Carve Magazine Issue 229

Soleil Errico (USA) and Max Weston (AUS) won the 2025 Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic, Stop No. 2 of the World Surf League (WSL) 2025 Longboard Tour (LT). The iconic Bells Beach lineup was picture-perfect for much of the day, with four-to-six-foot swell lining the Bowl, providing all-time conditions to decide the winners.

Errico’s third Bells Beach victory in a row leaves her undefeated at the location, while Weston’s maiden victory came from his first-ever Finals Day appearance. Tour veteran Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN) also broke through for a career-best result with a runner-up placing, with Kevin Skvarna (USA) matching his best finish by making his first Final in five years.

Errico Cements Bells Beach Dominance With Historic Threepeat

Today’s win marked the sixth Longboard Tour victory for Soleil Errico (USA), with half of them coming at Bells Beach. The three-time World Longboard Champion made it three straight to preserve her perfect record at the location. Following on from a runner-up finish at the US Open of Surfing, Errico has taken the Longboard Tour rankings lead. The 24-year-old Californian hasn’t placed lower than the Final in any event she’s entered since Stop No. 3 of the 2023 calendar, the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic. The result confirmed Errico’s return to El Salvador in 2025 to once again contest for the World Longboard Title.

"I'm really happy to take it out again," Errico said. "I had such a fun time. I was just enjoying myself. I love this sport. It's my everything. It's my whole world. I just want to inspire the next gen and I want to get better every year to progress the sport. That's the most important thing in my whole life. I dedicate so much to it, and again, it is such an amazing sport that we all get to do. I'm very grateful to be here and to be on this Tour."

Errico immediately opened the Final with an excellent 8.00 (out of a possible 10). Matching the judges criteria to a tee, the Californian combined tight footwork with clean nose-rides and a sharp rail. Not done yet, Errico locked in an 8.83 to put a huge 16.83 combination on Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN). The Japanese competitor fought back to break the combination with a 7.60 of her own. With a huge requirement still remaining however, Errico dropped the highest single wave score of the event for the women, a 9.23, on a victory lap reminiscent of her second World Longboard Title win in Malibu in 2022. Errico’s 18.20 heat total improved upon her own record as the highest in the short history of the event.

"I was so tired before that heat," Errico said. "I really had to gather myself and be like, 'Come on, let's go. Come on, finish strong.' After those two sick ones, I was in that flow state feel. I could really breathe and feel free. I really just had such a good time out there. The waves were really good. I'm really stoked. This place makes me really calm for whatever reason. The energy of Bells is definitely my vibe. I'm very thankful for Bells. I was out there just thanking the ocean, being like, 'Thank you for this wave, thank you for that wave.'"

Patience and Perseverance Reward Hiroka Yoshikawa with Career-Best Result

With a Tour history stretching back nearly 15 years, Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN) is having a breakthrough season, three years after last competing on the Longboard Tour. Previously making Finals Day a single time, in 2012, Yoshikawa moved into her first-ever Final. The multiple-time Japanese National Champion has stayed consistent throughout her tenure at the helm of competitive longboarding, but 2025 is proving to be the highlight for the 33-year-old. A shock defeat of reigning World Longboard Champion Rachael Tilly (USA) in the opening heat of the day was followed by a solid win over World No. 1 Avalon Gall (USA) in the Semifinals. Yoshikawa’s career-best result also solidified her place in the 2025 Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships to contest for her first World Longboard Title.

“I'm really happy,” Yoshikawa said. “This was my first time making it to the Final and coming in second, and I've also made it to the Finals in El Salvador. This stage has been my dream, so I'm truly happy from the bottom of my heart. With the next competition coming up in Abu Dhabi, I'll do my best and surf my own style.”

Max Weston Claims First Longboard Tour Victory in Breakthrough Performance

Competing in his first-ever Longboard Tour Finals Day, Max Weston (AUS) has taken it all the way to an inaugural victory. Weston’s run through the event featured strong traditional longboard surfing throughout and included victories over Tour stalwarts Cole Robbins (USA), Rogelio JR Esquievel (PHL), and Declan Wyton (AUS). Holding a PhD alongside his surfing skills, 33-year-old Weston balances an impressive career with his competitive pursuits. Hailing from the Central Coast of NSW, Weston now resides in Melbourne, regularly scouring Victoria’s Surf Coast for waves. The extra time spent in the Bells lineup was pivotal in carrying Weston through to the top of the podium.

"It's surreal at the moment, to be honest, it hasn't really sunk in yet," Weston said. "I'm stoked, I've got all my family here and all my mates, and yeah, can't believe it. I thought I surfed really smart heats all week and surfed well enough to get the job done. And yeah, just got in a good rhythm. I feel like I can do that if I start making a few heats and just build momentum and confidence."

An incoming cross-shore breeze wreaked havoc with the lineup for the men’s Final. Weston navigated the increased bump exceptionally to open the Final with excellence, scoring an 8.50 for his classic upright style. A critical opening nose-ride matched with a drawn-out carve and deep bottom-turn delivered the high point of the heat. A 6.50 soon followed for the Australian, placing a 15.00 combination on Kevin Skvarna (USA). For two-thirds of the heat, the Californian struggled to make a single wave. Skvarna’s first score of note, a 7.07, came with 12 minutes remaining on the clock and would prove to be his only impact on the heat, allowing Weston to hold onto his lead and the victory.

"I think [Bells Beach] is a special place for everyone," Weston said. "You just have to rock up and you can feel that connection straight away. There's rainbows all day today, and we had an unreal forecast, it just kept delivering. Really special place, special event. It was a perfect start. It was unreal, and then I lucked into another pretty good one under Kevin's priority. So I got off to a flying start. Lost my board a couple of times and had a few swims, which kept me honest. But yeah, it was unreal. Awesome Final."

Kevin Skvarna Matches Career-Best With Runner-Up Finish

A steady presence on Tour for a decade, Kevin Skvarna (USA), matched his best-ever result with his runner-up finish today. The 27-year-old previously placed runner-up to three-time World Longboard Champion Joel Tudor (USA) with an impressive run through the 2020 Noosa Longboard Open, but today’s performance was easily his finest. Though he struggled to replicate it in the Final, Skvarna mowed through two longtime rivals with blistering performances that notched the two highest men’s heat totals in the history of the event. A 17.16 total to defeat four-time World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen (USA) in the Quarterfinals was topped by a 17.74 in his take down of Edouard Delpero (FRA) in the Semifinals. Included in that total was the highest single wave score of the event, a 9.57, for Skvarna’s powerful, wrapping backhand hooks in the Bowl.

“The energy at the house has been amazing, here has been amazing,” Skvarna said. “Just in good flow and it felt good, until the end.”

Six Surfers Secure Spots at 2025 Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships

By the end of competition, six surfers had solidified their places in the Top 8 to compete for a World Longboard Title at the 2025 Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships. Joining Soleil Errico (USA) and Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN) in their confirmation was US Open of Surfing winner Avalon Gall (USA), who held onto the No. 2 position in the rankings behind Errico and ahead of Yoshikawa.

The men’s US Open of Surfing winner Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) managed to maintain his place at No. 1 and lock his slot for El Salvador, along with Max Weston (AUS), his good friend. Joining them will be the defending, four-time World Longboard Champion, Taylor Jensen (USA).

Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Men’s Final Results: 
1 - Max Weston (AUS) 15.00
2 - Kevin Skvarna (USA) 13.57

Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Women’s Final Results: 
1 - Soleil Errico (USA) 18.20
2 - Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN) 13.70

Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Men’s Semifinal Results: 
HEAT 1: Max Weston (AUS) 14.46 DEF. Declan Wyton (AUS) 13.90
HEAT 2: Kevin Skvarna (USA) 17.74 DEF. Edouard Delpero (FRA) 16.44

Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN) 13.83 DEF. Avalon Gall (USA) 12.73
HEAT 2: Soleil Errico (USA) 15.44 DEF. Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 14.96

Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Men’s Quarterfinal Results: 
HEAT 1: Max Weston (AUS) 15.96 DEF. Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) 14.50
HEAT 2: Declan Wyton (AUS) 13.16 DEF. Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) 11.90
HEAT 3: Kevin Skvarna (USA) 17.16 DEF. Taylor Jensen (USA) 16.10
HEAT 4: Edouard Delpero (FRA) 14.53 DEF. Kai Sallas (HAW) 12.30

Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Women’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN) 13.00 DEF. Rachael Tilly (USA) 12.86
HEAT 2: Avalon Gall (USA) 10.97 DEF. Mason Schremmer (USA) 9.57
HEAT 3: Soleil Errico (USA) 15.83 DEF. Chloe Calmon (BRA) 10.67
HEAT 4: Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 15.34 DEF. Tully White (AUS) 13.67

Photo: Matthew Lawford

At 50 years old, husband and father-of-twins Danny Teare is preparing to represent the UK in the upcoming Euro Open Bodysurf Tour, less than six years after surviving a life-altering stroke while surfing.



In 2019, Danny suffered a stroke during a routine surf session, an event that marked the beginning of a long and difficult recovery surviving further strokes and life-saving surgeries. “While I was lying in my hospital bed, I made a promise to myself: I would return to the ocean,” Danny recalls. “Not just to surf again, but to find a way to feel connected to it, and to life, in a new way.”



Due to the physical effects of the strokes, Danny transitioned from traditional stand-up surfing to bodysurfing which allowed him to reconnect with the water in a way that worked with his changed body. That transition has now led him to the global stage. Danny hopes to earn enough points in the European stage to qualify for the World Bodysurf Tour in 2026. 



As Danny prepares to represent the UK on the European bodysurf stage, he carries not just the hopes of a team, but the spirit of every stroke survivor who dreams of turning adversity into achievement. Because Danny’s journey isn’t just about personal recovery, it’s about community impact. During his rehabilitation, he founded Stoked Stroke Survivors. “The ocean gave me back a sense of purpose and identity. I wanted to share that with others who might be feeling lost or limited,” Danny says.



Danny is currently being sponsored by Cornish Metals and Ann’s Pasties to support his travel to these European events and help promote stroke awareness.



“Danny’s story is one of courage, determination, and community spirit which are values we greatly admire at Cornish Metals. We’re proud to support Danny as he represents both Cornwall and the UK in the Euro Open Bodysurf Tour – his journey is a powerful reminder that with resilience and passion, challenges can be transformed into opportunities to inspire others”. Fawzi Hanano – CDO, Cornish Metals.


Photo: @erm_shots