Edited by St Francis Chronicle: South African and local JBay surfer, Steven Sawyer, came 2nd in the Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic yesterday and qualified for El Salvador… and for a shot for World Longboard title.
Stevie earned his way to a back-to-back Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Final with consistent performances and style.
This 2018 World Longboard Champion kicked off his Finals Day run defeating Declan Wyton (AUS) in the Quarterfinals before meeting good friend and long-time travelling partner Kevin Skvarna (USA) in the Semifinals.
Although he earned the highest single wave score of the men’s field in his last wave with a 9.60 (out of a possible 10), Stevie, the 31 year-old defending event winner, fell on both of his rights. He was beaten by Edouard Delpero (FRA) who won the Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic, Stop No. 3 of the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Tour.
Delpero has taken the No. 1 seed as is headed headed into the Longboard Championships.
Sawyer now heads into the Longboard Championships as seed No 6.
Commenting Stevie said: “Last year and this year has been the closest I’ve ever been to the Lord in any aspect of my sports.
“And I mean, just tapping into the presence has been something so surreal for me,” Sawyer said. “It’s so cool to get here two years in a row and have finaling positions. Two Finals in a row, that is proof of it. It’s surreal, honestly.”
Men’s Top 8 Qualifiers
1 – Edouard Delpero (FRA)
2 – Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS)
3 – Taylor Jensen (USA)
4 – Kevin Skvarna (USA)
5 – Max Weston (AUS)
6 – Steven Sawyer (RSA)
7 – Declan Wyton (AUS)
8 – Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL)
.
St Francis Chronicle 