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The World Surf League (WSL) returns to the ocean for the seventh Championship Tour (CT) event in El Salvador, after a short stint inland. The WSL made its debut at Surf City in 2022, lured by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s big-spending ambitions, designed to attract tourism to the developing nation. Last year wasn’t the ideal start for a new era of pro-surfing in El Salvador, with torrential rain and inconsistent waves featured throughout the waiting period. However, we did get to see Punta Roca’s potential with the country’s finest right-hand point going off on Finals Day. The waiting period for this year’s event kicks off on the 9th (US time) and the forecast suggests fun conditions will be on offer. We’re 16 hours ahead in Australia, so the first call will be around one in the morning on Saturday.
A story that we’ll all be keeping our eyes on throughout the event is the judging melodrama which reached new heights at the Surf Ranch. Will the outrage affect the scoring or are things going to become even more heated between some surfers and the WSL boss?
We called up fan favourite Jacko Baker for his predictions on El Salvador and to get his highly-qualified perspective on all things surrounding the pro-surfing landscape.
How was your experience at El Salvador last year?
Yeah it was a pretty tricky one there last year, I really loved it; it was cool to be able to go somewhere different. Our road to that event wasn’t ideal like we went from the G-Land jungle to the other side of the world three days later and then we went to Brazil after, and then we flew back home and went to Africa. It was like the craziest month and a half of travel, but it was one of the coolest couple months of travel too. And El Salvador was somewhere new and it was very different. Unfortunately we got pretty skunked with waves, it was like we had a monsoonal rain for the whole time we were there. I think it rained and that’s what made the swell kind of bad and then the water was ultra murky, like I think a lot of us got sick from that. I personally did get sick after my round one heat and then before my next heat got like proper-proper gastro for about I think I had it for 48 hours and didn’t really eat any food or anything like that and ended up nearly missing my round of 16 heat with Jack Robbo.
Was the wave pool drama overhyped or do you think there needs to be a bit of clarity with judging?
I feel like it was pretty overhyped. And I feel like a lot of that stuff just gets wind and people kind of just blow it out of proportion. I watched the heat, and I can understand where the Brazilian athletes are coming from and full respect to them. I feel like we should be able to voice our opinions, but it’s pretty hard to voice your opinion, when it kind of can be detrimental to the company that you’re employed by, essentially, that’s what we are. Like without the WSL, none of us really get paid to be professional surfers, and no sponsors are going to sponsor you without there being a surfing tour. I feel like there was probably a better way to go about it. But yeah, I just thought the worst part of it was the way the fans got into it. And it just kind of got really dirty, really fast. And it was like at the start, I was kind of reading into a few things and after a little while it just became too gnarly. But yeah, I feel like there’s got to be an area where you can voice your opinion. But yeah, I don’t know if social media is the best spot to do that.
Surf City El Salvador Pro ForecastÂ
It’s expected to be pulsing at around three to five feet for the start of the waiting period. Waves aren’t going to be XL but it should be fun and suitable for high-performance surfing. Winds will predominately start offshore in the morning and move to light onshore going into the afternoons, we may see some wild, air-shows go downs. The judging responses to more progressive attacks will no doubt be watched closely by fans. Waves are then forecasted to ease into next week before a groundswell is expected to bring four-foot waves to the Central America coastline for the end of the waiting period.
Forecasters are predicting the WSL will start competition on at least one of the first three days of the waiting period. So we should have some extended, weekend sports-watching to do.
Who does the Surf City El Salvador Pro favour?
Jacko
Men: I don’t think you can go past Filipe. I feel like Filipe on any right point on any given day is just scary, especially with that variety of big open-face carves he does to the big full rotation variation to his alleyoups, like that’s a scary prospect out there.
And then my other one would probably have to be Ethan at the moment if it stays clean. Ethan on any given right point-break is deadly as it gets. I reckon that Eth’s been looking really good lately as well. I feel like coming into the back end of the year and with the final five conversation coming up, Eth is pretty due for a solid result I reckon.
Women: I’m pretty biased because I’m really good friends with Carissa Moore, we travel together with Mitchell Ross our coach, but I mean I’ve seen her go through her highs and lows last year and to see her come out of the last two events with two wins. I don’t think anyone’s going to stop her at this one either. I think that run will keep going. It’s a right- hand point, it’s a sick wave. I saw her surf really good there last year. I feel like it really suits her surfing. So I think she’d be my number one woman there.. Another one that could probably do it I reckon is Steph – she won it last year. There my one and two picks. I’d say that could be the final, that’s if they’re split on the other side of the draw.
Tracks
Men: Similar to who we saw on Finals Day at the Surf Ranch. I favour those who are at the cutting edge of high-performance surfing. World no.1 Griffin is the reigning champ and will be coming into the event with an excessive amount of confidence. You also can’t go past the speed machines of Filipe and Joao, or Italo, who will come into the event with a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove. And we can’t forget the illusive John John Florence who could start his run for the top-five too.
Women: I agree with Jacko, a three-peat is very possible for Carissa with the way the world no.1 has been surfing. I’m going to throw Caity Simmers in the mix with her variety in the air likely to do some damage. Goofy-footers Tati and Caroline Marks could go on a backhand crusade which may be refreshing for the judges at the right-hand point break. Caroline is also coming off a final at the Surf Ranch and we saw her shred out here last year. And Tati just won the ISA games this morning at the contest’s alternative wave, La Bocana.
Surprises at the Surf City El Salvador Pro ?Â
Jacko
Men : In the men I’m gonna go with the big fella Conner O’Leary. He could backside slap he’s way to glory out there. He’s been doing some of the best backside surfing I’ve seen in a long time, aye.
Women; I’m gonna go pickles. Molly Picklum. She’s not really a surprise haha, I mean any of them could win. I feel like this year, Molly, she’s got that mongrel. She’s got that big frontside wrap. I mean, I feel like she’s kind of coming into her own on the tour as well. She’s a weapon on a right point, and I haven’t seen her out there because she wasn’t there last year, but I feel like that point will suit her surfing for sure.
Tracks
Men: When Punta Roca is firing it does kind of resemble Keramas or a pumping day at Canggu. We’ve all seen the surfing Rio Waida has done at these waves around his home breaks. This could be a breakout event for the current world no.20. And we can’t count out Jack Robinson who returned to competition at the Surf Ranch. This year’s Pipe Master may throw us with a Roy Jones Jr “yall must’ve forgot” performance.
Women: Another “not really a surprise” choice is Lakey Peterson. Lakey’s rail-game skills make her dangerous against anyone when we are talking right-hand point’s.
Match-ups we wanna see at the Surf City El Salvador Pro ?Â
Jacko
Men: I reckon just a good heat between Griffin and Italo at some point in the draw. It’s a right point as well, which was what the drama was about last week.
I think Griffin’s surfing amazing and I think Italo is as well and that final was as close as it gets, I mean you split hairs, so yeah to see those two battle on the right point would be a good matchup and then even a Gabby/ Ethan one pretty sick as well. And not so much about the judging bit just to see how both sides of those two heats react to what’s happened prior and who comes out on top kind of thing.
Women: I’d love to see Rissa up against Molly. I guess world number one at the moment, up against Molly who did have the number one Jersey going into the Australian Leg. Carissa has been in that same position Molly has, as the younger girl on tour and dominating as well. I know Carissa probably wants to show that she’s still at the top of her game and it’d be a great final I know that Molly would want to prove herself against her.
Tracks
Men: We all want to see the rematches between Griff and Italo and Ethan and Medina for the melodrama. But Rio v Italo would be extremely exciting match-up. Both surfers know that they’ve got to go bigger in the air or on the face to get the one-up on each other. They’re full of energy and both capable for excellent scores in the expect conditions .
Women: I’m going to once again go with Steph v Caity: I know that may be the fourth time I’ve said it this year but c’mon, these two going back to back at a right-hand point. That’s what I’m choosing every time. Steph v Rissa would be an almighty showdown too. The reigning Surf City Pro champ against the current world no.1 who’s looking for redemption after the devastating loss she suffered at Trestles last year.
And a backhand war between Tati and Caroline, who are both in-form, would be a lot of fun as well.
More from our chat with Jacko Baker is coming soon.
Injuries/ Wildcards
No injuries were named for this event and only two wildcards were awarded. Tyler Wright shared on her socials this week that she was hospitalised in the lead up of the surf ranch due to debilitating period pains. The world no.2 has been seen on social media in El Salvador and there has been no news saying she’s not going to compete. Hopefully Tyler’s doing all good and her warm-up was more enjoyable than her experience at the surf ranch.
In the men, Bryan Perez was granted a wildcard as the highest ranked Salvadoran surfer on the Challenger Series. Meanwhile, Leilanie McGonagle will also be given an opportunity to compete against the world’s best as the highest-ranked Central American Surfer.
Round One Match-Ups
Men
Heat 1: Ethan Ewing, Matthew McGillivray, Kelly Slater
Heat 2: Filipe Toledo, Caio Ibelli, Ian Gentil
Heat 3: Joao Chianca, Jordy Smith, Seth Moniz
Heat 4: Griffin Colapinto, Callum Robson, Bryan Perez
Heat 5: Jack Robinson, Connor O’Leary, Rio Waida
Heat 6: Gabriel Medina, Italo Ferreira, Liam O’Brien
Heat 7: John Florence, Leo Fioravanti, Barron Mamiya
Heat 8: Ryan Callinan, Yago Dora, Kanoa Igarashi
Women
Heat 1: Caroline Marks, Caitlin Simmers, Gabriela Bryan
Heat 2: Carissa Moore, Lakey Peterson, Leilani McGonagle
Heat 3: Tyler Wright, Stephanie Gilmore, Johanne Defay
Heat 4: Molly Picklum, Tatiana Weston-Webb, BettyLou Sakura Johnson
