Semifinalists Decided on Opening Day of Longboard Pro Vieux Boucau

The Longboard Pro Vieux Boucau launched today in post-storm conditions with three-to-four foot waves and an improving lineup throughout the day. Semifinalists of both the men and women's events were decided to set the scene for an exciting finals day on Sunday in Vieux Boucau.

Edouard Delpero (FRA) 25, current rankings leader, made his way into the semifinals, collecting long rides to perfectly blend traditional nose-rides with dynamic maneuvers.

Delpero hanging five. - WSL / Damien Poullenot

"We had fun heats today to launch the event," Delpero said. "Wave selection was important and I managed to find a few nice rides with potential for good scores. There's a really cool vibe amongst everyone competing here, we're all stoked to end the season in Vieux Boucau."

Adam Griffiths (GBR) 27, will be the lone non-French semifinalist when the event resumes on Sunday, carrying the hopes of Great Britain for the event title in Vieux Boucau. The talented regular-footer collected three heat wins on the opening day of competition, looking sharp despite the bumpy conditions on offer, and will be a threat to France's supremacy on finals day.

Griffiths takes the new school approach. - WSL

"It's awesome to be here and it feels like summer just keeps going," Griffiths commented. "Today was a great day in the sun and conditions really improved. I can't wait to see what will happen in smaller waves but with offshore winds !"

Defending event champion Justine Dupont (FRA) 24, collected the day's two highest single scores including an impressive 9.17 for a lengthy nose ride followed by a perfectly executed roundhouse cutback. Shortly before that, Dupont had already secured an excellent 8.17 for three consecutive top turns followed by a gracious hang-five.

Dupont, comfortable on the nose. - WSL / Damien Poullenot

"I'm super happy to be back in Vieux Boucau and am having excellent sensations on my brand new Lufi longboard," Dupont said. "It's good to get back to competition mode and even though the start of my heat was tough, I ended up finding two super good waves. Conditions have really improved since this morning, and now the waves roll up nicely and bend around the sand bank with the incoming tide."

Alice Lemoigne (REU) 18, kept the ball rolling, fresh off a win in the opening event of the season in Newquay, and dispatched of compatriot Lucie Milochau (FRA) on her way to a semifinal berth.

Lemoigne will aim for a second European title on Sunday. - WSL / Damien Poullenot

"Conditions were tough today but I managed to find some decent waves and could complete a couple nose rides and turns," Lemoigne explained. "It's super cool to have a longboard event in France, I hope our sport keeps growing and this is a great warm-up for the China final as there are a few international competitors as well."

Surf Report, official forecaster of the Longboard Pro Vieux Boucau, calls for a decreasing two-to-three foot, northwest swell on Sunday with light offshore winds in the morning up until the early afternoon, delivering perfect conditions for the finals of the event.

Competitors and event officials will reconvene at 9 a.m. local time Sunday.