One common draw to the Championship Tour is the opportunity for fans to see what the world’s best surfers can do with waves they know from firsthand experience. Now, Pipe and Chopes on a 10-foot day aren’t exactly the most relatable of those experiences. Neither is double-overhead Supertubos. And come to think of it, even a heat at pumping Lowers is wildly unrealistic because sure, I’ve surfed that wave a hundred times but good luck getting a single ride that isn’t shared with eight other surfers, let alone a lineup of just you and one other soul.
Still, you couldn’t have watched some of the freesurf sessions at Punta Roca this week and not mind-surfed yourself into a sore back and noodle arms. Thursday’s trials and training sessions were about as rippable as any wave could get, and that’s when watching the world’s best surfers can get really, really fun.
“Every year the Tour comes here is a dream come true. Myself, and all the locals want to see them ripping this wave, so just to see that is a pleasure,” said El Salvador’s Bryan Perez on Thursday. The local surfer famously took down Italo Ferreira as a wildcard in the 2024 event and has put on some impressive performances when he’s been given the chance (unfortunately, he was knocked out by Eli Hanneman in the first round this morning). “It’s fun to push my surfing against these guys. They are the best in the world, and especially when it’s a good wave like we have on offer the last few days and tomorrow, it makes you want to surf harder.”
Enjoy a set of photos from the WSL’s Aaron Hughes. They might make you want to book a ticket.
