"The last two weeks have been outstanding, it's almost been dream like - but this is reality...I feel like I belong now. It's a pretty good feeling."
Fresh off his win in Ericeira, Ryan Callinan came into the Quik Pro France as a lethal wildcard with tons of momentum. His giant-slaying freight train never let up, charging through the competition on the way to the finals - coming just short of the win in a nailbiter heat against Julian Wilson.
Facing an early exit in Round 2, the 26-year-old out of Newcastle took down Owen Wright with his back against the wall. After that, Ryan picked up right where he left off - shaking up the world title race by taking out current Jeep leader, Filipe Toledo in a wild Round 3 showdown.
Callinan carried that momentum right along, getting past Jordy Smith & Conner Coffin in the quarters & semifinals, and nearly coming out on top in an epic final on the shores of Hossegor.
Huge congrats to Ryan on an incredible run of surfing, & after his win in Ericeira & final in Hossegor - his time in Europe could well be life changing.
If the rest of the boys on tour weren’t yet on high alert ahead of next season, they are now.
All photos via World Surf League (@wsl)
