VQS Mullet Fish Crozon
VQS
Plage de La Palue, Crozon
21-22 August 2010

We were back in Crozon for the 4th time during the warmest and sunniest week end of the whole summer, except for Brittany which was cold, windy and with light scattered rain – the only region in the whole country with this kind of weather!

But thankfully the local people were there to warm us with their legendary hospitality. 100 brave “Breton” people came early on this sad and rainy Saturday morning for inscriptions, where they could enjoy a hot breakfast offered by our two lovely hostess, Charlotte from Absolut Surf Shop and Valerie from Volcom! Even if we were not lucky with the weather, we were with the swell, which was the only one in the last couple weeks with 3-4 foot waves.

First heat in the water at 9 am, last one out at 8 pm, 11 hours of contest!!! That was a heck of a long day, one where we could see:
- The tide changing 3 times, from low to high to low.
- An intern dressed as a lobster for a weird rodeo game.
- More than 10 bags of flour thrown
- A huge Air guitar contest with toes in the ocean mandatory
- 130 sandwiches eaten

As usual we started with the Grom category, who are always on time for registrations (it’s hard to wake up anyone in the Open division at 8 am on a Friday morning!) and motivated to surf in any conditions! Without surprise, Harry Timson, Charly Quivront from the Volcom team and 2 locals, Adrien Boadec and Tim Faujour clawed their way to the final!

At the end, Harry won, with some impressive shredding (Crozon and Fistral are really similar….apparently) in front of his team mate Charly, who wasn’t lucky with his wave choice. Like in the Groms, it was no surprise in Juniors category, with two of France’s best young surfers, Ian Fontaine and Gaspard Larsonneur in final, rounded out with young Leo Latourte, 15, who was in the Groms’ final last year and Augustin Graignic.

Ian Fontaine, who placed second last year, took his revenge this year and won easily the “Cider” trophy, placing in front of one of Brittany’s new upstarts, Gaspard Larsonneur, and also Leo Latourte. Girl’s category started in semis due to the overall number of entries, and so we waited a couple hours before their first heat…thank you girls for your patience!

The two past winners, Lena Le Frapper (2009) and Lola Boutin (2008) battled for the top spot, and finally Lena won her second consecutive VQS Mullet fish in front of Lorene Jezequel in second place, Lola in third and the very young Charlotte Billon in fourth place. The last final of the day was the Open divsion, without the 2009 champion, Thomas Esquillot from Le Landes, who lost in ¼ final, was surprised by the water temp and high level, but hopefully took his revenge on the Saturday night (party)….

This final was the highest level ever seen in Brittany, with the best surfer during the whole contest and brother of Ian, Gordon Fontaine, who unfortunately didn’t find any good waves in the final, finished in fourth. Vincent Primel followed in the third spot, and then it was really close between Aurelien Jacob (2008 champ) and the young Surfer from Reunion Island with Brittany Roots, Kieran Bullard. Finally Kieran took the cake, and 400€ cash with a big smile! Congrats Kieran!!!!

Which meant Aurelien Jacob had to settle with a second place finish. After an 11 hour non-stop contest, the prize ceremony started under a light rain, and all the brave people that stayed on the beach all day long went home with ton of prizes and goodies. Thank you’s go out to: Volcom who offered food and drinks that night in the pub L’ATAO AMAN for a long party….

Many Thanks to ABSOULT SURF SHOP, who work hard like usual, Crozon’s Council, Ewen Cloarec for the movie and Yves Quere for the pictures, Rémi and Yannick, Valerie (Volcom Rep), Electric and SEVENTYONE PERCENT. And all the Bretons who came out to support and surf with us!

GROMS
1- Harry Timson
2- Charly Quivront
3- Adrien Boedec
4- Tim Faujour

JUNIOR
1- Ian Fontaine
2- Gaspard Larsonneur
3- Leo Latourte
4- Augustin Graignic

GIRLS
1- Lena Le Frapper
2- Lorene Jezequel
3- Lola Boutin
4- Charlotte Billon

OPEN
1- Kieran Bulard (400€)
2- Aurélien Jacob
3- Vincent Primel
4- Gordon Fontaine

Electric Volthrower award: Charly Quivront.