Tandem Surfing, an aquatic love story

Marie Vigné & Alban Méric Photo © Oxbow / T. Organoff World Tandem Surfing Champs Tandem Surfing, an aquatic love story Surfing is, and always will be, a sport of pleasure and intense excitement; when this joy is shared between two people who have a strong bond, the degree of pleasure then increases radically. Invented by the Ancient Hawaiians, inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands in the 12th century, Tandem Surfing experienced a revival in the 50’s in Waikiki. Over the years, it evolved from a man and a woman standing together on a single board to a series of technical lifts judged in international competitions. This amazing sight generally arouses astonishment and fascination amongst spectators; this aquatic ballet performed by a couple of lovebirds definitely stirs up ones emotions. Alban (19) and Marie (18) met on the waves. These two young surfers both of whose childhoods were influenced by travels and the discovery of the world’s oceans, live in Lacanau on the coast of Aquitaine in France. It is there where they found out they had a common passion for tandem surfing. With the help of another couple of tandem surfers, they have learned the figures of this acrobatic water sport and with long hours of practice, they have acquired the mastery of their art. Last summer, they participated in their first contest, the Biarritz Surf Festival where they surfed with and against the world’s best Tandem Surfer couples from Hawaii and California (they finished in 4th place). After a winter spent doing a lot of physical training and Accrospsort (acrobatic gymnastics), Alban and Marie will leave France in February to go to the World Tandem Surfing Championship that take place in Makaha, on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Supported by Oxbow, they will join the big surfing family with whom they’ll fully share their passion and will give a fascinating performance. With a bit of luck, and if the marks left by the Pretsige’s oil slick are totally cleaned up, you might have the opportunity to witness the talent of Alban and Marie next summer during one of the many demonstrations they give at the French surf spots. Profile : Marie Vigné 18 years, Born on September 25, 1984 in Bordeaux ; She has lived in Congo and in French Guyana, Studies management Hobbies: surfing (longboard), snowboarding and skateboarding. Profile : Alban Méric 19 years, Born in June 16, 1983 in Bordeaux ; Has lived in Guadeloupe and Indonesia and has traveled many times to Morocco Hobbies: surfing (short and longboard), snowboarding and skateboarding.