Hossegor (France) (AFP)
The most successful pro-European surfer of all time, Landais Jérémy Flores won for the first time in his career on Friday in Hossegor, the French stage of the world circuit, defeating the Brazilian Italo Ferreira in front of thousands of spectators .
Never a Frenchman nor even a European had been the best on the Landes coast for the Quiksilver Pro France.
At 31 years old and while he has been playing for 13 years on the world circuit, Flores has won his fourth victory with those of Hawaii (2010, 2017) and Tahiti (2015).
"If I win, I'll be able to retire!", He said jokingly at the end of his semi-final against Australian surfer Jack Freestone.
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 of the year, he will be assured of participating in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, where surfing will make his entry.
Florès, who grew up in Reunion, moved to the Landes as a teenager to pursue his dream of becoming a professional surfer.
On the girls' side, three-time world champion Carissa Moore of the United States took the win. The French Johanne Defay stopped in the semifinals.
© 2019 AFP