Esquievel Overcomes Tour Veteran Ben Skinner

Former WSL Longboard Champions Blomfield, Tilly, and Steinriede Steal the Show

Huntington Beach, Calif., USA (Wednesday, August 2, 2023) –  After a series of world-class matchups and big upsets, the Quarterfinalists have been determined at the World Surf League (WSL) Huntington Beach Longboard Classic, Stop No. 1 of the WSL 2023 Longboard Tour. The world’s best men and women longboarders overcame slightly onshore conditions with style and grace during their respective, Round of 16 bouts. The Wallex US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico, Stop No. 4 of the Challenger Series, was called OFF for the day.

Last year’s event runner-up and 2022 World Title runner-up, Kaniela Stewart (HAW), put on a masterclass of nose-riding and flow today. He earned an excellent 8.50 (out of a possible 10) followed by another excellent score of 8.53 to overcome event wildcard Troy Mothershead (USA). Stewart’s undeniable style made him a standout in the Round of 16. He now looks for another chance at claiming victory in Huntington Beach.

“I prepared by watching over all the heats,” said Stewart. “I’ve been surfing after the contest every time it gets windy. It’s always choppy after the contest, so we’re out there. And if we get a better heat like the waves were today it’s nice. It helps a lot. Usually, I just process where the right place on the wave is to nose ride. That’s the main thing, is nose-riding in that critical section of the wave, and coming out of it and doing a nice clean turn or a nice clean finish. So that’s mainly the goal.”

“It was super nice to be here with all the Filipinos here cheering for me,” said Esquievel. “Every time I rode a wave they were shouting and putting more energy on me, so I’m stoked I made it. In the Philippines, there are a lot of longboarders, especially in our place in La Union. We also have kids, like the next generation, and they are ripping too.”

Another significant upset closed out the Round of 16 with Reigning North America Longboard Regional Champion, Richie Cravey (USA), taking out Longboard Tour veteran Kai Sallas (HAW). Defending event winner Taylor Jensen (USA), Edouard Delpero (FRA), Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS), Tony Silvagni (USA), and Taka Inoue (JPN) also found their way into the Quarterfinals.

Three-time WSL Longboard Champion Honolua Blomfield (HAW) put on a jaw-dropping performance in the Round of 16. Blomfield’s style and calm nature earned her an excellent 16.50 heat total, which was enough to eliminate reigning North America Longboard Regional Champion Avalon Gall (USA). With her Quarterfinal appearance secured, Bloomfield is already off to a good start in her run for a historic fourth World Title.

“Avalon (Gall) is one of my best friends, and she is an incredible surfer, so I was definitely a little nervous,” said Bloomfield. “She really made me try my heart out, so I’m thankful to her and stoked to get the win on that one.”

“I felt like I had a good first heat on Sunday,” said Tilly. “We haven’t surfed since Sunday, and winning this heat meant a lot to just get over that edge into the Quarterfinals. I think that kind of took some pressure off. It meant a lot and I was really focused, but sometimes when I’m too focused I put that pressure on myself, so I think I wasn’t surfing my best at the beginning.”

Reigning WSL Longboard Champion Soleil Errico (USA) also earned herself safe passage into the Quarterfinals. She will be joined by defending event victor Kelis Kaleopa’a (HAW), former WSL Longboard Champion Lindsay Steinriede (USA), Sophia Culhane (HAW), Alice Lemoigne (FRA), and Chloe Calmon (BRA).

For highlights and more information from today’s competition, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Watch LIVE: Huntington Beach Longboard Classic
The Wallex US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico and Huntington Beach Longboard Classic holds a competition window Saturday, July 29, through Sunday, August 6, 2023. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL’s YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

The Wallex US Open of Surfing presented by Pacifico is proudly supported by Wallex.US, Pacifico, Cup Noodles, Hurley, 805 Beer, Red Bull, Sambazon, Shiseido, Surfshark, YETI, Aloha Collection, Aventon E-Bikes, Board & Brew, Boxed Water, Deville Canned Cocktails, Feelgoodz, Flexfit, Fuji Film, Huntington Surf & Sport, Jack’s Surfboards, Nixon Watches, Pura Vida, Ralphs, Tractor Beverage Company, USAF 330th Special Warfare, Visit Huntington Beach, William Grant & Sons, Professional Teqball, Tractor Soda, Victoria White, and Youtheory. 

• First Eliminations Narrow the Field at Huntington Beach Longboard Classic
• Schremmer and Lemoigne Go Excellent to Escape Elimination, Culhane Recovers from Opening Round Loss
• Defending Event Winner Jensen and Longboard Tour Veteran Delpero Thrive Amid Elimination Pressure

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., USA (Tuesday, August 1, 2023) – Today’s competition saw the men’s and women’s Elimination Rounds narrow the field at the World Surf League (WSL) Huntington Beach Longboard Classic, Stop No. 1 of the 2023 WSL Longboard Tour. Clean, two-to-four-foot conditions provided great opportunities for the world’s best longboarders to demonstrate their abilities. The Wallex US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico, Stop No. 4 of the 2023 WSL Challenger Series, was called OFF for the day.

Emerging WSL Longboard Tour talent Mason Schremmer (USA) put on a showcase of nose-riding and style today at the Huntington Beach Pier. She posted an excellent 8.33 (out of a possible 10) single-wave score and 16.50 (out of a possible 20) heat total. Schremmer’s Semifinal finish at the Malibu Longboard Championship last season proved she is a threat to the world’s best. Now, she’s started the season in great form and is looking to establish herself as a potential World Title candidate.

“I free surfed before the event this morning and just kind of felt like I got a couple of nice ones,” said Schremmer. “So I was like just get two solid scores down and then just go for it because you don’t really have anything to lose. I just wanted to make the Elimination Round and get on to the next heat. It gives me a lot of confidence. It’s really good to put down some good scores and just feel like you’re building through a heat. It’s a good feeling.”

“It’s so great to surf with these waves,” said Lemoigne. “The right is just perfect for nose rides so it actually was super good. I was a little nervous, but I had so much fun. I would just want to keep going on this way. I’m super stoked about this heat.”

“The first heat of the morning is always stressful,” said Culhane. “I couldn’t really find my rhythm at first but then I kind of told myself you got this and I just took it wave by wave. It’s definitely sometimes a little more stressful, but I’m taking it contest by contest and focusing on heats. I’m trying to keep that out of my mind as much as possible but of course it creeps in there once in a while.”

Former WSL Longboard Champion Lindsay Steinriede (USA), Longboard Tour veteran Maria Fernanda Reyes (PER), 2023 season wildcard Liv Stokes (USA), Brazil’s newcomer Luana Soares, and reigning North America Regional Longboard Champion Avalon Gall (USA) also survived the Elimination Round and secured themselves spots in the Round of 16.

Three-time WSL Longboard Champion and defending event winner, Taylor Jensen (USA), emerged victorious over event wildcard Brendan White (USA) after a back-and-forth battle in Heat 1. Jensen’s combination of nose rides and powerful carves led to an impressive 7.00. He then closed the door on White by garnering a 7.50 in the dying minutes. Oceanside, California’s, Jensen will now move forward with momentum into the Round of 16.

“After my loss the other day I was kind of rattled, went home, thought about it too much, and then went for a surf and had a fun surf and kind of remembered why we do this,” said Jensen. “I watched the conditions all morning, I didn’t surf, but you could see where the waves were. I was on a 9’8” and it felt pretty good. It’s a board that’s got a little twist in it that’s kind of magic.”

“I think the second best thing in surfing after getting barreled is getting nose rides,” said Delpero. “You fly on the water, it’s pretty amazing. I definitely had to reset after second place in the first round. I’m glad we had a couple days to take time off and take your mind off competition. Getting ready for the run. I’m stoked to get through that one and now getting my feelings back to my surfing.”

“Max has been someone who’s always surfed really beautifully and shreds on a shortboard and I’ve always been super inspired by him,” said Ellice-Flint. “He’s a super smart bloke. So coming up against him, I knew he was going to be calculated. And he surfed well. I guess I just got a couple under him at the start and managed to secure a few bigger waves towards the end of the heat. But yeah, just going out there and enjoying surfing with your mate. It was epic.”

Also making it through the Elimination Round was experienced competitor, Kevin Skvarna (USA), who narrowly overcame event wildcard Saxon Wilson (USA). Skvarna will join Jack Van Wagoner (USA), Troy Mothershead (USA), Tony Silvagni (USA) and John Michael Hohenstein (HAW) in the Round of 16.

For highlights and more information from today’s competition, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Watch LIVE: Huntington Beach Longboard Classic
The Wallex US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico and Huntington Beach Longboard Classic holds a competition window through Sunday, August 6, 2023. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL’s YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

The Wallex US Open of Surfing presented by Pacifico is proudly supported by Wallex.US, Pacifico, Cup Noodles, Hurley, 805 Beer, Red Bull, Sambazon, Shiseido, Surfshark, YETI, Aloha Collection, Aventon E-Bikes, Board & Brew, Boxed Water, Deville Canned Cocktails, Feelgoodz, Flexfit, Fuji Film, Huntington Surf & Sport, Jack’s Surfboards, Nixon Watches, Pura Vida, Ralphs, Tractor Beverage Company, USAF 330th Special Warfare, Visit Huntington Beach, William Grant & Sons, Professional Teqball, Tractor Soda, Victoria White, and Youtheory.