Steven Sawyer wins World Longboard Champs

24-year-old Steven Sawyer was on fire all event but saved his best performances for the Final Day, posting excellent heat totals in all three heats, including a 9.50 single wave score in the Semifinal, the highest of the entire event. His combination of traditional longboarding manoeuvres with speed, power and flow were impeccable, and he needed it all to overcome Sallas in the Final to best his runner-up finish at the 2016 World Championship. Sawyer had a massive crowd supporting him on the beach who erupted every time he caught a wave, making the atmosphere electric. 

 

 

“2016 was my second year at the World Championships and I don’t think I was ready or prepared to win — This year I was definitely ready,” Sawyer said. “I still pinch myself when I surf against guys like Kai (Sallas), Taylor (Jensen) and Harley (Ingleby), They are all my heroes so competing against them is surreal. I was watching Kai all week and he was looking to be the guy to beat so when I came up against him in the Final I was really nervous. It was all good though, as I had such an incredible crew cheering me on from the beach that got me really pumped up to perform.”

 

Sawyer, who is a proven shortboard surfer as well having competed in the 2017 J-Bay Open Championship Tour event as a Wildcard, was competing on a board shaped by his father that seemed to suit the waves of Taiwan perfectly. 

“My dad has been shaping me, incredible boards recently and they worked so well all event. This is my second time to Taiwan and it is such an amazing place with amazing waves, I think it’s the best surf trip I have ever done — Now it’s become even more special for me.”

 

Taiwan Open World Longboard Championship Men’s Final Results:
Heat 1: Steven Sawyer (ZAF) 16.10 DEF. Kai Sallas (HAW) 15.10Taiwan Open World Longboard Championship Men’s Semifinal Results:
Heat 1: Steven Sawyer (ZAF) 16.10 DEF. Taylor Jensen (USA) 12.96  
Heat 2: Kai Sallas (HAW) 15.80 DEF. Cole Robbins (USA) 15.10Taiwan Open World Longboard Championship Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
Heat 1: Steven Sawyer (ZAF) 14.76 DEF. Tony Silvagni (USA) 12.94  
Heat 2: Taylor Jensen (USA) 14.23 DEF. Harley Ingleby (AUS) 13.57  
Heat 3: Kai Sallas (HAW) 16.33 DEF. Edouard Delpero (FRA) 12.83  
Heat 4: Cole Robbins (USA) 14.67 DEF. Antoine Delpero (FRA) 12.36