The QUIKSILVER Oceanias Surfing Cup 2007 took place at the Uaraï pass (La Foa) from April 9 th to 13 th .

These Oceanias of surfing were a premier in New Caledonia. Indeed, each year the Oceanias are hosted in a different country of the South Pacific. And this year, it was held for the first time ever in New Caledonia. This major event brought together the best surfers of the South Pacific, all competing during a whole week to get the Oceania champion title in open men, open women, men juniors, longboard and team.

The participating countries were Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk, Tahiti and Tonga. In all, 36 competitors took part in the contest.

Each team was made of:

The teams were hosted at the Parachute Club of Uatom (La Foa) 10 km away from the Uano peninsula. As for the meals, they were served at the Uano surf camp located on the Uano peninsula.

During those five days of competition, most of the competitors and organizers were transported by the Ekué-Ekué - a great catamaran of 24m by 11m. Jayak surfaries, Transcar and the Nekweta surf camp completed the transport of the teams. As for Les Phares & Balises, they put a barge 7m long and 4m wide at the public's disposal so that they could closely watch the competition. The base camp was the Uano surf camp where the public could find refreshments and food.

The opening ceremony involving the customary authorities of La Foa was organized on Monday, April 9 at the Uano surf camp. It was a solemn moment full of emotions and cultural exchanges.

Likewise, the awards ceremony was organized on Friday, April 13 at the southern Province premises at La Foa village at 4pm. An atmosphere of emotions and brotherhood was blowing through the air. The crowd went then to a farewell party at the Uano surf camp where people were entertained by a local band.

 The competition

Monday was a free surfing day and competitors as well as organizers seized the opportunity to check out the spot. The competition actually began on Tuesday with the first rounds in each category and the first repercharge for the open. It lasted until Friday, the day of the finals.

In the men's open, Michael Burling (Tonga) was once more above the lot ahead of Motu Mataa from New Zealand. The Caledonians represented by Manu Hernu and Rodrigue Kirsh (as a substitute for Philippe Boutin) couldn't make it past the first round.

And in the women's open, Patricia Rossi won the judges' favour during the final just ahead of a very challenging Jessica Santorik (NZ). Jenna Cinnedrawa, the 15 years-old Caledonian girl, met with strong competition during the very first final of her young career and placed fourth.

As for the juniors, the Tahitian Jocelyn Poulou dominated the final ahead of the highly combative Bodhi Whitaker (NZ) and the two Caledonians Colin McReynolds and Isaac Coste who came out third and fourth.

In the longboard ... it was again Michael Burling (TG) who clearly dominated the final heat followed by a brilliant Jamie Andrews (NZ). As for Johnny, our local representative ... well, he was unlucky and broke his board in the semifinal thus finishing fifth in the competition.

As for the team results, New Zealand placed first ahead of Tahiti and ... New Caledonia.

The general atmosphere was very cheerful and friendly with loads of humour and laughter. And it was also a competition well conducted by the organizers including Ingrid Leboucher and Patricia Rossi from Tahiti who notably helped out the Caledonian organizers in the hard task of managing such a big event.

May the values which unite the people of the Pacific - respect and combativeness; humility and solidarity- live forever within us.

See you next year in Tahiti: Taapuna, Sapinus, Papara?

BG