Filipino surfer Jay-r Esquivel emerged victorious in the longboard qualifying series (LQS) event of the World Surf League (WSL) Baler International Pro, becoming the sole Filipino to claim victory in the inaugural competition.
Esquivel triumphed over Japan’s Kai Hamase in the final, scoring 17.40 points to clinch the title.
In the women’s division, Japan’s Natsumi Taoka secured a notable win against the Philippines’ Valdez, earning 12.50 points in the final.
Meanwhile, Hiroto Ohhara claimed the championship in the Qualifying Series (QS), defeating fellow Japanese surfer Joh Azuchi with a score of 17.25 points in the final. Ohhara’s victory propelled him to third place in the Challenger Series qualification cut line.
In the women’s QS final, Minami Nonaka emerged victorious over Sara Wakita, earning a score of 15.65 points.
The event, held in the municipality of Baler, marked the first WSL-sanctioned competition in the area and took place from February 1-6.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 8, 2024
