Friendly rivalries with Kauli Vaast a boost for Teva Bouchgua and Jorgann Couzinet
Teva Bouchgua had one of the toughest heats in the third round. The Moroccan was pitted against Paris 2024 champion Kauli Vaast and local hero Bryan Perez, who beat Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Italo Ferreira on the same wave in 2024.
While the high profiles of his heat rivals did not daunt Bouchgua, his friendship with Vaast did. In the end, it was a happy ending as both surfers advanced to the next round. Bouchgua scored a total of 11.60 points, while Vaast finished 1.40 points ahead with 13.00.
“Kauli is one of my best friends,” Bouchgua told Olympics.com. “It’s always hard to surf against your best friend, but so good to make it together, so I’m just happy.”
Friendly rivalries aside, Bouchgua has high aims for the 2025 ISA World Surfing Games. Given the fact that his father and coach, Aziz Bouchgua, also coached two-time Olympian Ramzi Boukhiam, that comes as no surprise – especially given the young surfer’s history in Surf City El Salvador.
“I missed the qualification to the Olympics for Paris by one spot two years ago here in Salvador, so I want to make it good again,” he said.
Jorgann Couzinet has his sights set on the individual competition, but also the team title, which has narrowly eluded France for two World Surfing Games in a row. They finished as the runner-up to Peru in 2023 and the runner-up to Brazil in 2024.
“We got second twice, so I want to make sure this year we’re bringing the gold medal,” Couzinet told Olympics.com. “I’m pretty confident about my teammates Kauli and Sam (Piter). They’re ripping so we’re going to push each other until the end and bring it on.”
Couzinet advanced to the fourth round after winning his heat with 12.33 points, almost three points over Australia’s Callum Robson. This result brings him a step closer to the coveted final, which Vaast was a part of last year, taking the bronze medal.
And if he were to meet his team captain Vaast in that final this year?
“He doesn’t have any chance,” Couzinet said with a laugh. “He’s going to have to bring his best surfing for sure.”