WSL Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic 2025 Concludes With Honolua Blomfield And Edouard Delpero As Champions

The World Surf League (WSL) Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic concluded with Honolua Blomfield and Edouard Delpero emerging as champions. The event, held over two days, saw intense competition among top surfers. The finals on Sunday evening were the highlight, drawing a large crowd to Surf Abu Dhabi. The atmosphere was electric as fans witnessed thrilling performances from both men's and women's events.

In the women's final, Honolua Blomfield triumphed over Avalon Gall with a score of 16.60 to 16.43. Blomfield's victory marked a significant comeback for the three-time WSL Longboard World Tour champion. She had competed in Abu Dhabi last year while pregnant and secured this title just six months after giving birth. Her handcrafted trophy, made from ghaf wood with a Sadu pattern, symbolises her achievement.

Blomfield expressed her gratitude for the experience, saying: "All of it’s a lot to take in. I feel like I’ve had such blessings in the past few days, all my great waves. It’s hard to be disappointed, even if I did lose. Sharing a final with one of my besties, of course. My partner talked me through the mental side, and you just have to believe in yourself. I tend not to do that a lot, but I’m glad that I had that in me."

The men's final featured Edouard Delpero and Steven Sawyer in an exciting showdown. Delpero emerged victorious with a score of 15.80 against Sawyer's 14.43. This win was particularly special for Delpero as he reflected on his previous success in similar settings.

Delpero shared his emotions after the win: "Last time I won was in the pool too, so I’m stoked. This is unreal. I want to go back home as fast as possible and be close to my family. That’s the only thing that really matters now. I have no words."

Festival Atmosphere at Surf Village

Before the finals commenced, attendees enjoyed a concert by surf music icon Donavon Frankenreiter at the Surf Village, enhancing the festive atmosphere of the event. The vibrant setting included live music and family-friendly activities, creating an unforgettable experience for fans.

Blomfield also spoke about her return to competitive surfing after becoming a mother: "I was pregnant last year, so it was hard and at the contest in El Salvador, and then I had my baby. I really just wanted to do it because who else would if not me? And I just thought it’d be a cool thing to take my baby on the road with me, let him see a few things, and this (winning a title) was kind of the goal."

The success of this edition of the Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic highlights the growing surf culture within the UAE, with Surf Abu Dhabi playing a central role in its development. The event showcased world-class longboarding talent and provided an engaging festival experience for all attendees.

The weekend's events underscored Surf Abu Dhabi's importance as a hub for surfing enthusiasts in the region while celebrating exceptional athletic achievements on its renowned man-made wave facility.

With inputs from WAM