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History of the French Surf Federation
The origins
Seven years after the emergence of surfing in France on the Biarritz’s waves, the French Federation of Surf-riding is created under the presidency of Mister Guy Petit, mayor of Biarritz at this time. It intends to federate the coastal surf clubs.
There were four of these pioneers at that time. The oldest is the Waikiki surf club created on the 16 of September 1959 by Carlos Dogny, Peter Viertel, Jacques Rott, Georges , Joël de Rosnay and Michel Barland. Members of the club include André Plumcocq, Robert Bergeruc, Pierre Laharrague, Joseph and Jo Moraiz, Paul Pondepeyre, Henri Etchepare and Claude Durcudoy. The Waikiki is located in the bathing establishments of the Basque coast. The Surf Club of the Chambre d’Amour is created on August 27, 1963. It is inaugurated by the doctor Lacroix, mayor of Anglet, and Deborah Kerr, famous American actress of the sixties and wife of Peter Viertel, who introduced surfing in France six years earlier. Installed in the bathhouse of the Angloy city, it has as president Joël de Rosnay. It was renamed few months later: Surf Club de France.
The same year, two other clubs joined the ranks: the USB and the Kostakoak of Bidart. The goal of the creation of the Federation is to bring together all competing beach “tribes”. On August 20, 1964, the day after the television broadcast of the show «Les Coulisses de l'exploit» devoted to surfing, takes place in the Basque coast the reunification of these clubs by the Mayor of Biarritz Guy Petit. The headquarters is based at the city’s tourist office. The French Federation is now affiliated to the International Federation, which has also just been created.
The first competitions
Although the French championships have been held in Biarritz since 1961, the first championships under the aegis of the French Surfriding Federation are held in 1965 in Anglet. Joël de Rosnay and Marie-Christine Delanne are crowned champions of France. That same year, Jacky Rott and Jo Moraïz represented France at the second World Championships in Lima, Peru.
Two years after the creation of the FFS, the Aquitaine Regional Committee was created. It brings together the various clubs in the region. Publicized in American surf magazines and films, French spots, including the Barre, attract more and more foreigners. International competitions were held i in which the great names of the time participate, including Australia’s Bob Keenan, Mickael Hickey, Nat Young, Wayne Carroll, Peter Troy, Hawaiian Jan Lee, Gerry López, Jeff Hackman… These aren’t just passing through. They settled for several weeks or even a few months to take advantage of the exceptional conditions in the Bay of Biscay.
It is by seeing them slipping on their waves, that the French pioneers begin to progress and that a new generation is born. Bernard Capdepont, Christophe Bordenave, Gérard Dabbadie… embody this second wave.
Surfing reaches the Landes and the Girondine coast with two essential poles: Hossegor and Lacanau.