Hossegor (France) (AFP)

The greatest European surfer of all time, Jérémy Flores won for the first time in his career the French stage of the pro world circuit, Friday in front of his audience in Hossegor, defeating the Brazilian Italo Ferreira in the final.

Never a Frenchman nor even a European had been the best on the Landes coast for the Quiksilver Pro France, 9th of the 11 stages of the Championships Tour (CT).

"Oh my god, but I just won in France!", Said the 31-year-old surfer, just out of the water and carried by a cheering crowd.

"Thank you to all, thank you to everyone from the bottom of my heart," said Le Bleu, exultant, before dedicating his victory to Pierre Agnès, owner of the boardriders clothing brand (Quiksilver, Roxy) and disappeared at sea. in January 2018.

Flores, who grew up in Reunion Island, landed a young teenager in the Landes. At 18, he joined the CT, for which he now has four victories with those of Hawaii (2010, 2017) and Tahiti (2015).

Dad a little girl for a year and a half and now residing in Tahiti, Florès has approached differently his 13th year on the CT.

"I start my 13th year on the Tour, it's long, there have been ups and downs, the motivation is not the same in recent years, I even wondered if I wanted to continue" he had told AFP before starting this new season.

"This year, I want to give myself the means, do not do things half as before, and show beautiful surf, do not have regret," he continued.

At the third stage, in May in Bali, he finished second before signing a success in Hossegor.

This victory allows Flores to move from 14th to 9th in the world rankings. If he remains in the Top 10 in the last two stages, he will be assured of participating in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, where surfing will be his entry.

"The Olympics, it would be nice to participate in it I'm in love with the sport, since I'm a kid I love to watch, but I do not make it a priority. it indicated at the beginning of the season.

It is alongside his father, Patrick Flores, coach of the France team, that he will play the Games card.

Friday in Hossegor, the girls also delivered their verdict. Three-time world champion Carissa Moore of the United States took the win. The French Johanne Defay stopped in the semifinals.

© 2019 AFP