The lead up with regards to the surf forecast for the revised dates of the 31st Jesus Surf classic were a little bit challenging, with contestable conditions forecast for Saturday, and a storm coming through for Sunday.
The plan was hatched to run as much through on Saturday as possible with a possible move to a more sheltered beach of Putsborough on Sunday for the remaining heats.
Unfortunately due to the stormy weather and unpredictable forecast organisers Christian Surfers UK had to cancel the under 12’s division, but it still meant that over 120 surfers in seven divisions turned up to compete for this very enjoyable and popular event.
First heats hit the water at 8:30 am as planned with seven heats of twin peaks, which worked well and helped enable contest director Phil Williams to get where he wanted to by the end of day one.
Conditions during the morning were really fun with clean 3ft waves coming through, and ensuring there were some high performances in all of the categories. By mid-afternoon the surf had become a bit more ragged and had dropped a bit. By the end of day one, finals of the under 18’s girls, under 14’s (mixed), under 16’s (mixed) and women’s open had been run through to conclusion.
The presentation was held outside in bright sunshine, beside the contest marquee, where all surfers and their support teams had enjoyed great hospitality, with a barbecue and fresh cakes as well as hot drinks throughout the day.
It was a great year for the youngsters as some of the more established surfers were competing abroad, and therefore opened up the way for some new winners of these categories. In the under 14’s Isaac Friend took the victory ahead of Dylan Roose, Seb Whiteley in third and Rueben Wakely surfing well throughout in fourth.
The under 16’s is always hotly contested, and this year Jago Tasker took the win for the first time ahead of Reen Bowden-Inoue who was surfing really well throughout, and still in the U18’s, Ziggy Robinson in third and Piran Friend in fourth.
In the girls Under 18’s there were some great surfing throughout with Wales’s Bobby Owen in fourth Eva Blackford coming third, and a real tussle between Lila Skinner who just missed out in second, with Harlyn Sykes winning.
It was a busy day for the girls with many doubling up in the Women’s Open and on this occasion, it was Asha Sykes that took the victory ahead of Harlyn, with Oceana Peres in third place and Poppy Owen again doing really well to get to her second final but in fourth place.
With the surfing conditions continuing to worsen for Croyde on Sunday it was decided to move beaches to ‘Putts’ for the remaining 10 heats. The Sunday setup team were greeted with swell lines out to the horizon and some amazing surfing went down during the morning.
In the under 18’s Malaki Hagley took the win ahead of Reen Bowden-Inoue, with Sammy Woolf in third and Jago Tasker in fourth.
In the hotly contested over 35’s Rob Watson took the title for the fourth time, ahead of local South African Simon Nicholson, with Ashley Braunton normally known as a long border taking third, and Paignton’s Gary Wells in fourth place.
The men’s open final was a real tussle between Max Bullen winning for the first time, just ahead of Malaki Hagley, local lifeguard Finn Gamblin surfing well in third just ahead of Max Hudson in fourth
Before both Presentations took place on both days, Phil Williams (Celebrating his 30th year running the event) wanted to dedicate the event to an amazing Christian surfer’s member who had passed away just two days before, and everybody took time out for a few moments to give thanks for the life of Sabina Edwards and anybody else that was on their minds.
Christian surfer member Chris Clark had made some beautiful trophies for the event and that added to the cheques for the winners meant big smiles on all their faces.
A huge thanks for everybody that had contributed to this event, for RNLI for looking after us throughout both days at two beaches, for Parkdean and Rob Tucker for allowing us to use the beaches, the local churches for their support, and obviously the numerous Christian surfers’ volunteers from around the country that travelled to lay o
Album surf presents,“CARILLON” a short film featuring Asher Pacey. A week spent on the Surf Coast, Victoria. Pacey’s fluidity in the water is a sight to behold, hit play for a series of mesmerising moments.
The unmistakable signs of autumn are in the air. The leaves have begun their short but thrilling annual pilgrimage to the welcoming dirt, chain coffee shops are manically serving up spiced pumpkin versions of just about everything, Christmas paraphernalia is exploding from every shop doorway and the BLU Tour has come to its crowning glory at the unmistakable and magnificent home of British surfing – Fistral Beach. Having a great main sponsor who serves up rather splendid pizza has nothing at all to do with it. Honestly.
In the great tradition of surf contests across the globe, the forecast kept us all guessing until the very last minute. What we got was consistent, small and generally clean surf across both days. Very contestable, if not the pumping waves of consequence we were all dreaming of….
Another large field in the Single Fin and Men’s Open divisions (despite a couple of byes due to injury and – gasp – a competing longboard event somewhere down the coast) made them the most obvious candidates for the early start on Saturday along with the Women’s Open, and in the first couple of rounds many of the usual suspects threw their style and flow hats into the ring, with Ashley Braunton, Elliot Dudley, Evan Rogers, a resurgent Ben Howey and local nosemaster Adam Griffiths posting the big numbers in both divisions, and being matched by Arthur Randell, Blake Jones and Louis Thomas-Hudson in the Men’s Open.
Standouts in the Women’s Open were junior frothers Lola Bleakley and Mali Harbour and, unsurprisingly, current champion Emily Currie.
Our new test division this year – the Women’s Over 35s – hit the water next, with former Women’s Open champ Claire Smail, Jen Pendlebury and 6 Million Dollar Woman wannabe (‘we can rebuild her’) Katrina Beddoe – making her first contest appearance since trying to disintegrate her own knees – posting the top scores..
In the Masters division and with tour leader Sam Bleakley on WLT commentator duties, current champion and local boy Chris Thomson took up the torch with some sweet nose rides, closely followed by former/current punk Alan Reed, logger/sponger Chris Webb and new boy Leo Lanzoni, whose smooth goofy skills quickly marked him out as one to watch.
Final heat of the day, and the first final of the weekend, was the U18 Girls Final. This was a very close and evenly scored affair until 2022 champion Lola Bleakley posted two successive waves in the ‘good’ range that were enough to see off the rest. It also brought into play a sudden death surf-off between herself and Mali Harbour for the overall title, as their scores across the tour events were tied. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to May Sidwell who, in her first BLU event, sadly managed to injure herself
in a pre-heat freesurf. That’s the sort of luck we can all do without.
Despite the brief summary above, on the first day we SMASHED through more heats than should be humanly possible and it’s testament to the professionalism of the staff and judges that we didn’t just all go and sit crying and drinking cheap wine from brown paper bags by the close of play.
Sunday morning brought worse weather, all grey and gloomy like a proper British autumn always was back in MY day. Dark and oppressive? Yes please. Rain later? Bring it on. The waves, however, had definitely cleaned up and, despite being a bit more setty, we now found ourselves with some genuinely good logging waves. Game well and truly back on.
First to brave the elements were the Grandmasters, and once again current title holder Alan Reed and perennial podium finishers Chris Webb and Adam Chell made the running, all three executing precise turns, zimmer-free cross-stepping and hangs of the 5 and 10 variety to post respectable scores.
The Men’s Open quarter and semi-finals rattled past in quick succession, those familiar names of Braunton, Dudley, Griffiths and Howey once again posting the numbers that mattered.
As the tide dragged itself down towards low tide, the effervescent enthuse-fest that is the U16 Cadets was unleashed on the steel grey Fistral faces. To make things more challenging, the rain decided this would be a perfect time to start falling rapidly and in great volume, but even that couldn’t dampen the spirits and Isaac Dakin, Sylvie Puddiphatt, Reggie Roynon and Kaz Phillips danced, shimmied and styled their respective ways into the final. A great introduction to the division for Jago Penaluna, too.
In the U18 Boys, it’s been a back-and-forth battle between Arthur Randell and Blake Jones for the last few years, and literally not one person was surprised to see the same pattern emerging here. Blake’s insane hang 5’s with at least half his foot firmly out over the front of the board were matched only by the sheer criticality of Arthur’s nose rides. Not to be outdone, Kaz Phillips and Reggie Roynan muscled their own way into the final.
The rain continued throughout the semi-finals, turning what could have been a golden photo opportunity into a series of unexpected and unwanted emptying of water from pockets, shoes, cameras etc until, and against the odds, the sky started to clear almost mystically in time for the finals. Spooky…..
U16 Cadets first and, having been almost weirdly quiet throughout the event, Sylvie Puddiphatt dropped the Gromhammer ™ and two awesome rides at the high end of the ‘good’ range that left the rest of the field in her immaculately carved dust.
Classic and fortuitous BLU scheduling meant that half of the U16 field went straight into the U18 Boys final with nary a rashie colour change needed. Blake and Arthur joined the fray for what turned out to be a very high stakes affair that, at times, bordered on teasy (Cornish term, look it up). When the smoke of battle had cleared, it was Arthur Randell standing atop the smouldering remnants of Fistral Beach. Absolute full-bore cracker of a final.
Thinking we’d slow the pace down a tad with the Masters final was a naïve move, as they launched themselves out of the traps like mildly mature greyhounds. In a classic ‘goofy’ vs ‘not weird’ battle it was the regular-footed Chris Thomson and Chris Webb who found enough forehand advantage on the right-hand peelers to take 1st and 2nd respectively.
Time for the Women’s Over 35s, who launched themselves into the waves with possibly even more enthusiasm than the previous final. With the tour title in reach of at least 3 of the competitors, it was all to play for. Once again, the right-handers proved to be more consistent and it was Claire Smail who made the most of the opportunity, catching more waves and scoring more points than the rest of the field. Which, at the end of the day, is the point of all this nonsense.
Focus switched to the Grandmasters, who not only got great waves for their final but ACTUAL sunshine. Reigning champ Alan Reed went to work like a man possessed, taking waves at a rate of only slightly less than one a minute. It worked, too. Right up until Chris Webb’s buzzer beater 6.50 that snatched the victory rug right out from under Al’s feet. What drama.
The Men’s Open was never going to be a laid back affair, stuffed as it was with the big hitters of Adam Griffiths, Elliot Dudley, Ben Howey and Ashley Braunton, all of whom had been surfing brilliantly AND consistently all contest. This one was decided on an early ‘golden wave’ for Adam Griffiths, that just ran and ran for what seemed like an eternity and placed him squarely in front with an excellent 8.33. In wasn’t all one way traffic, and by the final hooter there was a wafer thin 0.33 between 1st and 3rd, with Adam squeezing Elliot out by 0.06!
The Single Fin final was similarly stacked, with Howey and Dudley being joined by Evan Rogers and Arthur Randell. Different but same, as Mr Miyagi would have put it (look it up kids). Things were really close in this one, the lead going back and forth between the surfers until Ben Howey launched himself into his final wave, another one of those ‘once a heat’ golden waves that allowed him to lay down several critical hang 5s and 10s and crispy, minty turns. It certainly impressed the judges, who dropped a 9.33 and that was all she wrote.
With wetsuits drip-drying over rusting van doors, wet towels slowly rotting seat cloth and wax stuck firmly under fingernails, the hordes adjourned to The Stable for trophy presentations and a general yelling at from Contest Director Minnow Green, and to hear the exciting news that – for the first time ever – there would be a PROPER awards ceremony for the overall tour titles at a hotel in November, with actual nice clothes, food, a band and everything. British longboarding really has begun to spread its glorious wings. Now soar, my beauty! FLY FREE!
Huge gratitude as always to our sponsors, particularly The Stable, Fistral for their incredibly tolerant staff, superb food and generally being supportive and welcoming. Oh, and the big bag of money. Special thanks also to Jenny and the Briant family and Fistral Beach crew for providing car parking for all competitors and staff throughout the weekend. Big thanks to Surfing Life, Newquay and Finisterre for their contributions to the prize fund.
This year we are especially grateful to welcome Tour Sponsors Lisarb Energy, CTC Waste, Ocean & Earth, 10 Over Surf and Media Partner Longboarder Magazine. Your support is genuinely valued and we thank you for helping to keep the longboard scene in its current vibrant state. We truly love you all.
On a personal note, I want to thank Minnow and the whole BLU team for giving me the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated, unshakeable, talented and welcoming people and generally hang out with some of the very best longboarders I’ve ever seen. This will be my final contest report, so thanks to all those people who bothered to get this far down the page and for possibly finding some of it entertaining over the years. Cheers and gone.
Sophia Culhane (HAW) and Kaniela Stewart (HAW) emerged victorious at the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic Presented by Corona, Stop No. 3 on the World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Tour. This marks Culhane’s biggest-career event win to date and she will head into the World Title showdown ranked No. 3. Stewart will hold the No. 1 ranking and hopes that will give him an edge as he seeks redemption for the World Title. Kelis Kaleopa’a (HAW) and John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) earned runner-up finishes, making the podium a sweep of surfers all from Waikiki.
EL SUNZAL, LA LIBERTAD, EL SALVADOR – SEPTEMBER 22: Sophia Culhane of Hawaii surfs in the Final at the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic on September 22, 2023 at El Sunzal, La Libertad, El Salvador. (Photo by Tommy Pierucki/World Surf League)
Culhane Earns Maiden Event Victory
A back-and-forth battle ensued during the women’s Final between Waikiki’s rising stars Kelis Kaleopa’a (HAW) and Sophia Culhane (HAW). Culhane’s quick start yielded a 6.00 (out of a possible 10) to Kaleopa’a’s 5.83 and 2.50 openers. Culhane then responded on her stylish forehand to post a 5.63 and take control of the heat. A critical exchange later in the heat resulted in a near-excellent 7.50 for Culhane to increase her lead over Kaleopa’a. Culhane held her lead until the final horn and finally earned her maiden event win against the world’s best.
“No words can describe this feeling but I’m just super happy and the waves were fun and Kelis (Kaleopa’a) is such a good competitor,” said Culhane. “She has amazing style. She’s just an amazing person and I look up to her and I love her so much.”
Culhane’s impressive Finals Day showing included a big win over multiple World Title runner-up Chloe Calmon (BRA) in the Quarterfinals and 2015 WSL Longboard Champion Rachael Tilly (USA) in the Semifinals. Culhane now prepares for her first World Title run at the Original Sprout Malibu Longboard Classic Presented by Tractor Beverage Co.
EL SUNZAL, LA LIBERTAD, EL SALVADOR – SEPTEMBER 22: Kaniela Stewart of Hawaii surfs in the Final at the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic on September 22, 2023 at El Sunzal, La Libertad, El Salvador. (Photo by Tommy Pierucki/World Surf League)
Stewart Claims Second Event Win of the Season
The men’s Final featured a showdown between Kaniela Stewart (HAW) and Longboard Tour newcomer John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW). A quick first exchange put Stewart slightly ahead of Hohenstein. But, Stewart established his authority with an excellent 8.33 and put his fellow Waikiki competitor in need of a big score to catch him. With a 6.50 backup, Stewart stayed firm heading into the final minutes before ultimately claiming his second win of the 2023 season.
“I’m so stoked and speechless right now,” said Stewart. “Nobody else to thank but the Man up above. He made it happen. Without him, I wouldn’t be here. Thank you God, thank you everybody back home for watching and supporting me. Hopefully we get some waves [at Malibu] and we’ll probably all be surfing so good so I can’t wait. Hopefully bring that Title back to Hawaii.”
Stewart began his Finals Day run with his signature style and grace. The Waikiki, Oahu, local eliminated fellow Longboard Championship Top 8 competitor Ben Skinner (GBR) in the Semifinals with an impressive 14.34 heat total. Now, Stewart enters the Original Sprout Malibu Longboard Championships Presented by Tractor Beverage Co. ranked No. 1.
Kaleopa’a and Van Hohenstein Finish Runner-up
With her runner-up finish Kaleopa’a will return to Malibu ranked No. 1. She finished last season runner-up and this will be her chance to earn redemption and her first World Title. The 18-year-old turned in an incredible Finals Day performance beginning with her Quarterfinal bout against Mason Schremmer (USA). Kaleopa’a then had to face three-time WSL Longboard Champion Honolua Blomfield (HAW) in the Semifinals, winning in nail-biting fashion. Now, Kaleopa’a prepares to focus on the majestic lineup of Malibu.
“There are so many emotions right now,” said Kaleopa’a. “I just want to think everyone from El Salvador that helped us put on this event. It was really awesome and the wave is so good. I was surfing against one of my best friends and this is her first win so it was really exciting. And then Malibu, there’s just so much going on (laughs).”
Event runner-up Van Hohenstein had a remarkable surge today resulting in his best finish of the season. The Waikiki competitor’s run through competition included eliminating three-time WSL Champion Taylor Jensen (USA) in the Round of 16, Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) in the Quarterfinals, and former WSL Longboard Champion Steven Sawyer (RSA) in the Semifinals.
“It was such a great event here, I had a good time,” said Van Hohenstein. “Everyone killed it here. Good job to all the competitors. It was a crazy heat with one of my friends I’ve grown up with, Kaniela (Stewart). Great surfing. Muchos gracias El Salvador, thank you to my sponsors, I love you all.”
Skinner, Tilly, Delpero, Silvagni and Schremmer Officially Qualify for Longboard Championship Top 8
2015 WSL Longboard Champion Rachael Tilly (USA) officially qualified for the Longboard Championship Top 8 with an outstanding Quarterfinal showing. Tilly’s 16.86 (out of possible 20) heat total was more than enough to overtake reigning WSL Longboard Champion Soleil Errico (USA). Tilly, the youngest WSL Longboard Champion in history, now heads to Malibu to fight for a second World Title.
Joining Tilly into the Longboard Championship Top 8 is Mason Schremmer (USA) who held firm today and will enter Malibu ranked No. 8. For the men, Longboard Tour veterans Edouard Delpero (FRA), Tony Silvagni (USA), and Ben Skinner (USA) will round out the World Title contenders.
Men’s Longboard Championship Top 8 Rankings:
1. Kaniela Stewart (HAW)
2. Kai Sallas (HAW)
3. Taylor Jensen (USA)
4. Declan Wyton (AUS)
5. Ben Skinner (GBR)
6. Edouard Delpero (FRA)
7. Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL)
8. Tony Silvagni (USA)
Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic Presented by Corona Women’s Final Results:
1 – Sophia Culhane (HAW) 13.50
2 – Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 12.23
Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic Presented by Corona Men’s Final Results:
1 – Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 14.83
2 – John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 11.80
Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic Presented by Corona Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 12.77 DEF. Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 12.07
HEAT 2: Sophia Culhane (HAW) 13.07 DEF. Rachael Tilly (USA) 11.40
Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic Presented by Corona Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 14.34 DEF. Ben Skinner (GBR) 12.16
HEAT 2: John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 12.80 DEF. Steven Sawyer (RSA) 12.20
Esquievel and Wyton Secure Longboard Championship Top 8 Qualification
Beautiful, two-to-four foot conditions provided moments of spectacle from the world’s best competitive longboarders. Today’s competition powered through the men’s and women’s Round of 16 bouts and the men’s Quarterfinals.
Culhane and Calmon Officially Qualify for Longboard Championship Top 8
Sophia Culhane (HAW) has secured her place in the Longboard Championship Top 8 and will return to Malibu in search of becoming the youngest WSL Longboard Champion. Culhane’s bout with Maria Fernanda Reyes (PER) yielded an impressive 14.27 (out of a possible 20) heat total. Culhane now looks to improve her seeding for the Original Sprout Malibu Longboard Championships Presented by Tractor Beverage Co.
“I’m super happy, the conditions are pretty fun and surfing against Maria [Fernanda Reyes] is always a little stressful,” said Culhane. “Waking up this morning I was super nervous because everyone was saying ‘One more heat and you got Malibu,’ but I’m just over the moon. I’m going for the Top 3 but just letting it go right now and knowing I’m in Malibu is a really good thing. I’m hoping to go as far as I can in this event to secure one of those top seeds.”
The day’s action saw a dominant showing from fellow Hawaii competitors Honolua Blomfield and Kelis Kaleopa’a who have already qualified for the Longboard Championship Top 8. Blomfield posted one of the event’s highest single-wave score so far, an excellent 8.70 and Kaleopa’a also found Round of 16 success.
A nail-biting Round of 16, Heat 7 duel between Longboard tour veterans Chloe Calmon (BRA) and Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA) came down to the final exchange. For Calmon, it was a must-win situation to ensure her place into the Longboard Championship Top 8, and her final effort was just enough to overtake the heat win. Now Calmon, a multiple World Title runner-up, will have her chance at joining history once more at Malibu.
“It was not relaxed (laughs), it was quite the opposite and today we had overlapping heats so you assume you’ll get more waves but we were in the moment when the tide was changing so it got really quiet out there,” said Calmon. “It’s always hard to go against a good friend, Kaitlin [Mikkelsen], but when we go in the water we have a good battle. That’s a big relief [to make it to Malibu]. That was my main goal coming here, but I have so much fuel in the tank and I can’t wait for the Quarters.”
Former WSL Longboard Champion Tilly Keeps World Title Hopes Intact
Former WSL Longboard Champion, current No. 7, Rachael Tilly (USA) inched closer toward the opportunity of chasing a second World Title with a commanding Round of 16, Heat 6 victory over Tully White (AUS). Tilly found an excellent 8.00 to secure her place into the Quarterfinals and increase her chances of staying in the Longboard Championship Top 8.
All-important heats unraveled with Mason Schremmer (USA) overtaking fellow No. 7 ranked Avalon Gall (USA) to keep her World Title hopes intact. Current No. 9 Zoe Grospiron (FRA), also earned a vital Round of 16 win over compatriot Alice Lemoigne (FRA). Current No. 1 Soleil Errico (USA) continued to hold her place atop the rankings with a Round of 16 win.
Current No. 2 Kaniela Stewart (HAW) notched the event’s best performance thus far in the Round of 16, Heat 1. Stewart responded under pressure from Kai Ellice-Flint’s (AUS) terrific start, going on to post the event’s best heat total, a 17.10.
Stewart then backed up that performance with more excellence and a Quarterfinal victory over Longboard Tour veteran Kevin Skvaran (USA). Stewart now looks to surpass current No. 1 Taylor Jensen (USA) after Jensen was eliminated in the Round of 16.
“Definitely feels good to make the Semifinals,” said Stewart. “Hopefully the conditions are perfect like they were today. I’ll probably watch over the heats from today and see what I can focus on. I’ve learned so much watching that Final with me and Harrison [Roach] and I know why he won. I feel I just have to do the same thing he did with footwork in the pocket, perfect tens, and that’s how you win right there.”
A showdown between Longboard Tour veterans Ben Skinner (GBR) and Kai Sallas (HAW) yielded near-perfection from Skinner. Skinner’s power and combination of critical maneuvers earned him a 9.40, the event’s highest single-wave score so far.
Skinner now prepares for a massive showdown with fellow event standout Stewart in Semifinal, Heat 1. After his Round of 16 clash with World No. 1, Jensen, John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) continued his incredible dream run with another victory in the Quarterfinals over Philippines’ star Rogelio Jr Esquievel. But, he now must face former WSL Longboard Champion Steven Sawyer (RSA) in Semifinal, Heat 2, after Sawyer’s victory over Central California’s Cole Robbins.
Wyton and Esquievel Secure Longboard Championship Top 8 Qualification
Despite a Round of 16 loss, Declan Wyton (AUS) secured his place among the Longboard Championship Top 8 after Tony Silvagni (USA) fell short of a win in Round of 16, Heat 8.
“It’s a massive goal and I knew I was close, and I knew having both No. 5’s drop out was a big thing,” said Wyton. “I was definitely on the edge of my seat up there with Kevin [Skvarna]. I’ll just keep trying to do what I can do. I don’t know what I come in at. I think it’ll be close for No. 5 or No. 6, but I’m just stoked to make it. This Tour has been absolutely incredible this year.”
Following his brilliant Round of 16 showing, Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) officially qualified for the Original Sprout Malibu Longboard Championships Presented by Tractor Beverage Co. The Longboard Tour newcomer fell short of a Semifinal appearance to an in-form John Michael Van Hohenstein(HAW).
“This is the dream for the Philippines community and surfing, we’re so happy to be going to Malibu for the finals,” said Esquievel. “[All my friends and fans in Huntington] helped push me to do more and keep improving. It feels amazing to see some of the Filipino communities watching in Huntington at that time, it just feels really good for me.”
Event organizers will reconvene at 8:00 a.m. CST for a possible 8:35 a.m. CST start.
Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic Presented by Corona Women’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 14.17 DEF. Maya Glasenapp (FRA) 10.53
HEAT 2: Mason Schremmer (USA) 12.43 DEF. Avalon Gall (USA) 11.97
HEAT 3: Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 15.60 DEF. Natsumi Taoka (JPN) 13.17
HEAT 4: Zoe Grospiron (FRA) 13.43 DEF. Alice Lemoigne (FRA) 10.00
HEAT 5: Soleil Errico (USA) 13.27 DEF. Roisin Carolan (AUS) 8.90
HEAT 6: Rachael Tilly (USA) 15.33 DEF. Tully White (AUS) 11.80
HEAT 7: Sophia Culhane (HAW) 14.27 DEF. Maria Fernanda Reyes (PER) 12.93
HEAT 8: Chloe Calmon (BRA) 9.66 DEF. Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA) 9.27Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic Presented by Corona Men’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 17.10 DEF. Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) 15.50
HEAT 2: Kevin Skvarna (USA) 15.06 DEF. Edouard Delpero (FRA) 10.86
HEAT 3: Kai Sallas (HAW) 15.33 DEF. Kaimana Takayama (USA) 12.73
HEAT 4: Ben Skinner (GBR) 13.53 DEF. Richie Cravey (USA) 12.26
HEAT 5: John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 16.27 DEF. Taylor Jensen (USA) 16.10
HEAT 6: Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) 14.57 DEF. Taka Inoue (JPN) 13.33
HEAT 7: Steven Sawyer (RSA) 10.96 DEF. Declan Wyton (AUS) 10.73
HEAT 8: Cole Robbins (USA) 14.67 DEF. Tony Silvagni (USA) 13.30
Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic Presented by Corona Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 15.67 DEF. Kevin Skvarna (USA) 13.90
HEAT 2: Ben Skinner (GBR) 16.40 DEF. Kai Sallas (HAW) 16.00
HEAT 3: John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 15.67 DEF. Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) 13.03
HEAT 4: Steven Sawyer (RSA) 16.00 DEF. Cole Robbins (USA) 15.10
Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic Presented by Corona Women’s Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) vs. Mason Schremmer (USA)
HEAT 2: Honolua Blomfield (HAW) vs. Zoe Grospiron (FRA)
HEAT 3: Soleil Errico (USA) vs. Rachael Tilly (USA)
HEAT 4: Sophia Culhane (HAW) vs. Chloe Calmon (BRA)
Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic Presented by Corona Men’s Semifinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) vs. Ben Skinner (GBR)
HEAT 2: John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) vs. Steven Sawyer (RSA)
The Eddie Aikau Foundation has announce the eagerly awaited dates for the 2023-2024 EDDIE Big Wave Season! Mark your calendars and get ready for some incredible moments in the world of big wave surfing!
December 8, 2023: Join us for the Opening Ceremony, where we kick off the excitement and pay tribute to the legendary Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay.
December 14, 2023, to March 12, 2024: The Contest Waiting Period! This is when the world’s top surfers will be on standby, ready to take on Waimea Bay. We’ll be watching the ocean closely, waiting for the perfect conditions for this thrilling contest.
Get ready for an unforgettable season of big wave action, and stay tuned for more details and updates as we approach these dates. It’s all happening, and we can’t wait to share the stoke with you!
