Sam Piter (FRA, above) and Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK, above) were crowned the winners of the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) YETI Pro QS 4,000. Piter and Etxabarri held their nerve in tense Final heats after two marathon days of competition, overcoming a strong competitive field in very challenging conditions. Collecting their 4,000 points, Piter and Etxabarri have both jumped to the top of the European QS rankings.
After completing the men’s and women’s finals, the Boardmasters Longboard Pro Presented by YETI got started and ran through multiple rounds to narrow down the field to the Semifinals.
Photos: WSL/Masurel
Sam Piter Denies Lukas Skinner A Third Title In Dramatic Finish
It was a dramatic end to the YETI Pro QS 4,000 men’s final, with Sam Piter (FRA, above) denying local favourite Lukas Skinner (GBR) his third consecutive Boardmasters title. It was a see-saw battle between Skinner and Piter, but a last minute air reverse from Piter was all it took to secure his first-ever Boardmasters title. It’s the biggest win of his career, marking his first QS 4,000 title and his first time back on the top step of the podium since Lacanau last year.
"I'm super happy," said Piter. "It was a challenging forecast for this event. I'm glad we got through it in two days, it was a lot of surfing and I'm a little tired, but I'm stoked I came out on top. We were training a lot in small waves before this, pushing each other.
Skinner (above) burst out the gates in the Final to post the first numbers on the board, and he held the lead from the get-go. Piter fought back and found a good ramp to take to the air, earning a 6.50 to start challenging Skinner, who had to claw his way back to the top. It wasn’t until the final few minutes when the 22-year-old Piter eyed out another section for an air reverse, but this time a bit more technical and cleaner.
The tension was palpable on the beach as everyone waited for the scores to come in, and the judges rewarded Piter with a 6.67 to take the win, and deny Skinner his third Boardmasters title. Francisco Ordonhas (POR) finished third, while Sean Gunning (ESP) had to settle for fourth.
Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (above) Adds Name To Winners Circle at Boardmasters
Coming into the event as one of the favourites after her runner-up finis h here in 2025, Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) finally added her name to the esteemed list of winners at Boardmasters. Last year Etxabarri was defeated by her sister, Annette, and now she can add another Boardmasters trophy to their cabinet. The 21-year-old jumped to the top of the QS rankings with this win, strengthening her chances to keep fighting on the Challenger Series for another season.
"I'm really happy with this win, because I just came from the US Open of Surfing with a first round loss, so I'm super happy to start the QS season like this," said Etxabarri. "I'm happy to be back in Newquay. I just try to live day by day and remind myself a loss means nothing, there are other things to focus on like trying to have fun, enjoy the process, enjoing working with a team, enjoy the moment. I'm really grateful to take the win this year."
Etxabarri had a good battle with Clemence Schorsch (FRA, above) in the Final, and it became a game of strategy and priority to be on the right waves. Schorsch hammered an oncoming section with power and letting her fins go free, she scored the best wave of the heat. Etxabarri fought back with a combination of snappy turns and power carves in the small conditions, taking the win in the end with a total of 12.10 (out of a possible 20). An unfortunate priority interference in the final seconds saw Schorsch demoted to fourth place, with Nahia Milhau (FRA) finishing runner-up and Sol Borelli (ESP) in third.
The season is heating up with two International QS 6,000 competitions coming up at the end of the month. The ABANCA Pantin Classic Galicia Pro and the Norte Surf Fest will run back-to-back from August 25-30, and September 1-6, while the Pro Razo QS 2,000 in October 15-18 will be the last event for this year.
Boardmasters Longboard Pro Presented By YETI Sets Up For Semifinals
The Boardmasters Longboard Pro Presented by YETI got underway Thursday afternoon after wrapping up the YETI Pro finals. Double banks were used to complete the opening rounds, before switching back to single peak for the Quarterfinals and determining the Semifinalists.
Thilde Rasmussen (DEN) surfed a smart heat to take the win over defending event winner Ginger Caimi (ITA) in the first women’s Quarterfinals. Rasmussen found some long noserides to put together a 12.27 total, earning a spot in the Semifinals and the stoke on her face said it all.
“I’m incredibly happy,” said Rasmussen. “It feels good to be back on track, I had some shocker results in the last few competitions. I had to have some deep conversations with the people I love, my coach, my boyfriend, just to get some perspective again and that really helped. If I can get to the Final, I’ll jump to the moon!”
Five-time Boardmasters winner Alice Lemoigne (FRA) found some of the biggest waves out the back, connecting the sections for long rides and comfortably taking the win to book her spot in the Semifinals. Lemoigne has dominated Fistral Beach in the past, and has surfed here in all kinds of conditions.
Britain’s Emily Currie and Lola Bleakley also advanced to the Semifinals alongside Canelle Lebreton (FRA), Maya Glasenapp (FRA) and Mia Ramakers (BEL).
Multiple Boardmasters winner Edouard Delpero (FRA) continued to forge ahead at Fistral Beach, securing his spot in the Semifinals with a win over Max Jamet (FRA). Delpero is currently leading the rankings with his win at the GADIS Longboard Pro Ferrol in June.
Cornwall’s own Adam Griffiths was stoked to make it to the Quarterfinals. He found the best ride of the heat in the final minute to secure the win over António Dantas (POR) and advance to the Semifinals.
“I haven’t surfed for a while because we haven’t had waves, so it felt good to get back out there,” said Griffiths. “I got my daughter and all her little fans on the beach, the cheer squad. It’s so nice to win a heat at our local beach, so hopefully I can keep it going.”
Unfortunately Newquay local Ben Skinner (GBR) was eliminated in the Quarterfinals at the hands of Nicolás Andrade (ESP) and Louis Marchiset (FRA).
The YETI Pro QS 4,000 and Boardmasters Longboard Pro 1,000 presented by YETI will take place from August 5-9, 2026 at Fistral Beach, Newquay.
Boardmasters Open 2026 is proudly supported by YETI, with media partners Carve and SurfGirl.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
