One last dance with Annaelle

15 November 2025Photos and text: Oscar Chuberre16 images

01 / 16 · 15 November 2025Oscar Chuberre / Collectif DR

Somewhere off the coast of Finistère, a small wild islet holds a well-kept secret. An impressive wave, dangerous and almost untamable, known only to a few initiated bodyboarders. The one few dare to challenge has been named Annaelle. A few years ago, the local “riders” grew tired of being the only ones dancing on this wave and wanted to see world champions ride it. So they decided to share their secret and create an international competition with an unprecedented format. Entry tickets are rare: an invitation that depends on the arrival of a big swell, sent to the cream of the sport’s athletes, who then come to compete at short notice for two days in this rocky, briny arena. On this morning of November 11, 2025, in the wind and darkness, a cheerful troupe in neoprene wetsuits, carrying dry bags, boards the boats specially laid on to reach the small island. There are Portuguese, Canary Islanders, English and, as always, the die-hard Bretons. Emotion runs high, because on top of the stress, this is the final edition of the competition before the organizers call it a day.

Among the participants, Pierre Louis Costes, two-time world champion, has come to take on Armide Soliveres, who took his title from him in 2024, and young Louka Zaninotto, junior world champion. But the betting is brisk, and secretly many are hoping for a Finistère podium. “We’d love to see a local guy like Yann Salaun take the title in this final edition. And we also have a few other daredevils who are quite capable of springing a surprise by going for monstrous waves,” says one of the volunteers. The wave itself begins to appear at first light, helped by the rising tide. In front of these walls of water rising and crashing onto a shallow rock slab, shouts of joy and excitement ring out in the early morning. Meanwhile, Gwen, the organizer, gives the participants his safety briefing. “If you get hurt in a wipeout or a hold-down, signal to us, we have three people on the rocks who will come and get you.” SNSM rescuers are also part of the setup: their boat nearby can provide medical care and a link to shore if needed. Over the two days, the qualifying heats follow one another in powerful three-meter waves. The final is spectacular: the two world champions, Armide and Pierre Louis, face two locals, Morgan Le Quellec and Yann Salaun. Yann dominates for a while, but Armide’s technique and commitment are a rare sight. The judges are not mistaken and give him the victory by a narrow margin. So ends the last edition of the Annaelle Challenge, but the wave itself keeps breaking, in the privacy of the small Breton bodyboarding community.

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