Thanks to a large number of talented surfers in both the men’s and women’s fields of the World Surf League Qualifying Series, Mafalda Lopes and Maxime Huscenot emerged as the final champions.
The surfers were able to enjoy temperatures of 60 to 90 centimeters and the fans were able to watch great surf finals between Tessa Thyssen and Mafalda Lopes in the women’s category and Maxime Huscenot and Leo Paul Etienne in the men’s category.
Lopes got off to an early start in the final, with two mediocre results early in the competition. Thyssen preferred to wait for a better opportunity, but as it turned out, none came.
Thyssen had to play catch-up all the time, while Lopes could stay calm and just do her best to improve her score.
In an interview with the World Surf League, Lopes talked about her competition day.
“I’m really happy with the win,” said Lopes. “It’s a good start to the QS season and I’m ready to move on and I’m more confident now.”
“It was a good final. I tried to start fast and catch two waves. I didn’t think they were going to be my best waves, but they ended up being the best waves of the heat. Tessa was surfing really well and Tya (Zebrowski) was throwing nines, so it wasn’t an easy competition at all. Women’s surfing is super good at the moment and growing super fast. I’m just happy that I can keep up with the girls!”
The men’s final pitted defending champion Etienne against former Championship Tour surfer Huscenot. Both intense competitors put on a great show throughout the event, posting great results throughout.
In the men’s final, the strategy was the opposite of the women’s. Etienne was out first and scored 6.83 out of 10. He held on after finding a better wave, but nothing came along worth holding.
Huscenot remained patient and waited for a wave worth the effort. What he found was the best wave of the heat, securing an 8.0 for his first ride.
Etienne managed a comeback and even took the lead when he backed up his score with 7.5, but Huscenot’s patience paid off. In the final minute of the contest, WSL reported, “he rolled into a left-hander, hit two big backhand swings and grabbed the score he needed to take the win and win another title in Lacanau.”
Huscenot said: “I’m super happy right now. I saw Leo’s semifinal and I knew he could do really well on airs and turns, so I expected high scores. My strategy for the final was to just find some 8-point rides, but since the tide was coming in really fast, it was hard to find the right one. I tried to be really patient and then I got lucky when I found the wave I was looking for.”
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to come here or not, but then I decided to do it because I love this place and I wanted to do a few heats and get the result,” Huscenot continued. “Last year I came second so I really wanted to win. The last time I won here I qualified so I hope this gives me the momentum and I can finish the year very well.”
