Red Bull Rising: Bourez's Blog Up and Down Europe

Posted on September 12, 2008 8:55 AM

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Editor's Note: Coming to the end of a six week intensive European leg, Red Bull Rising athlete Michel Bourez kicked started his quest for WCT qualification with a second place in the 5 star Movistar Pantin Classic. With one more WQS event to go on the leg, and then a wildcard place in the WCT Quiksilver Pro, Michel gives the rundown on what has been a pretty hectic couple of weeks.

Well I'm back in my apartment having just surfed in my first heat at the Rip Curl Pro in Zarautz. I won my heat so, yeah, it's a good start. It has actually been a pretty full-on couple of weeks, with some downs and some big ups. We drove down to Portugal after surfing the comps in France and turned up to some fun waves the first couple of days - the swell was four or five foot and everyone was out there ripping. I was with the Red Bull Rising coach Kingy, and the other athletes on the program and everyone was surfing way better in the good conditions. A bit of power helps eh?

In the event, I started well, making heats with big scores and then the surf went really small. In my third heat, only two sets came in and the guys that caught those made it through. You know I was like, fuck, just so frustrated. I hadn't had a good result in Europe and I really wanted to make things happen. I thought, right, that's it, I'm going to start to ride a boogieboard. But I was traveling with my girlfriend and still managed to have some fun. Ericeira is a cool place and we just did the things that couples do.

It helped that I also knew there were bigger waves coming to Spain at Pantin for the next event and I was more focused and just so determined. I knew had a board that suited the bigger waves and I also changed my strategy, trying to wait and choose better waves and concentrate, which I think I ended up doing for the whole event.

Pantin, is such a mellow quiet place, and plus it was raining the whole time, so I found it easy just to think about my surfing without any distractions. After I made my quarterfinal I was up against Nic Muscroft, the guy who had been getting the highest scores throughout the whole event, and for me, was the man to watch. I thought to myself, if I can beat him, then I can win the whole event. Of course I beat him, and then didn't win the contest, so there goes that theory. I was actually pretty upset that I didn't win the final, but after I had a chance to calm down and have a few beers that evening, I realised it was a good result and that if I can make a final, then I can definitely win one. I'm up to 26 in the ratings, and just need a big result. If I won a six star, say, then I'd almost be there.

After that good result, I've been back in Hossegor, just surfing, working on my boards, hanging with my girlfriend, just having fun really. I'll came down this morning to Spain for the Rip Curl Pro event had a surf in the morning and then watch my friend Tim Boal surf his first heat.

I've also just found out I've been given the wildcard into the WCT Quiksilver Pro for France at the end of the month, so I am super psyched on that. I've five days after this Zarautz event, where I'll try and not think about this whole surfing competition thing, and then just focus on each heat in the WCT. Last year I beat Kelly Slater, but I'm not even thinking about that now. If I get on to the WCT, this will be just another event next year, so I'm not thinking about who I might surf against. All I know is, I can't wait. I'm feeling good and happy about it all."