Welsh surfing brothers Euan and Arthur Buick head to Ireland, scoring amazing waves in hot summer conditions. Hitting some of Irelands premier reefs and slabs with adventure and fun along the way; bike-packing, camping, free diving, wild swimming and van life is all part of the stoke.

The Buick brothers are part of the Welsh Team heading to EuroSurf Junior Championships. You can help the Welsh Junior Surfers attend the Eurosurf in Portugal, July 15 – 24, 2022, check out the Crowdfunder here.

Click into the highlight reel featuring some of South Africa’s finest waterman in their natural environment. A slow-motion black and white dive into some of the shoots over the past few months by @ianthurtell.
Featuring Jordy Smith, Mikey February, Noah Kahn, Jordy Maree, Adin Masencamp and Luke Thompson

• Australia earns Silver Medal, USA Bronze, and France Copper
• Eweleiula Wong and Luke Swanson sweep U-18 divisions for Hawaii
• Erin Brooks wins Girls U-16 Gold, first Junior medal for Canada
• Willis Droomer wins Boys U-16 Gold for Australia

Team Hawaii Photo: ISA / Mike Rodriguez

Nine incredible days of non-stop action in Surf City, El Salvador, featuring a record 419 athletes and 45 national teams, culminated with Hawaii securing themselves an impressive lead to win their first Team Gold since 2014. It is the fourth time Hawaii has claimed this honour.

Team Hawaii, the 2019 Silver Medalists, found their way back to Gold on the back of a highly impressive squad, who claimed four individual medals. Australia followed up with Silver, USA won Bronze, and France collected Copper.

After an emotional loss in Main Round 3, Eweleiula Wong had to fight her way through seven heats of repechage to find herself atop the Girls U-18 podium. The Hawaiian was mostly uncontested in the Final, a huge forehand gouge gaining her a lead that proved impossible for Lucia Machado (ESP, Silver), Hina-Maria Conradi (FRA, Bronze), or defending Silver Medalist Zoe Benedetto (USA, Copper) to catch up with.

“I feel like all my hard work has paid off,” Wong said. “I think it all goes to Team Hawaii coaches, Shane Dorian and Chris Martin.”

It was a much closer affair in the Boys U-18 Final, with two Hawaiians battling it out. Luke Swanson (HAW) finally found the air sections he’d been hoping for all week, taking Gold on the strength of two backhand tail-high air reverses, while fellow Shion Crawford (HAW, Silver) was hot on his heels with exceptional railwork. Luke Thompson (RSA, Bronze) and Kobi Clements(AUS, Copper) were unable to find the form that saw them through the rest of the competition.

“I knew these guys were so good that it would take all my effort and the best of my surfing,” Swanson said. “I just can’t believe I won. It was my goal, I wrote it down, but the fact that I actually achieved that, I don’t know what to say. I guess it’s just a testament to believing in yourself.”

Luke Swanson – Hawaii Photo: Isa / Sean Evans

It was almost a foregone conclusion that Erin Brooks (CAN) would find herself draped in Gold. Despite little competitive experience, the 14-year-old looked unstoppable all week in the Girls U-16 division.

Erin Brooks – Canada Photo: ISA / Mike Rodriguez

It was almost a foregone conclusion that Erin Brooks (CAN) would find herself draped in Gold. Despite little competitive experience, the 14-year-old looked unstoppable all week in the Girls U-16 division.

Bella Kenworthy (USA, Silver) started the Final well, opening with a 7.17 and backing it up with a 7.57, however it was no match for the critical progression of the Canadian. Looking to the rights of La Bocana for the first time in the competition, Brooks unleashed a series of under-the-lip hooks for an 8.60, before switching back to the left and allowing her forehand to garner an 8.17. Mirai Ikeda (JPN, Bronze) and 11-year-old Tya Zebrowski (FRA, Copper) mounted impressive campaigns but found themselves outside of the conversation as the Final progressed.

“All of the coaches were telling me that no matter what I was getting the first Canadian medal,” Brooks said. “But I wanted to get Gold.”

Throughout the entire event Hans Odriozola (ESP, Copper) appeared to be the surfer to beat in Boys U-16. It was no different as the Final got underway and Odriozola quickly put two scores on the board for the lead. Willis Droomer (AUS, Gold) turned a forehand three-turn combo into a 7.83, while a single air drop out of a big forehand crack resulted in a 7.27 for Inigo Madina(FRA, Silver). Luke Tema (HAW, Bronze) found mid-range 6’s but was unable to truly unleash. As the Final progressed Odriozola looked entirely out of sorts and Droomer closed it out with a 7.67 and the win.

“It’s the best event I’ve ever been to and I’m just so happy to bring Gold home not only for myself but for Australia and the Irukandjis.” Droomer siad. “It’s a big name to live up to and a lot of pressure, but I’m stoked to come out on top.”

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

“What an amazing competition. It’s been wonderful to see the best junior surfers ripping the waves of El Salvador, this wonderful destination that has become one of the prime surfing spots in the world.”

“As far as I am concerned, these are the best World Junior Surfing Championships in history. The best waves, the largest amount of competitors, the largest amount of teams and the largest amount of supporting crew that came along with the athletes.”

“This event has been a huge success in uniting the junior surfers of the world in peace, through surfing, for a better world for everybody.”

El Salvador Tourism Minister Morena Valdez said:

“All Salvadoreans will carry the energy from all of the countries that have participated in this event. Not only the winners, but everyone who has participated, because we are all winners here. We have shown what the surfing community is all about.”

“This gives us hope as a country and I want to express gratitude to President Nayib Bukelele. We will continue working and we will continue making surfing a dream for everyone. Surfing rocks. And you also rock because you are part of the worldwide surfing family.”

Results

Team ranking:
Gold – Hawaii
Silver – Australia
Bronze – USA
Copper – France
5 – Spain
6 – Japan
7 – Brazil
8 – Portugal
9 – Canada
10 – South Africa

Boys U-16:
Gold – Willis Droomer
Silver – Inigo Madina
Bronze – Luke Tema
Copper – Hans Odriozola

Girls U-16:
Gold – Erin Brooks
Silver – Bella Kenworthy
Bronze – Mirai Ikeda
Copper – Tya Zebrowski

Boys U-18:
Gold – Luke Swanson
Silver – Shion Crawford
Bronze – Luke Thompson
Copper – Kobi Clements

Girls U-18:
Gold – Eweleiula Wong
Silver – Lucia Machado
Bronze – Hina-Maria Conradi
Copper – Zoe Benedetto

Jack Robinson (AUS) and Johanne Defay (FRA) claimed victory today at the Quiksilver/ROXY Pro G-Land, Stop No. 6 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2022 Championship Tour (CT). After a week of waiting, Finals Day was greeted with the best conditions of the window, with G-Land putting on picturesque, four-to-five foot surf groomed by perfect offshore winds. Event standouts Defay and Robinson capitalised on the long-walling waves at G-Land, showing full commitment on each and every turn.

Defay Wins Roxy Pro G-Land, Climbs to Third on World Rankings
With wins at locations including Cloudbreak and Uluwatu, France’s Johanne Defay came into the first-ever Roxy Pro G-Land as a solid favourite. After stumbling in the Opening Round, Defay refocused and got her campaign back on track and never looked like turning back, particularly on Finals Day when she overcame seven-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and event favourite Bronte Macaulay (AUS) to find herself in her eighth CT Final, this time against reigning five-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW). Defay saved her best performance for last, posting a two-wave combination of 14.00 (out of a possible 20) to overcome Moore and claim her fifth CT victory and move to third on the Rankings.

”It feels surreal and amazing to win this event,” said Defay. “It has been a long week here in the jungle and the waves at G-Land are so perfect today that it is really special for me to take the win and defeating Carissa Moore is always so hard. She came at me late in the Final and it was really close. Coming from Reunion, the Indian Ocean is my home ocean and I have had a few victories here in Indonesia. As the first woman to win here at G-Land, it feels so special at such an amazing location, it’s great.”

Jack Robinson Wins Back-to-Back CT Events
The men’s Final looked certain to be another CT victory for current World No. 1 Filipe Toledo (BRA) as the lightning-fast natural footer chalked up a solid heat lead early in the matchup, leaving Jack Robinson (AUS, above) chasing a score for the entire matchup. Robinson had a few attempts but was unable to secure the score needed, until with only seconds left, Robinson took off on a medium set wave and jammed three critical backside snaps to post a 7.00 point ride (out of a possible 10) and clinch his second CT victory in as many events. Robinson is now sitting firmly in second on the rankings behind Toledo who despite the runner-up finish, retains the top spot.

“I thank the ocean for giving me that last wave in the final seconds, it was an unbelievable finish,” Robinson said. “I stayed calm, remained confident, and I believed a wave would come to me. This is such an unpredictable and crazy sport. I’m taking each event as it comes and remaining focused and taking back-to-back wins feels great. I dedicate this win to my friend John Dutton from Margaret River, who passed away a few days ago. He traveled here to G-Land a lot and possibly that final wave was from him. Peace and good vibes to the family.”

Moore and Toledo Secure World No. 1 Rankings Following Runner-up Finishes at Stop No. 6
With her runner-up result, Moore (above) is back at World No. 1 heading into the Surf City El Salvador Pro, the seventh stop on the WSL CT. En route to the Final, Moore took down Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) in the Quarterfinals and Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) in the Semifinals. Moore displayed her dominant back-hand and will be ready for a rematch in the upcoming events, this time at a prominent right-hand point break.

“This is my first trip here and I was a little nervous about getting used to the lineup and the wave,” Moore said. “It’s actually really similar to a wave at home on the South Shore of Oahu. The people here are so nice, it’s beautiful and there are just good vibes all around. It was great to share that Final with Johanne, I see how hard she works and what she puts in so I’m really happy for her. I definitely made a few mistakes but I had a lot of fun so I’m just going to focus on that.”

Toledo (above) will retain his top spot on the rankings with his second-place finish. Despite the 27-year-old falling shy of his second CT win this season, he will head into the next competition wearing the yellow leader jersey. Having made the Finals in Portugal, winning at Bells, and securing another Final here at G-Land, Toledo is primed for the back half of the year, heading into a series of pet events as he looks to secure his maiden World Title at Trestles this September.

“It was a really cool experience being here in the jungle and getting to know a new place,” Toledo said. “This was my first time here and I’m really happy and appreciative of everyone from the camps who worked so hard to give us a great experience here. I’m really happy to be in the position I am and I’m hoping to keep grinding, giving my best, and doing everything I can to keep the yellow jersey.”

In a buzzer-beater finish, Robinson took down the three-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA). The Quiksilver Pro G-Land marked Medina’s first competition back since winning the World Title last year. The Brazilian looked in incredible form, scoring some of the highest totals of the event, but Robinson got the edge in the Semifinals with a mere 0.57-point difference to take the heat win. Entering into the back half of the year as the WSL CT season wildcard, Medina will need the Final finishes at the upcoming events to put himself in contention for the World Title in 2022.

ROXY O.M.G-Land Award Honours Go to Weston-Webb, Defay, and Macaulay
ROXY held the first ROXY O.M.G-Land Awards coinciding with the launch of their newest brand campaign at the ROXY Pro G-Land. The ROXY O.M.G-Land Awards celebrated best-in-class performances, wipeouts, commitment, and emotion from the female athletes competing at the ROXY Pro G-Land event. Aiming to redefine what it means to achieve.

Congratulations to Tatiana-Weston Webb (BRA), Johanne Defay (FRA), and Bronte Macaulay (AUS) for taking home the three daily ROXY O.M.G-Land Awards during the ROXY Pro G-Land Event. Learn more about the ROXY O.M.G. Campaign at ROXY.com.

For highlights from the Quiksilver/ROXY Pro G-Land, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

ROXY Pro G-Land Final Results:
1 – Johanne Defay (FRA) 14.00
2 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 13.33

Quiksilver Pro G-Land Final Results:
1 – Jack Robinson (AUS) 13.50
2 – Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.16

ROXY Pro G-Land Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 13.83 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 7.50
HEAT 2: Johanne Defay (FRA) 13.66 DEF. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 13.33

Quiksilver Pro G-Land Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Jack Robinson (AUS) 13.90 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.33
HEAT 2: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 12.00 DEF. Connor O’Leary (AUS) 10.47

ROXY Pro G-Land Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.87 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.14
HEAT 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 13.36 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 13.03
HEAT 3: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 12.43 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRI) 9.83
HEAT 4: Johanne Defay (FRA) 12.90 DEF. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.60

Quiksilver Pro G-Land Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.27 DEF. Jadson Andre (BRA) 11.66
HEAT 2: Jack Robinson (AUS) 14.17 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 11.47
HEAT 3: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 12.60 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 8.84
HEAT 4: Connor O’Leary (AUS) 12.77 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 7.07

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.