A second consecutive day of firing waves provided another round of exciting action for day 3 of the 2025 ISA World Para Surfing Championship (WPSC). Three-to-five-foot peaks poured into the north side of the Oceanside pier, allowing Main Round 1 in five divisions to be completed, along with Round 2 of three divisions.
As the women’s Prone classifications debuted in the event, Sarah Almagro (ESP) opened with a bang, kicking off the first heat of Prone 2 with an 8.83. The 2023 World Champion and two-time silver medalist found long lefts to draw sweeping carves as she raced down the line. A second score of 7.17 provided Almagro with an excellent 16.00 heat total, placing the 25-year-old straight atop the leaderboard.
“The conditions were so nice, I really had a good time out there,” Almagro said. “We got two good lefts and I think we ripped it.”
In the same heat, Beatrice Duran (FRA) and Georgina Melatini (ARG) also delivered big performances to rank numbers two and three on the leaderboard, respectively. Meanwhile, Celine Rouillard (FRA) and Ashley Bunting (USA) claimed the following heats.
After a tough start in Round 1, defending men’s Stand 2 champion JP Veaudry (RSA) recalibrated his campaign. Veaudry posted the highest single wave score of his division, an 8.17, to get himself up into second on the leaderboard behind newcomer Morgan Galeffi(ITA), who also increased his scoreline today with a 7.33.
Elias ‘Figue’ Diel (BRA) and Kirk Watson (AUS) sent themselves straight to the top of the pack in men’s Visual Impairment 1. The former champions were able to deliver multiple open face turns and maintain the lead ahead of France’s two Thomas’, Thomas Da Silva(FRA) and Thomas Spetebroot (FRA).
In men’s Kneel, Dijackson Santos (BRA) was able to pierce the exceptionally strong lead of Dariel Melendez Davila (CRC). Santos added a 9.17 to an 8.67 from yesterday to take the pole position headed into the Semifinals.
USA Captain Jose Martinez (USA) Looks to Lead Team Back to Gold
Jose Martinez (USA) asserted his presence in this year’s Prone 2 leaderboard with a near-perfect 9.83. The 2021 World Champion was trailing after yesterday’s first round, but moved straight into second place with his performance today. Martinez drove through a deep bottom turn to critical top turn combo on a large set wave to earn his number, which was backed up with a 7.00 ride for an excellent 16.83 two-wave total. After two consecutive team silver medals, the USA captain is hoping to lead his team to their fourth gold medal.
“This year, all I’ve been trying to do, I want locals, I want pro surfers to look at us and say, that guy can surf,” Martinez said. “So all I’ve been working on is going top-to-bottom, spraying as much rooster tail off the top as I can, and continuously showing that we can control ourselves in the water. It’s a lot of pressure [to be team captain]. Last year, I was able to get my team into second place. I like to say when you nominate me as captain, we’re going to win it or I’m going to sink the ship and I’m going to let everybody out of it. So I’m hoping that this year we don’t have to sink the ship, we can get as close to that first place as possible.”
Martinez’s teammate Jesse Billauer (USA), the two-time World Champion, also improved his position with a pair of rides in the 7-point range earning progression to the Semifinals. Meanwhile, defending champion Freddy Marimon (COL) also grew his total to maintain the lead in Prone 2, adding an 8.67 to yesterday’s 9.90.
Marta Paço (POR) and Sarah Bettencourt (USA) Carry the Torch for Para Surfing’s Growth
Since 2021, Portugal’s Marta Paço (POR) has remained undefeated in women’s VI 2, claiming her fourth straight gold medal in 2024. Paço opened her campaign strong yet again, finding multiple long rides in Oceanside’s pier bowl, despite having no vision. Though she’s only 20, Paço is already an event veteran and has a strong appreciation for the WPSC and what it means for the community that she is so proud to be a part of.
“I’ve been surfing since I was 12-years-old, now I’m 20,” Paço said. “I grew up with it and it helps me so much physically, mentally, socially. I made so many amazing friends, especially here at this event, from all over the world. It is amazing for me as a person and for me as a surfer. It’s the major event in para surfing right now, so I think we need to value it and actually come and compete as seriously and as good as possible to make it grow and expand all over the world.”
Another four-time World Champion, Sarah Bettencourt (USA), opened strong in women’s Prone 1, earning an excellent 8.00 ride in her first heat of the event. The 42-year-old carried the sentiment of her younger counterpart.
“I do this for the generations coming behind me,” Bettencourt said. “I know we are going to make Paralympics. It’s going to happen at some point. So I want to pave the way and teach everyone coming behind me that they too can get out there and show the world how amazing surfing is and that truly anyone can surf.
“You might have to do it a little differently. You might kneel, you might stand, you might prone, you might be visually impaired, whatever, but anyone can surf. I’m doing it to show everyone who’s watching, get in the water, paddle out, and catch some waves because it is life-changing. It is healing. It’s magical. It’s super fun, but also you can compete and represent your country because it will be in the Paralympics one day.”
