Aleli Medina, Team Puerto Rico Photo: Jersson Barboza
The 2024 ISA World Para Surfing Championship (WPSC) continued in classic Southern California conditions for day three of competition. Strong ‘Santa Ana’ offshore winds groomed the faces of the two-to-three foot waves, providing opportunity for a steady stream of excellent scores.
Frontrunners held strong across the nine separate divisions to compete today, many of them strengthening their positions. Finals were set in men’s and women’s Stand 1, led by Maxime Clarkin (FRA) and Catalina Castro (CHI), respectively, as well as in women’s Visual Impairment (VI) 2, where Aleli Medina (PUR) once again excelled. Multiple other divisions determined Quarterfinals and Semifinals.
The ever-competitive men’s Kneel division continued to live up to its reputation, with big heat totals from Llywelyn ‘Sponge’ Williams (WAL) and Ibon Oregui (ESP). But it was three-time World Champion Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart (AUS) who found the highest single wave score of the day for the men. Driving hard off the bottom, Stewart carved vertically into the lip before smashing the end section to post a 9.17.
“I had a great time out there, it’s pumping, lovely Santa Ana winds,” Stewart said. “My plan was to go and find a tube with these winds, but I thought I’d get a few maneuvers off my first wave and I ducked off some really nice ones that I was just out of position a bit, and a little bit hard to see with the sun this time of the afternoon. But I still feel good, mate.”
Jose Martinez, Team EE.UU Photo: Sean Evans
After trailing the scores of two fellow World Champions in the first two rounds, Jose Martinez (USA) let loose in the Quarterfinals, topping his division with a 14.27 heat total. Patience paid off for the 2021 Gold Medalist, who scored a near-perfect 9.10 after sitting in second for much of the heat. The triple amputee army veteran was in prime position for one of the biggest waves of the day. Slotting straight into the pocket of a hollow section, Martinez screamed down the line, arriving on the beach with an ear-to-ear smile.
“It’s a miracle the Santa Ana winds turned on for us,” Martinez said. “I feel like they knew that we were going to try to get barreled, show the world what we can really do. And show them that we can surf just as good as everybody else. I’ve been timing these sets the whole time and knowing exactly that I wanted the second one, knowing that I can push my competitor into the first one. It’s all a game plan. We’re playing chess and I learned from the best, my competitor Jesse Billauer, my teammate. I’ve been learning this for the last seven years, how to lose, and gracefully, I’ve learned how to win too.”
Martinez will next face two World Champions in a Semifinal superheat, featuring his teammate Jesse Billauer (USA) and Davi Teixeira (BRA).
Jocelyn Neumueller, Team Australia Photo: Jersson Barboza
Jocelyn Neumueller delivers near-perfect heat, strengthens lead over Sarah Almagro in race for second World Title
A blistering performance from Jocelyn Neumueller (AUS) saw the 2021 Prone 2 World Champion add her name to an elite list. The South Australian drove through a huge cutback on a long right to earn a near-perfect 9.50, before upping the ante with a 9.67 from a left that saw her linking multiple turns together toward a massive end-section hit. Neumueller’s 19.17 heat total locks in as the second-highest women’s total in the history of the event.
“It feels pretty good to know that’s the second highest in history,” Neumueller said. “I think for us, we just try and focus on executing the best waves that we know we can and I think the scores are just, I guess, a product of that. So just knowing that if we can execute a good wave, the scores will come.”
Neumueller’s total easily carried her into the Semifinals on top of the leaderboard. However, in the following heat, defending World Champion Sarah Almagro (ESP) found a massive score of her own, posting a 9.33.
Kirk Watson, Team Australia Photo: Jersson Barboza
Defending Vision Impairment World Champions Aleli Medina (PUR) and Kirk Watson (AUS) find their form in Round 2
After tough starts to their campaigns, defending VI World Champions Aleli Medina (PUR) and Kirk Watson (AUS) bounced back in Round 2. More favorable conditions allowed for long, clean rides and much higher scores.
Medina found a long right, driving with speed into a big hook under the lip, combining it straight into a wrapping cutback. The 9.33 score solidified the leading position for the 15-year-old Puerto Rican’s advancement into the Women’s VI 2 Final, where she’ll seek to defend her back-to-back World Titles.
“Round 1 was difficult because of conditions, same as now, but in this round I could get at least some good waves,” Medina said. “I’m really happy and grateful for that. Going in the water, I was hearing my dad, he’s like reminding me of everything I had to do. And that really worked out. I feel super happy and grateful because a few years ago I would have never imagined myself being here. I feel really happy and like I’ve accomplished a lot in my life.”
A 15.17 heat total for Watson easily placed the Australian atop the pack headed into the men’s VI 1 Semifinals. After struggling to find the right waves at the start of the heat, Watson changed positioning to the pier bowl, and immediately picked up a 7.00, and then added an 8.17.
“It was really good fun out there,” Watson said. “First wave was a bit soft and then Chook moved me over to another bank and then we just seemed to link up and it was one after another. Australia, we’re battlers. I really wanted to do it for the team. I really wanted to do it for all the people that supported us back home.”
The 2024 WPSC will continue tomorrow with men’s Sit, Round 2 at 7:00am, PST, at Southside Huntington Beach Pier.
