Rising Longboard Tour talent Avalon Gall (USA) proved she’s worthy of the 2025 Season Wildcard with a historic win over three-time World Longboard Champion Soleil Errico (USA). The 22-year-old's young career already has a North America Regional Longboard victory and three seasons among the world’s best longboarders. Now, Gall adds a historic Lexus US Open of Surfing victory to her name.

“I don’t know what to say. I have the best friends ever, and it wouldn’t be the same without them. They made it so special, and thank you to everybody,” said Gall. “I honestly couldn’t believe it stayed flat for that long, but I’m just super stoked. [If I could tell the girl who’s been putting in all the work] I’d say just enjoy every single moment. Thank you to my mom and dad, and all my amazing friends. It wouldn’t be the same without them.”

The Final ignited at the 28-minute mark with Avalon Gall (USA) finding a running lefthander that let her showcase her fast footwork and control on the nose with a hang-five. Gall’s 6.67 (out of a possible 10) set the standard heading into the back-half of the Final with Errico chasing a 7.31. Then, Laguna Beach’s Gall found another afternoon gem to showcase more of her poise under pressure to post a 6.83 and upped Errico’s requirement to a near-perfect 9.90. But the ocean didn’t provide for Errico as she earned back-to-back runner-up finishes, catapulting Gall to her maiden WSL Longboard Tour win.

Gall claimed a clash of North America Longboard Regional victors unfolded in Semifinal 2, against reigning regional winner Malia Ilagan (USA). Gall’s form carried her through an impressive win over two-time US Open of Surfing winner Kelis Kaleopa’a (HAW) before showcasing more of her poise on the nose over Ilagan, who eliminated defending US Open of Surfing winner and World Longboard Champion Rachael Tilly (USA).

Soleil Errico Goes Back-to-Back Runner-Ups in Huntington Beach

A remarkable run through Finals Day for Errico started with a nail-biting Quarterfinal heat against Hawaiʻi's newest Longboard Tour talent, Natalia Wunderlich (HAW). Errico’s form carried her through the bout before turning on in the Semifinals against Longboard Tour veteran Chloe Calmon (BRA) - posting a 13.23 heat total. All paths led to the all-Californian Final and back-to-back runner-up finishes.

“It was so fun. I had my friends and family here the whole time. They drove up to support me, so shout out to them,” said Errico. “It was kind of a bummer to have the waves turn off for the Finals, but I’m happy to get second. I’m excited to keep competing and go to Bells and Abu Dhabi. I missed out on Abu Dhabi last year because I was injured, so I’m excited to have that experience. I'm just excited to keep it going.”

Kai Ellice-Flint Flies the Australian Flag to Lexus US Open of Surfing Win

Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) proved he’s one to watch in 2025 after narrowly missing the 2024 World Longboard Title showdown with a showcase of world-class footwork and nose-riding. The Australian talent, Ellice-Flint, added another US Open of Surfing title to the country’s illustrious history after besting four-time World Longboard Champ Taylor Jensen (USA) in the Final.

“To win here is just incredible. As a grom, you look at the US Open like this is such a big event. I’m super grateful,” said Ellice-Flint. “I’m doing this for my family, for my friends, and all the people who have supported me over the years. I just felt like I needed to push hard for this the last six or nine months. Coming up against Taylor [Jensen] in the Final is super difficult, and you have to dig deep for that. It’s pretty sick.”

The men’s Final got underway minutes after the horn sounded with Jensen finding an impressive 6.83 to begin building his foundation. But, a slow start from Ellice-Flint was turned around midway through the heat to turn in a 5.83 and 4.83 back-to-back over Jensen, and take a slim lead heading into the 17-minute mark. Then, at the 14-minute mark, Jensen found his opportunity to strike back and took to his backhand nose-riding and wrapping cutback to post a 3.97 to regain the lead, but only by a narrow margin. Ellice-Flint wasted no time and found a gem to post a 6.33 and switch the standings once more before increasing his lead with a brilliant 7.50 to ultimately earn his first win.

The 29-year-old, Ellice-Flint, continued his dismantling of World Longboard Champions after besting 2023 champion Kai Sallas (HAW) in the Round of 16 before facing 2018 World Longboard Champion Steven Sawyer (RSA) in the Quarterfinals today. He went on to overcome 2024 World No. 3 John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW), who posted a 9.00 (out of a possible 10) in his Quarterfinal heat, in the Semifinals before going head-to-head with Jensen. 
Taylor Jensen Narrowly Misses Consecutive US Open of Surfing Titles

One of surfing’s most decorated competitors, Jensen made his intentions clear to earn a fifth World Longboard Title with immaculate showings throughout his US Open of Surfing run. Jensen’s Quarterfinal heat with Australia’s rising World Longboard Title threat Declan Wyton (AUS) set the tone before a highly-anticipated rematch of the 2024 event Final against Rogelio JR Esquievel (PHL), where Jensen posted an excellent 8.17. It all led to a fourth-consecutive US Open of Surfing Final and second runner-up finish.

“It’s awesome. To do this in front of my kids and get to see dad compete, and do well is insane,” said Jensen. “I won’t be waking up at 4:30 a.m. tomorrow or sitting in traffic. Now I’m just going to go home, relax and regroup, and get ready for Bells.”

Now, the stage is set for the world’s elite Championship Tour (CT) qualification hopefuls to take over Huntington Beach for the Lexus US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico Challenger Series event, Stop No. 3 of the 2025 season. Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow, Wednesday, July 30, at 6:50 a.m. PDT for a likely 7:05 a.m. start.

For highlights and more information from today’s competition at the Lexus US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Longboard Final Results:
1 - Avalon Gall (USA) 13.50
2 - Soleil Errico (USA) 6.87

Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Longboard Final Results:
1 - Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) 13.83
2 - Taylor Jensen (USA) 12.06

Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Longboard Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Soleil Errico (USA) 13.23 DEF. Chloe Calmon (BRA) 11.20
HEAT 2: Avalon Gall (USA) 9.83 DEF. Malia Ilagan (USA) 9.43

Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Longboard Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) 11.83 DEF. John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 11.33
HEAT 2: Taylor Jensen (USA) 13.84 DEF. Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) 12.77

Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Longboard Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Soleil Errico (USA) 9.20 DEF. Natalia Wunderlich (HAW) 8.84
HEAT 2: Chloe Calmon (BRA) 15.00 DEF. Sophia Culhane (HAW) 8.83
HEAT 3: Malia Ilagan (USA) 12.60 DEF. Rachael Tilly (USA) 12.20
HEAT 4: Avalon Gall (USA) 12.63 DEF. Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 7.60

Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Longboard Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) 13.97 DEF. Steven Sawyer (RSA) 13.67
HEAT 2: John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 16.33 DEF. Cole Robbins (USA) 14.47
HEAT 3: Taylor Jensen (USA) 11.27 DEF. Declan Wyton (AUS) 10.73
HEAT 4: Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) 15.63 DEF. Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 12.67

This is a whole day celebration featuring screenings, special guests + exclusive appearances and finishes off with a classic 90’s rave! “Terry!!!!"

• Listen to some local legends.
• Watch the award winning ‘Cigarette Surfboard’ + hear from it's producers.
• Special keynote from the director of Blue Juice + find out what really happened back in ‘95.
• Watch Blue Juice in its original high definition glory.
  Go back to 1995 for a good old fashioned rave to end the night.. or start it properly….
  The festival will Penzance’s brand new premium venue - The Ritz and is run in association with Plastic Free Penzance. For more information and ot book tickets head to bluejuicefestival.com

Today, the World Surf League (WSL) released the schedule for the 2026 Championship Tour (CT) and shared the new event formats. Marking the 50th year of professional surfing, the combined men’s and women’s calendar, which includes an increased women’s field, will feature 12 events in total. Nine regular-season stops and two postseason events will culminate in a revitalised Pipe Masters that will close the season with a high-stakes, all-inclusive finale.

“These changes reflect our commitment to honouring surfing’s legacy while continuing to shape its future as the sport enters its 50th year,” said Ryan Crosby, WSL CEO. “With the updated formats, we’ll see higher stakes from day one, with every heat carrying real consequence throughout the season. Combined with iconic locations, the expanded women’s field, and Pipeline as the pinnacle, we’re building a Tour that better serves our athletes and fans, and leads the sport into its next chapter.”

2026 Championship Tour Schedule

Stop No. 1 - Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia: April 1 - 11
Stop No. 2 - Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia: April 17 - 27
Stop No. 3 - Snapper Rocks, Queensland, Australia: May 2 - 12
Stop No. 4 - Punta Roca, El Salvador: May 28 - June 7
Stop No. 5 - Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: June 12 - 20
Stop No. 6 - Jeffreys Bay, South Africa: July 10 - 20
Stop No. 7 - Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia: August 8 - 18
Stop No. 8 - Cloudbreak, Fiji: August 25 - September 4
Stop No. 9 - Lower Trestles, San Clemente, Calif., USA: September 11 - 20*
Stop No. 10 - Surf Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE: October 14 - 18**
Stop No. 11 - Peniche, Portugal: October 22 - November 1
Stop No. 12 - Banzai Pipeline, Hawaiʻi, USA: December 8 - 20***

*Last regular-season event
**Start of postseason, reduced field
**Full CT fields rejoin postseason surfers to compete for Pipe Masters Titles
The 2026 season is primed to deliver a thrilling World Title race from start to finish, offering a wide array of opportunity for the world’s best surfers to elevate the sport to new heights. Covering nine countries across nine months, the 12 stops offer a diverse mix of surf, from the heavy barrels of waves like Pipeline, Cloudbreak, and Teahupo’o, to high-performance hotspots like Lower Trestles, Punta Roca, and Abu Dhabi. Added to the perfection of Snapper Rocks and Jeffreys Bay is the wild unpredictability of Margaret River, Portugal, and Saquarema, with the storied history of Bells Beach kicking it all off.

The majority of the season will feature 36 men and 24 women, with the Tour narrowing to 24 men and 16 women after Stop No. 9 for the two postseason events, Abu Dhabi and Portugal. A surfer’s best seven of nine results from the regular-season will count towards their qualification for the postseason, while the final season rankings, and ultimately the World Titles, will be determined by a surfer’s best nine of 12 results.

The cumulative full-season rankings that will determine the World Champions will be heightened by the season closer at Pipeline, where the full 2026 men’s and women’s CT fields from the start of the season will all compete. Already one of the most prestigious Titles in surfing, an increased relevance will be placed on the Pipe Masters. With 15,000 points on offer (1.5 times the amount of a standard CT event), and the top eight men and women heading into the event seeded deep in the draw, pivotal moments in the World Title race are all but ensured to take place at the sport’s most revered location.
2026 Championship Tour Event Formats

A newly evolved Tour requires a reimagined format. The stakes will be raised from the very first heat of the 2026 season due to the removal of non-elimination rounds. Differing formats will be utilized for the men’s and women’s fields for regular-season events, postseason events, and the Pipe Masters, as outlined below, but ultimately, every heat of every event will be of utmost importance to a surfer’s standing on the CT.

Regular-Season Events

The format for regular-season events, Stops No. 1-9, will include 32 qualified men, two men’s season wildcards, and two men’s event wildcards; and 21 qualified women, two women’s season wildcards, and one women’s event wildcard.

Men’s 36 Format
Round 1 will feature four head-to-head heats, consisting of six seeded surfers [29-34], plus two Event Wildcards. Seeds 33-36 will be randomly selected to create different match-ups at each event throughout the season. Seeds 29-32 will be pre-seeded in their heats.
Round 2 will feature 16 head-to-head heats, consisting of seeds 1-28 and the winners from Round 1. There will be four fixed-bracket heats; the four heat winners from Round 1 will face the top four seeds in the event. Winners will advance to Round 3.
Round 3 will feature eight head-to-head heats, consisting of the winners from Round 2.
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final will follow.

Women’s 24 Format
Round 1 will feature eight head-to-head heats, consisting of 14 seeded surfers [9-22], plus two Event Wildcards. Winners will advance into Round 2 on a fixed-bracket system.
Round 2 will feature eight head-to-head heats, consisting of seeds 1-8, and the winners from Round 1.
Quarterfinals, Semifinals and the Final will follow.

Where permits allow, official practice days will also be offered to all Tour surfers. For every event, the day prior to the beginning of competition will include a five-hour window to cater for three brackets of 12 men’s surfers and two brackets of 12 women’s surfers. Should permits and conditions allow, a second official practice day will take place inside the competition waiting period.

While we await the 2026 CT kickoff, the 2025 World Champions are still to be determined. The Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA is the final event before the Lexus WSL Finals Fiji, where the World Champions will be crowned.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Since 2017, the foundation has donated almost £600,000 to community projects, causes and cultural initiatives across Cornwall.

This year includes £33k donated to local schools, £15k to local surf lifesaving and boardriders, over £20k to environmental causes and over £40k to local projects, organisations and charities

This year’s recipients include Surfing England Junior Series, Newquay Foodbank, TR7 Skate, The Wave Project, Cornwall Pride, and over a dozen schools across the region.

The Boardmasters Foundation is proud to announce the organisations and projects that will receive funding from the money raised at Boardmasters festival in 2024. This year, more than 50 organisations across Cornwall will benefit, receiving a combined total of over £140,000 in donations, as the Foundation continues its mission to support the community, culture and environment that make the festival’s Cornwall home so special. Established in 2017, the Boardmasters Foundation has now raised almost £600,000, supporting hundreds of organisations including schools, charities, arts collectives, surf clubs, mental health organisations and youth programmes.

The 2024 donation supports a diverse list of recipients. Funding will go toward projects in education, surf safety, mental health, creative arts, youth services, and environmental initiatives to name but a few. Recipients include partners such as The Wave Project, Surfing England Junior Series and The Schools Consent Project, as well as organisations like Newquay Primary Academy, ALMA Artspace CIC, Nikki White Therapy CIC, and 99p Films.

Andrew Topham, CEO and Founder of Boardmasters Festival said, “Each year, we’re inspired by the incredible work being done in Cornwall. The Boardmasters Foundation is our way of giving back to this place we’re so lucky to call home. We want to say thank you to every single festivalgoer and partner who contributed – no matter how big or small the donation, you’ve helped make a tangible difference.”

Schools across the region are once again a key focus for funding. Over £33,000 has been awarded to schools including Mawgan-in-Pydar Community Primary School, Newquay Junior Academy, Newquay Tretherras, St Columb Major ACE Academy, St Columb Minor ACE Academy, The Bishops’ C of E Learning Academy, Trenance Learning Academy, Trevisker Community Primary School, Treviglas School, Nansledan School and Newquay Primary Academy.

Youth and community groups are once again at the heart of the Foundation. Funding has been awarded to Livewire Youth Project, which supports young people through music, mentoring and creative expression, and to Newquay Scouts, helping to foster outdoor learning and leadership. Rock Choir, a community of local singers, continues to bring people together through the power of song, while Gwealan Tops Adventure Playground provides open-access outdoor play experiences. Youth Art Connect CIC offers creative opportunities for young people to explore identity and personal growth through arts-led initiatives.

TR7 Skatepark in Newquay which serves as a dynamic community skate space and a cornerstone for youth culture received funds. The Foundation’s support will help further develop this facility, which offers a safe environment for empowering disadvantaged youth. The funds will support towards the facilitation of membership packs.

Arts and culture organisations are also strongly represented. The Foundation has supported the Newquay Murals project (MUQY), and has funded a mural painted by artist Chris Dorning, breathing life into a building in the centre of Newquay, a stones throw from Fistral Beach. Other recipients include House of Damnation CIC, known for immersive storytelling and theatrical experiences, as well as Coppice Theatre, which delivers innovative performances for young audiences across the South West. Cscape Dance CIC brings accessible and engaging contemporary dance to communities. Meanwhile, An Rosweyth, a Cornish cultural group, and the Nansledan Arts Festival celebrate and promote Cornwall’s heritage and community spirit through festivals,workshops and exhibitions.

Environmental and surf-related organisations are a core focus of the Foundation, too. This year’s donation to The 2 Minute Foundation will further its vital campaigns, encouraging simple yet impactful actions like beach cleans and plastic reduction. Newquay Boardriders and WGB Surf Life Saving Club continue to nurture the next generation of surfers, ensuring ocean safety, surf access and competition pathways. Alongside these, multiple Surf Lifesaving Clubs have received donations to maintain essential equipment and training for volunteer lifesavers who keep Cornish beaches safe.

The Foundation is also proud to support Oceana UK, a leading ocean conservation charity. Oceana works globally and locally to restore marine biodiversity. Boardmasters Foundation has this year donated £20,0000 to support Oceana’s mission to protect the world’s oceans and preserve them for future generations, aligning with the festival’s deep-rooted connection to the sea. The donation will help fund ongoing campaigns to ensure the UK’s marine environment is not only protected, but allowed to thrive for generations to come.

Hugo Tagholm, Executive Director of Oceana UK said, “Through our partnership with Boardmasters festival we have had an incredible opportunity to further Oceana’s hard-hitting campaigns to stop big business from destroying marine sanctuaries and ocean life around our island nation. Since the last festival we’ve taken the government to court over polluting oil and gas licences; created a roadmap to regenerate and restore thriving fish populations; and piled on the pressure to end the destructive bottom-trawl fishing in marine protected areas. We look forward to working with Boardmasters again this year to celebrate our ocean and take action to protect it.”

Returning partner The Schools Consent Project will once again receive funding from the Boardmasters Foundation. This partnership has proven to be a powerful tool in promoting early education around consent, respect and personal boundaries in Cornish secondary schools. Multi-year donations also continue in 2025. The Foundation remains committed to the refurbishment of Newquay Train Station toilets, a vital community asset for locals and visitors alike. Support also continues for Concrete Waves, Newquay’s world-class skatepark, with this year’s donation funding improvements to the beginner slope, ensuring more young people can safely access and enjoy the sport.

The Boardmasters Foundation will open applications for 2025 funding this Autumn. To learn more, or to sign up for updates, visit boardmasterscommunity.com/boardmasters-foundation.

Boardmasters Festival returns to Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach from 6-10 August 2025. Final tier tickets are available now via www.boardmasters.com.