Dhélia and Clément are the 2010 ISA World Tandem Champs!

Dhelia and Clement were crowned the new ISA Tandem Surfing World Champion this week-end in Lacanau, France.  The championship gathered numerous couples from around the world who competed for the coveted tittle in nice conditions at La Centrale, the busy seaside resort’s main surf spot.
The young sponsor-less couple from Biscarrosse, after 3 years competing together claim there best result to date and come on top against highly skilled opposition.
Great wave selection, the right choice of trajectory while performing sequences of complex but perfectly executed lifts is what it took for them to run away with the win.

The Lacanau locals, Sarah and Rico, used to the limelight and fully sponsored, come in second. Despite their extensive contest experience, high technical abilities and multiple French Champion titles, they could not surpass the couple from Biscarrosse. 
In third place, the renown Californians Illa and Brian re-enforced once more their status of exemplary tandem surfers. Married and tandem partners for more than 15 years, they always show tandem surfing at its best, showing great form for all the international exhibitions and competitions they take part in.

Finishing fourth, Tiffany and Chuck, the 2008 ISA World Champion and ambassadors of Waikiki, Hawaii, the birthplace of tandem surfing, also showed the extend of their talent. They reached the final despite beach break waves much more capricious than the ones they are used to back home.

Results 2010, Lacanau, France: 1- Dhélia & Clément 2- Sarah & Rico 3- Illa & Brian 4- Tiffany & Chuck

The Interview of Dhelia and Clement

Tandem Surfing ISA Champions 2010 Clement Cetran and Dhelia Birou from France© 2010 - www.nalu-surf.com

QUICK PRESENTATION

First name
(D) Dhélia   (C) Clément
Last name
(D) BIROU (C) CETRAN
Age
(D) 22 (C)  26
What's your current occupation?
(D) Interior Design and Architecture Student   
(C) Surfing Instructor at KIWI SURF CLUB in Biscarrosse
How long have you been surfing? Tandem surfing?
(D) I surfed for the first time 7 years ago and I started tandem surfing when I met Clement 5years ago.
(C) I have been surfing since I was 5 years old. I started tandem surfing 5 years ago with Dhélia.
Describe your personnality: 
(D) Active, passionate and a dreamer
(C) Courageous, caring
Where do you surf most often ?
(D+C) Biscarrosse in the South West of France.
Do you belong to a surf club ?
(D+C) Lou Bisca Surf Club Association
Do you have sponsors ?
(D+C) Nope, no sponsors :(
(D+C) Pas de sponsors :(
Do you take play other sports ?
(D) No, I do not. (C) Shortboard and rugby.

ISA WORLD CHAMPIONS

Congratulations Dhelia and Clement you have just been crowned ISA World Tandem Surfing Champions. For the first time, this event was held in Lacanau, France instead of Queens in Waikiki, Hawaii where tandem surfing began at the start of the century with the beach boys and the Duke. Several international couples had made the trip from California and Hawaii, as well as French couples from up and down the coast from Vendée to the Basque Country.
We want to know everything about your victory!

Tell us about the surfing conditions during the contest? The waves in Lacanau?

(D)The first day was very difficult for me because the surf was still all over the place from the previous days’ storm. Sunday, however was a great day. Saturday’s rain turned to a bright sunshine and the giant chop at virtually disappeared, thanks to a light offshore breeze. The result was glassy shoulder high surf, it pays to keep one’s hope high!
(C) Walled-up and hollow waves on the low tide for the final, perfectly suited for committed surfing in fast peeling waves!

The organisation, the judging?

(D)Everything was fine with the organization. Such an event depends so much on the weather and surf condition, I think all the organizers gave their best to keep it all together.
(C) Excellent work from the judges given that the criteria does not seem easy to master and demand special attention.

How did your different heats go?

(D) We cannot really say it was enjoyable to surf in waves such as the ones on offer on Saturday. I guess it’s part of the competition and also the adrenaline rush you get from competing makes one push his/her limit. Sunday was just bliss, heats were very tensed amongst competitors and a raging desire to beat the other teams could be felt; nothing to loose, everything to gain.

(C) Great competitors that really gave us a scare: it was necessary and beneficial in a way, as it is the stress and fear of getting eliminated in the semi-final that allowed us to push past our limitations.

The final

(D) Absolutely Huge! Despite the high level the other teams were performing at, we kept our cool while retaining enough competitive edge to win the tittle! We went into the final with a smile on our face and great energy with no thoughts of loosing whatsoever. We were there to have a blast and have fun just like during our everyday surf session.  We would not let the pressure of the competition get to us in a bad way. Tandem surfing is first and foremost a passion the two of us share and we did not want to loose track of this state of mind during the final.

(C) I agree with Delhia. I also believe we owe this first place finish to how detached we were able to remain during the final. We really enjoyed ourselves during this part of the championship. At no point in time did we plan ahead our lift sequences, we did everything on instinct. I approached the waves just like I would have on my shortboard. The really fast waves on offer that day required that we go through our lift sequences in the hollow part of the waves. An incredible rush!!!

How was the atmosphere among the competitors? Tell us about the new teams you met but also the old friends you got to see again.

(D) Great atmosphere during the contest and it was really a pleasure to see Chuck and Tiffany again after meeting them for the first time 3 years ago in Santander, Spain.

(C) Great atmosphere and always a pleasure to gather with the other French and international couples. It was a great opportunity also to meet other couples and to talk about our sport.

The crowd on the beach?

(D) Always motivating to have the support of the people on the beach. It pleases us they are there. Cheers and applause are always a great help before entering the water.

(C) Always a pleasure to see the crowd, also great to hear them,that is if it’s not to windy, hahaha!

The media?

(D) Friendly and always nice even if I do not think they were expecting our win.

(C) Very surprised to see us win 1st place.

Since you started tandem surfing together, you have taken part in a few competition in Europe, and you have always had great results. Why is it that you do not take part in more contest?

(D) Motivation is there, believe me. The main reason is that we have no sponsors... To be able to travel abroad to get better and to take part in more contest are our next goals.

(C) Indeed, we’d really love to find sponsoring, we hope this last result will help us. I guess one cannot expect sponsoring without having deserved it.

You are beautiful, have great smiles and are very talented, do you think sponsors will be offering you contracts, now that you are World Champions?

(D) That’s very kind :) I don’t know yet if this tittle will help us, I guess we’ll find out in a few days... Fingers crossed.

A COUPLE IN LIFE AND IN THE SURF

How did you get into tandem surfing ? Why and where ?

(D) I met Clement randomly on the Beach when I was 17. He was on his way to tandem surf with a buddy of his, just for fun on an old sailboard (as big as a cruise ship hihihi). I asked him if he would take me for a ride because I had seen it before in a video and I had thought it was awesome!!! It’s funny how little things can affects one’s life so greatly. It was love at first sight... at sea. Since that day we have never been apart (we haven’t parted from the board either) ;)

(C) Knowing how to surf can be very handy at times, haha.

Has your lives changed since you started tandem surfing ?

(D) Of course because tandem surfing has changed our love life! Today, I really want our next trips to be planned around tandem surfing.

(C) I am very happy I was able to pass my passion for the Ocean on to Dhelia, so much so that she now tells me everyday that she could not live away from the ocean and the waves. So, yes it has changed our lives.

What are your favorite lifts ? Less favorite ?

(D) I love the star and the flat but I am not a fan of the shoulder stand.

(C) I personally like the Cobra, however I am not too keen on the Side Bird. At times, I just like to hold Dhelia in my arms or have her sitting on my shoulders so that we can surf harder.

How often do you practice, in and out of the water ?

(D) We are actually aware that we lack practice. During the summer season, we work a lot and it’s not easy for us. With Sunday’s victory, we have now realized we can get excellent contest results and it has boosted our motivation higher than ever.

(C) Land practices are extremely important. We train every chance we get but it’s not always easy to find the time during our busy summer season.

Tell us about your partner ? What makes him / her the best ?

(D) He is very focused.

(C) She is very coordinated.

What are your goals in general and more specifically (surfing wise, lift wise, artistically and competition wise) ?

(D) To work on our surfing maneuvers and perform more difficult lifts on the face of the wave. Of course we’d like to defend that title next year, but that will not be easy.

(C) To always perform lifts while surfing!

How do surfers around you in the line-up react ? How do you think you are perceived ?

(D) Very well, always.

(C) Tandem surfing always brings good vibes in the line-up.

Do you often meet people who want to start ?

(D+C) From time to time; it’s true however that it is not necessarily often that people have what it takes to become a good tandem surfing couple.

You own and operate Kiwi Surf, a Beach Club in Biscarrosse, a seaside resort in the Landes region in the South of France. Among the different services you run, do you offer tandem rides? Should we be calling you the French Beach Boys?

(D) Clement tandem surfs with his younger students, the 5 year old kids who don’t know how to surf by themselves, it’s very cute.

(C) I only tandem with kids. I save the other kind of tandeming for Dhelia.

Dhelia, you started surfing with tandem surfing. Do you often surf by yourself? Clement is a good coach?

(D) Yes, I guess we can say that. Clement introduced me to a magical sport. I surf by myself only when the forecast is looking good, because I am really picky about the conditions... Clem is an excellent teacher, he is very patient with me! hihihi

Clement, you tried surfing an Alaia surfboard with Fred last May in Biscarrosse. You are an accomplished athlete, a rugby player and a shortboard competitor, you were very impressive on the alaia! Since that day, have you been riding that board much?

(C) Yes, I have and everybody wants to try it! I really like the idea of experiencing what the first surfers felt back then. Thank you again, you made me traveled back in time!

TANDEM SURF TRIPS

Tell us about your surf trips tandeming, your best waves around the world ?

(D) We are yet to tandem surf a reef break, I hope that it will happen soon!!!

Any trips planned ?

(D) Sri Lanka for fun and California for the next contest!!

LAST QUESTIONS

Tell us about the board(s) you are using. Who shapes them ?

(D) We surf on a 11ft Rip Curl stand up board, made with epoxy, which has really changed our life, and a Sprout surfboard which has a more gunny shape for big waves.

Do you have some online photos and videos you would like to share ?

(D) Not yet, all of this is new to us.

Is there anyone in particular or a sponsor you wish to thank?

(D+C) Sprout !

How can we get in touch with you ?

Email: kiwisurf@live.fr 
Website: www.kiwisurfbiscarrosse.com
Phone: (+33) 6 84 35 90 99

Thanks !
Merci beaucoup !

Aurelie and Fred from Nalu Association. 
Www.nalu-surf.com

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