EL SUNZAL, La Libertad, El Salvador (Wednesday, October 9, 2024) - The Top 8 men and Top 8 women have arrived at the World Surf League (WSL) Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships, the final stop of the 2024 WSL Longboard Tour. Following the same format as 2023, current No. 1 seeds Soleil Errico (USA) and Taylor Jensen (USA) will wait to see who will make their way through the world-class field to the Title Match. An elite cast of former World Longboard Champions, perennial World Longboard Title threats, and fresh faces will compete in the one-day format with the window open now through Sunday, October 13.
Competition has been called OFF for the day. Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow, Thursday, October 10 at 7:30 a.m. CST to determine a possible 8:00 a.m. CST start.
No. 1 Ranked Seeds and Three-Time WSL Longboard Champions Soleil Errico and Taylor Jensen Hope to Earn Historic Fourth World Longboard Titles
It was an incredible year for both No. 1 seeded contenders, Soleil Errico (USA) and Taylor Jensen (USA), and now they hope to make history and win their fourth WSL Longboard Titles. Errico and Jensen both kicked off the season with victories at Bell's Beach and went on to Final matches at stop no. 2, the Lexus US Open of Surfing, in Huntington Beach. Jensen went on to win against No. 3 Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL), and Errico had a runner-up finish to Rachael Tilly (USA).
Last year, Errico earned her third WSL Longboard Title at her home break of Malibu and hopes to earn her fourth in El Salvador. As the defending champion, she prepares to fend off the surge of talent coming her way for the Title Match when competition begins.
"It's very exciting. Obviously being injured in the middle of the season is not ideal, but it's made me just that much more excited and fired up to be surfing again," said Errico. "I'm super relieved to have kept the top spot without having to go to Abu Dhabi. I'm honestly just thankful that my injury wasn't bad enough to miss out on this event as well, I'm just happy to be surfing at this point. I know the wave more just from being here last year, and the atmosphere, and just the dynamic of the place. It's not as hot as last year, which is game-changing."
For Jensen earning a fourth World Longboard Title would put him equal to his father-in-law, four-time World Longboard Champion, Nat Young (USA). After nearly two decades of competing and a sensational season, Jensen, 40, continues to push the standard and adapts to the evolving criteria.
"It's great. You go into the year with that number one spot as the goal and put yourself in the best position possible for this Championship," said Jensen. "To secure that with back to back event wins; to kick things off really takes the pressure off. It's given me time to process what that means, the advantages that it gives me, and given me a lot of time to prepare."
"Physically you've got to be ready for long waves and polling paddles in the tropics," continued Jensen. "The mental side is probably a little bit trickier, the pressure of the Championship format is pretty intense. I enjoy being in high-pressure situations, I'm comfortable there. I've done a lot of mental prep for this away from the water. I've had a surf off for a world title back in 2017, so that all-or-nothing feeling is something I've had experience with."
Veterans and Rising Stars Prepare to Make History of Their Own
This year features another elite cast of Top 8 competitors on both the men's and women's side, including multiple former WSL Longboard Champions and perennial Longboard World Title threats. No. 6 seed Honolua Blomfield (HAW) enters the event with the opportunity to claim her fourth World Longboard Championship. While the defending WSL Longboard Champion Kai Sallas (HAW) joins former WSL Longboard Champions Rachael Tilly (USA) and Steven Sawyer (RSA) in the hunt for their second Titles.
"It's pretty special to still be going for a World Title each year," said Blomfield. "I think I've been on the Longboard Tour for close to 10 years now, but to still be competing with these girls is super cool. I love El Salvador and I'm really excited for the week to come with all my friends."
Some of the perennial WSL Longboard Title threats are back, including Alice Lemoigne (FRA), Ben Skinner (GBR), 2023 World Longboard Championship runner-ups Kelis Kaleopa'a (HAW) and Kaniela Stewart (HAW), and 2023 El Salvador Longboard Classic victor Sophia Culhane (HAW). But, they have the experience of Zoe Grospiron (FRA) alongside rising talents Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL), John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW), and Chase Lieder (USA) in the mix looking for glory all their own after terrific showings on the 2024 WSL Longboard Tour.
"It's such an experience to be here in the Top 8 and be in the spot to win a World Title again," said Skinner. "I absolutely love this sport and I've put a lot of hard work into staying toward the top of the rankings each year. To share the water with some of my best friends and favorite surfers in the world at the same time. To battle with them, and go for a World Title with them; it's really exciting, and I can't wait."
Building Forecast Shows Promising Conditions
The open coastline of El Salvador receives plenty of swell from an array of directions and the pristine cobblestone point break of El Sunzal is no exception. A building swell could provide ideal conditions for the Top 8 to showcase their world-class abilities as they battle for the 2024 WSL Longboard Title. Event organizers will monitor winds and the impending swell to determine the best day for the 2024 Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships to run.
- WSL
- WSL
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow, Thursday, October 10 at 7:30 a.m. CST to determine a possible 8:00 a.m. CST start.
Watch Live
The Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships is the final stop on the 2024 WSL Longboard Tour, where the Top 8 men and women will contest for the World Longboard Titles. The competition window opens on Wednesday, October 9, and runs through Sunday, October 13, 2024. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL's broadcast partners.
*The Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships are proudly supported by Surf City El Salvador and Corona.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.