Thibault

Thibaud, our bodyboard ambassador, is truly passionate about the ocean and board sports. He grew up in the Basque Country and still lives there, moving to the rhythm of the waves and exploring all the possibilities offered by the local spots. Be ready, he will take us on a journey through his sessions in the South West of France or abroad. @thibaud_berge

Where do you come from ?

I am from Biarritz, a small town located in the South West of France, more precisely in the Basque Country.

How long have you been bodyboarding?

I have been bodyboarding since the age of 7, on the Gloy spots (Anglet), especially at the club's beach or at the golden sands, it all depends on the sandbanks. The atmosphere is really good and I'm always sure to come across someone I know in the water, which makes every session even cooler. It is for this reason that I remain faithful to these spots by practicing bodyboarding there regularly.

What was the trigger for you? How did you progress?

Everyone wanted to learn to surf when we were younger. I did the opposite, I wanted to differentiate myself and it was a real trigger. Stay on a sport less practiced and "a little more accessible" in terms of sliding.

What made me progress are the friends (bodyboarding), the videos of the different athletes in the world, the trips and the various competitions when I was younger.

What do the ocean and bodyboarding mean to you?

The ocean and bodyboarding represent a source of well-being and motivation. The ocean is unique because it offers totally different conditions every day, which makes boogie (bodyboarding) all the more exciting. You have to know how to adapt to all types of waves, depending on the season and the weather conditions, which does not make the task easy.

As for bodyboarding, it's a real sport, both in terms of physical condition and technicality. The sensations are serious and whatever the level.

What is your best advice for those who would like to learn bodyboarding?

My best advice is to go into the water with one goal in mind: enjoy yourself to the fullest but always be mindful of others. And the little extra is to try to find two or three friends or a small group with whom you can share this moment. It will be even better for your progress.

What are your top destinations?

I had the chance to go to Australia for a year. Having traveled all over the west coast, I was able to surf real rocky waves, specially adapted for boogie like for example the wave from Shark Island to Cronulla towards Sydney. This wave will remain forever etched in my memory. Big mutant right, well dry where you can get a big barrel ;)

Finally, the island of Siargao in the Phillipines is a real favorite. I was able to surf Cloud 9, the wave of my life. This is an amazing right/left peak where you can have a big barrel and do a maneuver at the end of the wave. It's really the best of the best for bodyboarders and surfers.