Pictured: 2018 WSL Longboard Champion Soleil Errico (USA) will look to put another showcase in Lemoore, California, this time for points at the Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic September 29, 2021. Credit: © WSL / Tommy Pierucki
- Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic Runs September 29, 2021
- Jeep Malibu Classic pres. by Havaianas Waiting Period Opens October 3 Through October 13, 2021
- Longboard Events Will be Broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com
Today, the World Surf League (WSL) announced the return of the Longboard Tour following the 2020 season’s competition pause due to COVID-19. This year’s Longboard Tour will host two events in California: the Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic (September 29, 2021) and the Jeep Malibu Classic pres. by Havaianas (October 3 – 13, 2021).
The Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic will showcase the world’s best longboard competitors at the renowned WSL Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California. Following that event, competitors will return to the ocean for their first WSL appearance at the iconic First Point in Malibu, Calif. for the Jeep Malibu Classic presented by Havaianas. Points for these two events will be combined with points earned at the Noosa Longboard Open from February of 2020 to determine the WSL Longboard World Title.
“Our surfers are so stoked to be back in a jersey again and have this opportunity to finish up from where they left off in Australia,” said Devon Howard, WSL Longboard Tour Director. “The Surf Ranch guarantees us perfect waves all day, as well as the most level playing field you could ever hope for. While First Point, Malibu, provides the best possible surf venue to crown a World Longboard Champion.”
Longboard Tour Format
The Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic will feature the leaderboard format where the WLT’s Top 18 women and 18 men will each ride two lefts and two rights. Their best right and left scores combine to rank their place on the leaderboard. The Top 8 surfers then move on into the Semifinals before dwindling the field down once again to the Top 2 surfers as they square off on their final two scoring waves (one left, one right) to determine the event winners.
The Longboard Tour format for the Jeep Malibu Classic pres. by Havaianas will host six Rounds of competition. Round 1 will feature three surfers in six heats, with the top two spots advancing through to Round 3. The last-place finishers of Round 1 will be relegated to the first elimination heats in Round 2. Competitors who survive elimination will join the head-to-head matchups in Round 3, where the top surfer advances into the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals.
The events will include the Longboard Tour’s Top 18 men and Top 18 women. Due to the previous season’s cancellations, there will be no wildcards featured in these events—although cancellations and travel restrictions for athletes may open spots for the next surfer on the rankings. The Top 10 surfers at this season’s end will requalify for the 2022 Longboard Tour, while places 11 through 18 will need to earn their spots through regional events. The 2021 WSL Longboard Champions will be crowned by the end of the Jeep Malibu Classic pres. by Havaianas after a highly-anticipated return from these stylemasters to put on a show to the world.
Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic and Jeep Malibu Classic pres. by Havaianas Competitors
Women:
Honolua Blomfield (HAW)
Chloe Calmon (BRA)
Alice Lemoigne (FRA)
Lindsay Steinriede (USA)
Tully White (AUS)
Kirra Seale (HAW)
Sally Cohen (HAW)
Zoe Grospiron (FRA)
Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA)
Soleil Errico (USA)
Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW)
Ophelie Ah-Kouen (REU)
Mahina Akaka (HAW)
Natsumi Taoka (JPN)
Avalon Gall (USA)
Sophia Culhane (HAW)
Haley Otto (HAW)
Keani Canullo (HAW)
Men:
Justin Quintal (USA)
Rodrigo Sphaier (BRA)
Taylor Jensen (USA)
Kaniela Stewart (HAW)
Kai Sallas (HAW)
Steven Sawyer (ZAF)
Harrison Roach (AUS)
Tony Silvagni (USA)
Ben Skinner (GBR)
Edouard Delpero (FRA)
Lucas Garrido Lecca (PER)
Taka Inoue (JPN)
Cole Robbins (USA)
Jefson Silva (BRA)
Phil Rajzman (BRA)
Joel Tudor (USA)
Kevin Skvarna (USA)
Augusto Olinto (BRA)
Reigning WSL Champions Honolua Blomfield (HAW) and Justin Quintal (USA) are eager for their return to the competitive arena after a year and a half hiatus from competition. Both surfed in the Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic specialty event in October of 2020, which saw Blomfield earn the runner-up finish and Quintal win, but now they are ready to compete for the 2021 Longboard World Titles.
“What I’m really looking forward to most is Malibu,” expressed Blomfield. “It’s a special place for me because I’ve competed there every year since I was 10. Malibu is pretty much where my longboarding career started, and to win the World Title there a decade later would be a dream come true.”
Haleiwa, Hawaii’s, 2X WSL Champion Blomfield, 22, left the Noosa Longboard Open with an Equal 5th and now has two events to capitalize on toward back-to-back World Titles. Quintal, 31, brought Jacksonville, Florida’s, first-ever World Title home in 2019 and must perform at both venues to secure a second after not competing in Noosa, Australia.
“It’s been a crazy couple years,” said Quintal. “But it’s been nice to reflect, reset and focus on aspects of my surfing practice and life that I haven’t had time for in the past. I’m stoked to see the WSL doing it’s best to keep the WSL Longboard Tour going this year despite the hurdles facing running events during a global pandemic. I honestly miss everyone, look forward to having some fun with the upcoming events and seeing the other surfers again.”
“I remember perfect blue tubes (at the Surf Ranch) and that’s exactly what I’m looking forward to,” continued Quintal. “Hope they don’t just put the longboarders on one of the softer settings. Let’s get it on.”
Watch It Again: 2020 Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic Specialty Event
Watch LIVE
The Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic and Jeep Malibu Classic presented by Havaianas will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.
The WSL Longboard Tour is proudly supported by our partners Jose Cuervo, Jeep,
Havaianas, Hydro Flask , Athletic Brewing, US Army, Aviator Nation, Firewire, and Flying Embers.
COVID-19 Updates
The health and safety of athletes, staff, and the local community are of the utmost importance and the WSL has a robust set of COVID safety plans in place to keep everyone safe. These plans are unique to each event.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
About the WSL
Established in 1976, the World Surf League (WSL) is the home of the world’s best surfing.
A global sports, media and entertainment company, the WSL oversees international tours and competitions, a studios division creating over 500+ hours of live and on-demand content, and via affiliate WaveCo, the home of the world’s largest high performance, human-made wave. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, the WSL has regional offices in North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and EMEA.
The WSL annually crowns the men’s and women’s surfing World Champions. The global Tours and Competition division oversees and operates more than 180 global contests each year across the Championship Tour, the development tiers, including the Challenger, Qualifying and Junior Series, as well as longboard and big wave properties.
Launched in 2019, WSL Studios is an independent producer of unscripted television projects, including documentaries and series, which provide unprecedented access to athletes, events, and locations around the world. WSL events and content are distributed on linear television in over 743M+ homes worldwide and across digital and social media platforms around the world, including WorldSurfLeague.com.
WaveCo includes the Surf Ranch Lemoore facility and the utilizing and licensing of the Kelly Slater Wave System.
The WSL is dedicated to changing the world through the inspirational power of surfing by creating authentic events, experiences, and storytelling to inspire a growing, global community to live with purpose, originality, and stoke.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
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