Stephanie Gilmore and Jack Robinson Win Corona Open Mexico Presented by Quiksilver

Stephanie Gilmore and Jack Robinson Win Corona Open Mexico Presented by Quiksilver

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and Jack Robinson (AUS) have won the Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver, the seventh stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2021 Championship Tour (CT), after four consecutive days of competition at Barra de la Cruz in Huatulco, Mexico. The Australians claimed victory in the four-to-seven-foot waves throughout today’s Semifinals and Finals, winning the last CT event of the regular 2021 season.

Gilmore Becomes First Female CT Winner at Barra de la Cruz

Gilmore earned her 32nd CT victory today, continuing to break her own record, after taking down a competitive field, including World No. 1 and reigning four-time WSL Champion, Carissa Moore (HAW), in today’s Semifinals and World No. 2 Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) in yesterday’s Quarterfinals.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Gilmore. “Malia (Manuel) was my pick for the whole event. She was on the right waves and surfing so beautifully. That Final was tough because every time she paddled past me she had the ‘AI Forever’ on her back and just felt like she had the mana. I knew it was going to be a tough Final, but that’s the best feeling ever.”

Gilmore’s win now moves her up into the fourth position heading into the Rip Curl WSL Finals, the one-day event in San Clemente to decide the 2021 World Champions. Gilmore will be the fourth seed, ahead of Johanne Defay (FRA).

“I haven’t won a contest in awhile,” continued Gilmore. “I was hoping to climb up the rankings maybe one spot for the finals at Trestles so I didn’t have to surf as many heats on finals day (laughs). This is sick. Ever since seeing this event in 2006 for the men and losing Snapper off the Tour, this is the next best thing. I think knowing when Tahiti was canceled and this was the last event, all the pressure was on trying to stay ahead of the world’s best women in the lineup. This place is incredible and it’s just like home and I really love it here, I’m so proud to win here.”

Today marked Manuel’s sixth time in the Finals, but she has still yet to find the CT win through her 10 years on the CT. Manuel needed to win the event in order to requalify for the CT next season and missed out by one spot to California’s Courtney Conlogue (USA). Manuel will take to the Challenger Series for a chance to get back among the Top 17.

“I’m so honored to be here and I’m so grateful for the WSL family – everyone had long days to make this run smoothly,” said Manuel. “We got incredible waves and I’m happy to be standing up here with some incredible surfers. Steph (Gilmore) brings out the best surfing in me and I had a lot of fun. I think I’ve [felt that mana] all week just with little things and I’ve been really emotional all week – I’ve cried after every heat – and I think that has something to do with it.”

Rookie Robinson Earns Career-First CT Win, First Season Win for Australian Men

CT rookie Jack Robinson (AUS), earned his first CT event win today, after defeating Deivid Silva (BRA) in the Final, Mateus Herdy (BRA) in the Semifinals, and Frederico Morais (PRT) in the Quarterfinals.

“We did it and I don’t even know where to start,” said Robinson. “It’s like a feeling I got when I qualified and I’m still in that state of processing it. Everything pushed me just trying to find all the right things to come together, so many things, and got a good team of support around me. The Doras, my wife Julia, my family, sponsors, I couldn’t do it without them.”

The Corona Open Mexico pres. Quiksilver is the last event of the regular season before the Rip Curl WSL Finals, and similar to how he qualified for the CT in 2019, Robinson was able to top off his rookie year with a win in the final event.

“I was trying to carry the energy even before this I came down here,” added Robinson. “When I’m in a certain zone I don’t say too much and I was in that zone this week and just being able to rise above the level of surfing that everyone was at, I felt like I could do that in every heat. This win and everything is for Toro of Toro Surf Trips, his son passed away and it’s really sad, and just want to send big love and prayers to him.”

Throughout the Final, Silva harnessed the fighting spirit left by Adriano de Souza (BRA) from his retirement celebration minutes before the Final started. Despite the loss in the Final, Silva earned his career-best result in Mexico with the runner-up finish. The Brazilian took out Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) in today’s Semifinals and World No. 1 Gabriel Medina (BRA) in yesterday’s Quarterfinals. Silva’s efforts this week have secured his spot on the elite CT for next season, moving him up from 27th place on the rankings to 14th place.

“I feel really happy to get second place in my first Final on Tour and congrats to Jack,” said Silva. “He just surfed amazing. The wins over Adriano (de Souza) and Gabriel (Medina) were crazy. I’m so happy for second and thank you, everyone, for your support here in Barra de la Cruz, thank you.”
World No. 1 Moore and World No. 3 Fitzgibbons Fall in Semifinals

A battle of WSL Champions unfolded between four-time, reigning WSL Champion, Moore and seven-time WSL Champion Gilmore in dramatic fashion. Gilmore’s signature style and technique took the win in this heat over Moore’s power surfing, leaving the Hawaiian to exit in Equal 3rd place. Despite the loss, Moore will still head to the Rip Curl WSL Finals with the top seed, needing to win a best-of-three on the day.

Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons fell to Manuel in Semifinal 1. Straight off the opening horn, both surfers went for their first exchange and did not back down from each other. The heat saw multiple exchanges and lead changes, with the heat eventually going to Manuel with her final score giving her the win.
WSL Final 5 Now Sets Sights on Lower Trestles for One-Day World Title Battle

The WSL Final 5 for the women and men is now locked, and these top-ranked surfers will now start preparing for the Rip Curl WSL Finals in San Clemente, Calif. The Rip Curl WSL Finals is the new one-day event that will determine the 2021 World Champions and will hold a competition window from September 9 – 17, 2021.

WSL Final 5 – Women’s
1 – Carissa Moore (HAW)
2 – Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)
3 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
4 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
4 – Johanne Defay (FRA)

WSL Final 5 – Men’s
1 – Gabriel Medina (BRA)
2 – Italo Ferreira (BRA)
3 – Filipe Toledo (BRA)
4 – Conner Coffin (USA)
5 – Morgan Cibilic (AUS)

First Boardmasters champs crowned!

First Boardmasters champs crowned!

Highlights from the Mystic Junior OPEN where this afternoon, winners Alys Barton and Stanley Norman took to the podium to be crown.

An absolute rammed Fistral beach provided an amazing atmosphere for the juniors to show what they have.

Alys Barton took him the Junior womens. Britis Open Champ Stan Norman was pushed to the end but took home the Juniors mens.

1 Alys Barton
2 Lauren Sandland
3 Asha Sykes
4 Tegan Blakcford

Junior mens
1 Stan Norman
2 Sam Hearn
3 Lukas Skinner
4 Beau Betteridge

All Photos Jason Feast

Slater, a Brazilian storm and the Quiksilver Icons of Surf – Day two in Mexico

Slater, a Brazilian storm and the Quiksilver Icons of Surf – Day two in Mexico

Brazilian Storm Dominates Men’s Elimination Round

Five of the six Brazilian surfers participating in the Elimination Round have performed well and advanced to the Round of 32. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) guaranteed his spot in the next round after earning an excellent 8.33 score (out of a possible 10).

“I perform better under pressure,” said Crisanto. “I tried to improve my surf with good maneuvers and I got lucky to catch a really good wave. My focus is good now and I’m 100% ready to give my all here in Mexico and in Tahiti, so I can re-qualify for the CT in 2022.”

In Heat 2, Deivid Silva (BRA) took the win while Yago Dora (BRA) finished in second place, which resulted in the elimination of local hero, wildcard Jhony Corzo (MEX). Adriano de Souza, Jadson Andre and Alex Ribeiro battled in an all-Brazilian Heat 3 with the hopes to remain in the competition. Ribeiro was the one eliminated after earning a combined score of 7.57 (out of a possible 20), the lowest score of the round.

The women’s Elimination Round was up next, and Australians Isabella Nichols, Macy Callaghan, and Keely Andrew all put up a solid performance at the four-to-six-foot waves in Barra De La Cruz, advancing to the next round.

“I found myself in the Elimination Round quite often this year,” said Nichols. “But coming into this event I felt really good, and on the bright side, I got to surf one more heat here at one of the most fun waves in the world. Silver linings.”

Gabriel Medina Takes Round of 32 to the Air

The men’s Round of 32 started with a show of innovative surfing on the Olympic rematch between Michel Bourez (FRA) and two-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA). In a down-to-the-wire heat, Medina took to the air to take the win.

“I was praying for one more wave,” said Medina. “I know the waves are there, but it’s just super slow so I was trying to wait until the end. Michel was surfing really strong, so I knew I had to go big. I’ve done that trick before but honestly I wasn’t trying to do it at all. I can’t even remember what I did on that last wave. I’ll have to thank God for that one.”

Reigning WSL Champion and No 2 in the rankings, Olympic gold medalist Italo Ferreira took the win against Wade Carmichael (AUS) in a very close heat, getting the score needed to advance in the last minutes of the action, and advancing to the Round of 16 where he will face 11-time WSL Champion, Kelly Slater (USA).

“It’s nice to compete against the best guys in the world and push myself,” said Ferreira. “In the next round I just want to catch good waves, go vertical, have speed and power, and show some progressive surfing with dynamic maneuvers. I can’t wait!”

In a nail biting heat, Olympian wildcard Rio Waida (IDN) surprised everyone by taking out world No. 3 Filipe Toledo (BRA) on the very least wave of Heat 9.

“I’m trying to surf my best,” said Waida. “I didn’t know I was going to have enough to beat Filipe. He is one of my favorite surfers, so I’m very happy I could win. I’ll try to surf more like him moving forward because I’ll have to go big on the next round.”

On the last heat of the day, world No. 5 Griffin Colapinto (USA) got eliminated by wildcard Mateus Herdy (BRA), and will now need a big result in Tahiti to clinch a spot on the WSL FInal 5.

Olympic Medalists Kanoa Igarashi and Owen Wright Eliminated On Round of 32

World No. 6, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), who advanced in the Elimination Round after finishing in second place behind Crisanto, faced Kolohe Andino (USA) for the second day in a row, this time in the third heat of the Round of 32. With a 0.64 score difference, Andino took the victory again and eliminated Igarashi from the event in Mexico.

“I was feeling nervous coming into the event,” said Andino. “I know there are four guys that I love battling for a spot in the Final 5, especially Griffin (Colapinto) who I consider my little brother. I hope I don’t get to surf against him, and I’m happy I was able to help him out by winning this heat against Kanoa. My last three heats surfing have been with Kanoa, one being at the Olympics, but I don’t want to think about rivalry or get in my head, I just want to surf as much as I can. I got a whole new perspective on life this year after my injury, the Olympics and with my wife being pregnant. So I’m just trying to keep myself loose, and surf the best I can.”

Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) also took the win against Olympic medalist Owen Wright (AUS), who won bronze in Tokyo. He will be facing rookie Morgan Cibilic (AUS) in Heat 3 of the Round of 16.

“I grew up with the Wright family,” said Fioravanti. “Owen is like a big brother to me, and I knew it was going to be very hard to beat him. I’m glad I got out of the water on the good side of it, taking the win. I’m having a really good time here in Mexico, it’s been a great week.”

World’s Best Surfers Join The Quiksilver Icons of Surf Super Session

After the competition wrapped for the day in Barra De La Cruz, some of the world’s best surfers joined Quiksilver for an expression session riding iconic surfboards that have helped shape the future of surfing in one way or another.

Ryan Callinan (AUS), Mikey Wright (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Caroline Marks (USA), Owen Wright (AUS), Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Mateus Herdy (BRA), and Leah Dawson (HAW) got to battle in a one 40-minute heat format where judges picked one male and one female winner based on overall performance.

The winners of the Quiksilver Icons of Surf Super Session were Mikey Wright and Caroline Marks. Wright rode a remake of the board used by Andy Irons when he won the last CT event in Mexico 15 years ago, while Marks rode a Gerry Lopez Single. Each winner received a $5,000 prize and the chance to pick one of the iconic boards to bring home.

Corona Open Mexico Men’s Elimination Round 2 Results:
HEAT 1: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 14.33 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13.66, Diego Cadena (MEX) 10.37
HEAT 2: Deivid Silva (BRA) 10.44 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 9.33, Jhony Corzo (MEX) 7.93
HEAT 3: Jadson Andre (BRA) 10.84 DEF. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.07, Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 7.57
HEAT 4: Seth Moniz (HAW) 15.37 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 11.87, Connor O’Leary (AUS) 8.67

Corona Open Mexico Women’s Elimination Round 2 Results:
HEAT 1: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 13.20 DEF. Macy Callaghan (AUS) 11.86, Regina Pioli (MEX) 8.07
HEAT 2: Sage Erickson (USA) 13.67 DEF. Keely Andrew (AUS) 11.50, Shelby Detmers (MEX) 9.50

Corona Open Mexico Men’s Round of 32 Results:
HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.50 DEF. Michel Bourez (FRA) 13.70
HEAT 2: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 18.07 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 9.33
HEAT 3: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.07 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13.43
HEAT 4: Deivid Silva (BRA) 13.73 DEF. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.63
HEAT 5: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 15.04 DEF. Lucca Mesinas (PER) 9.67
HEAT 6: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 13.37 DEF. Owen Wright (AUS) 9.87
HEAT 7: Conner Coffin (USA) 11.33 DEF. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 8.33
HEAT 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.73 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.17
HEAT 9: Rio Waida (IDN) 11.33 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 10.23
HEAT 10: Jack Robinson (AUS) 12.24 DEF. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.80
HEAT 11: Frederico Morais (PRT) 13.74 DEF. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 12.44
HEAT 12: Yago Dora (BRA) 12.80 DEF. Mikey Wright (AUS) 12.10
HEAT 13: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 14.00 DEF. Wade Carmichael (AUS) 13.30
HEAT 14: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.60 DEF. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.50
HEAT 15: Jadson Andre (BRA) 13.33 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 11.17
HEAT 16: Mateus Herdy (BRA) 14.50 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.80

Corona Open Mexico Men’s Round of 16 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Ethan Wing (AUS)
HEAT 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)
HEAT 3: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
HEAT 4: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
HEAT 5: Rio Waida (IDN) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS)
HEAT 6: Frederico Morais (PRT) vs. Yago Dora (BRA)
HEAT 7: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
HEAT 8: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Mateus Herdy (BRA)

Corona Open Mexico Women’s Round of 16 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Brisa Hennessy (CRI)
HEAT 2: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Malia Manuel (HAW)
HEAT 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS)
HEAT 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Keely Andrew (AUS)
HEAT 5: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)
HEAT 6: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS)
HEAT 7: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Sage Erickson (USA)
HEAT 8: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS)

EXPOSED: Dirty Dozen Fuelling The UK’s Packaging Pollution Crisis

EXPOSED: Dirty Dozen Fuelling The UK’s Packaging Pollution Crisis

A new report from ocean conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage reveals that almost two-thirds (65%) of all branded packaging pollution across the UK can be traced back to just 12 companies: Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch InBev, McDonalds, Mondelez International, Heineken, Tesco, Carlsberg Group, Suntory, Haribo, Mars and Aldi. 

The charity’s annual Citizen Science Brand Audit released today exposes the ‘Dirty Dozen’ behind the packaging pollution pandemic which is blighting UK landscapes and decimating the environment.

Coca-Cola has taken the top spot yet again, with branded items such as Coke cans and bottles being picked up three times more often than other brands during the audit. 

See the full report here.

Alongside the Dirty Dozen parent companies, the report also reveals the top ten most polluting food & drink brands in the UK, including household names such as Walkers, McDonalds and Cadbury.

To highlight the damage these companies are causing, the charity has installed an attention-grabbing art installation at Watergate Bay in Cornwall, depicting a supersized industrial pipe spewing plastic pollution onto the beach and calling on companies to ‘turn off the tap’ in reference to the packaging pollution flooding into the ocean.

Brendan Godley, Chair in Conservation Science and Exeter Marine strategy lead commented: “Plastic packaging is polluting the ocean, impacting marine species and destroying habitats. The findings of Surfers Against Sewage’s Beach Brand Audit highlight the types of pollution that are escaping into the marine environment and the brands that are responsible. I believe that this kind of work is critically important in order to urge companies to urgently reduce their packaging pollution before it is too late.”

It seems the COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted the type and volume of items recorded during this year’s Brand Audit. Stella Artois and Budweiser cans made their way into the top ten most polluting brands, leading to their parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev rocketing up the ‘Dirty Dozen’ leader board to third place, having come 8th in 2019. The charity attributes this surge to the closure of pubs, bars and restaurants during consecutive lockdowns. Similarly, plastic and glass bottles and cigarette butts accounted for just under half (48%) of unbranded pollution.

As well as calling on companies to reduce their packaging and switch to refill models, the charity is urging the government to introduce an ‘all-in’ Deposit Return Scheme for all drinks containers of all sizes and materials, not just limited to small containers classified as ‘on-the-go’. This scheme would see consumers pay an up-front deposit on an item which would then be redeemed on return of the container. The report estimates that more than half (52%) of the pollution from the Dirty Dozen companies would be captured through such a scheme, including 80% of top polluter Coca-Cola’s products.

Hugo Tagholm, Chief Executive, Surfers Against Sewage said: “Our annual Brand Audit has once again revealed the shocking volume of plastic and packaging pollution coming directly from big companies and some of their best-known brands. Serial offenders including Coca-Cola – which tops the leader board year on year as the worst offender – are still not taking responsibility. Legislation such as an ‘all-in’ deposit scheme needs to be introduced urgently and governments need to hold these companies to account and turn off the tap of plastic and packaging pollution flooding the ocean.”

This year, the data for the audit was collected as part of the charity’s ambitious Million Mile Clean initiative. In total 3,913 volunteers collected branded items over 11,139 miles, making it the UK’s biggest coordinated clean-up event. The charity recorded a total of 9,998 branded items which were linked to 328 companies.

In order to tackle the problem, Surfers Against Sewage is calling for:

  1. Legislation that ends the production and consumption of non-essential single-use polluting plastics.
  2. Legislation that ensures effective resource use and waste management.
  3. Business models within companies that are focused on reduction and reuse.
  4. A shift away from traditional recycling models and towards reduction and alternative use for single use plastics.

Hugo Tagholm added: “Despite the surge in single-use plastic as a result of the pandemic, PPE made up just 2.5% of unbranded plastic pollution recorded during our latest Brand Audit. We cannot allow polluting industries to use the current health crisis to deflect from their own damaging behaviours and put the blame on the individual – we must demand action now.”

To find out more about the Citizen Science Brand Audit and what you can do to influence companies and governments, visit the Surfers Against Sewage website here.