Pressure Mounts with Gold Medals and Key Qualification on the Line for Day 5 of the 2023 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Longboard Championship

France and Brazil maintain equal first place on team leaderboard

Sixteen surfers confirm Santiago 2023 Pan American Games qualification, while four Brazilian teammates continue battle for final two positions

Bali 2023 ANOC World Beach Games Qualifying Nations Confirmed

Two-time medalist Chloe Calmon (BRA) seeks elusive ISA gold medal

A decrease in swell to a more manageable 4-5 foot evened the playing field for Day 5 of the 2023 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Longboard Championship (WLC). Main Round 4 was completed in both Men’s and Women’s divisions, as were Repechage Rounds 4, 5 and 6.

At the end of the day 16 surfers remained in the draw, with two nations accounting for half of those athletes. The Brazilian and French teams both managed to see all four of their surfers into Finals Day and maintain equal first position in the team rankings. Peru, Japan and the Philippines follow in their campaigns for team medals.

Multiple qualification scenarios played out during the course of the day. Personal representation in the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games was on offer for many of the competitors, as was national representation in the Bali 2023 ANOC World Beach Games. Gold medals were front of mind for most athletes however.

In an extremely tight heat, defending gold medalist Alice Le Moigne (FRA) avoided a possible interference call with Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA) to progress alongside teammate Zoe Grospiron (FRA) into the last remaining Women’s Main Round heat before the Final, Main Round 5.

Also finding her way into the Main Round 5 heat was former silver and bronze medalist Chloe Calmon (BRA), who came close to Repechage relegation herself. Needing a decent score with under two minutes left, Calmon milked a lesser wave for all it was worth to earn a 7-point ride and progression. With a medal finish in both of her previous appearances, Calmon’s ambition is clear.

“For every event I come with one goal in mind, and that goal is to win,” Calmon said. “I train really hard for this. It’s a long week and there’s a lot of rounds.”

Men’s Main Round 4 Heat 2 contained all three former gold medalists present in El Salvador. Defending champion Benoit ‘Piccolo’ Clemente (PER) and 2010 gold medalist Rodrigo Sphaier (BRA) put up their best fight, but it was two-time gold medalist Antoine Delpero (FRA) who posted the highest heat total of the day to advance, along with Rogelio Esquievel Jr. (PHI). Delpero caught just two waves, both in the final 8 minutes of the 25 minute heat to claim his total.

Lima 2019 silver medalist Julian Schweizer (URU) was one of 16 surfers who confirmed qualification to Santiago 2023 today. “There’s no doubt about the pressure that this kind of event brings,” Schweizer said. “Not only for the gold medal, but also because of qualification for the ANOC World Beach Games and the Pan American Games. It’s a weird feeling, as I had to compete against my teammate for qualification to Santiago, but it’s all part of the game.”

Joining Schweizer in Santiago will be Lima 2019 gold medalist Benoit ‘Piccolo’ Clemente (PER), Lima 2019 bronze medalist Cole Robbins (USA), Martin Perez (ARG), Rafael Cortez (CHI), Anthony Flores (CRC), Amado Alvarado (ESA), and Agustín Cedeño (PAN). One more men’s qualifier will be confirmed tomorrow as Rodrigo Sphaier (BRA) is still progressing along with provisionally qualified teammate Carlos Bahia (BRA).

The confirmed Women’s Santiago 2023 qualifiers are Lima 2019 silver medalist Maria Fernanda Reyes (PER), Liv Stokes (CAN), Samantha Wilson (CHI), Lia Reyes Diaz (CRC), Sindy Portillo (ESA), Iana Ramirez (PUR), Inés Beisso (URU), and Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA). Lima 2019 gold medalist Chloe Calmon (BRA) came into the event provisionally qualified, but teammate Atalanta Batista (BRA) can still claim Calmon’s slot if she finishes ahead of her.

The qualifying nations for the Bali 2023 ANOC World Beach Games were also solidified today. One slot each was awarded to nine National Olympic Committees (NOC’s) for Men and ten for Women. Five additional NOC’s earned one slot for Men through continental allocation, while four additional NOC’s earned one slot each for Women’s continental allocations.

Men’s Bali 2023 ANOC World Beach Games qualifying NOC’s

• Argentina
• Brazil
• France
• Japan
• Peru
• Philippines
• Portugal
• South Africa
• USA

Continental Allocations:

• Africa – Morocco
• Americas – Costa Rica
• Asia – Chinese Taipei
• Europe – Spain
• Oceania – New Zealand

Women’s Bali 2023 ANOC World Beach Games qualifying NOC’s

• American Samoa
• Australia 
• Brazil
• Canada
• France
• Japan
• Peru
• Philippines
• South Africa
• USA

* 10th slot allocated because no further countries are eligible to qualify from Africa

Continental Allocations:

• Africa – None, see above
• Americas – Mexico
• Asia – Chinese Taipei
• Europe – Spain
• Oceania – New Zealand

Competition will resume tomorrow at 7:30am CST with Men’s Repechage Round 7