The World Surf League (WSL) Longboard World Tour finals are set to take place at El Sunzal in El Salvador this week, with both the men’s and women’s titles still up for grabs. As the competition kicks off, reigning women’s champion Soleil Errico remains the favorite, having won two consecutive world titles and back-to-back victories at the Bells Beach Classic. However, her previous wins came at her home break in Malibu, giving her an edge in those contests. This time, the location will be unfamiliar to her, and Errico is also recovering from a knee injury that forced her to miss the most recent event.
“I’m excited to compete somewhere new, especially at this wave in El Salvador,” Errico said. “This wave lets me use my full range of maneuvers, and it’s such a beautiful place. My knee is feeling better—not 100 percent—but good enough to perform at my best… with a little help from Advil.”
The Challenge of El Sunzal
El Sunzal is not an easy wave to master. While it appears to be a perfect right-hand point break, it is a challenging spot. The wave is often large and powerful, with a fast takeoff that sets up a critical noseride at the start. But as the wave moves toward shore, it becomes tricky. Surfers need to adjust quickly, pulling back on speed to stay in the pocket through the midsection, where the wave tends to flatten. It’s easy to miss the inside section, and with the wind kicking up bumps on the face by mid-morning, smooth, controlled surfing is essential.
Last year, El Sunzal was part of the regular season, and Hawaii’s Kaniela Stewart and Sophia Culhane emerged victorious. Culhane’s win was particularly impressive considering that her boards were damaged by the airline before the event, forcing her to scramble to repair them. Despite the setback, she dominated the competition. However, Culhane is entering the finals ranked eighth, meaning she faces a difficult path to the title. To win, she would need to surf seven heats in a single day, a physically demanding feat given El Sunzal’s conditions and the long paddle out.
The Men’s Title Race
On the men’s side, Kaniela Stewart, who won at El Sunzal in 2023, is also in the running but comes into the finals ranked sixth. Veteran surfer Taylor Jensen, however, is in prime position to take the title, having won two events this year. Jensen’s powerful style is well-suited to El Sunzal’s challenging conditions, and he is known for making even the choppiest waves look smooth. However, he had a disappointing finish last year, losing in the round of 16 to John “Johnny the Ripper” Michael Van Hohenstein. Johnny the Ripper, who made two finals this season, could be poised for a breakthrough, entering the finals as the second seed.
Behind him is Filipino surfer Rogelio “JR” Esquivel, whose home break is similar to El Sunzal, giving him valuable experience in handling its pace and choppy conditions. Reigning world champion Kai Sallas, who also won the ISA World Championship at El Sunzal earlier this year, is another serious contender. Meanwhile, Ben “Skindog” Skinner has consistently posted high scores throughout the season, while 2018 World Champion Steven Sawyer enters the finals in seventh place but remains a wildcard. Sawyer, who missed the first two events of the season but won the Abu Dhabi event, has proven he can excel in conditions like those at El Sunzal.
The Women’s Title Race
In the women’s draw, Errico faces stiff competition from Alice Lemoigne and Rachael Tilly, both of whom won regular-season events. Lemoigne, who recently dominated in Abu Dhabi, thrives in powerful conditions, while Tilly, the 2015 World Champion, has returned to title form this year. Both surfers are ranked just behind Errico and are considered strong contenders. Tilly, in particular, performed well at El Sunzal last year, using the wave’s power to her advantage.
Japan’s Natsumi Taoka has had a standout season, entering the finals ranked fourth. After several years on the requalification bubble, she made a strong comeback, reaching the final at Bells Beach and the semifinals at Huntington Beach. Taoka’s precise footwork could be an advantage in the fast, choppy conditions at El Sunzal.
France’s Zoe Grospiron is another surfer on the rise, having made the semifinals at Bells and the final in Abu Dhabi. Grospiron has also performed well at El Sunzal in the past, making back-to-back ISA World Championship finals at the break. Hawaiians Honolua Blomfield and Kelis Kaleopa’a, ranked sixth and seventh respectively, cannot be ruled out either. Kaleopa’a has been a consistent challenger to Errico’s dominance over the past two years.
An Unpredictable Showdown
While Errico and Jensen remain the favorites heading into the finals, the competition is far from settled. The format of the finals, with eight surfers in both the men’s and women’s draws, adds an extra layer of unpredictability, as lower-ranked competitors must surf multiple heats to reach the final. With challenging conditions at El Sunzal, endurance and adaptability will be key factors in determining who ultimately claims the 2024 WSL Longboard World Title.
The event is scheduled to run over a single day from October 9-13, setting the stage for an intense battle as the world’s top longboarders vie for surfing’s most prestigious title.
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