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Surf Ranch Classic

Honolua Blomfield (HAW) and Edouard Delpero (FRA) claimed respective victories at the Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic in beautiful form. The prevailing winds seen on Day 1 gave way to clean conditions throughout Finals Day as Blomfield and Delpero put on a show to secure big wins. This result gives both victors 10,000 valuable points toward the rankings and their hunt for a 2020/21’ World Title.

An impeccable showcase in the Final from eventual winner Blomfield stunned everyone in attendance with a Perfect 10 on her first left. The 22-year-old’s amazing style throughout the wave and ability to ride switch deep in the barrel to finish it off left fellow finalists Soleil Errico (USA), Avalon Gall (USA), and Alice Lemoigne (FRA) needing a near-perfect ride to catch her.

“This means a lot and it’s one of my favorite wins so far in my career,” expressed Blomfield. “I want to thank Soleil (Errico) for pushing me to pull out all the stops and do what I had to do to win. I’m just so happy to win this event and having so much fun. I’d love to get another World Title but it’s going to be tough with everyone competing so I’ll give it my all.”
The Oahu, Hawaii, competitor slowly built her foundation throughout the day, notching near-excellent rides in each of her heats to keep her Final campaign alive. A marathon day, including six waves, tested the two-time WSL Longboard Champion but her grace under pressure paved the way to a massive win heading into the final event of the season.

Delpero claimed his fourth-career WSL win on a longboard in stunning fashion – overcoming a heavy-hitting Final including reigning WSL Longboard Champion Justin Quintal (USA), style icon Harrison Roach (AUS), and Longboard Tour veteran Kai Sallas (HAW). The Frenchman earned an excellent 8.33 to begin his Final campaign on the right and backed it up immediately with another impressive 7.67 – finding one of the deeper barrels on the lefthander in the event.

“It’s been super hard work and I’m fully enjoying this victory,” said Delpero. “Congratulations to all the surfers that pushed me to surf that wave at my best. There was definitely a lot of coaching coming from these tents as we had a lot of support. This is great and just so thankful for all of this. I can’t wait to get to Malibu and give my everything at that event and hopefully I can get another big win there if I can keep this momentum.”

“I feel really good about my result here and Honolua (Blomfield) held her own out there and did what she needed to do,” said Errico. “I highly respect her for that under pressure. Now I’ll just take this at a good time and try to win Malibu. I’m thankful I live in Malibu, and I know that wave really well so I’m stoked there’s a WSL event there to try and get a World Title.”

Australian talent Roach made a big statement with this runner-up finish and 8,000 points to his name heading in to the final event of the season ranked No. 2. Roach’s jaw-dropping, near-perfect 9.33 put him into the Top 4 with ease just behind Quintal and started his Final with a solid 7.50 on the left to start – but couldn’t find the 8.50 he needed as the last left ran away from him.

“I’m so happy to make it this far and be in those top sort of point ranges,” said Roach. “It’s important in these big events if you want to win a World Title and I certainly want to do that. I would’ve loved to win but I guess I peaked a bit early. Malibu’s a dream wave. Another perfect, long right and it’s great to go into the event with a lot of momentum. All things to be happy about.”

Great finishes from Lemoigne, Gall, Quintal, and Sallas garnered them equal third finishes after powering through a massive day of competition.

Now, these competitors prepare for the conclusion to their 2020/21’ season at the Jeep Malibu Classic presented by Havainas beginning October 3 – 13.

Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic Final Women’s Results:
1. Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 18.50
2. Soleil Errico (USA) 16.47
3. Alice Lemoigne (FRA) 13.10
4. Avalon Gall (USA) 12.34

Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic Final Men’s Results:
1. Edouard Delpero (FRA) 16.00
2. Harrison Roach (AUS) 14.30
3. Kai Sallas (HAW) 10.76
4. Justin Quintal (USA) 8.67

Surfing Llangennith

I’m not sure there’s anywhere I’d rather be or anything I’d rather do than surf my longboard at Llangennith beach on a summer’s evening. – Ben Holbrook

We’re with you there Ben, if you’re lucky enough to surf some of the breaks with some of Wales’ finest on the Gower, you’ll agree that sessions at Llangennith are lush.

Enjoy the slide.

Smoke on the water

Toes on the nose with some of the finest Cali stylers, Joel and Josh Tudor, Saxon Wilson, Ryan Conklin, Kevin Skvarna David Arganda, Trace Marshal and Devon Howard. Nicely done ya’ll…

Church of Mischief: LogRap

A classic winter day in California with River Covey, Erin Ashley aka Worm, Nick Melanson, JJ Wessels, and Dane Petersen.
Filmed by Ryan Cannon
Edited by Cole Walton
Song: Souls of Mischief – Step to My Girl

The Saunton Longboard Classic 2019

Looking at the opening conditions on the morning of The Re-Re-Scheduled Saunton Longboard Classic 2019, it was definitely a case of third time lucky. Following a couple of aborted starts due to lack of swell earlier in the year, the BLU finally lucked into some ideal longboarding waves at their spiritual North Devon home. Groomed 1-2ft peelers with the occasional bigger set rolled into a sun-filled bay and, apart from the inevitable slowdown at towards low tide, it pretty much stayed that way for the entire event. With the swell forecast to drop for the following day, the decision was made to push on through and race the sun to the horizon.

Every division experienced the highs and lows of the conditions (literally) with heats and semi’s either side of low tide and the last couple of finals towards high tide suffering the most. The scores didn’t seem to be affected though, with some big heat totals posted by Ben Skinner, Sam Bleakley and Jack Unsworth in the Men’s Open and Single Fin, Emily Currie, Claire Smail and Beth Leighfield in the Women’s Open and Adam Zervas (above) in the Grand Masters. Now that Bleakers is eligible and seemingly keen to surf in the Masters it might make thing very interesting for current champion Jason Gray, who was missing in action at Saunton.

It was great to see that with the impending promotion of Jordan ‘Uber Unit’ Zervas from the U18s there still seems to be cause for celebration at the talent in the junior divisions. In the U16 Cadets Arthur Randell went to town, took out a fine win and very narrowly missed out on a huge win in the U18 Juniors. Having surfed in every division open to him (including at one point I swear the Grand Masters, in a fake beard) Arthur also put in a much deserved appearance in the Single Fin final at the expense of several very good and experienced surfers. Finishing third, one to watch.

The U18 Girls saw an excellent back and forth battle between Stella Briggs and Annie Carroll-Young that eventually saw Stella coming out on top. It also saw the contest debut of Lola Bleakley, who at a ridiculously young age already has the makings of a very stylish surfer. She also went toe-to-toe with the boys in the U16s and did herself proud. Great start to what could be a long and illustrious contest career.

Dad Sam took out the Masters division, and surfed about as many heats over the day as Arthur Randell. Not bad considering the almost incalculably massive age gap 😉 With Adam Zervas squeezing every ounce of power out of the swell and taking the win in the Grand Masters final to match son Jordan in the U18 Juniors, it looks like there could be more space needed in the family trophy cabinet before the end of the year.

With the salt washed off, hair combed (or heads polished) and shoes on feet, the presentation was hosted by long-time sponsors and BLU favourites The Thatch, Croyde / Billy Budds. The addition of an excellent Sri Lankan curry more than filled the time before we got proceedings underway, and with bellies full and trophies and prizes awarded the first stop on the 2109 tour was finally put to bed.

Massive thanks to all of our sponsors – The Thatch Croyde, Ocean and Earth, O’Neill Europe, Board Barn, Saunton Break Café and Old Guys Rule – for once again making it possible to keep the BLU moving forward into its 24th year – surely making it one of the longest continuously running longboard events in the cosmos? Your kind patronage of the BLU ensures that we keep getting longboarders, young and old, to meet, compete and eat.

Huge thanks also to the judges and event staff for their tireless efforts, and to the competitors themselves for showing us all just what talent the British longboard scene has to offer.

Roll on The Stable, Fistral Longboard Classic 2019 next weekend!

british-longboard-union.co.uk

Photos: BLU/Farscapes Ltd