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Frenchman finds familiar waves ahead of WCT in South Pacific
by George Mojo
12/04/2008:// Picon, who is one of four Europeans on the so-called "Dream Tour", is competiting at the Vendee Pro in north west France ahead of the Billabong Pro in Tahiti and Fiji next month.
The 29-year-old finished in equal 17th place at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast and equal 33rd in the Rip Curl Pro, at Bells Beach. He currently sits in 29th place in the rankings after the first two events.
Drift's George Mojo caught up with Picon at his Capbreton home where he was in confident mood after his two outings Down Under.
GM: Two events down on the ASP World Tour. How do you look back on the Quiksilver Pro and the Rip Curl Pro? MP: I felt good in Australia for two months and even if my results were average I feel like it is going to happen. I have good boards and this is a major part of the recipe. I faced tough opponents in both events, Hawaiian Andy Irons and Aussie Taj Burrow on the Gold Coast, and American Taylor Knox at Bells Beach... Big names for sure but I am getting there. Apart from the contests, we had a great time with Tiago Pires and Jeremy Flores and some really fun waves at Winkipop. What comes out of these first events is: I can surf a lot better and I have to improve my tactics in the water, so I feel like I have the keys to make things better.
GM: The Dream Tour will now hit the South Pacific with barrelling left-handers, how do you like this leg? MP: I love these waves and places. Looking at the competitive aspect, you just have to be very focused, choose a strategy on your wave choice and off course, not leave your courage home because it can get really gnarly. But I feel better on those waves compared to the Australian righthanders... I can't bare surfing backside anymore after two months down under!
GM: Back home for a bit, What are your days like? MP: I just love surfing at home. The waves are so fun I feel like it's relaxing and I can enjoy myself almost every day in the water. I've been trying a lot of new boards because I am always looking for new sensations so home is the best place to do this. But when I am at home, it's a lot of organisation and administration as well I have to catch up with, and off course being with my family and friends is just perfect.
GM: Now you are done with two Dream Tour events, are you planning on surfing a few World Qualifying Series events this year? MP: I am focused on the ASP World Tour. Once you qualify for it you have to be one hundred per cent dedicated to these eleven events and personaly, I cannot focus on two goals at a time. This year it is all about the ASP Top 45 requalification and I will do everything for it.
The British team has now set off for the World Surfing Games and things became a little nerve-racking before departure due to a last minute personal situation which meant that their invaluable team manager had to pull out
Costa Rican National Surf Team comes to Portugal with an arsenal of its strongest weapons
Russell Winter wins 2008 Elusive Welsh Open in one of the best finals the UK Pro Surf Tour has had to date
[Tyler Wright eliminating Stephanie Gilmore in Round 3]
[Jimena Calvo passes round 2]
[Stephanie Gilmore]
Some of the biggest and potentially costly upsets of the season went down today while Round 3 of the Beachley Classic
Nearly half of the Costa Rica National Surf Team hit the water today in Costa de Caprica, in the province of Almeda, Portugal, kicking off their part of the competition in the 2008 International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games (WSG).
The 2008 Beachley Classic got underway this morning, completing Rounds 1 and 2 as well as the opening two heats of Round 3 at nearby Freshwater Beach in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves
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