BELLS BEACH, Victoria, Australia (Sunday, July 21, 2024) – Soleil Errico (USA) and Taylor Jensen (USA) have claimed victory at the Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic, Stop No. 1 of the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Tour (LT). The Californian duo overcame a field of the world’s best longboarders to win as Bells Beach turned on the best day of the window with super clean, pumping waves in the three-to-four-foot range.
Soleil Errico Goes Back-to-Back at Bells Beach
Reigning three-time WSL World Longboard Champion Soleil Errico (USA) came into the Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic as one of the favourites, having claimed victory at this event last year in its maiden appearance on the Longboard Tour. The stylish young Californian had been building all week, posting some of the highest scores of the entire event, including a 17.40 heat total and near-perfect 9.50 single ride in her Semifinal, the highest wave score and two-wave total of the entire event.
“It feels really good to get the win again,” Errico said. “Today is a day I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I felt so calm all day. The waves were reminding me so much of home; that’s how Malibu gets when the winds are calm and the tide is high. I’m just really glad it all worked out.”
In the Final, Errico came up against Japan’s Natsumi Taoka (JPN), who was appearing in her first Longboard Tour Final. The pair went back and forth, trading waves and mid-range scores, with Errico holding the advantage with an 8.00-point ride. With only minutes left, Errico found a set and got to work, carving and swooping in the pocket, then walking to the nose on multiple sections for long hang-tens. Errico earned a 9.33, the second-highest single wave of the event, to put Taoka into a combination situation (needing two scores for the lead). It was too much for Taoka to come back from, leaving Errico to take her second win at Bells Beach in as many years.
“I’m so lucky to have the support crew that I have around me,” Errico continued. “CJ Nelson is just the best, and my dad and mum are great, and then all my friends and family at home. I’d like to thank everyone who has come on this journey with me. It’s a crazy journey but days like this make it all worth it. I’m really excited to keep surfing and keep it going.”
Taylor Jensen Claims Memorable Victory
Three-time WSL World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen (USA) has claimed one of the most memorable event wins of his career. For the first time, he earned a victory at Bells Beach, joining his father-in-law and fellow World Champion Nat Young on the winner’s list at this iconic location.
“I’ve been looking at all of the bells trophies at the house over the last few weeks and wondering if I’ll get my own Bells Bowl to bring home,” Jensen said. “And I guess I do now, so I’m really happy. It’s such an amazing location with so much history, so to come here and compete is really special, but to win is amazing. I lost in the semifinals last year and have had a bit of a chip on my shoulder since then so to get this win is really special. It’s pretty cool to win here.”
In the Final, Longboard Tour veteran Jensen came up against Hawaiian youngster John Michael Van Hohensein (HAW) in what was a battle that went down to the wire. Van Hohensein took an early lead until Jensen found the first score of consequence, posting an 8.33 for a series of long nose-rides and powerful carves. Van Hohensein then fought back, finding a perfectly shaped set wave and riding the nose through a long, critical section, then finishing with a tight turn and closeout rebound to take the lead with a 9.33. With only 2 minutes left, Jensen used priority on a medium set, went straight to the nose for a hang-ten, then carved up and down all the way to the shore to post another excellent score and end the heat with a two-wave total of 16.40. Then, a minute later, Van Hohensein took off on a set, needing a score and surfed it as well as he could, but the wave ran out of push, and the score wasn’t enough, leaving Jensen to take the win.
“They are the heats you want that go down to the wire and put on a show for everyone.” Jensen continued. “To go back and forth with Johnny is amazing; he is so talented and will be winning world titles in no time. So to win against him here at Bells, in perfect surf, is a dream come true.”
Natsumi Taoka and John Michael Van Hohenstein Finish Runner’s Up
Although she wasn’t able to get the win, it was a massively successful event for Natsumi Taoka (JPN), who posted some of the highest heat totals of the event on Finals Day as well, earning the biggest result of her career. Taoka will now head to California, sitting second in the world and with a great chance of campaigning for her maiden World Title.
“Making a Final has always been a dream for me, so this is a dream come true for me,” Taoka said. “I didn’t have the best performance in the final but I’m happy with my surfing for the last few days. I have been here at Bells Beach for 10 days and have had so many good waves. It’s a great place, and I’ve had an amazing time.”
John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) was a standout performer all week, earning some of the biggest single-wave scores of the event for his style and poise on the nose and powerful carves in transition. Van Hohensein’s 9.33 in the Final was the highest single-ride score of the entire event. Today’s runner-up finish is his equal best-ever result as he looks to lock in a spot at the Longboard Tour Finals to be held in El Salvador later this year.
“It’s been a great week here at Bells,” Van Hohensein said. “This wave is super fun, and although the conditions have been tricky at times this week, today was amazing. I always just kept my head up this week and am stoked to get to this point.”
For highlights from today’s competition at the Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Men’s Final Results:
1. Taylor Jensen (USA) 16.40
2. John Michael Van Hohensein (HAW) 15.96
Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Women’s Final Results:
1: Soleil Errico (USA) 17.33
2: Natsumi Taoka (JPN) 12.50
Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 16.16 DEF. Ben Skinner (GBR) 15.10
HEAT 2: Taylor Jensen (USA) 14.83 DEF. Kai Sallas (HAW) 13.00
Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Natsumi Taoka (JPN) 16.00 DEF. Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 11.16
HEAT 2: Soleil Errico (USA) 17.40 DEF. Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 11.93
Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 16.67 DEF. Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 14.56
HEAT 2: Ben Skinner (GBR) 16.30 DEF. Declan Wyton (AUS) 15.56
HEAT 3: Kai Sallas (HAW) 16.53 DEF. Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) 14.33
HEAT 4: Taylor Jensen (USA) 15.50 DEF. Kevin Skvarna (USA) 15.23
Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Women’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 13.10 DEF. Rachael Tilly (USA) 11.20
HEAT 2: Natsumi Taoka (JPN) 15.17 DEF. Sophia Culhane (HAW) 12.80
HEAT 3: Soleil Errico (USA) 14.23 DEF. Zoe Grospiron (FRA) 11.10
HEAT 4: Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 16.34 DEF. Mason Schremmer (USA) 13.30
Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Men’s Round of 16 Remaining Results:
HEAT 7: Taylor Jensen (USA) 16.16 DEF. Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 6.00
HEAT 8: Kevin Skvarna (USA) 11.84 DEF. Tony Silvagni (USA) 8.50
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
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