PUNTA ROCA, La Libertad, El Salvador (Wednesday, June 5, 2024) - The world's best surfers are now in Central America ahead of the Surf City El Salvador Pro Presented by Corona, Stop No. 7 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2024 Championship Tour (CT). With swell on the horizon at El Salvador's high-performance wave, Punta Roca, also known as La Punta or Punta Chilama, the event site is buzzing for a potential start to kick off the window tomorrow, Thursday, June 6. The race for the WSL Final 5 witnessed a shift in rankings from Tahiti, and those who made their moves are looking for an opportunity to begin breaking away from the pack.
New Ranking Leaders John John Florence and Brisa Hennessy Ready to Continue Their Surge
Incredible performances from Brisa Hennessy (CRC) and John John Florence (HAW) at the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown pushed them to No. 1 on the CT rankings. Hennessy continues to show her resilience after taking time away from the Tour in 2022. Florence is back in his WSL Champion form once again and more competitive than ever.
Hennessy has her sights on returning to the WSL Finals for an opportunity to compete for the World Title after her last Top 5 appearance in 2022, where she finished No. 5 in the world.
"I think the last time I was in the yellow Leader jersey, it was so new for me to be at the top," said Hennessy. "And to feel all those different emotions. I don't think I knew exactly how to handle it. I was so worried about the future, obviously, making the Top 5 and all those different stressors. Now I honestly think the reason I'm in this position is because I'm actually enjoying the process and the journey really for the first time, the lows, the highs. I'm grateful for every moment, and it's celebrating all the little moments and the little wins. I know the journey is constant, and there isn't a final destination, and I think I'm able to embrace that."
Florence returns to the top of the rankings for the first time since 2021. The two-time WSL Champion put on a barrel-riding clinic last week in Tahiti and now looks to showcase his ability to push the progressive envelope at Punta Roca.
"I kind of compete how I'm going to compete," said Florence. "I think that's the magic of what I found last year and coming into this year. I'm just having fun, and I'm keeping it light-hearted. I'm competing the best that I can, and I'm surfing the best that I can. When I can let go and just surf, I have so much fun whether I win or lose. Just being able to get to those Finals and even in the Finals, to surf how I want to surf, maybe not being on the best waves of them, but not having that over-tense feeling. For me, it's just like, ‘this feels so good.'"
World's Best Chase Vital Points to Keep Their Fight Alive
A hungry field of World Title contenders is ready to strike should Florence or Hennessy falter, including former WSL Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA) after his recent win in Tahiti put him into the Top 5 picture. Backing up the Brazilian contingent, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) turned in her best performance of the 2024 season in Tahiti by completing a Perfect 10-point ride and earning a Semifinal finish. Weston-Webb is currently ranked No. 7 and looks to rise into the Top 5 with another big result.
"It's crazy to come off that high and, a week later, be almost competing again," said Weston-Webb. "There were pumping waves after the event, so I kept surfing and kept pushing myself in those conditions, which was really exciting for me. But having it all said and done and reflecting back on my 10, I feel like this amount of pride for the surfer who I've become. I've worked really hard over the years on my technique barrel riding. My goal for every event is to do the best I possibly can and make as many heats and spend as much time in the water as I can...I'm definitely focused on the Final 5. I know I can surf really well at Lowers. And if that's the scenario, I know I can win a World Title in a day. It's just a matter of a bunch of things coming together. I'm just keeping my head down and doing the work first."
Ferreira, Weston-Webb, Yago Dora (BRA), and three-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) all trended up to intensify the race for the Top 5, and put Brazilians back into the World Title conversation.
But they still have the likes of reigning WSL Champion and defending event victor Caroline Marks (USA), 2023 World Title contenders Caity Simmers (USA), Molly Picklum (AUS), Griffin Colapinto (USA), Jack Robinson (AUS), Ethan Ewing (AUS), and plenty more to deal with if they're going to succeed by the season's end.
Wildcards Bryan Perez and Leilani McGonagle Set to Play Ultimate Spoilers
The world's best will also have to deal with wildcard threats Bryan Perez (SLV) and Leilani McGonagle (CRC). Perez enters his third time as a wildcard at this event and remains steadfast in his dedication to improving his showing for his country of El Salvador while working on his pathway to joining the CT through the North America Qualifying Series (QS).
"This is my third time here as a Wildcard, and every time I go with the best, the yellow jersey," said Perez. "The first time it was Filipe Toledo, last year was with Griffin Colapinto, and this time with John John Florence. So for me, this is more special because I've always been fond of John. I always see videos of him big power surfing, that's what I like to surf, and he's one of my favorite surfers. So it's gonna be so special to surf with him in the heat. and I think it's gonna be so fun. I have Liam O'Brien, too. Liam O'Brien is a good friend of mine, and I can't wait to have a heat together. Everybody's gonna have fun in the water. Everybody wants to show the surfing, and it's gonna be all about fun."
McGonagle has proven she's dangerous in the WSL jersey, claiming two major QS wins in her career, along with two full seasons on the Challenger Series since its inception and representing her country at the 2020 Olympic Games. The Costa Rican competitor rejoins the world's best in her second time as a wildcard in El Salvador.
"It's a great honor to be in these events," said McGonagle. "Thank you, WSL and Surf City, for giving us this opportunity. For us, growing up in Central America, we have to fight tooth and nail to get these opportunities. So it's really amazing to be included and to have the talent of this region recognized. So yeah, I'm really just excited to give them hell."
Joao Chianca (BRA) and Lakey Peterson (USA) will join Perez and McGonagle as event wildcards. Chianca and Peterson plan to rejoin the elite CT full-time for the start of 2025 as the WSL Season Wildcards, but they've also been given the call-up by the WSL Commisioner's Office to compete in El Salvador this week.
The first call for the Surf City El Salvador Pro Presented by Corona will be tomorrow, Thursday, June 6, at 7:00 a.m. CST for a possible 7:30 a.m. start. The WSL Commissioner's Office will assess the conditions in the morning to decide the day's competition schedule.