At 25, Maxime Castillo is one of the best professional bodyboarders in the world.
He evokes his happiness of having grown up and living in Arcachon and claims the culture of sports
of the Basin, which it praises for its development potential.
What are your first memories in Arcachon?
My grandparents are from Arcachon. My first memories are of the holidays we spent with the family at their home while I was still living in the Paris region. At the age of seven, my parents settled on the Basin. At the same time, my uncle Nicolas Padois founded the club and the surf school Ocean Roots.
My beginnings on a board go back to that time…
How does one go from neophyte to amateur then professional bodyboarding?
After I discovered surfing, I tried bodyboarding. I was among the first graduates of Ocean Roots and then I went through competitions, departmental titles, regional, national and international. I was studying sports in Bayonne at the France pole. In 2019, I had my best season as I finished 11th in the world…
Local champions: Max Castillo, bodyboard (Arcachon) France Nouvelle Aquitaine - NOA
How is Arcachon an ideal place for nautical activities?
We enjoy at our feet the Basin and the ocean next door. It is ideal to discover all the water activities: sailing, kitesurfing, kayaking, stand up paddle, diving… We can even canoe on the Leyre. In addition, Arcachon is a city in its own right that lives all year round, with a SNCF station in the city centre and the Bordeaux-Mérignac airport accessible in 1h15 round trip. Thanks to this, I can participate in all the competitions in the world while living and training in Arcachon…
Do Arcachon and the Basin have the culture of sliding?
We have a lack of awareness compared to other stations when we have real potential. Between the beaches of La Salie and Biscarrosse, everyone finds here his happiness. We also have several quality clubs and schools on the Basin with recognized teachers. The culture and the potential for development are there. It’s up to us to enjoy it at the time when surfing returns to the Olympic Games
Summer 2020. We must claim our culture of sliding sports and make it known!
