The jousting season starts again this Saturday at the port of Théoule-sur-Mer (and it's free)

It's time for a new season of Provençal jousting in Théoule-sur-Mer.

Saturday from 2 p.m., it's the youngsters who will set the port alight with duels that promise to be intense, as confirmed by the president of Neptune Joutes, Thomas Ventura: "Traditionally, the National Youth Criterium kicks off the season. This afternoon, it's the three-person team scrum tournament reserved for youngsters. All the PACA League clubs (sixteen teams) are participating, from junior to junior. It's already a very high level." Originally, as it's a scrum tournament, a novice can be teamed up with an experienced jouster... and go far.

Training club

From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the (free) show will be on the water, featuring the future of the region's jousting. "After the Criterium, it will be the start of the Côte d'Azur championship and the Provence championship, the League is split in two for the occasion. The championship runs from June 22 to July 24 for six rounds, including the one on July 13 in Théoule," says Thomas Ventura.

Cannes, Saint-Raphaël, Sanary, Saint-Mandrier, Aguay, and Théoule will host a stage of the competition. At the end of the championship, twenty young jousters and forty seniors will qualify for the French championship. "Our goal is to train young people to win titles like Sheun Bergeron, who scored 5 out of 5 last season!"

The Théoule resident is spending this season in the junior category with the same ambition: "He can challenge the favorites and achieve good results."

Today, at the port of Théoule, it is an opportunity for enthusiasts and novices to hear about pavois (wooden shield that protects the jouster's chest), tintaine (floor where the jouster is placed) or bigue (beam that supports the platform on which the jouster is located).