes, confirming its status as a powerhouse in French surfing.
2025 French Championships: the Guadeloupe delegation sets Hossegor’s lineup alight
The archipelago’s 60 representatives dominated a glassy Hossegor break, proving they are no longer content to play the role of spoilers. With three national titles and ten podium finishes, the Caribbean surfers are now making their mark in every major final.
- Delegation: 60 competitors (leading overseas delegation)
- Period: October 25–November 1, 2025
- Venue: Hossegor Pier, 5–6.5 ft west swell
- Conditions: morning offshore winds, clean sandbanks
Titles and podiums, broken down
The Caribbean haul stands out for its diversity: shortboard, dropknee, longboard, and even kneeboard all saw Guadeloupe’s red-and-blue national jerseys in action.
| Category | Champion | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Girls’ U15 Shortboard | Cheyenne Patino-Udeba | Gold (2nd consecutive title) |
| U15 Shortboard | Matthew Maurin-Lignières | Gold + 4th in Kneeboard |
| Open Dropknee | Martin Mouradian | Gold (13th national title) |
| Girls’ U17 Shortboard | Rose Calvez | Silver |
| Junior Women’s Longboard | Anna Danielou | Bronze |
| Other finals | 5 riders | 4th place |
The full details are available in the official recap of the Championships.
Spotlight on the Caribbean standouts shaking up the national rankings
In U14 shortboard, Maurin-Lignières landed two back-to-back airs scored 8.17 and 8.43, enough to hold off the Basque competition. Patino-Udeba, meanwhile, strings together double rail-grabs and carves on the inside sections, confirming her status as France’s number one.
- Cheyenne Patino-Udeba : 5’6’’ epoxy board from the Rip Curl Shaping Lab
- Matthew Maurin-Lignières : Quiksilver x Channel Islands 5’5’’–5’8’’ quiver
- Martin Mouradian : custom 41 » Volcom rails dropknee
The U14s take charge
This category embodies the future: explosive speed generation, sandbank reading worthy of top CT surfers, and nerves of steel. The approach is based on video training and data provided by the onboard analysis equipment.
Impact on the Guadeloupean and French surfing scene
Beyond the trophies, these results boost the credibility of the French West Indies’ federation programs. Caribbean clubs, long-standing partners of the Hossegor surf school, are already seeing an influx of requests for training camps in mainland France.
- Strengthening technical exchanges between mainland French and Caribbean coaches
- The rise of Para Surfing thanks to the shared performance model
- Creation of regional scholarships for overseas groms
The ripple effect on the local economy
Hossegor manufacturers and shops are seeing growing demand for Oxbow, OLAIAN (by Décathlon), Picture Organic, and Faguo boards, while Kana Beach, Billabong, and Roxy are benefiting from renewed visibility on Caribbean beaches.
| Brand | Flagship product for 2025 | Guadeloupe Adoption (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Oxbow | Fish 5’10’’ Carbon-Linen | 32 % |
| Decathlon (Olaian | Shortboard 500 Epoxy | 28 % |
| Picture Organic | Recycled 3/2 mm rash guard | 25 % |
| Faguo | Apolline Sneakers | 18 % |
| Rip Curl | E7 Flashbomb Wetsuit | 41 % |
Equipment, preparation and partnerships: the keys to Antillean success
The Regional League relies on a winning trio: reef-adapted shaping, nutrition designed for tropical heat, and real-time video coaching. Young surfers regularly go to a surf camp in Hossegor to get familiar with the power of Atlantic swells.
- Ultra-light bamboo sandwich–epoxy boards
- GPS analysis and accelerometers integrated into the grips
- CT-inspired functional strength programs
Institutional partnerships
A three-way agreement between the Guadeloupe League, the Capesterre-Belle-Eau town hall, and the French Federation guarantees a budget for equipment and travel through 2027, supplemented by Quiksilver and Billabong sponsorship for competition jerseys.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season: competitions and swells to watch
Attention is already turning to the Junior Pro circuit and European CT trials. Guadeloupean riders will be able to fine-tune their positioning on the Nord sandbank thanks to the cyclonic swell alert updated in real time.
- Pro Junior Lacanau – June
- QS 3000 Anglet – August
- Ultramarine Challenge in Saint-Leu – September
- Pre-Championship training camps in October in Hossegor
- Charity events Biarritz – November
Unforeseen challenges and lessons learned
The 2025 run highlights the importance of versatility. The Caribbean groms, accustomed to warm water and reef breaks, proved that with a tailored quiver and a quick read of the breaks, they could score in demanding beach breaks.
What are the new training spots for the Guadeloupe delegation?
The coaches are betting on the Capbreton-La Piste sandbank for its resemblance to the beach breaks of European competitions, while maintaining technical sessions on the reef breaks of Bouillante to work on late take-offs.
Why does Guadeloupe perform so well in youth categories?
Early talent identification, combined with individualized support (video, nutrition, mental preparation) and regular exchanges with Hossegor’s training structures, creates a steady talent pipeline.
What role do eco-friendly brands play in Caribbean quivers?
Picture Organic and Faguo are gaining ground thanks to their carbon commitments and high-performance recycled materials, meeting the expectations of young riders who are aware of climate issues.
How can you follow the team’s upcoming competitions?
The detailed calendar and live broadcasts are updated on the Hossegor portal, in the competition calendar, as well as on the official networks of the Guadeloupe League.
What safety measures are planned in the event of heavy cyclone swell?
A joint FFS–Météo France monitoring unit activates the swell alert protocol; supervised sessions are moved to sheltered spots, and e-learning modules replace ocean practice until the alert is lifted.
