ISA CONFIRMS TOP WSL CT SURFERS WILL COMPETE IN THE 2019 WORLD SURFING GAMES

Could John John Florence be the first Olympic Surfing gold medallist? Photo by Kelly Cestari/WSL

Big news from the ISA with this announcement of the big CT names attending the ISAs they probably last did as juniors. Even though the crew announced are pretty much locked in Olympic qualification wise from the CT position it’s part of the deal they attend the ISAs. With the top 10 CT guys and 8 women on current standings the following will be straight in:

MEN (TOP 10 MEN FROM CT)
USA: John John, Kolohe
Brazil: Italo, Filipe
Japan: Kanoa (Japan gets a spot for being hosts but as Kanoa is on to qulaify via CT that spot opens up to another country).
South Africa: Jordy Smith
France: Jeremy Flores, Michel Bourez
Italy: Leo Fioravanti
New Zealand: Ricardo Christie

The last ten will be decided by ISA Games and Pan American Games placings. With the top finisher from each continent in the 2019 ISA games getting a spot and one from PA Games. The last 4 are from the 2020 ISA Games. Going on current WQS rankings as a form guide alone that could be:
Japan: Reo Inaba (Asia)
Portugal: Frederico Morais (Europe)
New Zealand: Billy Stairmand (Oceania)
South Africa: Matt McGillivray (Africa)
Peru: Alonso Correa (Pan American Games spot)

Which leaves four spots from 2020. Bearing in mind teams are 2 people max per country. So crawling further down the QS list:
Peru: Miguerl Tudela
Costa Rica: Carlos Munoz
Morocco: Ramzi Boukhiam
Spain: Aritz Aranburu

So the door is open for Luke Dillon or Gearoid McDaid from our part of the world if they can blow the doors off the ISA games in either year.

WOMEN (TOP 8 FROM CT)
USA: Caroline Marks, Carissa Moore
Brazil: Tati Weston-Webb, Silvana Lima
Australia: Steph Gilmore, Sally Fitzgibbons
Costa Rica: Brisa Hennessy
France: Joanne Defay

The other 12 spots play out in the same way. Japan gets a host spot so that’s one. Continental in 2019 then remaining 6 from 2020.
Japan: Sara Wakita (host spot)
France: Vahine Fierro (Europe)
Indonesia: Kalani Johnson: (Asia)
New Zealand: Paige Hareb (Oceania)
South Africa: Bianca Buitendag (Africa)
Costa Rica: Leilani McGonagle (PA Games)

Japan: Mahina Maeda
Basque Country (Spain): Nadia Erostarbe, Leticia Canales Bilbao
Germany: Rachel Presti
Barbados: Chelsea Tuach
Portugal: Teresa Bovalot

So the ISA games is what matters for the countries outside of the traditional surfing super powers…

–PRESS RELEASE–

The International Surfing Association (ISA) is thrilled to announce the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) surfers that have been nominated to represent their National Surfing Teams at the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games (WSG) in Miyazaki, Japan September 7-15.

The nomination of the top WSL surfers will make for one of the most exciting editions of the event to date and will promote the incorporation of the world’s best surfers on their national teams. The ISA World Surfing Games have been held since 1964.

WSL Champions Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), John John Florence (USA), Gabriel Medina (BRA), and Carissa Moore (AUS), along with ISA World Surfing Games Champions Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA), and Courtney Conlogue (USA), will be headlining the talent representing their nations and going for Gold in Miyazaki.

See full list of nominated athletes below.

This event will be held eleven months ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. As per the Olympic Nomination and Eligibility Requirements, up to the top three men and women per country on the WSL CT will automatically be nominated to compete in their National Surfing teams in the 2019 WSG. Surfers that are nominated must accept their nomination in order to retain eligibility for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, barring illness or injury.

According to the Olympic qualification system, the top ten eligible men and eight women, maximum two per country, at the end of the 2019 WSL CT season, will earn qualification slots for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This end-of-year ranking will also be used to determine who is nominated to be members of their national surfing teams at the 2020 WSG (dates and location still to be announced).

The 2019 ISA World Surfing Games is also an Olympic Surfing qualifier itself, awarding Tokyo 2020 slots on a continental basis to the top finishing eligible man and women from Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. The Americas’ qualification slots will be determined at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games in July.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

“This World Surfing Games is set to be the most competitive and certainly most high-profile in the history of this event that started in 1964. The event format is open to all National Surfing teams. It’s totally universal, in the full spirit of Olympism.

“We’re stoked that the world’s best surfers embrace and understand the importance of the Olympic Movement. Most CT surfers have already competed and won medals in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship so the national team format is not new to them. This ISA World Surfing Games will provide us all with a glimpse of the national pride, team camaraderie, and global stage that will be in full swing during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

“The participation of the top WSL professional surfers is also a testimony to the positive and collaborative working relationship we have developed with the World Surf League over the years. Surfers from the five continents will join the WSL contingent, for this historic competition, part of the first ever Olympic Surfing cycle.”

+++

Australia
Men: Ryan Callinan, Julian Wilson, Owen Wright
Women: Stephanie Gilmore, Sally Fitzgibbons, Nikki Van Dijk

Brazil
Men: Italo Ferreira, Filipe Toledo, Gabriel Medina
Women: Tatiana Weston-Webb, Silvana Lima

Costa Rica
Women: Brisa Hennessy

France
Men: Jeremy Flores, Michel Bourez, Joan Duru
Women: Johanne Defay

Italy
Men: Leonardo Fioravanti

Japan
Men: Kanoa Igarashi

New Zealand
Men: Ricardo Christie
Women: Paige Hareb

South Africa
Men: Jordy Smith

USA
Men: John John Florence, Kolohe Andino, Connor Coffin
Women: Caroline Marks, Carissa Moore, Courtney Conlogue

Stephanie Gilmore will be hoping to be on top of that Olympic podium as well. Photo by Matt Dunbar/WSL

Los Plástico | Trailer Release

Kohl Christensen, Ramón Navarro, Patricio Mekis and Léa Brassy go looking for the biggest waves in the world. But on the remote and isolated island of Alejandro Selkirk will they find bigger treasures than they expected. Here, these outsiders discover a small group of people that can make big changes on our planet.

SCREENING DATES

Including a presentation by Patagonia surf ambassador Léa Brassy who stars in the film.

Patagonia, Dublin - Ireland 5th June 18:30-19:00

Patagonia, Manchester - UK 6th June 19:00-19:30

Langbrett, Berlin - Germany 7th June 19:30-20:00

Patagonia, Innsbruck - Austria 8th June 18:30-19:00

Wood & Sea, Brest - France 20th June TBC

 

Le Surfing, Hossegor - France 23rd June 21:30-22:00

TBC, Bayonne, France 24th June 18:30-19:00

Darwin, Bordeaux - France 28th June TBC

Amsterdam HQ, Netherlands TBC

Win John John x Dakine Kit

Image courtesy WSL / Dunbar

So looks like the man who would be king, John John is back on form after his wins at Bells and Margies. To celebrate we have a full John John gift pack to give away worth £120!

 

The pack includes:

John John Pro traction pad

This traction pad was designed for John John's specific dimensions and progressive riding style. Made with Dakine Friendly Foam biodegradable EVA foam is a five-piece design allows adjustability for use on an everyday shortboard or step-up board. The 25 mm vertical tail wedge was hand sculpted by John John to provide

the perfect shape for his form. A perforated surface lets water move through the kick and reduces drag. All JJF products feature recycled cardboard packaging and zero plastic to help keep our oceans clean for tomorrow.

John John Florence Daylight Surfboard Bag 6'0"

The JJF Daylight Surfboard Bag is lightweight and portable for a quick carry to a surf spot or safe storage in the garage. A slim outline and 8 mm closed-cell foam protect your prized board. Vented, heat-reflective tech shelters your board from the heat of the day, while a ripstop exterior maintains a light, durable feel while a semi-dry, splash proof pocket stores your keys and phone. Six sizes offer a tailored fit for boards from 5'4" to 6'10".

John John Florence Kainui Leash 6 x 1/4"

John John's riding style calls for a serious leash, and the Kainui Leash offers the security you need in surf a few feet overhead. Constructed of the highest quality 1/4-inch (6.5mm) urethane Dura-Cord for maximum strength to keep you connected to your board in even the strongest surf. The Kainui is a continuation of Dakine's dedication since 1979 to making and refining surf leashes that protect both surfers and their boards in the most consequential conditions. All John John Florence products are packaged using sustainable recycled cardboard products with zero plastic – keeping our oceans clean for tomorrow.

ENTER HERE

French surfers dominate ISA World Longboard Surfing Championship

French surfers dominate ISA World Longboard Surfing Championship

Britain’s Ben Howey finishes fifth

After eight days of world-class longboarding in Biarritz, France, the host nation continued to dominate their home break to earn the Team Gold Medal at the 2019 ISA World Longboard Surfing Championship.

France was led by an powerful four-medal performance, highlighted by Alice’s Lemoigne’s Gold Medal victory in the Women’s Division. Lemoigne’s teammates Antoine and Edouard Delpero earned the Men’s Silver and Bronze respectively while Justine Dupont took the Women’s Silver.

The Team Gold Medal is the second for Team France, after they took the top honors as the 2013 edition of the event in Huanchaco, Peru.

“This is amazing,” said Lemoigne. “I’ve been dreaming of this since I was selected for the team. Today that dream came true.

“All my family and friends are here, which makes this very special.”

Following the two-time World Champions France were Team Peru with the Silver, USA with the Bronze, and Brazil with the Copper.

Peru’s Benoit ‘Piccolo’ Clemente, the 2018 Silver Medalist, earned his first ISA Gold Medal in the Men’s Division, needing a dramatic 7.7 ride to surpass France’s Delpero brothers and overtake the pole position.

“I am so happy that I can’t express all the happiness that I feel,” said Clemente. “I’ve been wanting to win this World Championship forever. I’ve competed in so many ISA events that I can’t even remember what number this one is. I’ve always dreamed of winning it.

“It was a difficult final. The Delpero brothers are incredible competitors and great friends of mine.”

Cole Robbins rounded out the Men’s medals with a Copper for USA.

Britains Ben Howey surfed through to the final, but was denied a place in the Grand Final by uncooperative waves in a stacked heat. It is his second fitth place in the ISA World longboard champs.
After the top finishing French women were Brazil’s Chloe Calmon with the Bronze and USA’s Soleil Errico with the Copper.

Calmon and Clemente were the respective women’s and men’s top finishers from the Americas, which solidified their qualification slots for Surfing’s debut in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. Both athletes already held qualification slots, but since this event has the highest priority as a qualifier, they both will take the top seed for their gender divisions.

Sunday’s action kicked off at Côte des Basques in an increased swell that provided excellent conditions for the world’s best longboarders to show the elegant style and flow of the sport. The powerful waves allowed for an impressive twelve total scores in the 8+ excellent range to be obtained through the Repechage Rounds, Main Event Final, and Grand Final.

Facing off in the Women’s Final were France’s Lemoigne and Dupont against Brazil’s Calmon and USA’s Errico. Lemoigne’s silky smooth noseriding style earned her the only excellent score of the heat and the Gold Medal that caused the local crowd to erupt in cheers. USA’s Errico was looking for a wave in the dying minutes to move into the Gold Medal position, but in her haste, she was called for an interference that negated her second highest wave score and dropped her to the Copper Medal position. As a result, Dupont and Calmon finished in second and third respectively.

The Men’s Final followed with a star-studded lineup. The local brother duo of Antoine and Edouard Delpero were the favorites after scoring a seemingly endless amount of excellent scores all throughout the week at their local wave. The French brothers jumped out to an early lead, but the perfect medal finish for France was spoiled by Peru’s Clemente who backed up his near-perfect 9.83 wave with a 7.7 to take the lead in the dying minutes of the heat. The Delpero brothers were sent down a notch to the Silver and Bronze positions with USA’s Robbins trailing with Copper.

The Silver Medal for Antoine Delpero is his eighth ISA Medal. Delpero has won the Longboard Gold twice in 2009 and 2013 and Copper in 2011. Delpero also won ISA SUP Surfing Gold in 2012, Copper in 2013, and Bronze in 2014 and 2015.

During the Closing Ceremony, the President of the French Surfing Federation Jean-Luc Arassus, spoke in the name of ISA President Fernando Aguerre.

“On behalf of the ISA President, and the world surfing family, let me congratulate all the athletes and teams for an amazing week of surfing!” said Arassus.

“No doubt, Cote de Basques has delivered a great venue for world-class longboarding. But most importantly, you – the world’s best longboarders – have delivered a phenomenal competition that has exceeded all expectations.

“Congratulations to all the medalists and teams – but also to all the competitors here. Your performances have inspired us. You have represented your countries with honor and pride.

“So, when you return home – share our vision of hope and optimism with your friends and families and together, we will truly work to make the world a better place through surfing.”

Results:

Open Men

Gold – Benoit Clemente (PER)
Silver – Antoine Delpero (FRA)
Bronze – Edouard Delpero (FRA)
Copper – Cole Robbins (USA)

5th Ben Howey GB
Open Women

Gold – Alice Lemoigne (FRA)
Silver – Justine Dupont (FRA)
Bronze – Chloe Calmon (BRA)
Copper – Soleil Errico (USA)

Team Ranking

Gold – FRA
Silver – PER
Bronze – USA
Copper – BRA
5 – AUS
6 – GBR
7 – JPN
8 – RSA
9 – ARG
10 – POR