SABANG BEACH, Baler, Philippines (Thursday, February 1, 2024) - The opening day of the inaugural Baler International Pro was greeted with glassy conditions and two-to-three feet of swell, allowing Asia's best surfers the opportunity to compete in the birthplace of surfing in the Philippines for the very first time. The World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 3000 event kicked off with the men's Round of 48, followed by the women's Round of 24 and men's round of 32. The concurrent Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) event was called off for the day.
While the morning started out calm, multiple weather fronts passed through over the course of the day, offering a variety of conditions. The arrival of the first front during the morning's Round of 48 heats made things tricky, but the ocean aligned for the first heat of the men's Round of 32.
Kian Martin - WSL / Abdel Elecho
Surfing in his second heat of the day, Roi Kanazawa (JPN) utilised the skills learned at home in Japan, to find incredible speed and flow from the soft beach break waves, connecting multiple turns together across a surprisingly long distance to earn an 8.25 (out of a possible 10) and 7.00 for a 15.25 (out of a possible 20) heat total. Meanwhile an air show was brewing between last week's La Union International Pro runner-up Kian Martin (SWE) and Eduardo Alciso (PHL), with Martin landing a lofty superman air to match Kanazawa's 8.25 and Alciso collecting a 7.40 for the best air reverse of the day. Backed with a 7.50, Martin was able to take the win and progress with Kanazawa, while Alciso and Neil Sanchez (PHL) were eliminated.
"First of all, out of everything, I want to dedicate that heat, or that win, to my friend Febri (Ansyah) who passed away last year," Martin said. "It's his birthday today. Ever since I woke up he gave me the drive, he gave me the will to do it. I was watching his videos, like I'm trying not to cry, but I did that as much as I could for him, to make him proud. Especially when you said, Roi started off with an 8. Same kind of situation I had in La Union - they can do it, I can do it. So they kind of pushed me and it was crazy because the whole heat everyone was surfing so good. The locals, they know the spot a lot more than us. Me and Roi I think got lucky with better waves, but anyone could have won that heat, so I'm happy I took the win because it was actually a good heat for me."
Philmar Alipayo (PHL) was happy to emerge victorious as the only Filipino in a heat that featured three Japanese competitors, including current No. 1 and No. 2 on the Asia Region QS rankings, Keijiro Nishi (JPN) and Rinta Oooto (JPN). Nishi was eliminated, along with Longboard Tour stalwart Taka Inoue (JPN).
Cathleya Casals - WSL / Abdel Elecho
Young Baler surfer Ailen Magos (PHL) became the first local to progress at his home break as he moved through the Round of 48, while 11-year-old Cathleya Casals (PHL) became the first woman from Baler to surf in a WSL event in her hometown. Casals follows in the footsteps of her grandmother, who was the pioneer of women's surfing in Baler.
"I'm so very happy to join the WSL Baler Pro," Casals said. "I started surfing when I was 5-years-old and my favorite surfers are John John Florence and Caroline Marks."
Many of the day's heats saw multiple family members involved. Sisters Sakura Inoue (JPN) and last week's La Union International Pro LQS winner Kaede Inoue (JPN) progressed in separate heats, while mother and daughter Daisy Valdez (PHL) and Kaila De La Torre (PHL), surfed in back-to-back heats. De La Torre could be seen catching waves behind her mother while Valdez was giving her winner's interview.
The highest women's numbers of the day went to Susan Escanilla (PHL), a familiar face across the national tour, as well as the QS. Facing fellow Filipino Ella Jane Malaca (PHL) and Indonesia's Dhea Novitasari (INA), Escanilla found her high score in a unique way. After tagging the outside section and working her way through a flatter section, the Siargao Islander had to pop down to the prone position, before quickly hopping back to her feet and delivering two solid hits on the finishing sections.
"It was a really nice wave, it was a good one," Escanilla said. "I never thought that I could catch that wave and (could) get that score that I needed. So I'm very happy to do that, and then I was like oh no, I have to (lay on my board) and stuff, so I did it."
Competitors in each division have been asked to be on standby tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. for a possible 7:30 a.m. start.
The inaugural Baler International Pro will run at Sabang Beach from February 1 - 7.
Qualifying Series Action Opens Inaugural Baler International Pro
WSL
SABANG BEACH, Baler, Philippines (Thursday, February 1, 2024) - The opening day of the inaugural Baler International Pro was greeted with glassy conditions and two-to-three feet of swell, allowing Asia's best surfers the opportunity to compete in the birthplace of surfing in the Philippines for the very first time. The World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 3000 event kicked off with the men's Round of 48, followed by the women's Round of 24 and men's round of 32. The concurrent Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) event was called off for the day.
While the morning started out calm, multiple weather fronts passed through over the course of the day, offering a variety of conditions. The arrival of the first front during the morning's Round of 48 heats made things tricky, but the ocean aligned for the first heat of the men's Round of 32.
Surfing in his second heat of the day, Roi Kanazawa (JPN) utilised the skills learned at home in Japan, to find incredible speed and flow from the soft beach break waves, connecting multiple turns together across a surprisingly long distance to earn an 8.25 (out of a possible 10) and 7.00 for a 15.25 (out of a possible 20) heat total. Meanwhile an air show was brewing between last week's La Union International Pro runner-up Kian Martin (SWE) and Eduardo Alciso (PHL), with Martin landing a lofty superman air to match Kanazawa's 8.25 and Alciso collecting a 7.40 for the best air reverse of the day. Backed with a 7.50, Martin was able to take the win and progress with Kanazawa, while Alciso and Neil Sanchez (PHL) were eliminated.
"First of all, out of everything, I want to dedicate that heat, or that win, to my friend Febri (Ansyah) who passed away last year," Martin said. "It's his birthday today. Ever since I woke up he gave me the drive, he gave me the will to do it. I was watching his videos, like I'm trying not to cry, but I did that as much as I could for him, to make him proud. Especially when you said, Roi started off with an 8. Same kind of situation I had in La Union - they can do it, I can do it. So they kind of pushed me and it was crazy because the whole heat everyone was surfing so good. The locals, they know the spot a lot more than us. Me and Roi I think got lucky with better waves, but anyone could have won that heat, so I'm happy I took the win because it was actually a good heat for me."
Philmar Alipayo (PHL) was happy to emerge victorious as the only Filipino in a heat that featured three Japanese competitors, including current No. 1 and No. 2 on the Asia Region QS rankings, Keijiro Nishi (JPN) and Rinta Oooto (JPN). Nishi was eliminated, along with Longboard Tour stalwart Taka Inoue (JPN).
Young Baler surfer Ailen Magos (PHL) became the first local to progress at his home break as he moved through the Round of 48, while 11-year-old Cathleya Casals (PHL) became the first woman from Baler to surf in a WSL event in her hometown. Casals follows in the footsteps of her grandmother, who was the pioneer of women's surfing in Baler.
"I'm so very happy to join the WSL Baler Pro," Casals said. "I started surfing when I was 5-years-old and my favorite surfers are John John Florence and Caroline Marks."
Many of the day's heats saw multiple family members involved. Sisters Sakura Inoue (JPN) and last week's La Union International Pro LQS winner Kaede Inoue (JPN) progressed in separate heats, while mother and daughter Daisy Valdez (PHL) and Kaila De La Torre (PHL), surfed in back-to-back heats. De La Torre could be seen catching waves behind her mother while Valdez was giving her winner's interview.
The highest women's numbers of the day went to Susan Escanilla (PHL), a familiar face across the national tour, as well as the QS. Facing fellow Filipino Ella Jane Malaca (PHL) and Indonesia's Dhea Novitasari (INA), Escanilla found her high score in a unique way. After tagging the outside section and working her way through a flatter section, the Siargao Islander had to pop down to the prone position, before quickly hopping back to her feet and delivering two solid hits on the finishing sections.
"It was a really nice wave, it was a good one," Escanilla said. "I never thought that I could catch that wave and (could) get that score that I needed. So I'm very happy to do that, and then I was like oh no, I have to (lay on my board) and stuff, so I did it."
Competitors in each division have been asked to be on standby tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. for a possible 7:30 a.m. start.
The inaugural Baler International Pro will run at Sabang Beach from February 1 - 7.
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