The next edition of the Jumping International de La Baule — Officiel de France will be held in the François André Stadium from 6 to 9 June 2024. Over the course of the four-day event, thousands of spectators will get to watch the spectacular performances of the best riders in the world free of charge and bask in the unique atmosphere of the competition in La Baule.
“Unique”, “magique”, say the local heroes. “Amazing”, add the English speakers! Year after year, the top show jumping riders voice their admiration for the Jumping International de La Baule, with some going as far as to praise the public as “one of the best in the world”. These riders spend the entire year trotting the globe, but the event in La Baule holds a special place in their hearts as a competition that has stayed true to its history, values and tradition while evolving in response to the expectations of the sport, its high standards and, of course, the warmth of its loyal public.
The excellence of equestrian sports open to all
The François André Stadium will roar back to life from 6 to 9 June 2024. The stands overlooking the splendid grass track will be packed with passionate fans who always turn out in force to see their heroes, along with families who cannot necessarily tell a half-turn apart from a half-volte but are still eager to savour the experience. Free of charge, in keeping with the time-honoured tradition in La Baule. Few events around the globe, even when counting other sports, give the public the chance to see the world elite without paying a penny. It is a privileged opportunity to soak up a unique atmosphere, listen to the cheers of the crowd, feel it hold its breath every time a rider taps a fence and, often, seeing it rise to its feet to give a standing ovation to the riders, no matter what colour jacket they are wearing.
Roger-Yves Bost: “One of the most wonderful competitions in the world”
“The Jumping de La Baule is definitely one of the most wonderful competitions in the world”, says Roger-Yves Bost, who won a team gold medal at the 2016 Olympics, clinched the individual gold
medal in the 2013 European Championships and claimed the Grand Prix de La Baule in 1992. “Every rider sees it as one of the highlights of the season. It also has a unique historical dimension. I used to come here with my father before I even started riding. We always feel at home here. The horses are housed in great conditions in the fixed box stalls and can even head out to the beach in
the morning. Rolex joining as the main partner has helped the competition to reach a whole new level, as we saw in the previous edition. And, of course, the public is amazing. We sense the support of the crowd as soon as we come onto the track. An event like this makes you feel proud to be French!”
With less than two months to go until the Olympics, the riders, who always bring their best horses to La Baule, will be keen on laying down a marker and delivering a confidence-boosting performance. It will be a clash of titans. The programme is crammed with thrilling moments from Thursday to Sunday: the Prix FFE, the Barrière Nations Cup, the Derby Région des Pays de la Loire, the Prix SAUR and, of course, the grand finale of the competition, the Rolex Grand Prix — Ville de La Baule. Rolled out last year to universal acclaim, the Legends’ Trophy is also returning, with some of the riders who have gone down in the history of equestrian sports over the last few decades back on the saddle.
Unique, magic… amazing.
