Honolua Blomfield (HAW) and Edouard Delpero (FRA) won the Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic, Stop No. 3 of the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Tour. During an action packed Finals Day, the world’s best Longboarders took on the wave technology from the Kelly Slater Wave Company (KSWC) with style and excellence.
Having shared wins at the inaugural Longboard Tour competition in the KSWC technology at the Surf Ranch in 2021, Blomfield and Delpero also share the distinction of becoming first-time parents in 2025. The pair defeated Avalon Gall (USA) and Steven Sawyer (RSA), in the Finals, respectively.
Honolua Blomfield Claims Sixth Career Win in Remarkable Postpartum Performance
In a remarkable return to form, Honolua Blomfield (HAW) has claimed the sixth Longboard Tour win of her career barely six months after giving birth to her first child. Having last claimed victory at the 2022 GWM Sydney Surf Pro, the three-time World Longboard Champion backed up her 2021 Surf Ranch win, where she famously delivered a Perfect 10-point ride. Blomfield earned the two highest single wave scores of this year's Surf Abu Dhabi event, both 9.80’s, and posted excellent two-wave totals in every heat. The win boosted the 26-year-old all the way to the No. 3 seed headed into the Longboard Championships, where she will feature in Match 3.
"All of it's a lot to take in really," Blomfield said. "I feel like I've had such blessings in the past few days, all my great waves, it's kind of hard to be disappointed, even if I did lose. Sharing a Final with one of my besties, of course."
After a lacklustre initial two-wave run, that included a fall on her first right, Blomfield left the door open for Avalon Gall (USA). Gall followed up with two elegantly delivered waves that earned her a 7.17 (out of a possible 10) and an 8.50, leaving a hefty requirement for the Hawaiian on her second run. This time, Blomfield delivered, posting her fifth ride in the 9-point range of the event, a 9.27. Having mastered the inside barrel on the right, Blomfield utilized her effortless switch-stance on the left, but was unable to complete the final section. The 7.33 earned left Gall in need of a ride in the 8-point range on both of her remaining waves, which she was unable to achieve, leaving the new mother as the victor.
“My boyfriend actually talked me into the mental, I guess, and you just got to believe in yourself, really. I tend to not do that a lot, but I'm glad that I had that in me just now to do,” Blomfield continued. “I was pregnant last year here and the contest after in El Salvador. And then I had my baby, and I really just wanted to do it, because who else would if not, you know? I just thought it'd be a cool thing to take my baby on the road with me, let him see a few things, and yeah, this was kind of the goal.”
Avalon Gall Secures No. 1 Seed For First Longboard Championships Appearance
By placing in the Final, Avalon Gall (USA) secured the No. 1 seed going into the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships. Facing some of the toughest competition in the draw, Gall defeated 2024 event winner Alice Lemoigne (FRA) in the Quarterfinals and reigning World Longboard Champion Rachael Tilly (USA) in the Semifinals. Gall’s previous highest ranking of No. 6 came in 2021, and the 22-year-old will now feature in the Finals format for the very first time at the top of the pack. Thanks to an update to the format, the Californian is now potentially one heat win away from clinching her first World Longboard Title, should she win the first Title Match in El Salvador early next month.
"Oh my God, I cannot believe it, I actually have no idea what to say,” Gall said of being the No. 1 seed. “It's really special, especially to share [the Final] with one of my best friends. I'm so happy for her and proud of her. She surfed so amazing all event."
Edouard Delpero Victory Leads to No. 1 Seed Ahead of Longboard Championships
Bouncing back from one of his worst seasons on Tour in 2024, 2017 World Longboard Title runner-up Edouard Delpero (FRA) has taken the No. 1 seed headed into the Longboard Championships with today’s victory. After finishing last place at the US Open of Surfing, Delpero arrived at Bells Beach low in the rankings days after his first child was born. The French veteran turned that special moment into motivation, marching into the Semifinals there and now taking it even further for his third Longboard Tour win and first since 2021, when he also won in KSWC technology. Entering the Longboard Championships at El Salvador on top of the rankings spells danger for his competitors, especially after the 35-year-old topped the podium at the ISA World Longboard Championships at the same location earlier this year.
“I just love it, man, getting eight barrels, positioning, that was the best,” Delpero said. “I really enjoy the wave, the setup this year was amazing and I had fun and that was the most important. I was really looking forward to getting barreled this year and I got, so the win is a bonus. It's amazing.”
Delpero was unstoppable throughout the event, consistently delivering excellent performances. Setting the pace for the field from his very first heat in the Opening Round, Delpero’s Finals Day run continued that trajectory. An impressive 9.10 (out of a possible 10) aided the elimination of Oliver Packham (RSA) in the Quarterfinals, before his Semifinal defeat of reigning World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen (USA). Delpero needed only his first run of the Final to defeat defending event winner Steven Sawyer (RSA) after the South African fell on both of his rights.
"My last win was in the pool too, so I'm stoked," Delpero continued. "It wasn't my best heat so far, but it played out my way. So yeah, I'm happy. I just want to go back home as fast as possible and be close to my little family and that's the only thing that really matters now."
Back-to-Back Surf Abu Dhabi Finals for Steven Sawyer
Steven Sawyer (RSA) earned his way to a back-to-back Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Final with consistent performances and style. The 2018 World Longboard Champion kicked off his Finals Day run defeating Declan Wyton (AUS) in the Quarterfinals before meeting good friend and long-time travelling partner Kevin Skvarna (USA) in the Semifinals. Although Sawyer earned the highest single wave score of the men’s field in his last wave with a 9.60 (out of a possible 10), the 31-year-old hadn’t been able to improve his numbers on his second run on the right. Sawyer now heads into the Longboard Championships as seed No. 6.
"Last year and this year has been the closest I've ever been to the Lord in any aspect of my sports. And I mean, just tapping into the presence has been something so surreal for me,” Sawyer said. “It's so cool to get here two years in a row and have finaling positions. Two Finals in a row, that is proof of it. It's surreal, honestly."
Qualifiers Confirmed for the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships
The Top 8 women and Top 8 men are confirmed for the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships to compete for the 2025 World Longboard Titles, November 5 through 9, 2025. Both fields feature three newcomers to the Finals format, including the No. 1 women’s seed, Avalon Gall (USA), and No. 2 men’s seed, Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS).
Women’s Top 8 Qualifiers
1 - Avalon Gall (USA)
2 - Soleil Errico (USA)
3 - Honolua Blomfield (HAW)
4 - Chloe Calmon (BRA)
5 - Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN)
6 - Kelis Kaleopa’a (HAW)
7 - Rachael Tilly (USA)
8 - Tully White (AUS)
Men’s Top 8 Qualifiers
1 - Edouard Delpero (FRA)
2 - Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS)
3 - Taylor Jensen (USA)
4 - Kevin Skvarna (USA)
5 - Max Weston (AUS)
6 - Steven Sawyer (RSA)
7 - Declan Wyton (AUS)
8 - Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL)
