Day 2 from the ISA World Longboard Championship – wrap & photos

Link to the daily live webcast + full results included below.

With 118 surfers from 32 countries competing there’s not a lot of detail on how individual heats went down on Day 2, but here’s the news as it landed from the International Surfing Association:

Women’s Action on Day 2 of the Surf City El Salvador ISA World Longboard Championship

Defending champion Alice Lemoigne (FRA) leads with impressive start

First ISA Longboard appearance for Morocco elevated by Tarik Elbasity

Surf City El Salvador – May 9, 2023

A second day of clean 3-4 foot swell provided ideal longboard surfing conditions at El Sunzal. The final eight heats of Women’s Main Round 1 were completed, along with all of Men’s and Women’s Repechage Round 1, and four heats of Women’s Main Round 2.

Gender equality is a key goal for the ISA and equal positions are available for men and women at all ISA events. This year’s WLC features the highest percentage of female participation in ISA history, a full 46% of the field.

One of the women leading the charge is Alice Lemoigne. Growing up on Reunion Island and representing France, Lemoigne has found great success on right hand point breaks. With the long, right walls of El Sunzal, it was no surprise to see the defending champion collect the first excellent score of the women’s division (8.00) for long, committed nose-rides.

Her current state of mind is dangerous for her fellow competitors. “I feel so good,” Lemoigne said. “The wave is so good, it’s clean, it’s perfect for the longboard. I’m super happy to be here for my first time in El Salvador with the French team. I will enjoy every heat and let’s see.”

Main Round 1 highlights also came from Liv Stokes (CAN), Maria Fernanda Reyes(PER), Aping Agudo (PHI) and Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA) who each had convincing heat wins.

The first four heats of Women’s Main Round 2 ran late in the afternoon with strong performances from Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN), Ana Kaspar (PER), and Zoe Grospiron (FRA). Meanwhile Chloe Calmon (BRA) collected the highest heat total of the day (15.33) for the second day in a row, flowing with strong rail turns between impressive work on the nose.

Despite an unexpected loss on the first day of competition, Surfiel Gil (ARG) managed to fight his way back over Sam Dunton (AUS) at the last minute in his Repechage Round 1 heat to claim both the highest single wave score (6.57) and the highest heat total (12.40) for the men today.

Amado Alvarado (ESA), Alfonzo Pieters (RSA), and Rafael Cortez (CHI) also put on great performances to move through to Repechage Round 2.

Another surfer to stand out was Tarik Elbasity (MAR), who showed flashes of brilliance in both heats surfed so far, with tight footwork and critical nose-rides.

Elbasity is one of two Moroccan surfers representing their country for the first time in the ISA WLC. “I really love to be here, to see another level of surfing,” Elbasity said. “It’s my first time to do this contest with the ISA. Longboard in Morocco is starting to be good and there are more Moroccans who are new coming to compete.”

Competition will resume at 7:30am CST tomorrow with the continuation of Women’s Main Round 2.

LINK TO RESULT & LIVE WEBCAST