Amelia Island is the only community in the United States to have experienced life under eight different flags, and the first flag was the French. This month Fernandina turns French again when 2009 Pétanque America Open comes to town.
Close to 200 players will be playing pétanque, (pron. „pay-tonk’) the French cousin of horseshoes and “bocce†ball on On November 14 – 15, 2009. Downtown Fernandina Beach will look and sound like the Promenade des Anglais in Nice or the Croisette in Cannes.
Teams are flying in from 20 states, Canada and Europe, to compete in the 2009 Pétanque America Open, only the second-ever open international pétanque tournament in the USA.
Preliminary rounds start on Saturday morning, below the Fernandina Marina along the downtown waterfront, with finals scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Competition for the $5,000 purse will be stiff
and guarantee spectacular performances by players of all ages, including famous chefs who embraced the game many years ago as a welcome distraction from their busy schedules.
And members of the USA, Canadian, and Belgian national teams, like Claudy Weibel, World Champion in 2000 and European Champion in 2009.
The public is welcome to watch and try out the game around the tournament area. Equipment will be made available – free of charge – by Petanque America.
Celebrity TV chef Jacques Pépin will be available for book signing on Sunday, Nov 15 from 1 to 3 pm.
To complement the Riviera experience, the Palace Saloon has stocked up on Ricard pastis, the anise flavored drink so typical of the South of France. One can even play petanque in the Palace‟s backyard,
which boasts a genuine play ground, a.k.a. a „boulodrome’.
“People who know the game are thrilled to see it played so close to home. Those who just discovered it, love its simplicity and are wondering why it took so long to reach NE Florida.” said
Philippe Boets, president & founder of Pétanque America, who also organized the first International Open in Miami Beach in 2005.
Click here for 2009 Pétanque America Open calendar listing and information.
