On the mythical wave of Pipeline, Huscenot will look like a simple "rookie" against the Brazilian cadors Filipe Toledo, Italo Ferreira or the American legend Kelly Slater, on the occasion of the first stage of the CT 2023 (January 29 - February 10) .

"It's been a long road, but I'm finally there. I grew up watching this Tour, worked hard to get there, now I just have to show what I'm capable of", summarizes for the AFP this Reunionese with broad shoulders and a frank smile.

Maxime Huscenot on January 22, 2023 in Hossegor.

At 30, the Reunionese surfer will begin his first season in the Championship Tour (CT), the professional circuit.

"It's been a long road, but I'm finally there," he says, relieved © PHILIPPE LOPEZ / AFP/Archives

In 2010, Huscenot won the junior world surfing title in Australia, but it took until last year to fulfill his "childhood dream".

"I've been in the Challenger Series (the equivalent of the 2nd division, editor's note) for a little over 10 years, skimming the waves around the world. All this experience has paid off," he says.

Fourth in the general classification at the end of the 2022 season, he validated his ticket to the prestigious Championship Tour, where he will be the only French representative after the retirement of Jérémy Florès in 2021.

"Methodical"

Originally from Valence (Drôme), but arrived "a few weeks ago" in Reunion, Huscenot started skiing at the age of eight in Saint-Gilles.

"Since then, I have never left the board. Becoming a pro was obvious. I told my father, who is my trainer, as a teenager," he recalls.

Integrated into the Pôle espoir de La Réunion at the age of 11, he rubbed shoulders with Johanne Defay, current world N.3, one year his junior.

"We competed together and we stayed quite close. He hasn't changed much: he's a very serious, very academic person", describes Defay.

"He watched a lot of surf videos. He loved Kelly Slater and was inspired by her. When I'm not in the water, I don't necessarily think about surfing, he spends a lot of time studying the pros," adds -she.

He will now have to face them.

But "Maxime will not miss this opportunity," said Christophe Mulquin, former head of the Pôle espoir de La Réunion.

"There is one thing that stands out about him: his intelligence in competition. If a surfer is stronger than him, he will develop strategies to manage it."

On the road to the Games

"His nickname was + Ti maccabi +, a tiny fish from Reunion. Maxime was a shrimp when he was little, but he always knew how to control his nerves well", explains Mulquin.

During his first training with the Pole, the waves at La Tortue spot were big and the sea rough.

"I refused to let him go into the water, but he cried for thirty minutes, telling me he was capable. Most children, when the conditions are very difficult, they are relieved not to be there. go. But he was the opposite," laughs the former coach.

Maxime Huscenot on January 22, 2023 on Hossegor beach.

"His nickname was + Ti maccabi +, a tiny fish from Reunion. Maxime was a shrimp when he was little, but he always knew how to control his nerves well", says of him Christophe Mulquin, former head of the Hope Pole of The meeting.

© PHILIPPE LOPEZ / AFP/Archives

On the Championship Tour, most matches are one-on-one and some waves, such as Pipeline in Hawaii or Teahupoo in Tahiti, are much bigger than those in the 2nd division spots.

"His advantage is that the season starts with consistent hits, he will be able to play on his qualities", rejoices Johanne Defay.

At the end of the 2023 season, the top ten in the general classification will qualify for the Paris Olympic Games, up to two representatives per nation.

"It's in the back of my mind, but I don't have any experience on this Tour yet so we'll see. It would definitely be great to be able to represent the country at the Olympics, the icing on the cake “, says Huscenot.

© 2023 AFP