Surfboard Guide 2021
The ISA World Games kicks off
Surfing’s final Olympic qualifier – kicked off the competition in spectacular fashion on Sunday at the waves of La Bocana and El Sunzal.
With the men ripping the peaks of La Bocana and the women riding the right point break of El Sunzal, a world-class level of surfing was put on display as the surfers chase their chances at the 12 open slots of Tokyo 2020 (5 for men, 7 for women).
Britains Luke Dillon won his first round heat. Harry Cromwell had bit of a shocker but will be back for the repecharge.. Irelands G Man got second to Gabe Medina. Stan Norman got second to former WCT surfer Aritz Aranbrau, Irelands Rory Tuhohy got second to a blazing Italo with Oisin Campbell going into the repecharge in third in the same heat.
In the womens Lucy Campbell and Ellie Turner both placed second and are through to the next round, Emily Curry went into the repecharge. Irelands Grace Doyle, Ayesha Garvey placed third in their heats and are in the repecharge
The defending individual Champions, Brazil’s Italo Ferreira and Peru’s Sofia Mulanovich, both started their campaigns off strong. Ferreira surfed with fluidity and style on his way to the highest heat total of the day among all surfers with 16.43 points.
Mulanovich, on the other hand, advanced through her Main Event Round 1 heat in first with 13.16 points.
The top performer on the women’s side of the event was up-and-coming star and 2017 ISA World Junior Champion Alyssa Spencer (USA), who obtained a 16-point heat total.
Future Olympians perform, hopefuls set sight on qualification
The surfers who have already earned provisional qualification for Tokyo 2020 didn’t take their feet off the gas, showing why they have earned a slot onto the greatest stage in sport.
Athletes with slots to Tokyo 2020 such as Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons, Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb and Gabriel Medina, Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy, Peru’s Daniella Rosas and Lucca Mesinas, Morocco’s Ramzi Boukhiam, and Portugal’s Frederico Morais, to name a few, all passed first place in their heats.
The Olympic hopefuls, yet to earn their slots, also showed their hunger, inspiration, and desire to earn their tickets to Tokyo 2020.
Costa Rica’s Noe Mar McGonagle asserted himself as a top Olympic hopeful, earning a 16.4 heat total, the second highest of Sunday. Japan’s Mahina Maeda also has her sights set on a slot, earning a solid 12.93 heat total.
Another strong contender with a belief that he can qualify for Tokyo is Indonesia’s Rio Waida. After coming up just short of qualification at the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games in Miyazaki, Japan, Waida has realized that he belongs among the best in the world.
“In Miyazaki I learned I can do this,” said Waida. “I can qualify. The top surfers were in the 2019 event and I made it to ninth place. Once I knew that I belong, I just focused on training to prepare for this moment.
“My goal is nothing less than to qualify for the Olympics. It would also be great to make the final and beat the best in the world. That’s my dream.”
From scholarship to success
One of the feel-good stories of the opening day of competition was an inspirational performance from Ecuador’s 16-year-old Genesis Borja.
Borja, who was named an ISA Scholarship ambassador last year, was awarded financial aid to assist her education and surfing. Unable to attend classes online during the pandemic, Borja purchased a computer with her award so she could continue her remote education. She also was able to upgrade her surfing equipment, which is already paying dividends, as she placed first in her Round 1 heat this morning to advance into the second round of the Main Event.
Ukraine’s global surfing debut
Three Ukrainian surfers made history by becoming the first of their country to ever compete in an ISA World Championship. Anastasiia Temirbek, Iaroslav Dombrovskyi, and Vasyl Kordysh all competed in Round 1 and represented their country with pride.
Ukraine, which recently joined the ISA as the 109th and newest Member Nation, has ambitious goals to grow the sport in the country.
“It’s a big honor for us to be here representing our country for the first time in this absolutely amazing event,” said Kordysh. “We’re beyond stoked.
“It’s amazing to feel all this Olympic spirit, especially for the surfing community in Ukraine. Our participation here will immediately effect the development of Surfing in our country. It will encourage more young generations to pick up and experience the sport. This is why we are here, to show them how we can move forward and progress.”
ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:
“What an incredible start to the event. We saw the women and men both shredding across these two amazing peaks today. Today the men took center stage on the webcast, which is at La Bocana, but tomorrow the ladies will get their shot to show their surfing to the world. This is a record amount of women competing in the event and I can’t wait for the global audience to see the talent they possess.
“You can feel the inspiration and desire in the air. With 12 slots for Tokyo 2020 up for grabs, these athletes are giving it their all — from their preparation all the way to each maneuver they perform.
“It is an honor to receive these 51 nations from all corners of the globe. We are the united nations of surfing, bring together the world in peace, through surfing.”
The 2021 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games runs from May 29 – June 6. Follow the event with live broadcasts, news, videos, photos, schedules, results, and more on www.isasurf.org.
Night Crawler: Chelsea Woody
Vans, the original action sports footwear and apparel brand, is proud to announce our newest ambassador, Chelsea Woody. As co-founder of Textured Waves, Woody has elevated a movement to grow the culture around surfing for women of color and underrepresented demographics through representation, community and camaraderie. Together, Vans and Woody are dedicated to shifting the global perspective and narrative around BIPOC women in surfing, by uplifting their voices and experiences through different avenues, including Woody’s new short film, Night Crawler.
Since 2019, Woody’s work with Textured Waves, alongside fellow co-founders Danielle Black Lyons and Martina Duran, has gained momentum and included some notable partnerships with those in the surfing community to help highlight the lack of diversity in the lineup, as well as what’s showcased across surf art and media. Working as a nurse in Santa Cruz, California, Woody was compelled to shine a light on her own experiences surfing during a pandemic. ThroughNight Crawler, she hopes to illustrate a different side of surfing that happens at dusk, which is notably less crowded and competitive, as well as historically significant in reshaping the perceptions of women and women of color in surfing and beyond.
“I always like to think of how African American women are portrayed; past, present and future. This film is something we haven’t seen before,” Woody said. “I’m reminded of the sundown laws that forbade black folks from being outside past sunset— and even Breonna Taylor getting shot in her room as she slept—and how that relates to black folks, women and women of color feeling safe at night. It’s about women taking back the night and the outdoors when we’ve been told we should stay inside.”
The film, which has been in the works for the past two years, was equally inspired by the beauty of the beach at sunset. The imagery in the film is superimposed with Woody’s written words and was meant to subtly convey the underlying symbolism, while simultaneously providing room for the audience to foster their own ideas on the topic.
“I want this film to empower women and girls: If you haven’t seen yourself in a space, it doesn’t mean you can’t do it. I hope it sparks imagination, a sense of curiosity, and a realization that nightfall and being in the dark in outdoor spaces is where we can find our best ideas and thoughts. I hope it inspires women, especially Black and African American women, to break out of the boxes we’ve been placed in. The universe is yours.”
Chelsea Woody is originally from Seattle but relocated to Santa Cruz six years ago with her husband so they could surf daily. Feeling underrepresented as one of the only Black women in the local lineup, she and Textured Waves’ co-founders sought out a likeminded group of Black female surfers across the country and their community was born, quickly gaining momentum on Instagram for its spotlight on women of color who surf. Since then, Textured Waves has used their platform to elevate women’s voices, while inspiring and creating space for others to take the baton and create their own history.
About the new partnership with Vans, Woody says she is excited and inspired to be working with a brand that reaches a diverse audience in an authentic way. “You can’t change cultures alone; you need communities and allies behind you. It takes generations to shift thinking. It’s not lost on me that I am the first African American and Thai female surf ambassador for Vans, but that alone doesn’t shift it. There are so many female surfers around the globe who are working to elevate their stories and their communities, and I hope we can continue to highlight that.”
Killer Kirra
25 May, Kirra, a sick day surfing on the Gold Coast Australia as the groundswell hits the Superbank. Filmed for 30 minutes just before dark, how freaking sweet is that wave, mind surf your way into the weekend.
Weird Waves Lake Tahoe
Surfing in Lake Tahoe? Is that a thing? Dylan Graves and the WW crew explore if it is or isn’t. You always see the random iPhone clip of Lake Tahoe but what’s it really like? What does it take to actually SCORE Lake Tahoe and what does that even look like? Now we know.
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