Guillaume Colin, Team France Photo: Sean Evans

The 2024 ISA World Para Surfing Championship (WPSC) moved closer to the medal rounds today in clean conditions on the south side of the famed Huntington Beach Pier. Two-to-three foot lines of swell provided highly contestable waves to decide the finalists of five divisions, along with semifinalists in men’s and women’s Prone 1.

The two top nations of the past two editions of the event, France and the USA, are once again placing themselves at the top of the rankings. So far France, the defending champion, has secured seven medals while three-time champion USA have locked in six.

Two former Silver Medalists representing France, Guillaume Colin (FRA) and Eric Dargent (FRA), topped the leaderboards in Sit and Stand 2, respectively. Dargent earned his first Silver Medal in 2016, and has amassed a further three since then, including in 2023. Though he is hopeful to finally take the gold this year, the 47-year-old is just enjoying his time competing in the event.

“I have four silver medals, and now I try to have the gold.” Dargent said. “But I’m just happy to be here. To surf, good sun, good waves with happy people, it’s perfect. I like it.”

Sarah Bettencourt, Team EE.UU Photo: Sean Evans

Team USA co-captain Sarah Bettencourt (USA) topped the women’s numbers for the second time this week. Though she didn’t improve on either of her Round 1 scores, the three-time World Champion was riding high on the energy of the event.

“I’m feeling really good,” Bettencourt said. “It’s absolutely awesome conditions. Every day here in Huntington Beach is just awesome. It’s such a great energy and I absolutely love being here. Super pumped. The camaraderie this year is unreal in Team USA. We’re all here sharing the stoke, sharing the love. We’re just here to support each other and continue to not only advance our individual skills but advance us as a team. Bringing everyone in, showing that we all have that love of the sport, and love of the ocean. Let’s continue progressing the sport to the next level, push each other.”

Suzanne Edwards, Team ENG Photo: Sean Evens

Others in women’s Prone 1 did improve however, including Jonne Moleman (NED), the sole representative from the Netherlands, who is competing in her very first WPSC. Moleman increased both of her scores to advance into the Semifinals, along with Bettencourt, Paloma Onate (ESP), Tracy McKay (RSA), and English teammates Laurie Foti (ENG) and Suzanne Edwards (ENG).

Casey Proud, Team Hawaii Photo: Jersson Barboza

Casey Proud (HAW) takes the lead in hotly-contested Prone 1 division

Casey Proud (HAW) locked straight into rhythm with the pier-bowl left to notch the highest heat total of the day, and of his division for the event. The 2022 World Champion was sitting behind Australian teammates Joel Taylor (AUS) and Kai Colless (AUS) after Round 1, but leap-frogged both on the strength of his 16.94 heat total, made up of an 8.77 and 8.17. Proud was stoked to be able to deliver multiple critical maneuvers on speedy lefts headed into the pier.

“Any time you get a few waves to let you do a combination of major maneuvers with speed, power and flow on the critical part of the wave, of course, that feels good,” Proud said. “Fortunately, I found a couple of waves that gave me some long rides and I could find that flow. There’s so many good guys in this division, your Joel’s, your Kai’s. I’m not going to say no to some high scores. That seed going to the semis, you know, it’s nice to have a high seed.”

The defending World Champion, Taylor, opened with a 7.00 to improve one of his scores from Round 1 and secure the second advancing position. Colless struggled in setting his line through turns and was unable to improve, but stayed in third on the strength of his earlier performance. The two teammates will now face off in the Semifinals against two USA teammates, Jacob Pacheco (USA) and Parker Olenick (USA).

In the first Semifinal, Proud will face two Salvadoran teammates, Jonathan Arias (ESA) and David Chavez (ESA), along with Cleuson de Araujo Soares (BRA). Arias delivered an impassioned performance today, heavily improving on his earlier scores.

Para Surfing’s oldest World Champion, Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart (AUS), storms into Final with excellence

Last claiming victory in 2021, three-time World Champion Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart (AUS) stormed into his eighth WPSC Final with an excellent 16.16 heat total. Battling a sickness in 2023, Stewart missed out on the Final for the first time in the history of the event. But in 2024, battling against an even stronger field, the 62-year-old – who holds the record as the oldest WPSC World Champion – is ready to fight for World Title number four.

“That was fun out there today, unreal, really contestable,” Stewart said. “I had such a bad year last year. It was the worst result I’ve ever had at one of these events. So I really want to make up for it this year. And yeah, I’m feeling great, mate. I’m really looking forward to finals day. Thanks to all the Irukandjis too. They’re performing unreal and it’s so supportive this year. It’s one of the strongest teams we’ve ever had. So I’m looking forward to getting in first of the day and supporting them.”

Joining Stewart in the Final will be back-to-back defending World Champion Llywelyn ‘Sponge’ Williams (WAL), two-time medalist Altair Olivares (CHI) and two-time Stand 3 medalist Dariel Melendez (CRC).

The 2024 WPSC will continue tomorrow with men’s Prone 1 Semifinals at 7:00am, PST, at Southside Huntington Beach Pier.

Aleli Medina, Team Puerto Rico  Photo: Jersson Barboza

The 2024 ISA World Para Surfing Championship (WPSC) continued in classic Southern California conditions for day three of competition. Strong ‘Santa Ana’ offshore winds groomed the faces of the two-to-three foot waves, providing opportunity for a steady stream of excellent scores.

Frontrunners held strong across the nine separate divisions to compete today, many of them strengthening their positions. Finals were set in men’s and women’s Stand 1, led by Maxime Clarkin (FRA) and Catalina Castro (CHI), respectively, as well as in women’s Visual Impairment (VI) 2, where Aleli Medina (PUR) once again excelled. Multiple other divisions determined Quarterfinals and Semifinals.

The ever-competitive men’s Kneel division continued to live up to its reputation, with big heat totals from Llywelyn ‘Sponge’ Williams (WAL) and Ibon Oregui (ESP). But it was three-time World Champion Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart (AUS) who found the highest single wave score of the day for the men. Driving hard off the bottom, Stewart carved vertically into the lip before smashing the end section to post a 9.17.

“I had a great time out there, it’s pumping, lovely Santa Ana winds,” Stewart said. “My plan was to go and find a tube with these winds, but I thought I’d get a few maneuvers off my first wave and I ducked off some really nice ones that I was just out of position a bit, and a little bit hard to see with the sun this time of the afternoon. But I still feel good, mate.”

Jose Martinez, Team EE.UU Photo: Sean Evans

After trailing the scores of two fellow World Champions in the first two rounds, Jose Martinez (USA) let loose in the Quarterfinals, topping his division with a 14.27 heat total. Patience paid off for the 2021 Gold Medalist, who scored a near-perfect 9.10 after sitting in second for much of the heat. The triple amputee army veteran was in prime position for one of the biggest waves of the day. Slotting straight into the pocket of a hollow section, Martinez screamed down the line, arriving on the beach with an ear-to-ear smile.

“It’s a miracle the Santa Ana winds turned on for us,” Martinez said. “I feel like they knew that we were going to try to get barreled, show the world what we can really do. And show them that we can surf just as good as everybody else. I’ve been timing these sets the whole time and knowing exactly that I wanted the second one, knowing that I can push my competitor into the first one. It’s all a game plan. We’re playing chess and I learned from the best, my competitor Jesse Billauer, my teammate. I’ve been learning this for the last seven years, how to lose, and gracefully, I’ve learned how to win too.”

Martinez will next face two World Champions in a Semifinal superheat, featuring his teammate Jesse Billauer (USA) and Davi Teixeira (BRA).

Jocelyn Neumueller, Team Australia Photo: Jersson Barboza

Jocelyn Neumueller delivers near-perfect heat, strengthens lead over Sarah Almagro in race for second World Title

A blistering performance from Jocelyn Neumueller (AUS) saw the 2021 Prone 2 World Champion add her name to an elite list. The South Australian drove through a huge cutback on a long right to earn a near-perfect 9.50, before upping the ante with a 9.67 from a left that saw her linking multiple turns together toward a massive end-section hit. Neumueller’s 19.17 heat total locks in as the second-highest women’s total in the history of the event.

“It feels pretty good to know that’s the second highest in history,” Neumueller said. “I think for us, we just try and focus on executing the best waves that we know we can and I think the scores are just, I guess, a product of that. So just knowing that if we can execute a good wave, the scores will come.”

Neumueller’s total easily carried her into the Semifinals on top of the leaderboard. However, in the following heat, defending World Champion Sarah Almagro (ESP) found a massive score of her own, posting a 9.33.

Kirk Watson, Team Australia Photo: Jersson Barboza

Defending Vision Impairment World Champions Aleli Medina (PUR) and Kirk Watson (AUS) find their form in Round 2

After tough starts to their campaigns, defending VI World Champions Aleli Medina (PUR) and Kirk Watson (AUS) bounced back in Round 2. More favorable conditions allowed for long, clean rides and much higher scores.

Medina found a long right, driving with speed into a big hook under the lip, combining it straight into a wrapping cutback. The 9.33 score solidified the leading position for the 15-year-old Puerto Rican’s advancement into the Women’s VI 2 Final, where she’ll seek to defend her back-to-back World Titles.

“Round 1 was difficult because of conditions, same as now, but in this round I could get at least some good waves,” Medina said. “I’m really happy and grateful for that. Going in the water, I was hearing my dad, he’s like reminding me of everything I had to do. And that really worked out. I feel super happy and grateful because a few years ago I would have never imagined myself being here. I feel really happy and like I’ve accomplished a lot in my life.”

A 15.17 heat total for Watson easily placed the Australian atop the pack headed into the men’s VI 1 Semifinals. After struggling to find the right waves at the start of the heat, Watson changed positioning to the pier bowl, and immediately picked up a 7.00, and then added an 8.17.

“It was really good fun out there,” Watson said. “First wave was a bit soft and then Chook moved me over to another bank and then we just seemed to link up and it was one after another. Australia, we’re battlers. I really wanted to do it for the team. I really wanted to do it for all the people that supported us back home.”

The 2024 WPSC will continue tomorrow with men’s Sit, Round 2 at 7:00am, PST, at Southside Huntington Beach Pier.