• Former WSL Longboard Champions Set the Pace In Huntington Beach
• Broken Boards and Sportsmanship on Display at Vans Duct Tape Invitational
• Quarterfinal Draws Locked In with Bettylou Sakura Johnson and Caitlin Simmers Claiming Their Spots
• More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com 

The Vans US Open of Surfing, Stop No. 4 of the World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series (CS), gave way to style and poise as the Vans Duct Tape Invitational took center stage with four-to-six foot swell continuing to pulse at Huntington Beach. The day opened with an all-star women’s Round of 16, Heats 5-8 deciding who has a spot in the Quarterfinalists. The day then transitioned to showcase the world's best longboarders as the men and women’s Rounds 1 and 2 took on the large walls of water and pounding shore-break of Huntington Beach.

Former WSL Longboard Champions Set the Pace In Huntington Beach

A statement-making debut unfolded from 10-time Vans Duct Tape Invitational winner and 2019 WSL Longboard Champion Justin Quintal (USA, above). The Jacksonville Beach, Florida competitor dominated proceedings against former WSL Longboard Champion Steven Sawyer (ZAF) and Japan’s Taka Inoue with an incredible hang ten before fitting in a stylish cutback to accrue an excellent 8.67 (out of a possible 10).

“I was really stoked when I saw that wave come through and it just had that perfect noseride section,” said Quintal. “Then I shot the pier so that was fun. I go into every heat the same. For me, I’m more concerned with actually catching a few good waves and when there are this many people watching you, you want to do something cool.”

Harrison Roach (AUS) has unfinished business this year after narrowly missing out on a World Title in 2021 and continued his winning form from Manly Beach, Australia to Huntington Beach in dynamic fashion. The current World No. 1 styled his way to a stunning 15.66 (out of a possible 20) heat total with technical noserides and rail-to-rail surfing.

“Luckily I didn’t break my board like some of my mates did (laughs),” said Roach. “I wouldn’t be considered a favourite out here and (Justin) Quintal is the man to beat out here, he’s won here so many times so it’s kind of fun being the underdog.”

Current World No. 2 Ben Skinner (GBR) handled his opening heat brilliantly with the wildcard threat of Tosh Tudor (USA) pushing him and fellow WSL Longboard Tour veteran Jefson Silva (BRA). But, Kaniela Stewart (HAW) turned in the first excellent score, an 8.17, of the Vans Duct Tape Invitational after showcasing his signature style and poise.

Also notching all-important Round 2 wins, Kai Sallas (HAW), and three-time WSL Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen (USA) skip the dreaded Elimination Round.

2015 WSL Longboard Champion Rachael Tilly (USA, below), who also won the North America Longboard Championships that same year, returned to Huntington Beach in phenomenal form. Tilly earned the best performer of women’s Round 2 with a 14.83 heat total, including an excellent 8.03, and is still hungry for another World Title at the young age of 22.

“It was all about wave selection out there. It was really tough all day and changing between every heat,” said Tilly. “I kind of got lucky with the first wave with the other girls being farther down the beach. Fortunately that one popped up, then I got another one back-to-back and sat in a comfortable place the rest of the heat.”

Reigning three-time WSL Longboard Champion Honolua Blomfield (HAW), maintained her winning streak, taking first place in Heat 3 by displaying her trademark smooth style. Blomfield returns to the Vans Duct Tape Invitational stage already a previous victor in 2018 and looks to add more Huntington Beach success to her resume. 

“I kind of love this wave because it’s peaky and all over the place,” said Blomfield. “You never really know where to sit but something can just jump up. I haven’t surfed Huntington Beach in a while so I was just figuring it out again.”

2019 WSL Longboard Champion Soleil Errico (USA) narrowly took the win against fellow Californian Kaitlin Mikkelsen as the duo put Australian talent Tully White into the elimination Round 3. 

Also skipping the elimination round and making it straight through to Round 4, 2021 Jeep Malibu Classic winner Alice Lemoigne (FRA), Chloe Calmon (BRA), and Natsumi Taoka (JPN) all earned valuable heat wins.

Broken Boards and Sportsmanship on Display at Vans Duct Tape Invitational
The large swell and strong shorepound of Huntington Beach claimed two broken boards in the men’s and women’s opening heats of the Vans Duct Tape Invitational. Juels Lepecheux (FRA) broke his board after falling on his first wave of the morning. In a true show of sportsmanship, fellow competitor Roach ran down to the beach and handed him his own personal board. Roach’s board was then used again by Victoria Vergara (FRA) who also suffered a broken board when it slammed into the pier. 

Quarterfinal Draws Locked In with Bettylou Sakura Johnson (above) and Caitlin Simmers Claiming Their Spots 

Reigning Vans US Open of Surfing victor Caitlin Simmers (USA) put on a showcase of backhand attacks to overpower event darkhorse Nadia Erostarbe (EUK). Simmers’ amazing year thus far has her atop the Challenger Series rankings and looks for a historic, back-to-back victory.

 “The last day (of competition) when it was huge we were just trying to survive,” said Simmers. “It’s like we’re actually surfing now. The current is still pretty hard but it’s better.”

An impeccable showing from 2022 Championship Tour (CT) rookie Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) earned her a big win over San Clemente, California, and 2021 event Quarterfinalist, Sawyer Linblad (USA). The 17-year-old unleashed her forehand attack on a two-turn combination for an excellent 8.00 to close out the heat on Lindblad and make her way back into the Quarterfinals for a second-consecutive year. 

“I go into each event with more confidence after making more heats,” said Sakura Johnson. “I really think it’s all about experience, surfing more heats and advancing to the next round to get the ball rolling.”

Also taking wins into the Quarterfinals, former CT elite Bronte Macaulay (AUS) and Challenger Series threat Sophie McCulloch (AUS) are now looking for a big finish of their own.

CLICK HERE FOR DAY 6 RESULTS
The next call will be made tomorrow, August 5 at 7:05 a.m. PDT for a possible 7:35 a.m. PDT start for competition.

Watch LIVE
The Vans US Open of Surfing is now open and will run through August 7 at Huntington Beach, California. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, WSL’s YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners.

The Vans US Open of Surfing is proudly sponsored by Vans, Visit Huntington Beach, Red Bull, Flying Embers, Hydro Flask, Shiseido, 805, Pacifico, Sambazon, StillHouse, Youtheory, BF Goodrich, Fu Wax, Boxed Water, and Just Egg.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Marzo seizes opportunity after Benji Brand injury to find groove and dominate final.

Hawaiian prodigy Erin Brooks puts on historic performance as first woman to compete in the event, placing fourth and winning women’s super heat.

Indonesian surfers delight local crowd: Two-time champion Mega Semadhi finishes runner-up, Mega Artana earns third.

Hawaii’s Clay Marzo put on a show of world-class tube riding to emerge victorious at the 2022 Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang, the premier barrel on Bali’s Bukit peninsula.

Marzo, who initially did not qualify for the semi-finals, ran into a bit of luck when the defending champion Benji Brand had to withdraw due to injury. Marzo was next in line to advance and was given another opportunity. After narrowly missing the title with a runner-up finish at the 2019 edition, Marzo fully seized his second chance, blazing a trail of redemption through the semi-finals and final.

“It was epic out there,” said Marzo. “I am stoked to get those barrels, some of the best waves ever.”

Marzo added, “The lightbulb went on when I found out I was still in the event. The pressure was off [after I thought I was out] and I found my groove. Benji told me to go get it!”.

Fresh off a gold medal performance at the ISA World Juniors and a dreamy trip to the Mentawai islands, the 15-year-old phenom Erin Brooks of Hawaii continued to take the surf world by storm and made history on multiple fronts.

In an open field that included all men aside from herself, Brooks was the youngest woman to compete in the event. She advanced through to the final where she earned fourth place, solidifying a spot as one of the premier tube riders on the planet.

Additionally, she took the title for the inaugural women’s super heat where four top female competitors took to Padang Padang to put the growth of women’s surfing on display.

“All the guys and girls were doing so great,” said Brooks. “It was cool to compete against both. The waves were firing today and I am so happy with how I performed. The local girls have been so nice to me and they’ve been charging out here too.”

Brooks continued, “I am going to keep doing my best and keep pushing women’s surfing.”

The Indonesian duo of Mega Semadhi and Mega Artana made the home country proud, earning second and third place in the final, respectively. Both showed their knowledge and expertise of the wave, giving the heat leader Marzo a run for his money.

Artana beamed with joy as he spoke about his performance.

“It’s amazing to surf on this platform,” said Artana. “This event is big-time, especially for Indonesians. Padang is like the Indonesian version of Pipe. If you want to be big with media and sponsors, you have to do it at Padang.”

“I want to say from the bottom of my heart a massive thanks to the local community, to all the local surfers that let us do this each year and share the beach,” said President Director of Rip Curl Indonesia James Hendy.

“I think for the local community, as well as traveling surfers, just to have this event run again is so special,” Hendy continued. “It’s such a great chance for the world and local surf community to see the best tube riders in the world surf against their local hometown heroes. It’s truly something unique and that’s why we do the event.”

Hendy concluded, “Having a women’s heat at a wave of consequence like this, a serious wave, is huge for the sport. There are so many women pushing the boundaries of comfort now – charging in heavy waves. It’s empowering for girls to see that they can do it in these types of conditions.”

The 16th edition of the Rip Curl Cup kicked off under clear skies and epic conditions on Thursday morning on the Bukit peninsula of Bali. It was a momentous occasion for the local Indonesian surfing community as the first time the event has run since 2019 due to the global pandemic.

The competition featured a new round-robin format where each of the 16 competitors surfed two heats, earning points based on their heat placings that determined the top 8 surfers to advance to the single elimination semi-finals rounds.

Despite not advancing through the first two rounds, USA’s Luke Swanson put on a show in an action-packed heat, notching the highest single wave score of the round-robin stage with a 9.7. Swanson lined up a technical double tube that caused the crowd on the beach to erupt in applause.

“I didn’t want to snake Nic Von Rupp the first time I’ve ever surfed against him, so I let him take the first wave of the set,” said Swanson. “I heard them screaming [for Nic] while I was on my wave behind him, and sure enough, he got a 9.33 and I got a 9.7.”

The women’s super heat followed, a new addition to the event that gave some of the best young and upcoming female surfers a chance to display their talent on a global stage at a world-class wave.

The super heat featured two local surfers and two international. Battling through challenging high tide conditions, Brooks took the win respectively followed by Indonesia’s Kailani Johnson, Australia’s Ziggy Mackenzie, and Indonesia’s Taina Izquierdo.

Marzo and Brooks sailed through the first semi-final. Brooks wasn’t content with her top 8 finish, continuing her historic run with the best wave of the heat. Brooks notched an excellent 8-point grinding tube ride to book her ticket to the final.

Brooks and Marzo both capitalized on a mistake from Portugal’s Nic von Rupp. Needing only a 2.56 to advance and in possession of priority, von Rupp let a wave with scoring potential slide by in the dying minutes, which Marzo turned into a 5.17 to improve his heat total.

The second semi-final turned into a flurry of barrels, with Samadhi and Artana earning excellent wave scores to better USA’s Ian Crane who had an excellent ride of his own.

The final was an Indonesia and Hawaiian affair, matching up the Hawaiians, Marzo and Brooks, against the locals, Semadhi and Artana.

Marzo showed cool nerves and his patience paid off in the final. When he saw a wave he liked, he positioned himself in an impossibly long tube ride to earn the first and only perfect 10-point ride of the event. Not content with a perfect ride, Marzo then continued to make it look easy with two more excellent rides of 8.87 and 8.33 en route to his maiden title at the event.

As Marzo put the field in a combo position, the other three competitors packed impressive tubes of their own to attempt to break the combo. Semadhi earned a pair of 7’s, while Artana nabbed a 9-point ride. Brooks continued to surf well beyond her years and pack tubes to cap off her historic performance. Still, none were able to match Marzo’s brilliance.

The 2022 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang webcast is available for replay at ripcurl.com and at worldsurfleague.com. Fans can also visit the Rip Curl website to check news, photos, and video updates from Bali.

RIP CURL CUP PADANG PADANG 2022 EVENT SCHEDULE:

Official Rip Curl Cup Party
Friday, August 26th 2PM – Midnight.
Live performance by special guest at Ulu Cliff House

The Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2022 is sponsored by: SAMUDERA INDONESIA SPORTS, ISLAND BREWING and ULU CLIFFHOUSE.
Official Resort Partner: Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort.
Official Internet Provider: Biznet
The Rip Curl Cup is Padang Padang 2022 is supported by: Yamaha & Persatuan Selancar Ombak Indonesia (PSOI).

Media partners: BaliBelly.com and The Asian Surf Cooperative (ASC).

2022 Rip Curl Cup Final Results:
1. Clay Marzo (HAW) 18.73
2. Mega Semadhi (IDN) 15.23
3. Mega Artana (IDN) 12.53
4. Erin Brooks (HAW) 11.57

Full results here.