Review of the Classique Vague à Guy 1st Edition
- Surf Grand Montréal
- Oct 1, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 22
On September 28th, the first edition of La Classique Vague à Guy took place. Beyond the 32 athletes who impressed the spectators during the competition, everyone had the chance to immerse themselves in surf culture thanks to the numerous partner booths and the artists who brought rhythm to this already very dynamic day !
Competition Overview
Panel of judges
The main judges of this competition, all experienced surfers, received training to ensure greater consistency and compliance in their judgments.
We would like to thank :
Bruno Fernandes, judge
Jason Éthier, stopwatch
Filip Musial, judge
Annie-Claude Piché, judge
Louis-Philippe Beaudoin, chief judge
Erez Michael, judge
Cedrik Courchesne, judge
Tommy Gailloux, judge
Manon Jutras, coordination of athletes
Evaluation criteria
The judges had to evaluate the athletes based on the following criteria :
The quality and innovation of the maneuvers
o Cross step
o Double cross step
o Switch stance
o Cross step switch
o Hang 5
o Hang 10
o Cheater 5
o 360 right
o 360 left
o Drop knee
The fluidity and style
o Harmony
o Posture
o Fluidity
o Style
The use of the wave
o Cross the wave standing
o Surf the entire shoulder
o Respect allocated time
Heats
There were 16 women in this competition.
And 16 men.
Competition results
We would like to congratulate the 32 athletes who had the courage to participate in the first edition of La Classique de la Vague à Guy.
Podium - Women
The women kicked off the event, and they did not disappoint the spectators with their performances, each more elegant than the last. The big winners are :
🏆 First place : Virginie Pellerin
🏆🏆 Second place : Pénéloppe Coupal
🏆🏆🏆 Third place : Catherine Luneau
Podium - Men
The men closed the show with breathtaking performances that delighted the crowd, packed in the stands and around the water entrances. The big winners are :
🏆 First place : Kiam Lemaire
🏆🏆 Second place : William Messier
🏆🏆🏆 Third place : Simon Vallée
Worthy of mention
Before the award ceremony, a Hawaiian dance troupe gave a performance that took the spectators on a journey for a moment and reminded them of the roots of our sport.
And speaking of roots, we cannot overlook the fact that Guy himself was with us, coming from Estrie !
Organizing commitee
This incredible event could not have been orchestrated by anyone other than our amazing organizing committee.
Valérie Saulnier
Laurence Côté
Ginny Moses
Daniel Rochon
Mathieu Demers
Jérémie Gaultier-Lacasse
Valiant partners, sponsors and volunteers!
Obviously, such an event could not take place without the support of valuable partners, sponsors, and volunteers.
Ville de Lasalle and Mayor Nancy Blanchet
First and foremost, it is thanks to the support of the City of Lasalle and the mayor that this event was able to come to life. So, a huge thank you to all the members of this wonderful team !
Boréale
Has been part of the Quebec microbrewery scene for over 30 years.
Boréale was the main sponsor of this event and donated all the proceeds from its beer sales to the Association Surf Grand Montréal, in addition to awarding a surfboard to the male athlete who finished in first place, as well as cash prizes.
Mateina
Provider of Biologic Yerba Maté.
Mateina awarded a surfboard to the female athlete who finished in first place, as well as beverages to the volunteers.
Molo
Surfboards handcrafted with love in Verdun, with exceptional attention to detail and artisanal expertise. Jérémie Gauthier-Lacasse is the master craftsman behind the brand, creating custom boards for ocean and river lovers
Molo was tasked with making the surfboards for the male and female athletes who finished in first place..
RipCurl
Since 1969, Rip Curl has been shaping the history of surfing by providing surfers with clothing that combines innovation and authenticity.
Rip Curl rewarded the second-place winners in the male and female categories with a high-quality wetsuit and a cash prize. In addition, every participant received a surprise gift from Rip Curl, a brand that embodies the very essence of surfing.
Mtl Balance Board
A Montreal artisan and balance board maker since 2018, Mtl Balance Board offers high-quality products that help strengthen balance and coordination.
Mtl Balance Board offered an exclusive balance board to the third-place winners in each category !
KSF
A company specializing in adventure tourism and whitewater sports. The staff at KSF has introduced countless surfers to the joys of sliding, all while ensuring safety and respect.
KSF provided financial and logistical support to the organizing team of La Classique, in addition to setting up a booth to introduce river surfing to passersby and spectators
IGA extra Marché d’alimentation Beck inc.
Food market in LaSalle operating under the IGA banner.
IGA Extra Marché d'Alimentation Beck Inc. graciously provided lunch for all the volunteers.
LaSalle DriveIn
A roadside restaurant that stands out as the oldest restaurant in LaSalle, having welcomed generations of customers
LaSalle DriveIn set up a food booth and served a free meal to the athletes.
L’Après-soleil
This local café, known for its comforting drinks, delicious sandwiches, and warm atmosphere, is an ideal destination in Verdun for all surf and coffee lovers.
L'Après-Soleil set up a food booth and donated part of the proceeds to the Association Surf Grand Montréal. They also generously provided coffee to the athletes and volunteers in the morning.
École de jiu jitsu brésilein Gracie Barra
An international organization dedicated to teaching Brazilian jiu-jitsu in over 800 schools worldwide, including the Montreal one located in Saint-Henri. Each school aims to bring the benefits of martial arts to everyone.
The school set up an information booth about its activities and offered a free mobility workshop for surfers.
Apneacity
Freediving breathing course.
Apneacity set up an information booth and gave a gift to the athletes.
Nexgen Physio
Sports and general physiotherapy clinic in Greater Montreal.
Nexgen Physio provided massages to the athletes and volunteers.
Eau Vive Québec/Eau Vive Lasalle
Their mission is to make water sports accessible to all, promoting a respectful exploration of natural waterways. Eau Vive Québec participates in the creation of infrastructures and events, while overseeing and protecting natural spaces and sports practices.
Eau Vive Québec had an information booth to share best practices in whitewater and provided trained kayakers for the event
Équipe Tardif et associés
With its team of real estate brokers, Équipe Tardif has been successfully involved for 20 years in various real estate projects: property purchase, property sale, and property rental.
The Tardif and Associates team generously gave an official competition t-shirt to each athlete and volunteer.
Magda
A quality neighborhood café, located just near KSF, offering carefully prepared meals in a warm space filled with light.
Magda set up a food booth and donated a portion of her profits to the Association Surf Grand Montréal.
Oasis Surf
Located in Brossard, Oasis Surf offers perfect waves year-round thanks to their incredible indoor artificial wave.
Oasis Surf contributed to the event as a sponsor.
AgenC
Clothing brand distribution agency.
AgenC held a prize draw among all the members of the Association Surf Grand Montréal.
Maison Mouton
A charming cottage located on the shores of the Atlantic in Nova Scotia.
Maison Mouton offered a three-night stay to the athlete who demonstrated the best sportsmanship, based on a peer vote.
Design by Laurie
Independent graphic designer, highly respected by the Grand Montreal river surf community for her generous involvement, talent, and dedication.
Laurie created almost all the visuals for the event, from media content to the famous official t-shirt.
Frédéric Thomas
A professional photographer well-known at La Vague à Guy for his frequent presence on-site, professionalism, and the quality of his work.
Frédéric served as the official photographer of the event.
Iany Production
Audio-visual production company.
Iany Production ensured the event was recorded and made available via a Facebook live.
A generous artisan of Notre-Dame-de-Stanbridge
Having offered the 15-inch trophy, which was awarded to the male and female winners of each category. We bet you would have loved to hold it in your hands !
Volunteers, even on the stage !
La Classique had a very diverse music lineup to offer. Here are those we were lucky enough to hear :
- Band à Guy
- Sunset Echoes
- Aaron Wylder
- Jace Carrillo
A few testimonies from judges and athletes
Annie-Claude (judge)
« On a été choyé. Il y avait une bonne ambiance et une bonne chimie entre les juges. Ça prend ça pour être en mesure de juger le plus objectivement possible et ce, pendant 8h de temps en plein soleil! On a bien ressenti un bel esprit de communauté, c'était vraiment bien organisé. »
Antoine (athlete)
« J'étais vraiment content de retrouver une bonne vibe amicale dans l’eau entre les compétiteurs. C'était vraiment agréable de partager le moment avec l'engouement de l’estrade. C’est unique d’avoir autant de bons participants et de monde dans la foule en même temps à la VAG. Vraiment belle énergie overall ! »
Romain (athlete)
« Merci 1000x pour ce super événement. Super bien organisé avec la communauté au coeur du concept. Je me permets de soumettre l’idée d’un Week-end Classic pour inclure du short/mid length. En gros j’ai si capoté et j’en veux plus. »
