HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif./USA (Monday, July 25, 2022) - The World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Tour heads to Huntington Beach for the Vans Duct Tape Invitational and Festival, Stop No. 2 of the 2022 WSL Longboard Tour, August 3 - 7 in conjunction with the Vans US Open of Surfing. For the first time, the iconic Huntington Beach Pier lineup will host the world's best longboard talents with World Title implications on the line. A crucial 5,000 points are on offer as the long-standing Vans Duct Tape Invitational follows the season opener in Manly Beach, Australia.
Reigning, three-time, WSL Longboard Champion Honolua Blomfield (HAW) and 2021 World No. 2 Harrison Roach (AUS) lead the rankings heading into Huntington Beach following their victories at the GWM Sydney Surf Pro. Blomfield, 23, claimed the win at the first-ever all-womens Vans Duct Tape Invitational in 2018, adding to her multiple series victories in Huntington Beach. She now returns with a chance to strengthen her lead on the world's best.
For Roach, a glimpse at the World Title last season left the Australian hungry for more and showed his resolve with a brilliant victory to start the 2022 season. A multiple Vans Duct Tape Invitational winner, the now 32-year-old looks to show he's not leaving a Title trophy hanging in the balance this time around as another big result would give him plenty of breathing room.
Current World No. 1 and reigning WSL Longboard Champion Honolua Blomfield (HAW) looks for a second-consecutive win to close the door on the World Title race. - WSL / Cait Miers
But, they will have a world-class field of longboarders ready to strike with the likes of 2019 WSL Longboard Champion Soleil Errico (USA), multiple World Title runner-up Chloe Calmon (BRA), three-time WSL Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen (USA), two-time WSL Longboard Champion, and now Southern California resident, Phil Rajzman (BRA), and many more locked in for Huntington Beach.
The WSL Longboard Tour established a three-stop season this year with the GWM Sydney Surf Pro, Vans Duct Tape Invitational, and WSL Longboard Championships to crown the men's and women's World Longboard Champions. Both the GWM Sydney Surf Pro and Vans Duct Tape Invitational are worth 5,000 points before the all-important conclusion in Malibu, California offers 10,000 points to finish the year.
The Van Duct Tape Festival will also welcome Vans team riders Dakota Roche, Holly Wawn, Zion Wright, and Troy Elmore as featured surfboard builders, each sharing their hand-shaped boards with the public. Following the Duct Tape Festival's conclusion, hand-shaped boards will be donated to Stoked.Org to continue providing accessibility for the community.
2021 World No. 4 Kelis Kaleopa'a (HAW) comes in as the reigning Duct Tape Invitational winner. - WSL / Kenny Morris
Vans Duct Tape Invitational Competitor List
Women's
Honolua Blomfield (HAW)
Alice Lemoigne (FRA)
Chloe Calmon (BRA)
Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW)
Soleil Errico (USA)
Avalon Gall (USA)
Natsumi Taoka (JPN)
Zoe Grospiron (FRA)
Sally Cohen (HAW)
Kirra Seale (HAW)
Tully White (AUS)
Sophia Culhane (HAW)
Lindsay Steinriede (USA)
Rachael Tilly (USA)
Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA)
Mason Schremmer (USA)
Maria Fernanda Reyes (PER)
Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN)
Karina Rozunko (USA)- Wilcard
Jasmim Avelino (BRA) - Wilcard
Frankie Seely (USA) - Alternate
Men's
Harrison Roach (AUS)
Kai Sallas (HAW)
Ben Skinner (GBR)
Kevin Skvarna (USA)
Justin Quintal (USA)
Taylor Jensen (USA)
Tony Silvagni (USA)
Kaniela Stewart (HAW)
Lucas Garrido Lecca (PER)
Cole Robbins (USA)
Steven Sawyer (ZAF)
Jefson Silva (BRA)
Taka Inoue (JPN)
Kaimana Takayama (USA)
Declan Wyton (AUS)
Phil Rajzman (BRA)
Joao Dantas (PRT)
Keoki Saguibo (HAW)
Tosh Tudor (USA) - Wildcard
Jules Lepecheux (FRA) -Wilcard
Steven McClean (USA) - Alternate
The Vans Duct Tape Invitational and Festival event begins August 3, runs through August 7, 2022 and will join the Vans US Open of Surfing Challenger Series, which starts July 31 - August 7 at the Huntington Beach Pier, Huntington Beach, California.