<div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Honolua Blomfield</strong> (HAW) and <strong>Edouard Delpero</strong> (FRA) won the <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2025/lt/350/surf-abu-dhabi-longboard-classic/main" target="_blank">Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic</a>, Stop No. 3 of the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Tour. During an action packed Finals Day, the world’s best Longboarders took on the wave technology from the Kelly Slater Wave Company (KSWC) with style and excellence. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Having shared wins at the inaugural Longboard Tour competition in the KSWC technology at the Surf Ranch in 2021, Blomfield and Delpero also share the distinction of becoming first-time parents in 2025. The pair defeated <strong>Avalon Gall</strong> (USA) and <strong>Steven Sawyer </strong>(RSA), in the Finals, respectively. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Honolua Blomfield Claims Sixth Career Win in Remarkable Postpartum Performance</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In a remarkable return to form,<strong> Honolua Blomfield </strong>(HAW) has claimed the sixth Longboard Tour win of her career barely six months after giving birth to her first child. Having last claimed victory at the 2022 GWM Sydney Surf Pro, the three-time World Longboard Champion backed up her 2021 Surf Ranch win, where she famously delivered a Perfect 10-point ride. Blomfield earned the two highest single wave scores of this year's Surf Abu Dhabi event, both 9.80’s, and posted excellent two-wave totals in every heat. The win boosted the 26-year-old all the way to the No. 3 seed headed into the Longboard Championships, where she will feature in Match 3.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"All of it's a lot to take in really," Blomfield said. "I feel like I've had such blessings in the past few days, all my great waves, it's kind of hard to be disappointed, even if I did lose. Sharing a Final with one of my besties, of course."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a lacklustre initial two-wave run, that included a fall on her first right, Blomfield left the door open for <strong>Avalon Gall</strong> (USA). Gall followed up with two elegantly delivered waves that earned her a 7.17 (out of a possible 10) and an 8.50, leaving a hefty requirement for the Hawaiian on her second run. This time, Blomfield delivered, posting her fifth ride in the 9-point range of the event, a 9.27. Having mastered the inside barrel on the right, Blomfield utilized her effortless switch-stance on the left, but was unable to complete the final section. The 7.33 earned left Gall in need of a ride in the 8-point range on both of her remaining waves, which she was unable to achieve, leaving the new mother as the victor.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“My boyfriend actually talked me into the mental, I guess, and you just got to believe in yourself, really. I tend to not do that a lot, but I'm glad that I had that in me just now to do,” Blomfield continued. “I was pregnant last year here and the contest after in El Salvador. And then I had my baby, and I really just wanted to do it, because who else would if not, you know? I just thought it'd be a cool thing to take my baby on the road with me, let him see a few things, and yeah, this was kind of the goal.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Avalon Gall Secures No. 1 Seed For First Longboard Championships Appearance</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By placing in the Final, <strong>Avalon Gall</strong> (USA) secured the No. 1 seed going into the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships. Facing some of the toughest competition in the draw, Gall defeated 2024 event winner<strong> Alice Lemoigne</strong> (FRA) in the Quarterfinals and reigning World Longboard Champion<strong> Rachael Tilly </strong>(USA) in the Semifinals. Gall’s previous highest ranking of No. 6 came in 2021, and the 22-year-old will now feature in the Finals format for the very first time at the top of the pack. Thanks to an update to the format, the Californian is now potentially one heat win away from clinching her first World Longboard Title, should she win the first Title Match in El Salvador early next month.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Oh my God, I cannot believe it, I actually have no idea what to say,” Gall said of being the No. 1 seed. “It's really special, especially to share [the Final] with one of my best friends. I'm so happy for her and proud of her. She surfed so amazing all event." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Edouard Delpero Victory Leads to No. 1 Seed Ahead of Longboard Championships</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bouncing back from one of his worst seasons on Tour in 2024, 2017 World Longboard Title runner-up <strong>Edouard Delpero</strong> (FRA) has taken the No. 1 seed headed into the Longboard Championships with today’s victory. After finishing last place at the US Open of Surfing, Delpero arrived at Bells Beach low in the rankings days after his first child was born. The French veteran turned that special moment into motivation, marching into the Semifinals there and now taking it even further for his third Longboard Tour win and first since 2021, when he also won in KSWC technology. Entering the Longboard Championships at El Salvador on top of the rankings spells danger for his competitors, especially after the 35-year-old topped the podium at the ISA World Longboard Championships at the same location earlier this year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I just love it, man, getting eight barrels, positioning, that was the best,” Delpero said. “I really enjoy the wave, the setup this year was amazing and I had fun and that was the most important. I was really looking forward to getting barreled this year and I got, so the win is a bonus. It's amazing.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Delpero was unstoppable throughout the event, consistently delivering excellent performances. Setting the pace for the field from his very first heat in the Opening Round, Delpero’s Finals Day run continued that trajectory. An impressive 9.10 (out of a possible 10) aided the elimination of <strong>Oliver Packham</strong> (RSA) in the Quarterfinals, before his Semifinal defeat of reigning World Longboard Champion <strong>Taylor Jensen </strong>(USA). Delpero needed only his first run of the Final to defeat defending event winner <strong>Steven Sawyer</strong> (RSA) after the South African fell on both of his rights.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"My last win was in the pool too, so I'm stoked," Delpero continued. "It wasn't my best heat so far, but it played out my way. So yeah, I'm happy. I just want to go back home as fast as possible and be close to my little family and that's the only thing that really matters now." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Back-to-Back Surf Abu Dhabi Finals for Steven Sawyer</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Steven Sawyer</strong> (RSA) earned his way to a back-to-back Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Final with consistent performances and style. The 2018 World Longboard Champion kicked off his Finals Day run defeating <strong>Declan Wyton</strong> (AUS) in the Quarterfinals before meeting good friend and long-time travelling partner <strong>Kevin Skvarna</strong> (USA) in the Semifinals. Although Sawyer earned the highest single wave score of the men’s field in his last wave with a 9.60 (out of a possible 10), the 31-year-old hadn’t been able to improve his numbers on his second run on the right. Sawyer now heads into the Longboard Championships as seed No. 6.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Last year and this year has been the closest I've ever been to the Lord in any aspect of my sports. And I mean, just tapping into the presence has been something so surreal for me,” Sawyer said. “It's so cool to get here two years in a row and have finaling positions. Two Finals in a row, that is proof of it. It's surreal, honestly." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Qualifiers Confirmed for the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Top 8 women and Top 8 men are confirmed for the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships to compete for the 2025 World Longboard Titles, November 5 through 9, 2025. Both fields feature three newcomers to the Finals format, including the No. 1 women’s seed, <strong>Avalon Gall </strong>(USA), and No. 2 men’s seed, <strong>Kai Ellice-Flint </strong>(AUS).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s Top 8 Qualifiers</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 - Avalon Gall (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 - Soleil Errico (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 - Honolua Blomfield (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4 - Chloe Calmon (BRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">5 - Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">6 - Kelis Kaleopa’a (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">7 - Rachael Tilly (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">8 - Tully White (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Top 8 Qualifiers</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 - Edouard Delpero (FRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 - Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 - Taylor Jensen (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4 - Kevin Skvarna (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">5 - Max Weston (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">6 - Steven Sawyer (RSA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">7 - Declan Wyton (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">8 - Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For highlights from today’s competition at the Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Women's Finals Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 - Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 16.60</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 - Avalon Gall (USA) 16.43</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Men's Finals Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 - Edouard Delpero (FRA) 15.80</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 - Steven Sawyer (RSA) 14.43</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Women's Semifinals Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Avalon Gall (USA) 16.33 DEF. Rachael Tilly (USA) 13.66</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 17.20 DEF. Chloe Calmon (BRA) 16.14</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Men's Semifinals Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Edouard Delpero (FRA) 16.94 DEF. Taylor Jensen (USA) 15.33</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Steven Sawyer (RSA) 16.06 DEF. Kevin Skvarna (USA) 11.34</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Women's Quarterfinals Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Rachael Tilly (USA) 14.00 DEF. Tully White (AUS) 12.57</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Avalon Gall (USA) 16.50 DEF. Alice Lemoigne (FRA) 14.57</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 3: Chloe Calmon (BRA) 14.97 DEF. Natsumi Taoka (JPN) 14.07</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 4: Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 17.07 DEF. Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Men's Quarterfinals Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Edouard Delpero (FRA) 17.77 DEF. Oliver Packham (RSA) 10.67</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Taylor Jensen (USA) 16.16 DEF. Tony Silvagni (USA) 9.50</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 3: Kevin Skvarna (USA) 14.83 DEF. Chase Lieder (USA) 10.50</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 4: Steven Sawyer (RSA) 15.60 DEF. Declan Wyton (AUS) 15.16 </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Last Stop: Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships will be the final, World-Title-deciding event on the 2025 WSL Longboard Tour. The competition will hold a window from November 5 - 9, 2025 and will run on the single best day of conditions. The event will be broadcast LIVE on <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a> and the free <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/app" target="_blank">WSL app</a>. <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/waystowatch" target="_blank">Check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>The 2025 Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic is proudly supported by Modon, Surf Abu Dhabi, and the Department of Culture & Tourism Abu Dhabi.</em> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>. </div><div> </div>