After a week of high-intensity surfing in Landes, the Guadeloupe delegation claimed three titles and ten podium finishes, confirming its status as a powerhouse of French surfing.
2025 French Championships: the Guadeloupe delegation lights up the Hossegor lineup
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 (the leading overseas contingent)
- Dates: October 25–November 1, 2025
- Venue: Hossegor Pier, 1.5 m–2 m west swell
- Conditions: morning offshore winds, clean sandbanks
Titles and podium finishes, broken down
The Caribbean haul stands out for its diversity: shortboard, dropknee, longboard, and even kneeboard all saw Guadeloupe’s red-and-blue tricolor jerseys in action.
| Category | Champion | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Girls’ Under-14 Shortboard | Cheyenne Patino-Udeba | Gold (2nd consecutive title) |
| Under-14 Shortboard | Matthew Maurin-Lignières | Gold + 4th in Kneeboard |
| Open Dropknee | Martin Mouradian | Gold (13th national title) |
| Girls’ Under-16 Shortboard | Rose Calvez | Silver |
| Girls’ Under-18 Longboard | Anna Danielou | Bronze |
| Other finals | 5 riders | 4th place |
Full details are available via the official recap of the Championships.
Spotlight on the Caribbean gems shaking up the national rankings
In junior shortboard, Maurin-Lignières landed two back-to-back airs scored at 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’’ dropknee with Volcom rails
Juniors in action
This category embodies the future: explosive speed generation, sandbank reading worthy of the top CT riders, and nerves of steel. Their approach is based on video training and data provided by the onboard analytics equipment.
Impact on the Guadeloupean and French surfing scene
Beyond the trophies, these results boost the credibility of Caribbean 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.
- Stronger technical exchanges between mainland French and Caribbean coaches
- Growth 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 | Top product 2025 | Guadeloupe adoption (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Oxbow | Fish 5’10’’ Carbon-Linen | 32% |
| Décathlon (Olaian | Shortboard 500 Epoxy | 28% |
| Picture Organic | Recycled 3/2 mm rash guard | 25% |
| Faguo | Apolline sneakers | 18% |
| Rip Curl | E7 Flashbomb wetsuit | 41% |
Gear, preparation, and partnerships: the keys to Caribbean success
The regional league is banking on a winning trio: board shapes suited to reefs, nutrition designed for tropical heat, and real-time video coaching. Young surfers regularly go on a surf camp in Hossegor to get accustomed to the power of Atlantic swells.
- Ultra-light bamboo-epoxy sandwich boards
- GPS and accelerometer analysis integrated into traction pads
- Functional strength programs inspired by the CT
Institutional partnerships
A three-way agreement between the Guadeloupe League, Capesterre-Belle-Eau City Hall, and the French Federation guarantees a budget for equipment and travel through 2027, supplemented by Quiksilver and Billabong sponsorship for competition rash guards.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season: competitions and swells to watch
Attention is already turning to the Junior Pro circuit and the European CT trials. Guadeloupean riders will be able to fine-tune their positioning on the Nord bank 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
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 an adjusted quiver and a quick read of the lineups, they could score in demanding beach breaks.
What are the new training spots for the Guadeloupe delegation?
The coaches are banking on the Capbreton-La Piste sandbank for its resemblance to the beach breaks of European competitions, while maintaining technical sessions on Bouillante’s reef breaks to work on late takeoffs.
Why does Guadeloupe perform so well in youth categories?
Early talent identification, combined with personalized support (video, nutrition, mental preparation) and regular exchanges with Hossegor’s training structures, creates a steady pipeline of talent.
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 aware of climate issues.
How can you follow the team’s upcoming competitions?
The detailed schedule and live broadcasts are updated on the Hossegor portal, in the competition calendar, as well as on the official Guadeloupe League social media channels.
What safety measures are planned in the event of heavy cyclone swell?
A joint FFS–Météo France monitoring unit triggers the swell alert protocol; supervised sessions shift to sheltered spots, and e-training modules replace ocean practice until the alert is lifted.