Upsets Kick Off Men’s Competition at Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Presented by Modon

HUDAYRIYAT ISLAND, Abu Dhabi, UAE (Friday, September 27, 2024) - Stop No. 3 of the 2024 WSL Longboard Tour, the Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Presented by Modon, witnessed a historic day of surfing as the first WSL competition in the United Arab Emirates kicked off its opening day. The men’s Opening Round ran in the picturesque waves at the Surf Abu Dhabi facility, with early upsets in the first of three competition days. 

The pressure was on from the very first heat. Featuring a format that saw three-person match-ups in each Opening Round heat, the winning surfer advanced directly to the Quarterfinals and the bottom two surfers were immediately eliminated. Four total waves were available per surfer, two lefts and two rights, with the highest score from each direction equaling the heat total.

As the final event before the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships, every moment counted. Only the Top 8 ranked men and Top 8 ranked women will compete in El Salvador and four of the available positions are locked in for the men and three for the women, leaving no room for error for any surfer not already qualified. A loss today likely meant the end of their season. Beyond just qualification, seeding for El Salvador is highly important, which made it all the more significant when top seeds started dropping out of the event.

Big Eliminations Within the Top 8 Following Men’s Opening Round 

Four of the surfers currently in the Top 8 were eliminated today, including Ben Skinner (GBR), Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS), Kevin Skvarna (USA), and World No. 1 Taylor Jensen (USA). The loss won’t affect Jensen, as he has already clinched the No. 1 seed for the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships. Skinner has also clinched, but can lose valuable ground in the seeding pending further results. But it was the end of Ellice-Flint’s campaign as 2023 World Title contender Declan Wyton’s (AUS) opening-round performance pushed him into the No. 8 seed heading into the Quarterfinals. Wyton earned the highest single-wave score of the event so far, an 8.37 (out of a possible 10). 

One surfer currently within the Top 8 who was able to strengthen his position was Kaniela Stewart (HAW), who rose to the occasion under pressure. The 23-year-old won the opening heat of the day on his first two waves, before picking up the first excellent score of the event on his fourth and final ride to convincingly defeat Chase Lieder (USA) and Ignacio Pignataro (URY). Stewart earned an 8.13 and a 7.83 for a 14.96 (out of a possible 20) heat total, largely thanks to a unique barrel-riding technique that he effortlessly applied, combined with critical hang-tens. After heading into the final event of the year for the past two seasons No. 1 on the rankings, Stewart was relieved to progress and loved his experience as he took out the first-ever professional surfing heat held in the UAE.

“It’s amazing, it's like everything you dreamed of,” Stewart said. “On the last two I kind of was just going for it to try and do critical hang-tens, big turns and then try and get barreled and I came out of that middle section, it was fun. This heat was really big for me, you know, I'm not sure if I qualified for El Salvador yet but just to make it through is just a blessing in itself.”

Low Seeds Take Down Big Names, Including South Africans Sawyer and Christianson

The stakes couldn’t have been higher for 2018 WSL Longboard Champion Steven Sawyer (RSA), who was competing in his first event of the season. Facing a must-win situation against the current World No. 1 and three-time WSL Longboard Champion, Taylor Jensen (USA), who had so far remained undefeated in 2024, the Jeffrey’s Bay local fell at critical points on both of his opening waves. In the meantime, Jensen posted a solid two-wave total of 14.10. Needing to significantly improve on both of his remaining waves, Sawyer delivered a masterclass in variety and execution under pressure to post a 7.83 on his right and a 8.07 on his left, getting barrelled in both directions at the same points at which he had fallen on his first waves. His 15.90 heat total was the highest of the day, yet he still had to sit and watch while Jensen tried to improve. With an 8.13 requirement from his final left, Jensen surfed a flawless wave that nonetheless lacked any standout moment. Sawyer agonized on the shore as he awaited the number, which came through as a 7.73, seeing the 30-year-old South African through to the Quarterfinals.

“It's the toughest thing being on land and I can do nothing about the scores that he's gonna post next,” Sawyer said. “I mean, I was as solid as nails up until all my waves and then as soon as I hit the deck afterwards, all the nerves just came over me. I'm still shaking. My eyes are fluttering. It's like, oh my word. First event of the year. So good to get a win. I'm just so stoked to be here.”

Fellow South African, Sam Christianson (RSA) also managed a major upset in the following heat. Facing Tour veteran Ben Skinner (GBR), Christianson showed elements of the solid brand of traditional longboard surfing that has seen him win four straight national titles in South Africa, but small errors left the door open for Skinner. Having opened with an 8.33 on his first right, the 39-year-old Englishman only needed a 3.40 from the left. Skinner attempted to safety-surf his second left after an early fall on his first, but still lost the wave, only managing a 2.50, handing the victory to Christianson. The 26-year-old South African could barely believe what had happened as he progressed into his first Longboard Tour Quarterfinal.

“When I was sitting out on the deck watching (Ben Skinner) go, I don't think I've ever had as many evil thoughts in such a short space of time,” Christianson laughed. “So I think the deck out here brings the worst out in you. (Abu Dhabi) is amazing. I don't think without this event I would have ever had a chance to get over here, so really stoked. And to surf again, with Ben and Micah (Desoto), such a privilege. So really, really stoked and hopefully we can come back.”

The only two men in the draw to have previously won WSL events in wave pools, Edouard Delpero (FRA) and Kai Hamase (JPN), met each other in Heat 3, along with Tour veteran Tony Silvagni (USA). Delpero, winner of the 2021 Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic, started strong, his first two waves landing in the 7-point range. Meanwhile, Hamase, winner of the Siheung Korea Open LQS1000, started with a stumble, but immediately bounced back, collecting one of the highest scores of the day, an 8.33, for one of the best barrels of the day. As the lowest seed, Hamase surfed his last two waves before the other two competitors, improving his right to a 6.97 and leaving Delpero and Silvagni with decent requirements. Delpero fell early on both waves. Silvagni improved his own scoreline, but still finished in third, allowing Hamase, with his classic style and clinical precision, to progress to his first Quarterfinals and the best result of his career.

“I'm so happy to be in the same heat as Tony and Edouard,” Hamase said. “Edouard and Tony are really good surfers. And yeah, I focused on the barrel and got eight points. I’m so happy.”

For highlights from today’s competition at the Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Presented by Modon, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com. 

Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Men’s Opening Round Results:

HEAT 1: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 14.96 DEF. Chase Lieder (USA) 12.90, Ignacio Pignataro (URY) 8.83

HEAT 2: Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) 14.44 DEF. Jack Van Wagoner (USA) 14.30, Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) 7.84

HEAT 3: Kai Hamase (JPN) 15.30 DEF. Edouard Delpero (FRA) 14.34, Tony Silvagni (USA) 12.53

HEAT 4: Steven Sawyer (RSA) 15.90 DEF. Taylor Jensen (USA) 15.50, Augusto Olinto (BRA) 7.13

HEAT 5: Sam Christianson (RSA) 11.73 DEF. Ben Skinner (GBR) 10.83, Micah Desoto (HAW) 7.97

HEAT 6: John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 13.10 DEF. Taka Inoue (JPN) 13.00, Martin Coret (FRA) 11.27

HEAT 7: Declan Wyton (AUS) 14.74 DEF. Kevin Skvarna (USA) 13.50, António Dantas (POR) 9.53

HEAT 8: Kai Sallas (HAW) 14.20 DEF. Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 9.76, Kaimana Takayama (USA) 6.83

Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Men’s Quarterfinal Matchups:

HEAT 1: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) vs. Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL)

HEAT 2: Kai Hamase (JPN) vs. Steven Sawyer (RSA)

HEAT 3: Sam Christianson (RSA) vs. John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW)

HEAT 4: Declan Wyton (AUS) vs. Kai Sallas (HAW)

Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Women’s Opening Round Matchups:

HEAT 1: Honolua Blomfield (HAW) vs. Chloe Coleman (USA) vs. Ophelie Ah-Kouen (FRA)

HEAT 2: Mason Schremmer (USA) vs. Kirra Molnar (AUS) vs. Kaede Inoue (JPN)

HEAT 3: Zoe Grospiron (FRA) vs. Avalon Gall (USA) vs. Emma Perrier (AUS)

HEAT 4: Sophia Culhane (HAW) vs. Sive Jarrard (ASM) vs. Anneke Barrie (USA)

HEAT 5: Rachael Tilly (USA) vs. Keani Canullo (HAW) vs. Victoria Vergara (FRA)

HEAT 6: Alice Lemoigne (FRA) vs. Tully White (AUS) vs. Emily Currie (GBR)

HEAT 7: Natsumi Taoka (JPN) vs. Maria Fernanda Reyes (PER) vs. Crystal Hulett (RSA)

HEAT 8: Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) vs. Natalia Wunderlich (HAW) vs. Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com