Freesurf June 2024

Tyler Stanaland

Photo Mike Harris

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 ISL WORLD LONGBOARD CHAMPION

KAIMANA BEACH HOTEL

HAWAIʻI WORLD LONGBOARD TEAM

The accounts below are donating $1.00 for every “Mahalo Margarita” sold in 2023 to AccesSurf to support the disabled military veterans and teach them how to Surf. Cuervo Tradicional is matching those donations to AccesSurf.

OAHU

604 Alehouse

Beachhouse by 604

El Ranchero Kapolei & Wahiawa

Kuhio Avenue Food Hall

Lay Low

Mahi'ai Table (Foodland)

Manifest

Margarita's

Mekiko Cantina

Princess Kaiulani Hotel

Scratch Kitchen

Suzie Wong's

TJ's Sports Bar

Waikiki Beach Marriott

Westin Moana Surfrider Hotel

BIG ISLAND

Bianelli's Pizza

Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Lava Shack

Luquin's Mexican

Pineapple's

MAUI

Bobby V's Italian Restaurant

Fleetwood's

KAUAI

Jimmy's Grill

Living Foods Restaurant

Milagro's

Congrats to the Hawaii Surf Team!

1st place - Honolua Blomfield ISA Women's LB Champion

1st place - Vaihiti Inso ISA Women's Junior Champion

1st place - Kai Sallas ISA Men's LB Champion

EDITORIAL

Editor / Publisher

Mike Latronic

Photo Director

Brian Bielmann

Art Director

John Weaver

Editorial Assistant

Kaea Latronic

Business Administration

Cora Sanchez (808) 260-9219

West Coast Distribution & Sales

Chuck Hendsch (619) 227-9128

Distribution & Advertising Inquiries (808) 260-9219

Staff Shooters

Brent Bielmann, Mike Latronic, Aukai Ng, John Weaver

Contributing Writers

Aukai Ng, Rebecca Parsons, Alexandra Kahn, Daniel Ikaika Ito, Nicole Nason, Amanda Crater Olson

Contributing Photographers

Alex Heil, Dooma Photos, Dayanidhi Das, Eric Aeder, Jason Kenworthy, Stu Soley, Mark Rodrigues, Aaron Lynton, Kurt Steinmetz, Mike Ito, Nick Gruen, Ryan Miller, Tommy Pierucki, Eric Baeseman, Ryan “Chachi” Craig, Christa Funk, Sarah Lee, Sean Evans, Tai Vandyke, Mitch McEwen

FREESURF MAGAZINE is distributed at most fine surf shops and select specialty stores throughout Hawai‘i and Southern California. Subscribe at freesurfmagazine.com

Other than “Free Postage” letters, we do not accept unsolicited editorial submissions without first establishing contact with the editor. FreeSurf, Manulele Inc. and its associates are not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged submissions or their return.

One-way correspondence can be sent to P.O. Box 1161, Hale‘iwa, HI 96712 E-mail editorial inquiries to info@freesurfmagazine.com A product of Manulele, Inc. 2024

Photo Mike Harris

MIKE HARRIS

ED NOTE

By Mike Latronic

In this issue we feature California's Mike Harris- a true artist of photography. The exposure and composition of this man's works are excellent. While imagination is powerful, does a picture not, “Tell a 1000 words?”

Come up with as many adjectives and verbs as you like for situations that relate to riding waves, but does anything written or spoken remotely compare to feeling or seeing the actual gravity of moving across water in real time? A writer can romance the excitement with written words but being there is way better. Thank goodness for the surf photogs and videographers that bring us there.

Moving far across the globe, there were more than a few special moments in Surf City, El Salvador, in the ISA World Longboarding and Junior Championships. Stylemasters from all over the world gathered to compete and Hawaii longboarders Kai Sallas, Kaneila Stewart, Honolua Blomfield and Kelis Kaleopaa powered their way to team victory edging out Japan for the gold. Both Kai Sallas and Honolua Blomfield took victories individually.

Next, over 50 junior teams of nearly 450 athletes gave a powerful snapshot for the future of surfing and it is a bright one! Team Australia restated historic competitive dominance and took the team gold medal with Dane Henry and Ziggy McKenzie nabbing gold in their respective divisions. Team Hawaii’s Vaihiti Inso ripped to a victory in the women's U18 thus clinching the Silver medal for Team Hawaii. Team USA battled to the Copper medal.

Whether you are looking for the perfect free surfing moment or wanna see the defining new champions of today, Freesurf brings you there so enjoy the mag!

Oh and I wanted to invite YOUR surf stories, board stories, questions or comments for the mag and digital feed. Pls email ml@freesurfmagazine.com

> local hero

Whether your local surf spot is a playful beach break in New Smyrna, Florida, a perfect point break in Northern California, or a frightening reef setup in Hawaii, chances are most regulars will look to a few top surfers and personalities for that region as "local heroes." All surf spots on Earth feature a loosely tribal pecking order, and the local hero tends to get good waves and hold their own. Depending on which surf break you call home, the criteria for that coveted title may change, and the number of candidates can shrink or grow. Born and bred in Hawaii, in one of the most competitive and fierce surfing regions on the planet, 26-year-old Joey Johnston is the consummate local hero at Backdoor and Pipeline. In the past few years, Johnston has had several standout moments on some of the gnarliest waves and killer barrels Pipeline has to offer. Joey is the youngest son of longtime shaper and highly credible surfer Don Johnston.

Story and Photos by Mike Latronic

Mike: Where did it all start?

Joey: I feel fortunate and grateful that my dad was a surfer, and he wanted to make sure me and my older brother had that same spark as him. I was raised here right at V-land, and I grew up with a solid pack of friends that were into the same things as me. We loved surfing, so my main crew was Kona Oliveira and Keale Lemos, and we pretty much would surf V-Land every day after school together. My mom wanted me to focus a lot more on school, and school always came first. Dad was kind of like the "Surf Nazi," so he wanted to make sure that his boys were surfers. He shaped all my boards growing up and always wanted to see that spark in us that he had.

Mike: You talked about a spark and wanting to emulate that spark. What are we talking about there?

Joey: It's just one of those feelings that you can't really explain. You kind of just gotta feel it. And once you feel it, then you know—that's the feeling you want to chase. Surfing is a stress reliever. It makes me feel good. You get a good

Joey Johnston

Photo Brent Bielmann

" I'm patient out there, I'll surf for up to two to three hours, maybe even four, and I'll only get, if I'm lucky, five waves."

wave, and you wanna keep chasing that feeling. Every wave's a little different. The adrenaline that you get from it, the rush, or the natural high you get from surfing, especially if you get a really good barrel, those are the feelings that you chase because it makes you feel good. You feel good inside. That's the spark.

Mike: Your lifelong pursuit of chasing waves puts you in the ocean more than most humans. Does that time in the water create any kind of special connection with the ocean or nature in general?

Joey: Being in the ocean is already a plus. Having that connection helps with being in the right place at the right time for that one good wave. It doesn't really get much more connected than that. Really, for everything to work together and come together for you to get that good wave—whether it's a two-foot wave on a small day or a ten-foot barrel out at Pipeline amongst hundreds of people in the water—it's a major connection for everything to come together, being in the right place at the right time, and having everything work out for you.

Mike: So what kind of place does surfing hold in your life?

Joey: There's no other sport in the world like it. It's like a drug, I guess, in a way. Some people like to have their coffee, others whatever it is they like, but whatever feeling that makes you feel good, that's what surfing is for me.

Mike: You have earned the title of Local Hero in recent years by consistently putting in strong performances at Pipeline and Backdoor. Talk about your relationship with those spots and some of the ups and downs.

Joey: When I was much younger, I told myself I'd probably never surf Pipeline on a big day just 'cause I was terrified of the waves and the crowd. It’s probably the scariest wave in the world, so I was just content surfing around home—VLand, Rockies—and just having fun. Nowadays, thinking of Pipeline, you really cannot get a much better feeling than getting a good wave out there. The change for me was a few years back when Reef Macintosh called me up to invite me to surf for Team Quiksilver in my first Backdoor Shootout. The Shootout is an event at Pipeline where you gotta go big or

go home. You gotta prove yourself. I had to prove that I was a good pick, and I got some fun waves and pulled into my first real big closeout. That adrenaline rush that you get from being on a wave like that, I think that's what kind of made that spark even brighter, and then I just started chasing that feeling after that. That's where it all started.

Mike: Tell me more about your experiences at Pipeline.

Joey: Well, it starts with the paddle out. You gotta make sure you shoot that gap in between Pipeline and Gums. If you don't make it through that gap, the rip current will wash you all the way towards the lifeguard tower hundreds of yards down the beach. The next thing is finding a wave and making sure you're in the right place at the right time. You don't want to paddle for a four-foot wave on a day that has tenfoot bombs, or next thing you're getting washed out on the inside or being in the way of someone else. There's a lot to it. Everything is—what am I trying to say here? It's just heavy.

"That adrenaline rush that you get from being on a wave like that, I think that's kind of what kind of made that spark even brighter and then I just started chasing that feeling after that. "

Mike: You have a knack for getting some of the waves of the day at that infamous location. Is that dumb luck, or what goes into that?

Joey: Like I said, I used to never like surfing Pipeline. I was terrified of the waves, and I hated surfing crowds. Over time, things changed. I know what I'm looking for out there. I'm really patient out there. The Pipeline really tests my patience. I'm kind of like a spaz when I surf a lot of other places. I kind of want to catch as many waves as I can but also make them quality waves. But Pipeline is a whole other ballpark for sure. I'm patient out there; I'll surf for up to two to three hours, maybe even four, and I'll only get, if I'm lucky, five waves. The thing about Pipeline—it's such a heavy wave and it's so dangerous that I don't want to be that person who's aggressive and trying to get every single wave. I want to wait my turn, look for the wave that I'm going for, and if I'm in the right place at the right time, I'm gonna go.

LANDON MCNAMARA

Who are your top five artists that inspire you?

That’s a tough question. I go through moods, and I can be a fan of a certain song from any genre. When I first got into playing guitar and began to sing, I was originally infatuated with it. I had a little dungeon downstairs in my house, and I filled the walls with paintings of Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix that I had bought cheaply off Poppies Lane in Bali when I was around 14. So those two figures are huge inspirations. I loved the fact that they both had powerful movements behind their music, fighting the system and promoting love and liberation.

Another big influence is Jack Johnson. He’s been the biggest thing to ever come out of my home. His music comes from where I come from, and I see the possibilities within myself through seeing what he’s achieved and how he carries himself, something I’m really only starting to get now at this phase in my life, honestly. I remember his "Brushfire Fairytales" CD inside my dad's van when I was really young. In 2001, I was 5 years old, and I can clearly remember singing along to the song “Flake.” I used to think that at the end, where he’s saying “please please please don’t drag me,” I heard it as “Blues Clues please don’t catch me.” Hahaha, I guess I was into that kid show "Blues Clues" at the time.

Photo Brent Bielmann

MUSIC VIBES

Another big influence has been SOJA. Some of the first songs I began to sing on acoustic guitar were their songs. The friend who really got me into loving guitar had been playing and singing their songs and taught me that I could just learn to play songs I loved. That opened up the world for me because, before that, guitar lessons consisted of songs I didn’t actually listen to and music theory, which felt like more school after school. SOJA’s music was huge in my formative years of playing and creating songs. I would watch all their acoustic videos and latch onto every word. Their style of singing and writing was real and unique, something I admired and felt. All of the artists I mentioned are still a part of my everyday life in the music I listen to.

How does music affect your spirit?

Music is powerful. It is really a force capable of making great change and impact. Music is many things to me: it can take me away or bring me present. My music is my spirit, and other people’s music becomes part of my spirit. How it affects my spirit is different at different times and with different music. I’d say simply good music inspires my spirit. What it gets inspired to do depends on the moment, I guess.

How important is music in your life?

Very important. As a listener and as an artist, at the end of the day, I am just a music fan.

How do you feel rhythm and music affect your surfing?

Sound waves, ocean waves, brain waves—haha, it’s all energy and frequencies. Beautiful things happen when you can be in that rhythm of freedom and find harmony with the natural essence of life. I think practicing being able to tap into that natural flow state of being, whether in music on stage or in the ocean, benefits one another. The more practice I get, the more I can translate it across my entire life.

Check out Landon's latest release "Slum Beach Posse Vol. 1 on Spotify Apple Music and Amazon. Featuring 1' with DENM, Slightly Stoopid, Jesse James, and Benny Ranks is out now on Controlled Substance Sound Labs!

Profile

MIKE HARRIS

Mike Harris is a prominent California surf photographer and consummate local of Surf City, Huntington Beach California. With nearly 10 years training as a junior lifeguard and then summertime lifeguard gigs, Harris's early exposure to and comfort in the ocean fueled his passion for surfing and surf photography. He is an inspired human in more ways than one and we at Freesurf are fortunate to share his amazing images and story.

One last drop. Chris Mansor, no hesitation... and yes, he nailed the drop and pulled in.

FSM Tell us about your experience with surf photography.

MH My photography career definitely did not start as a career. It was 2015 when I bought my first camera (a Canon Rebel/6.3MP) simply to take pictures of my three amazing kids. I quickly fell in love with photography which became a hobby and also a getaway from the stresses of life. I could feel my creative side taking off once I immersed myself in it.

Growing up, I was never really interested in photography, let alone surf photography. As a grom, I would say to myself, “why would anybody wanna sit on the beach and take pictures when you could be surfing?” Yet, I was a surf magazine junky. I started surfing at age nine. It was 1975. I would scour surf shops trying to get my hands on any surf mag I could find, begging my mom to buy me subscriptions to Surfer and Surfing. That era of surf culture from the late 70’s on into the 80’s was a magical time for me. Guys like MR, Shaun Thompson, and Gerry Lopez, were bigger than life. I would always try to buy two of the same magazine so I could save one and cut up the other one to tape to my bedroom walls. I miss those days of pure stoke, waiting for the next issue to come in the mail, and then once it came, I would look at it over and over again until the pages were falling out. Even today, after all these years, when I look at some of those old magazines that I have kept, I can still smell the wax on my board as a grom and recall so many amazing days surfing with my friends, laughing, baking in the sun, and getting barreled. So many of those surf magazine images are forever ingrained into my mind, they’re like looking at yearbooks for me. Photography was having a powerful impact in my life, and I didn’t even know it at the time.

and realized that if I wanted to get a close up action shot with a GoPro, then I had to get right in the most critical part of the wave and spend a lot of time getting pounded in the impact zone. When I got home and saw the shots from the GoPro, I was hooked. All of a sudden, I had a passion for surf photography. It was a really weird experience to have the same level of stoke taking pictures as going surfing. The only problem is, every time I’m surfing, I wanna be shooting, and when I’m shooting, I wanna be surfing.

FSM Did you have experience with photography before surfing?

MH When I first started shooting, I got really into wildlife photography. Here in Huntington Beach we have the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve and in the spring and fall, the reserve is home to many migratory birds. I was into birds of prey. It took a lot of patience, trial and error, and bug bites, but the more I dedicated myself the better my shots got. When I started shooting surfing, I told myself, I can do the same thing in the water. Even though I only had a GoPro, I told myself I’m gonna have to work that much harder than the other guys with the expensive water housings and longer lenses. Since that time, I have definitely been inspired and motivated by many amazing surf photographers such as Phil Thurston, Ben Thouard, Brian Bielmann,

FSM What's your take on “right place, right time?”

Fast forward to 2015, a really big swell hit Southern California, but I was injured and yet I still wanted to be in the water. I got a GoPro 6 and ended up swimming out at the Wedge to shoot. I had surfed the Wedge from the late 80s through the 90s, but hadn’t been out there for years. Anyways, I swam out in about 15-20’ wedge, almost drown a couple times

MH Whether it's a photo of my children, a wildlife shot capturing a decisive moment, or a seemingly once-in-alifetime landscape, viewers often think we just got lucky to capture an incredible photo. And, if I'm being truthful, sometimes we do get lucky. Not every shot is meticulously planned, especially with surf photography. Nevertheless, to study your subject and have a good idea of what they’re gonna do the second before you snap the shot is crucial. Know your subject. The more you know what to expect, the better you'll be able to anticipate that crucial moment and capture that "lucky" shot.

Life is not made up of minutes, hours, days or years, but of moments. Get out and enjoy them, because sometimes you’ll find your self in the perfect moment. Keanu Igarashi, last ride in.

Flipper and family

Mike Ferragamo

FSM What kind of gear do you shoot with?

MH I love it when people see my photography and they say, “wow, you must have a really good camera”. It seems that a lot of people think that there is a Holy Grail of camera gear that will solve all their problems if only they can attain it. However it isn’t the gear that matters, it’s what you do with it that counts. The right gear can make a big difference in quality it’s never really been about the gear, and as soon as you realize that, you will be free to create and shoot in a new and exciting way.

FSM When did you finally step up to get a serious water housing and camera?

MH I remember hearing someone once say, “follow your passion, even though there’s not a paycheck behind it”. I heard that quote when I was about to take the plunge and buy a new expensive camera and water housing. As I thought about that quote, I started to think about my life. You see, I became a Christian when I was 16 years old, and I had a very strong passion for the Lord, I had a passion to tell people about Jesus, I had a passion to study the Bible, I had a passion to sing worship songs and play guitar. There was no thought of a paycheck behind that, I just simply had a new amazing relationship with the God of the universe and I was stoked. As I continued to follow “my passion” (which was Christ), I became a pastor when I was 19 years old. I have pastored several churches, spent years on the mission field in Eastern Europe, and have gotten the privilege to share the gospel in over 50 countries. It’s been an amazing journey and I thank God for all of it! I also, thank God, I’ve gotten a paycheck for 30 years doing ministry.

Well, I do make money taking photos, especially when I shoot weddings, clothing brands, etc, but the real “paycheck“ has been the people I have met along the way, the friendships I have made, and the amazing experiences I have had behind the lens. I’m always amazed at where my passion for photography will take me. I would’ve missed out on thousands of amazing moments if I didn’t have that passion to “get the shot”.

FSM Love that inspiration! Sharing ocean imagery and surfing really sends positive vibes to the world, forcing us to test our imagination and instincts in the ocean. There’s definitely a spiritual connection! What's your goal from here?

When certain moments present themselves in life, sometimes we don’t know how special they are until they’ve past. This was one of those evenings. OC fires causing a surreal apocalyptic sky, 75 degree water, a translucent blue to the ocean, and Vince Boulanger making the most of it.

One of the hardest charging body borders I know at Wedge, Cory Bolter, scoring epic fall conditions.

T’was a glorious display of bioluminescent light dancing on a dark sea in the warm midnight hours with a canopy of dazzling stars over head and a deep satisfying calmness and Awe of Gods creativity and power.

Sometimes I need to look OUT of a barrel rather then looking INTO a barrel.

Lightning strikes

Big Wave is a lighter-bodied golden ale with a tropical hop aroma and flavor—smooth, easy drinking, and refreshing. The use of caramel malt contributes to the golden hue of this beer, and our special blend of hops provides a bright, quenching finish that makes it a struggle to not grab another one.

Kona Pub & Brewery Kona Brewing HawaiiKai

Mahalo for Drinking Responsibly. ©2023 Kona Brewing Hawaii Photo: Mike Latronic

MIKE HARRIS

MH I really want to just keep the thrill of photography going. Being out in the ocean is a thrill in and of itself, but surf photography has its own unique set of challenges, demands, and crazy moments. The unpredictable nature of the ocean, coupled with the fast-paced action of surfing, being mindful of your camera and your settings, and trying to keep the water droplets off your lens port, makes it an adrenaline-fueled, and at times, a perilous pursuit to get the shot. You have to be on your game, in shape, resourceful, patient, constantly adapting your techniques and approaches in response to the ever-shifting conditions. You need to be wellversed in the art of reading waves, currents, and winds, as well as possess a keen eye for composition, lighting, and timing. I’m always trying to remind myself that my camera is just a tool and my body is just a tripod for that tool. Yes, your gear and understanding the technical aspects of photography are all good and important things, but what is most important is your creativity, passion, and vision for what you want to produce and what you think you can achieve. Sometimes it’s hard to think this way, but instead of trying to create the perfect photo, just get out there and have some fun! Unpredictable Results are all part of the adventure. Forget about trying to make a buck, forget about the potential for recognition. Just do it for the thrill and all those things seem to follow.

"Energy, gravity, water, light…..I can’t get enough of it"

Australia Wins Gold 2024 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, Hawaii wins silver

• Hawaii wins team silver medal, France, bronze, USA, copper

• Dane Henry becomes first Australian to win Boy’s U/18 World Title in 15 years, Dylan Donegan makes it back-to-back for Spain in U/16

• Vaihiti Inso (HAW) and Ziggy Mackenzie (AUS) join long legacy of World Champions to represent their teams

An incredible Finals Day capped off the 2024 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC) where Australia, the winningest team in ISA World Junior history, broke a drought of 11 years to take one of the most commanding victories seen in ISA competition.

Individual gold medals for Dane Henry and Ziggy Mackenzie were backed up by a silver medal for Fletcher Kelleher and copper for Milla Brown. But the performance of their entire team was so strong that victory was almost secured before Finals Day even began, and a heat win for Brown, backed by Willow Hardy’s performance, in Girl’s U/18 Repechage Round 9 was enough to see Australia take the Team gold medal long before the Grand Finals began.

off, Surf City El Salvador delivered endless opportunities for the world’s best junior surfers to earn their historic wins.

The Boy’s U/18 Round 5 kicked off Main Event action for the day, hitting the water as the wind started blowing straight into the La Bocana rights, essentially activating video-game mode for Dane Henry (AUS). A lofty air reverse earned the Australian an 8.77, before a near-make of one of his famous backflips almost saw the 17-year-old picking up another giant score. His two wave total of 16.20 arrived as his third excellent heat total of the event.

The conditions were near-perfect for World Champions to be crowned. Clean, four-to-six foot peaks at La Bocana made the entire lineup look like a playground, and with the wind holding

The beginning of Henry’s heat saw 2023 Boy’s U/16 gold medalist Hans Odriozola (ESP) and South Africa’s Simon Winter tangled on a La Bocana peak, which landed them each with a non-priority interference, ultimately sending both surfers to repechage, where Winter hung on to still advance to Finals Day, but Odriozola was eliminated.

Team Australia / Photo: Pablo Jimenez

2024 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

The extremely stacked Boy’s U/18 Repechage 8 Heat that took Odriozola out also ended Jackson Dorian’s (HAW) campaign, after teammate Rylan Beavers (HAW) picked up a last-minute score to advance behind Eden Hasson (AUS), who earned a total of three big repechage heat wins today.

Not only did Australia as a team break a long gap in victory, but Dane Henry (AUS) became the first Australian to win Boy’s U/18 in 15 years. Though Henry’s performances all week were the talk of the event, most notably the only perfect-10 of the competition, a lull in waves during the Main Event Final saw him sent to the Repechage Final after only putting a single score on the board. Learning his lesson, the 17-year-old stayed active in his next two heats, catching more waves than anyone in both, capped off by a 9.23 in the Grand Final.

“This is the best moment of my life,” Henry said. “Before the Semis we heard that we got the gold and got the official confirmation and we did a big ring of fire. It’s just all come together after 10 years of us not winning gold. I just can’t believe it. I’m lost for words. It’s been the best experience of my life and I’m so grateful to be captaining this awesome Australian team.”

Despite posting the highest heat total of the event in his Repechage Round 9 heat, 18.17, Rickson Falcão (BRA) was unable to create the same magic in the Grand Final, and had to settle for the bronze medal after Henry’s teammate Fletcher Kelleher (AUS) scored an 8.10 on his final wave to take the silver and make it one-two for Australia in Boy’s U/18, with Ikko Watanabe (JPN) earning the copper medal.

Ziggy Mackenzie’s (AUS) road to the Final was made smoother after she took a wave in her Girl’s U/16 Main Event Final with 1 second to go. Needing a 6.54, the 15-year-old grabbed a 6.57 to guarantee herself a medal. In an extremely tight final, a 6.83 from Mackenzie proved to be the high point and when her backup of a 5.93 arrived late in the heat, it was enough to seal the deal and plant her name as a World Junior Champion alongside fellow Australians Stephanie Gilmore and Tyler Wright.

“I’m so stoked, Mackenzie said. “I feel like all the work that I’ve put in and all the support from the Australian team has all come together. I think everyone was so excited but so nervous at the same time coming into this event. We’ve got such a strong team and we really wanted to just push and push as hard as we can. We’re on top and I’m so stoked for the team.”

Two of last year’s medalists found themselves in back-to-back Finals, with 2023 bronze medalist Eden Walla (USA) earning copper and 2023 copper medalist Clémence Schorsch (FRA) taking silver, while Louise Lepront (RSA) won bronze, the first South African girl to earn a medal since Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games silver medalist Bianca Buitendag won silver in 2011.

Spain’s Dylan Donegan backed up teammate Hans Odriozola’s 2023 gold medal when he became U/16 World Champion. Both Donegan and Odriozola claimed their wins over Lukas Skinner (ENG), who once again won the silver medal. Donegan won each of his seven heats surfed this week, flaring most when it counted. An 8.17 for a backhand two-turn combo that

Ziggy Mackenzie, Team Australia / Photo: Sean Evans

Dylan Donegan, Team Spain Photo: Pablo Franco

ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT LEFT...

2024 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

featured a critical second closeout hit was backed up by a 7.13 for a 15.30 heat total.

“I’m really, really happy,” Donegan said. “It feels amazing. Just to even qualify for the team in Spain is really, really hard. I haven’t put it in my mind yet, I guess I’m going to have to and enjoy the moment and when it’s on me I’ll just probably go crazy.”

Hawaiian girls account for the most gold medals in the WJSC, and Vaihiti Inso continued that tradition when she won the 11th gold medal for Hawaii. The new U/18 World Champion was proud to represent her team and her culture with the victory, but was also thrilled to display a solid show of surfing. Winning the Grand Final with an 8.50 and 8.17, largely on the strength of her powerful and stylish forehand carves on the lefts of La Bocana, her 16.67 heat total left her fellow finalists in need of near-perfection to reach her.

“I’m almost speechless,” Inso said. “Honestly my main goal was not the result but just to put on a good performance and I hope I did that. I love surfing and before there was no lefts and all of a sudden the lefts just came that way. So mahalo ke Akua for the waves and God for everything.”

After impressive performances across both U/16 and U/18, 2022 U/16 copper medalist Tya Zebrowski (FRA) was able to add an U/18 silver medal to her count, with Sara Freyre (USA) and Milla Brown (AUS) winning the bronze and silver medals respectively.

"I really wanted to come here to win but most of all I wanted to represent Hawaii over everything. That's the place I come from and it's the place my ancestors are from. This is my culture and Im proud to represent it. There's nothing better than raising the Hawaiian Flag at the end of the day!" - Vaihiti Inso Photo: Sean Evans

2024 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing and although it's just a small group of islands, it's impact on the surfing world is large. That was the mentality of the 2024 Hawaii Junior Surf Team when traveling to El Salvador for the ISA World Junior Surfing games. These young men and women had their opportunity to represent their beautiful island home, where surfing originated. En route to a silver medal Team Hawaii surfed strong and showed the entire world what Hawaiian style surfing is all about.

Rylan Beavers Photo Sean Evans / ISA

Jackson Dorian

Photo Sean Evans / ISA

Vaihiti Inso

Photo Pablo Jiminez / ISA

Merrik Mochkatel Photo Sean Evans / ISA

Luke Tema

Photo Pablo Jiminez / ISA

Isla Sexton

Photo Pablo Franco / ISA

Tama Hanneman

Photo Pablo Franco / ISA

Skai Suitt

Photo Pablo Jiminez / ISA

Ione LaTurner

Photo Sean Evans / ISA

Chesney Guinotte

Photo Sean Evans / ISA

Maia Lima

Photo Pablo Jiminez / ISA

Photo Pablo Franco / ISA

Tiger Abubo

Photo Pablo Jiminez / ISA

2024 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship Team Rankng

Boy’s U/18

Gold – Dane Henry (AUS)

Silver – Fletcher Kelleher (AUS)

Bronze – Rickson Falcão (BRA)

Copper – Ikko Watanabe (JPN)

Girl’s U/18

Gold – Vaihiti Inso (HAW)

Silver – Tya Zebrowski (FRA)

Bronze – Sara Freyre (USA)

Copper – Milla Brown (AUS)

Boy’s U/16

Gold – Dylan Donegan (ESP)

Silver – Lukas Skinner (ENG)

Bronze – Thiago Passeri (ARG)

Copper – Alexis Owen (NZL)

Girl’s U/16

Gold – Ziggy Mackenzie (AUS)

Silver – Clémence Schorsch (FRA)

Bronze – Louise Le Pront (RSA)

Copper – Eden Walla (USA)

Gold – Australia

Silver – Hawaii

Bronze – France

Copper – USA

Honolua Blomfield and Kai Sallas Deliver Clean Sweep for Hawaii at the 2024 ISA World Longboard Championship

• First women’s gold medal for Blomfield, second for Sallas, solidifies first Team World Championship for Hawaii

• Rachael Tilly (USA) earns women’s silver medal, Natsumi Taoka (JPN), bronze, Zoé Grospiron (FRA), copper

• Taka Inoue (JPN) wins men’s silver medal, Rodrigo Sphaier (BRA), bronze, Edouard Delpero (FRA), copper

Hawaii has earned its first Team World Championship at the 2024 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Longboard Championship, winning gold medals in both women’s and men’s individual divisions, as well as the team gold medals. Honolua Blomfield (HAW) won her first women’s ISA World Championship, while 2018 World Champion Kai Sallas (HAW) won his second.

Long, clean, three-to-four foot swell lines wrapped into El Sunzal, yet again providing near-perfect conditions for the world’s best longboarders to battle for the gold medals.

Kai Sallas

Photo Jersson Barboza / ISA

Team Hawaii Photo Jersson Barboza / ISA

2024 ISA World Longboard Championship

The three-time WSL Longboard Champion, Honolua Blomfield (HAW), had previously won the gold medal in the 2013 Open Junior division, beating all of the boys to do so, but had yet to win the women’s gold medal, a goal which she was thrilled to secure today.

Blomfield immediately put pressure on the rest of the field in the Final, opening with a 7.00 right as the horn sounded. Staying active, she soon posted an 8.07 to have a significant lead. After a slow start, 2013 Silver Medalist Rachael Tilly (USA, silver) picked up an 8.17 to put herself in the conversation and leave 2018 Bronze Medalist Natsumi Taoka (JPN, bronze) and 2023 Copper Medalist Zoé Grospiron (FRA, copper) needing large scores. With less than 30 seconds on the clock Tilly caught a wave, needing a 6.90, while Blomfield took the next wave directly behind her. With both surfers waiting on the sand for scores, Tilly earned exactly what she needed, a 6.90, before Blomfield’s score was announced, an 8.43, the highest of the heat and enough to easily secure victory.

“Honestly, I’m at a loss for words,” an emotional Blomfield said. “I really wanted it so bad and for it to come and happen to me, it feels insane.”

“It means a lot (to win the Team World Championship). I was paddling out for my heat and Kai had a 9. He was looking

good, you know, so it kind of fired me up more than usual. And then for his heat to end and then get the gold, I was just like, now I have to put my feet in the right places and get the right waves and I can do it too. It really fired me up and inspired me.”

The reigning WSL Longboard Champion Kai Sallas (HAW) is now a two-time ISA World Longboard Champion. Having almost completed his goal of winning the ISA / WSL double world titles in 2018 when he won his first ISA gold medal and placed runner-up in the WSL, Sallas was ecstatic to further solidify his place as the best longboarder in the world by taking out the twin world titles within a few months of each other.

After being knocked out in Main Event Round 4, Sallas had to surf through five repechage heats to gain his way into the Final and the knowledge gained in those extra heats proved beneficial. Catching a wave within the first minute, Sallas delivered a blistering performance, earning the highest single wave score of the event for the men for committed, critical nose-riding. Though fellow finalists Taka Inoue (JPN, silver), 2010 World Champion Rodrigo Sphaier (BRA, bronze), and two-time Bronze Medalist Edouard Delpero (FRA, copper) were also able to open with scores in the high 8-point range, Sallas controlled the rest of the heat, quickly backing up his score and expertly utilizing priority in the final minutes.

Honolua Blomfield

Photo Jersson Barboza / ISA

Kaniela Stewart

Photo Jersson Barboza / ISA

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“It feels amazing,” Sallas said. “It’s just proof that if you bounce back and put in the hard work and keep trying, no matter how old you are, it’s never too late. Just keep going for it.”

“The waves are insane. It’s the kind of day where if you were just free-surfing you’d pull up and look out there and just be psyching to get out and surf and we get to compete. Big shout out to ISA and Fernando Aguerre for running this amazing event. I really hope that longboarding goes into the Olympics. I think we’re proving that it belongs there.”

RESULTS

Team Rankings

Gold – Hawaii

Silver – Japan

Bronze – France

Copper – Brazil

Women

Gold – Honolua Blomfield (HAW)

Silver – Rachael Tilly (USA)

Bronze – Natsumi Taoka (JPN)

Copper – Zoé Grospiron (FRA)

Men

Gold – Kai Sallas (HAW)

Silver – Taka Inoue (JPN)

Bronze – Rodrigo Sphaier (BRA)

Copper – Edouard Delpero (FRA)

Photo: Timo

Kelis Kaleopaa photo Pablo Jimenez / ISA

2024 HAWAII SURFING ASSOCIATION STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

FEATURING THE HIC PRIME SERIES

Hawai'i’s best surfers gathered at Ala Moana Bowl to surf off at the Hawaii Surfing Association State Championships. Rippable 1-3’ surf was on hand for the bulk of the competition and hundreds of shortboarders, longboarders and bodyboarders showed their best, including the inspirational adaptive division.

Also noteworthy was the continuation of the Hawaiian Island Creations Prime Series which was created at the start of the 2022/2023 season with the goal of elevating the level of amateur surfing in Hawai'i. Traditionally, Hawai'i amateur surfing competitions run a six-person 15- minute format. However, at the national level championships the competition would run four-person 20- minute heats with wave priority and live scoring. The competitors from Hawai'i were at a disadvantage to the more-experienced mainland competitors at these national events. HIC had made a two-year commitment to help implement a professional format that required live scoring, wave priority, four-man heats for 20 minutes in Hawai'i. HIC is proud to continue the support of the program for a third year. For full results and more about the Hawai'i Surfing Association visit www. hawaiisurfingassociation.org

Photos Mitch McKewen

Mokulele Surf Team Rider Merrik Mochkatel

Photo Mike Latronic

NEWS & EVENTS

KELLY SLATER RETIRES?

Kelly Slater retires from professional competitive surfing. The most successful competitive surfer of all time, Kelly Slater, rode what may have been the last heat of his 24-year professional career.

The 11-time world surfing champion survived the elimination round at Margaret River but lost his Round 32 against Griffin Colapinto.

2024 MAVERICK'S AWARDS

The best-performing surfers of the 2024 season at the infamous Northern California surf break have been decided. The winners' ceremony was held at San Benito House in Half Moon Bay.

The Awards Show featured five video segments, including "A Day To Remember," which covered the historic tow session on December 28, a "Humans vs. Mavericks" wipeout reel, and a "Raw Highlights" section featuring some of the best rides of the season at Mavericks. The 2024 Mavericks Surf Awards Winners are...

Consequently, Slater, 52, does not make the mid-season cut nor qualified for the 2025 WSL CT and is expected to hang his leash when it comes to professional surfing.

There was never a formal announcement, but it's clear from his emotional post-comp words that surfing's greatest of all time (GOAT) is moving on to a new stage of his life.

It's been 44 years lifting trophies with the jersey on since the Cocoa Beach-born started competing at eight.

The youngest (20) and the oldest (39) surfer to conquer a world surfing title won 56 Championship Tour (CT) events. The first contest win arrived in 1992 at Rip Curl Pro Landes, and the last was the 2022 Billabong Pro Pipeline. Kelly Slater won eight Pipe Masters, three Triple Crown of Surfing trophies, and one Eddie Invitational contest.

In the future, we may see the smooth Floridian taking on his favorite waves as a wildcard: Pipeline, Teahupoo, and Cloudbreak.

Women Performer of the Year: Bianca Valenti Ride of the Year: Bianca Valenti

Biggest Wave: Bianca Valenti

Men Performer of the Year: Alo Slebir Ride of the Year: Wilem Banks Biggest Wave: J ojo Roper

Erin Brooks (CAN) and Mikey McDonagh (AUS) won the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro presented by GWM, Stop No. 1 of the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series (CS). The pair were the standout performers on an action-packed Finals Day, with Snapper Rocks delivering epic conditions once again with clean surf in the three-to-four-foot range.

Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Jack Robinson (AUS) won the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). In a full day of competition that ran 18 heats, Bryan and Robinson took down a stacked field in six-to-eight-foot waves at Margaret River’s Main Break.

Ryan Crosby is the new chief executive officer (CEO) of the World Surf League (WSL). The professional surfing circuit chose the successor of Erik Logan, the man who led WSL from January 2020 to June 2023.

"What I love about surfing is that it's an incredibly competitive sport, but it's also a way of life, a passion, and a deeply committed global community," said Crosby.

Making the Cut

The mid-season cutoff for the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour occurs after the first five events, determining which surfers continue competing in the latter half of the season. Following these events, only the top 22 men and top 10 women based on accumulated points remain on the tour, while those who do not make the cut are relegated to the Challenger Series. This system heightens competition by ensuring that only the highest-performing surfers advance, making the early season crucial for those aiming to compete in the prestigious final events and ultimately for the World Championship title.

Men

Griffin Colapinto

Jack Robinson

John John Florence

Ethan Ewing

Jordy Smith

Jake Marshall

Barron Mamiya

Cole Houshmand

Kanoa Igarashi

Liam O'Brien

Imaikalani deVault

Crosby Colapinto

Seth Moniz

Rio Waida

Ramzi Boukhiam

Italo Ferreira

Leonardo Fioravanti

Ryan Callinan

Gabriel Medina

Matthew McGillivray

Connor O'Leary

Yago Dora

Women

Caitlin Simmers

Johanne Defay

Molly Picklum

Brisa Hennessy

Gabriela Bryan

Caroline Marks

Bettylou Sakura Johnson

Tyler Wright

Tatiana Weston-Webb

Sawyer Lindblad

“Board Stories” can be seen in Hawai'i on Spectrum OC16 on Ch. 16/1016 and Spectrum Surf Channel Ch. 20/1020. Spectrum OC16’s live stream is available on oc16.tv and the Spectrum TV app (to Spectrum customers in Hawai'i only), and nationally to any Spectrum customer on the Spectrum News mobile app and CTV app on Roku and Apple TV.

Eli Hanneman

Next month in

issue Guest Editor Christa Funk

LAST

LOOK

There’s always Beauty to be found in chaos.

Photo Mike Harris