Although not yet an Olympic qualifier – that comes next year – the World Surfing Games brings together the top surfers in the world, this time off of Tahara (JPN), about 300 km from the site of the 2020 Olympic surfing events.
It’s the first time the World Surfing Games has been held in Japan since 1990; the event dates back to the World Surfing Championships from 1964.
As for this year, the top surfers, including both defending champions, are expected to compete. The top placers from the last three:
∙ Men/2017:
1. Jhony Corzo (MEX)
2. Joan Duru (PER)
3. Pedro Henrique (POR)
4. Jonathan Gonzalez (ESP)
∙ Men/2016:
1. Leandro Usuna (ARG)
2. Lucca Messinas (PER)
3. Noe Mar McGonagle (CRC)
4. Francisco Bellorin (VEN)
∙ Men/2015:
1. Noe Mar McGonagle (CRC)
2. Nicolau von Rupp (POR)
3. Shane Holmes (AUS)
4. Leandro Usuna (ARG)
∙ Women/2017:
1. Pauline Ado (FRA)
2. Johanne Defray (FRA)
3. Leilani McGonagle (CRC)
4. Bianca Buitendag (RSA)
∙ Women/2016:
1. Tia Blanco (USA)
2. Dominic Barona (ECU)
3. Pauline Ado (FRA)
4. Justine Dupont (FRA)
∙ Women/2015:
1. Tia Blanco (USA)
2. Leilani McGonagle (CRC)
3. Ella Williams (NZL)
4. Chelsea Tuach (BAR)
Other former champions scheduled to compete include Santiago Muniz (ARG: 2011) among the men and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS: 2008) and Peru’s Sofía Mulanovich (2004) and Analí Gomez (2014) in the women’s division. Argentina’s Usuna, the 2016 winner, also won in 2014.
Some 202 riders from 42 nations are expected in Tahara, with Iran, Hungary, and Philippines making their first appearances in the event. The competition, weather permitting, will be held from 16-22 September.
Look for results here.
