Michel Bourez : photo ASP Cestari/Covered Images

Team News
- By Ben Mondy

The Job Is Done: Michel Bourez In His Words

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 November, 2008 : - - In one of the best days ever seen in professional surfing, Tahitian surfer Michel Bourez claimed victory in the Reef Hawaiian Pro, rocketing him up to No.2 in the WQS rankings and cementing his place on the 2009 elite ASP World Tour. After the celebrations died down Michel wrote about what it meant to realise his dream in the hallowed waters of the North Shore. 

Michel Bourez: "When I came to Hawaii last week I knew I needed at least one quarterfinal placing to make the WCT. So when I made the quarter final I was pretty sure I had qualified, but it still wasn't guaranteed. So paddling out for that quarterfinal I was just trying to make it for certain. I'd just had enough of it being up in the air. And then when I made it through to the semi final I thought, well, if I make the final it's just really really definite. And then by the end I was just having fun. The waves were really really pumping and I was just trying to get the best waves, really just trying to get barreled, because that's what surfing is all about.

 My first wave in that semi was a pretty good tube and I came out of it and heard everyone screaming so I thought that it could be an eight. It actually ended up being a 9.97 so it was pretty sick. That pretty much set me up for the final. You know I had never even really dreamed of making a final in Hawaii, so to make a final and then win here and qualify was pretty amazing. To win my first six star prime WQS in Hawaii, in really good conditions with all the world's best surfers here competing was massive. It is by far my biggest achievement. And plus Hawaii is a special place for me. It is so much like Tahiti - I like the waves, I like the people, so it all just worked out. 

A few months ago back in Portugal I had made a mistake and lost early and the Red Bull Rising coach Kingy pulled me aside and said, "You know Michel, you are going to make it in Hawaii in front of everyone," and that's the way it turned out.  We've worked pretty hard this year on the strategy for every single heat and now, finally, the job is done. 

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Winners gallery
 

I still have that picture in my mind of coming in from the water and seeing the crowd and seeing all my good friends running down to see me and that was such a good feeling and something I'll never ever forget. To win an event in Hawaii under that pressure was just incredible. I keep repeating myself here, as I still can't really believe it.

After the final I called home and everyone was partying in Tahiti. I talked to my Dad and he was already a little drunk and then I talked to my mum and she was even more drunk. But they were just so happy. My Dad was like, "You have worked so hard for this and I am so proud." Everyone had been around watching it live on the internet and everyone is so happy. We haven't had a Tahitian on the WCT since Poto, so it's pretty special for them. I dedicated the win to my Tahitian friend Malik Joyeax as he died not very far from where the contest was almost two years ago. It was a good opportunity to remember him and think about what a special person he was. 

One of the first things I thought about was surfing next year on the WCT and just waking up and getting in my car and going surfing Teahupoo in an event. I am so stoked to be able to surf a WCT event at my home break, and not head to Brazil and Japan and all the rest of it. You know, I have to say it, fuck the WQS man, fuck the WQS.

It is so difficult  to do that tour and succeed. You put so much pressure on yourself and that, along with the travel and the small waves, can really push you to the limit. I've been working really hard with my coaches and I'd seen my good friend Tim Boal qualify and I wanted it so bad to be there with him next year and now, well I did it, I did what I had to do. It's also a massive relief to get there. Even right now writing this,  I thought for the first time for a few years, I don't have to think about that today. I've done it. Right now that's all that matters."

Video
Winners gallery
www.redbullsurfing.com 

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Ben Mondy

Team News - Surfersvillage