Clarky's Olympicks: 2021 ISA World Surfing Games

Clarky’s Olympicks: ISA World Surfing Games

Round One Recap:

A non-elimination, Round 1 at the ISA World Surfing Games saw great warmup wave conditions for 36 mens heats at La Bocana and 32 women’s heats at El Sunzal up the beach. The pressure was on for all Olympic hopefuls vying for the last 12 Olympic spots and the pressure was visibly off for the few who have solidified their spot for Tokyo this summer. The live webcast is locked on La Bocana where the Men’s Round 1 was available for viewing and Round 2 will focus the world’s attention on the best female surfers in the world.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM ROUND 1

While Italo Ferriera (Brazil) and Gabriel Medina (Brazil) opened day one with the most notable and flashy performances, the biggest performance and highest heat total of Round 1 went to Filipe Toledo (Brazil) this morning with a 17.70. Team USA dominated in the Women’s Round 1 with the 3 highest heat totals; Alyssa Spencer 16.00, Caroline Marks 15.33, and Carissa Moore 14.93.

Team Peru was the only country with a perfect Round 1, where all 6 surfers (3 men and 3 women) took wins in their respective heats. In addition to Peru, Team Germany was the only other team to watch all 3 women win their heats and Team Japan was the only other team to watch all 3 men win as well. I also want to mention Team Indonesia who’s men, led by Rio Wada (Indonesia), all won except for I Ketut Agus Aditya Putra (Indonesia) who came in second to his own teammate Oney Anwar (Indonesia). Watch out for the men’s team from Indonesia.

HEATS TO WATCH

The most exciting matchups are going to be the ones where a strong Olympic hopeful goes up against a provisionally qualified Olympian; a battle where one has nothing to lose and the other is putting it all on the line.

Here are the two Round 1 heats I was watching closely this morning.

Heat #31: Michel Bourez (France) v. Santiago Mu?iz (Argentina); Santiago has won World Gold more than once and he is at the top of my Olym-picks list. Mu?iz was able to take down the Olympic qualified, Bourez by staying busy and excellent wave selection.

Heat #35: Leon Glatzer (Germany) v. Leonardo Fioravanti (Italy). Both Leonardo Fioravanti and Leon Glatzer are on Clarky's Olympicks. Leonardo missed his Olympic qualification through the WSL due to injury and El Salvador is his last chance to qualify for Italy. This was an action packed heat as Fioravanti got the win with a big front side right to narrowly edge out the powerful surfing of Glatzer.

There were a few standout electrical performances that got me really excited about the next few rounds. Rio Wada (Indonesia) took the win in Heat #15 and if he is able to consistently execute his progressive surfing we will see an Olympian representing Indonesia. I’ve been following Cherif Fall (Senegal) a bunch recently and I feel like his surfing leaves nothing in the water. I will be glued to the next heat with Garren Pryce (Jamaica). Manuel Selman (Chile) made the 10th spot on my Olympics after a powerful Heat #34 win and I can't wait to see Sebastian Olarte (Uruguay) back up his Heat #26 win and the only full barrel ride of the contest.

Over at El Sunzal the women surfed a smaller right point break that went unbroadcasted for round one. USA, Peru, and Germany had their female rosters go undefeated at El Sunzal with highlight wins from Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) who won gold at ISA Worlds 2019 and Daniella Rosas (Peru) who provisionally qualified for the Olympics at the 2019 Pan American Games.

Team Portugal is looking extremely strong on both the men’s and women’s side but I’m keeping an eye on Teresa Bonvalot (Portugal) as sitting at the top spot on Clarky’s Olympicks. The men almost had a perfect day with wins from Frederico Morais, Vasco Ribeiro, but local hero, Bryan Perez (El Salvador) took down Miguel Blanco (Portugal) with only a couple minutes left on the clock in Heat #18. Bryan Perez is in my top 5 Olympicks for not only his local knowledge but his super consistent success over the past few years.

OLYMPICKS

With 5 spots left for the Men, here are Clarky's Olympicks;

1. Cody Young (Canada)
2. Santiago Mu?iz (Argentina)
3. Leonardo Fioravanti (Italy)
4. Bryan Perez (El Salvador)
5. Matthew McGillivray (South Africa)
6. Noe Mar McGonagle (Costa Rica)
7. Leon Glatzer (Germany)
8. Rio Wada (Indonesia)
9. Alan Cleland (Mexico)
10. Manuel Selman (Chile)

With 7 spots left for the Women, here are Clarky's Olympicks;

1. Teresa Bonvalot (Portugal)
2. Leilani McGonagle (Costa Rica)
3. Ornela Pellizzari (Argentina)
4. Leticia Canales (Spain)
5. Dominic Barona (Ecuador)
6. Paige Hareb (New Zealand)
7. Claire Belivacqua (Italy)
8. Sofia Mulanovich (Peru)
9. Mathea Olin (Canada)
10. Rachel Presti (Germany)