The Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Presented by Modon, Stop No. 3 of the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Tour, continued today with the women’s Opening Round and men’s Quarterfinals in perfect three-foot waves at the new Surf Abu Dhabi facility.
All of the women’s Opening Round heats were won by the top seeds, pushing the qualification scenarios for El Salvador into Finals Day. Every Quarterfinal heat will have major implications for the seeding of the Top 8, with just one of the eight Quarterfinalists unable to qualify. The men’s Quarterfinals saw two more qualification slots confirmed as the field narrowed to its final four competitors ahead of a big competition day tomorrow.
Honolua Blomfield (HAW) was able to advance into the Quarterfinals on the strength of her two opening waves, outpacing the strong showings of former Tour mainstay Ophelie Ah-Kouen (FRA) and rookie Chloe Coleman (USA). That didn’t stop the three-time WSL Longboard Champion from bettering her situation across her next two waves. Keeping an 8.00 (out of a possible 10) from her first left, Blomfield added an 8.33 on her second right, to start off an important event for her with an excellent 16.33 (out of a possible 20) heat total.
“Oh man, luckily, we got like eight practice waves before the contest, so I think that helped a lot,” Blomfield said. “Honestly, I feel like it’s always changing, though, so you never know. Like today, the wind on the right, I didn’t expect it to be there, but it was there. So it was a bit of a challenge, but just having fun with it and seeing what I can do. It’s always nice to get the first one out of the way.”
Blomfield enters the event as a strong favorite, as the winner of the only other Longboard Tour event to be held in a wave pool, the 2021 Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic, where she earned a 10-point ride. The heat win will go a long way for the 25-year-old, who is currently sitting in No. 4 on the rankings, as she looks to solidify her position in the Top 8.
Competing for the first time in a wave system, 2015 WSL Longboard Champion Rachael Tilly (USA) adapted well. The 26-year-old looked comfortable on her way to earning one of the highest single-wave scores of the day, an 8.50, and defeating Keani Canullo (HAW) and Victoria Vergara (FRA). Tilly, who holds the title of the youngest-ever World Longboard Champion, has confirmed her spot in the Top 8 and advances one step closer to securing a favorable seed within the World Longboard Championship bracket. Along with Natsumi Taoka (JPN), who also progressed to the Quarterfinals, she has the opportunity to take the No. 1 seed away from current Tour leader Soleil Errico (USA) with a win in Abu Dhabi.
“I had a lot of nerves before that heat,” Tilly said. “This is just such a different format. One, knowing what you have to get before going out, and also showing up a few hours before your heat and not having anywhere to go free surf or do anything like that. It’s a totally different environment. I feel like I’m kind of starting from scratch and happy to have that heat done with and to be through it. For the 8.50, I really would have liked to get into the excellent range, that was the goal. Fortunately, for those last two waves I had, I knew that I had one, and I could kind of push it a little bit more. I’m happy that came through and definitely gives me confidence moving forward.”
Heading into the day, France’s Alice Lemoigne (FRA) and Zoe Grospiron (FRA) sat in the precarious positions of No. 8 and No. 9 on the rankings. Both surfers needed the heat wins that they earned today to have the opportunity to fight for the 2024 World Longboard Title in El Salvador next month.
Lemoigne posted the highest heat total of the day, 16.77 (out of a possible 20), after collecting excellent rides in the 8-point range on three of her four waves. The 27-year-old received the strongest competition of any of the top seeds from Tully White (AUS). White led for much of the heat, her incredible style and technique earning a 14.06 total and leaving Lemoigne in need of a score on her final wave. Having fallen on her first left but knowing that she required a number, Lemoigne held a long, risky nose-ride through an extended critical section to deliver an 8.47 and the win.
“Well, it was pretty hard because I have so much pressure on me, but yeah, I want to surf my best and have a good left,” Lemoigne said. “I’m pretty happy about my surfing right now. It’s super great to surf in the pool. All the girls get the same waves, so it’s amazing, and the wave is just so good. You are having so much fun when you are on the wave. You don’t feel you are in the contest. I love it.”
In the Opening Round, Grospiron faced Emma Perrier (AUS) and Californian Avalon Gall (USA). Gall was one of four surfers to make the Final the last time the Longboard Tour utilized the KSWC technology at the 2021 Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic and set herself as the heat leader today with two rides in the 6-point range. Grosipiron had picked up an 8.23 on her first wave for a great blend of style, high-performance turns, and critical nose-rides. But, the Biarritz local needed a 4.43 from her final wave to defeat Gall. Playing it somewhat safe but wanting to make the most of the opportunity in front of her, Grospiron picked up a 5.53 to earn a position in the Quarterfinals.
“I guess this contest is only about yourself when you’re out there, so I was just keeping it calm,” Grospiron said. “I knew I had to surf the whole wave and not to rush it too much to complete the wave. It was not a big score needed but needed at least like a score. I was just telling myself that it is maybe the last time, so I just wanted to enjoy and finish it. I know the timing of the wave, so I just rode it how I could. I’m very stoked to have more opportunity to surf this wave. I really want to go to El Salvador, but first I just want to enjoy here in Abu Dhabi. We have a very good setup and a very good wave and the staff is super nice. I’m just enjoying it a lot here.”
It’s the second year in a row that Grospiron has arrived at the last event of the regular season one spot away from qualification for the World Longboard Champion crowning event. In 2023, the 24-year-old was unable to increase her position, but the heat win today has improved her chances for 2024.
The majority of scores in the men’s Quarterfinals centered around the barrel, with waves made or broken by the critical tube section in the middle of the wave. The matchup between goofy-footer Steven Sawyer (RSA) and regular-footer Kai Hamase (JPN) epitomized the dynamic the most. The pair earned the highest numbers in their matchup based on barrels on their respective backhands, an 8.97 for Sawyer and an 8.90 for Hamase, with their forehand waves marking a bigger difference, an 8.50 for the South African and an 8.30 for the Hamase. Just 0.27 separated the two in favor of Sawyer, the 2018 WSL Longboard Champion.
The most effective use of the barrel came from Kaniela Stewart (HAW), who put an exclamation mark on his qualification for El Salvador by earning the highest heat total of the event so far to defeat Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) and secure the opportunity to compete for the 2024 World Longboard Title. As with his Opening Round heat, Stewart utilized an innovative technique to get deeper in the barrel than any other surfer so far. His creativity paid off with a 9.33 on the right, and an 8.27 on the left, for a 17.60 total.
“I was praying every single wave out there that I wouldn’t think about what I’m gonna do, just let God deal with it,” Stewart said. “I’m stoked to come out on top of that one. JR is such a good surfer, and you never know. I didn’t even really think, you know, like when do you ever go out and surf and think, ‘Oh, I’m gonna do this here, on this here, on a wave,’ you never do that. So I just went out there and let my body and my mind take over.”
Multiple failed barrel attempts plagued both John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) and Sam Christianson (RSA), with just a single completed wave from Van Hohenstein determining their heat’s outcome. Sitting at No. 4 on the rankings at the start of the event, the Semifinal berth for Van Hohenstein could mean a highly consequential jump in seeding for the World Longboard Championship event.
An unmade barrel was also the determining factor in the last heat of the day, as Declan Wyton (AUS) lost his chance to guarantee a slot in El Salvador and handed victory to Kai Sallas (HAW). The reigning World Longboard Champion had already clinched his spot by making the Quarterfinals and will head into tomorrow’s Finals Day looking for an event win and a jump in his seeding on the road to defend his Longboard World Title. Sawyer’s result will be crucial to the Top 8 confirmations and if someone gets knocked out of the current standings.
Qualifiers for the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships
Following today’s competition, two more men were confirmed for the 2024 Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships to compete for the 2024 Longboard World Titles. There are now five spots remaining for the women and two spots for the men heading into Finals Day tomorrow. The best two of three events on the Longboard Tour leaderboard count toward qualification. The first tiebreaker is the number of heat wins and then the average heat score.
Women’s Top 8 Qualifiers
– Soleil Errico (USA)
– Rachael Tilly (USA)
– Natsumi Taoka (JPN)
– Five spots remain
About the WSL
The World Surf League (WSL) is the global home of competitive surfing, crowning World Champions since 1976 and showcasing the world’s best surfing. The WSL oversees surfing’s global competitive landscape and sets the standard for elite performance in the most dynamic playing field in all of sports. With a firm commitment to its values, the WSL prioritizes the protection of the ocean, equality, and the sport’s rich heritage, while championing progression and innovation.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
