Frontrunners Further Defined on Day 4 of the 2025 ISA World Para Surfing Championship
Former Champions Alana Nichols (USA) and Guillaume Colin (FRA) Assert Their Presence in Sit Division
15-Year-Old Newcomer Davi Lima (BRA) Brings a Strong Challenge in Event Debut
Event Veteran Hannah Dines (ENG) Delivers a Statement With First-Ever Heat Win
Beautiful, clean conditions set the stage for day 4 of the 2025 ISA World Para Surfing Championship (WPSC). Groomed, two-to-three-foot swell lined the north side of Oceanside pier for the opening rounds of the final two divisions to run, along with Main Round 2 in seven further divisions.
Three-time World Champion Alana Nichols (USA) opened with a solid performance in women’s Sit, setting herself back atop the classification that she has maintained a strong presence in throughout the event’s history. Last year, Nichols was defeated by her good friend, Cass Eckroth (USA), in the Final. This year, the 42-year-old multiple-time Paralympic medalist is ready to reclaim the crown.
“I have had the wonderful opportunity of winning a few of these titles,” Nichols said. “I did, however, lose the title last year to one of my good friends and like a mentee of mine. And, you know, it just is such a great reminder. Like, you’re never done. You’re only as good as your last wave. So I’m just out there trying to better myself as a surfer. And whatever happens in the end is how it shakes out.”
In 2024, Guillaume Colin (FRA) broke through for his first gold medal after two previous appearances in the men’s Sit Final, including a silver medal in 2022. This year, the 41-year-old set himself straight at the top of the pack, posting a 7.50 and 6.00 for a 13.50 heat total. Two-time World Champion Jeff Munson (USA) ranked second as he looks to claim his first gold medal since 2020.
Alelí Medina (PUR) improved her scores with a near-perfect 9.50 in women’s Visual Impairment (VI) 2. The 16-year-old three-time World Champion unleashed two powerful wraps on a pier bowl right to earn the massive number before adding a 7.50 to further improve her scoreline. Medina’s excellent 17.00 heat total increased her lead over fellow three-time gold medalist Melissa Reid (ENG), who also upped her numbers on the scoreboard with a 6.00 added to her existing 7.17.
Men’s VI 2 held a similarly close battle between two former champions, as two-time World Champion Roy Calderon (CRC) and defending champion, Pierrot Gagliano (FRA) added to their scoreline. Calderon attacked the lip on his forehand to collect an 8.83, before adding a 7.93 for an excellent 16.76 heat total, replacing both of his scoring waves from Round 1. Gagliano also improved with an 8.23, but it was the Costa Rican who entered the Final atop the leaderboard, looking to win the gold medal once again after finishing runner-up for the past two years running.
“I saw it was a good peak, and my coach, Alejandro, was saying, ‘Roy, go, go, go,'” Calderon said. “So I caught it and tried the maneuvers in the critical section. I had so much speed and was feeling so good. And yeah, it came through as a good score. I love representing Costa Rica in the World Surf Championships and I love competing in California.”
In the Prone divisions, the leaderboard remained largely unchanged, though many athletes improved their scorelines. One major mover was 2022 Men’s Prone 1 World Champion Casey Proud (HAW), who jumped from 11th into 5th. He now sits just behind three fellow former World Champions, Kai Colless (AUS), Joel Taylor (AUS), and Bruno Hansen(DEN), as well as Cleuson Soares (BRA).
Event Veteran Hannah Dines (ENG) Delivers a Statement With First-Ever Heat Win
After five years of competing in the event, Hannah Dines (ENG) finally broke through for her first heat win in women’s Prone 2. Dines powered down the line on an exceptionally long left, keeping tight in the pocket the whole way, to earn an 8.00. Sharing the heat with 2023 World Champion Sarah Almagro (ESP), who posted an 8.17 of her own, the 2021 copper medalist backed up her score with a 6.00 to deliver her 14.00 heat total in a statement performance. With defending champion Jocelyn Neumueller (AUS) not present, the race for gold is wide open.
“That wave just felt so powerful and gnarly,” Dines said. “This is my first ever heat win. I’ve done this five years in a row. Sarah Almagro comes to fight, right? And her mum said, ‘Jocelyn [Neumueller]’s, the GOAT, there’s nobody here for Sarah to fight.’ So I was like, come on, and I gave her that 8. So it feels victorious. Like, I don’t mind what happens next, it’s completely fulfilling. And I feel powerful, strong, like a ballerina, but also really fierce.”
5-Year-Old Newcomer Davi Lima (BRA) Brings a Strong Challenge in Event Debut
Antony Smyth (RSA) improved his position atop the men’s Stand 1 leaderboard after posting an 8.67. The two-time World Champion again faced strong competition from newcomer, Davi Lima (BRA), however, who posted an 8.67 of his own. Lima delivered multiple vertical hits on a speedy right headed straight for the pier to earn his high score. Prior to this event, the 15-year-old had never even left his home city of Natal, let alone the country, and he is excited to represent his nation on the global stage.
“I was a little apprehensive because the waves weren’t coming, but when I got the wave and I heard my team cheering on the beach I was so happy and it motivated me to keep going,” Lima said. “I’m very proud to be a part of Team Brazil. It’s my first time out of the country. It’s my first trip and I’m very proud and ready to rip.”
