Puatea Ellis obtained, with Philippe Moreno, a wildcard to participate in the final of the International Bodysurfing Association Tour organized in Hawaii. The Polynesian stopped at the gates of the quarter-finals, happy with her performances. Philippe, for his part, was quickly eliminated against the world’s best but he finished the competition in…the judges’ tower.
At 42, Puatea Ellis no longer imagined herself competing… But at the end of May, she was invited to represent Tahiti at the final of the women’s open bodysurf world tour, just two weeks away. of the competition. Against all odds, she agrees to take on the challenge.
Sponsored by ATN and because of my job, it was easier for me to move around and physically, I’m in the water all the time!
Professional lifeguard, one of the only women water patrolsurfing champion, the forty-year-old, a fine connoisseur of the sea and the activities that go with it, was able to count on her experience in the water and her cardio to score some of the best waves of the competition.
The discipline consists of surfing with your body and fins only. On June 8, Puatea took the second best wave rated 10.33, just behind Meredith Rose, a world bodysurfing champion. On June 9, she took the best waves of the day, rated 6.17 and 8.17 before stopping at the gates of the quarter-finals.
Unexpected performances in that she did not follow any rigorous training beforehand, due to lack of time.
I had to do only one day out of the three days and finally, we realized that I had a good level.
Scheduled from the 4th to the 14th, the organizers waited for the swell to launch the competition on June 8. At the Point Panic spot, on the island of Oahu, the best series reached two meters. “This is where I scored the best” describes Puatea, accustomed to big reef waves at Teahupoo, Te Ava ‘ino or Taapuna. “I’m happy, I wouldn’t have thought of achieving this result!” she enthuses.
The bodysurfer with multiple hats was accompanied by Philippe Moreno, wild card in men’s open. His confirmed level was not enough to beat the best bodysurfers in the world but the Polynesian was invited to judge the competition… He finished the event at the top of the tower!
Organized by the Hawaiian Kai Hohonu Association, the final of the International Bodysurfing Association Tour (IBSA) brought together the 72 highest-ranked bodysurfers from each continental zone and trials (48 men and 24 women) to award the 2024 open world titles .
