Home Waters

That spot became everything to me – it was this spot or nothing. I felt more connected to nature than ever. And there is one important detail: the spot is 1.8 kilometers from the coast. That is why there is nobody there – only animals… and me. I will not spoil the film, but I think I managed to get one barrel with the Foil Drive and one while wingfoiling – you can judge for yourself when you see it.

To film it, we had only two options – the drone or the aquashot. The drone was the easy part, flying out over the lagoon in less than 30 seconds. The aquashot was another story. Every session began with the drone, then after using up three batteries, Eric would swim 1.8 kilometers out to the spot with a waterproof camera housing. There was wind and current, and he had to swim against both while carrying all that equipment. That is what you call dedication. When the wind was strong, I rode the wave alone in the middle of the ocean – just me and the animals. It was powerful, calm, and sometimes scary. But it was pure.

In the evenings, when the wind was lighter, we went to a well-known place called Vaipoopoo. You may have seen videos of young Tahitian riders dockstarting between the buoys, using the waves from boats passing through the channel. Sunset sessions brought everyone together. Young foilers gathered to ride, push each other, and have fun. The foil gives them a new way to experience the ocean. After surfing and winging during the day and dockstarting in the evening, we wrapped up two intense weeks in Tahiti before moving on.

We took a boat to Moorea – only one hour from Tahiti, yet very different in atmosphere. Moorea is wilder. The mountains rise straight from the ocean, and the island feels raw and untouched. We surfed one or two waves, but the weather was unstable. A small storm passed over the island, bringing heavy rain and shifting winds. The ocean was messy. Even so, we explored – driving around the island, watching the mountains, and observing fast-moving clouds rolling over the peaks.

By chance, we discovered Coral Gardeners, an organization working on coral restoration. They have created a coral garden that grows every day and developed techniques to help corals grow faster and stronger. Their mission is to rebuild coral reefs and protect the ocean. Visiting them was a powerful moment for me. They showed us how humans impact the ocean and explained how fragile corals are. Corals are like the lungs of the ocean – they form the foundation of marine life.

I have spent 25 years in the ocean. It is my playground, my office, my passion. But I had never truly paid attention to the small details like this or fully understood how essential corals are. That visit made me reflect on my role as a rider. I travel, I film, and I showcase beautiful places – but I also carry responsibility. The ocean gives me everything, and I must respect and protect it. Moorea was not about performance – it was about reflection.

After a few days, with the weather still unsettled, we headed to our final destination – Bora Bora. This is where I grew up, where my memories live, and where my friends are. Coming back as a professional rider feels special. When I left the island, I was just a kid who loved the ocean. Now I return with projects and sponsors. Yet with my friends, nothing changes. We meet and laugh like before. We talk about life and about everything that happened during the years I was away. I tell them about my travels; they tell me about the island. Even after 15 years, the connection remains strong.

For foiling, Bora Bora is different. It is mostly flat, with almost no waves. The lagoon is huge and calm, and the colors – blue, turquoise, green – feel unreal. Most of our sessions were behind a boat or wingfoiling in the middle of the lagoon. I also spent many days on my uncle’s boat. We went wingfoiling together, invited friends, and enjoyed simple moments – no pressure, no performance, just riding and sharing. Even Eric was wingfoiling.

Bora Bora is calm. The island changes slowly over time, but it remains small and traditional. People know each other. Life is simple. I carry this island in my heart – it built me and shaped me. Returning with my foil allowed me to rediscover it in a new way. I saw new lines in the lagoon, explored new areas, and shared my passion with the people I love. It became something deeper than performance.

This film is not only about tricks or barrels. Yes, there is performance. Yes, there are strong images – big nature, animals, barrels, wind, drone shots, aquashots, long swims. Effort. But there are also feelings. Between performance and emotion, nature stands above everything. Nature decides. Nature gives. Nature takes.

This project shows that being a professional rider is not only about results or medals – it is about connection. Connection with the ocean. Connection with people. French Polynesia is not just a destination for me – it is my home.