At dawn on June 13, 2026, Centrale Beach in Hossegor came alive to the rhythm of the very first Red Bull King of the Mousse. With 60 competitors riding randomly drawn softboards, the Landes spot delivered a pure show blending a fun contest with high-end free surfing.
Red Bull King of the Mousse: a foam contest that’s pure gold in Hossegor
Organized as part of the Beach Festival, the sporting event immediately found its audience. The waves1.20 m waves rolled in glassy under a light offshore wind, offering an ideal playground for creative maneuvers. The concept, modeled on the one imagined by Jamie O’Brien in Hawaii, requires foam boards for everyone: everyone ends up on a foamie, whether they are a pro, amateur, or student.
Perfect conditions: 1.20 m swell and offshore wind
Competition director Vincent Duvignac summed it up with a swipe of wax: “Super-clean rights and lefts, perfect for throwing down smooth turns and foam-board floaters.” Thanks to tide and wind timing dialed in from 9 a.m., every heat took place on ultra-consistent walls, ideal for scoring on the key criterion: pure creativity.
Between sets, the beach turned into a sandy skatepark with DJs, food trucks, and soft-top surf lessons for the kids. Curious spectators were able to browse the calendar of Hossegor’s traditional competitions and compare the more “roots” atmosphere with that of the QS or Challenger Series circuits.
Offbeat format, foam-board-only rules: why it’s such a hit in the Landes
The smiles say it all: you don’t need a high-tech quiver to throw down a carve. Foam boards level the playing field and unleash the wildest moves. The result: a won-over crowd, nonstop action, and total fairness.
- Board lottery : the “wheel of shred” can saddle you with anything from a finless 5’0 mini to a momentum-heavy 9’ softboard.
- Style-focused judging : flow, adaptability, and originality matter more than sheer radicality.
- Beach party atmosphere : live concerts, seaweed tacos, and foam-board shaping workshops.
- Local visibility : Landes clubs and students share the lineup with Europe’s top names.
A format already tried at other events, such as the William Aliotti Invitational, proves that unfiltered recreational surf draws just as much interest, if not more, than a classic World Surf League contest.
The shred wheel: a mouthwatering foam-board raffle
Every spin of the wheel feels like a game show: suspense, applause, then a random verdict. A standout example: local junior Marie Delanne drew a 5’4 twinless, scored a clean barrel in 60 cm of foam, and took home the best women’s wave. Proof that talent matters more than gear.
Results and standout stories from the first edition
After the finals, the impromptu VIP area under the pines celebrated the winners over a ginger kombucha beer. Here’s the recap:
| Rank | Surfing | Club/Origin | Board drawn | Standout move |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucas “Lulu” Bastos | Capbreton Surf Club | 7’0 soft single fin | Landed reverse aerial shuvit |
| 2 | Marie Delanne | Hossegor Surf School | 5’4 flat deck no fin | Backside barrel on a 1.20 m wave |
| 3 | Jules Martínez | University of Bordeaux | 9’0 soft log | Hang ten + body varial |
Behind the podium, several riders have already announced that they want to do it again next year, convinced that foam is the future of surf entertainment. Technical brands are watching the phenomenon: a booming market for high-performance softboards.
Who could register for the Red Bull King of the Mousse?
The competition was open to amateur surfers, club members, students, and local figures, regardless of skill level, provided they were of legal age and surfed on the foam boards supplied by the organizers.
Why require foam boards only?
The concept aims for fairness: all competitors start with equipment that performs similarly, requiring them to express themselves through style and creativity rather than the technology of resin boards.
How do the judges score the heats?
The main criteria are adapting to the randomly drawn board, the creativity of the maneuvers, the variety of the repertoire, and the connection with the wave. Raw radicality matters less than flow and inventiveness.
Will the event be held again?
Given its public and media success, the organizers and Hossegor town hall suggest that a second edition is already in the works for next summer.
