Bianca Jumps to 4th on World Tour Rankings

By finishing an excellent third at the Women’s Vans US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach, Bianca Buitendag has jumped up two spots to fourth in the WSL Championship Tour rankings.

Bianca missed a spot in her third final in a row by just 0.01pts.

After three impressive heat wins in tricky conditions on her way to a semi-final match-up with eventual winner Johanne Defay (FRA), Bianca surfed well but finished 0.01 points short of advancing to her third Dream Tour final in a row. It was a tough break for the Vic Bay local, who has been on a roll the past three events. Still, an equal third is a counting result and has put her within range of challenging for the title with four events to go.

And Bianca wasn’t the only Saffa securing an excellent result at the Vans US Open of Surfing. In the QS10,000-rated Men’s event, Beyrick De Vries’ great run in the comp ended in the Round of 16, when he fell short of his requirement on his final ride against last year’s winner, Filipe Toledo. Sitting with priority and needing an attainable score, Beyrick had Filipe on the ropes. But when a potential scoring ride came his way it didn’t offer much, and Beyrick fell on his closeout air that could’ve sealed the deal.

Beyrick was ripping at Huntington and was unlucky not to advance further.

In the Pro Junior division, J-Bay’s Dylan Lightfoot top-scored in the quarter-finals to advance to the last eight. In the semi-finals, however, Kanoa Igarashi – who Dylan had beaten in the quarters – took the win and advanced with fellow Californian, Griffin Colapinto. Dylan finished equal seventh place overall.

Reunion Island’s Johanne Defay won the Women’s Vans US Open of Surfing, Japan’s Hiroto Ohhara took out the Men’s title, while Griffin Colapinto and Caroline Marks sealed the win in the Pro Junior Men’s and Women’s division.

Dylan Lightfoot ripped his way to a solid equal seventh at the Vans US Open of Surfing.

Go to worldsurfleague.com for all the heat reviews, highlights and photos from the Vans US Open of Surfing.