San Clemente surfer crowned World Longboard Champion
EL SUNZAL, La Libertad, El Salvador (FOX 5/KUSI) -- San Clemente's Rachael Tilly was crowned the 2025 World Longboard Champion at the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships on Nov. 6, defending her 2024 championship.
This is Tilly's third World Longboard Title, earned ten years after her first in 2015 at just 17 years old.
Starting the event in Match 1 as the No. 7 seed out of eight, Tilly won six consecutive heats to reach the title. In the Title Matches, she defeated fellow Orange County competitor Avalon Gall, the event's No. 1 seed.
“It feels unreal. I feel really tired, and in that heat, I just thought, 'please just get it done in this heat,' because now all of the work today is really catching up,” said Tilly. “Obviously, it was well worth it. I have no words. Honolua [Blomfield] and Soleil [Errico] have had three World Titles forever, and I’ve always been so inspired by them, and they set that bar. I’ve just been reaching for that bar. I’ve worked hard for this, and I love Sunzal, I love El Salvador. I walked into today with no expectations, and no part of me thought that this was possible."
On the men's side of competition, Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) earned his maiden Longboard Title, riding a self-made board.
"The first surfer in 43 years since the great Mark Richards shaped, glassed and sprayed on his winning world title sled," American surfer Joel Tudor said in an Instagram post. "An achievement and accomplishment not many will ever conquer! Congrats young man, well deserved!"
In the best two-of-three Title Matches, Ellice-Flint overcame No. 1 seed Edouard Delpero (FRA) in two heats. His run began in Match 4 with a win over reigning four-time champion Taylor Jensen (USA).
“I wish I had words for it. I have so much love for what CJ [Nelson] has done for me, what my family has done for me, with all the support and how they’ve been there for me through my sacrifices in this life for me,” said Ellice-Flint. “It’s been a hell of a journey. I lack a little bit of self-confidence and critique everything all the time, always trying to better something - a better board design or something. It’s ingrained in me. I want to do better, be better, and be the best. Build the best boards that I possibly can and put them under my feet.”
The Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships is a World Surf League single-day competition, featuring the best eight surfers from the season rankings.
Visit WorldSurfLeague.com for more information and highlights from the event.
2025 Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships Women's Results:
Title Match 2: Rachael Tilly (USA) 13.50 DEF. Avalon Gall (USA) 12.54
Title Match 1: Rachael Tilly (USA) 15.20 DEF. Avalon Gall (USA) 12.44
Match 4: Rachael Tilly (USA) 13.40 DEF. Soleil Errico (USA) 12.97
Match 3: Rachael Tilly (USA) 15.10 DEF. Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 12.00
Match 2: Rachael Tilly (USA) 14.67 DEF. Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN) 14.36, Chloe Calmon (BRA) 13.23
Match 1: Rachael Tilly (USA) 15.83 DEF. Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 15.27, Tully White (AUS) 10.37
2025 Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships Men's Results:
Title Match 2: Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) 16.00 DEF. Edouard Delpero (FRA) 10.33
Title Match 1: Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) 17.67 DEF. Edouard Delpero (FRA) 12.84
Match 4: Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) 15.27 DEF. Taylor Jensen (USA) 9.17
Match 3: Taylor Jensen (USA) 16.17 DEF. Declan Wyton (AUS) 14.50
Match 2: Declan Wyton (AUS) 13.36 DEF. Max Weston (AUS) 10.90, Kevin Skvarna (USA) 6.67
Match 1: Declan Wyton (AUS) 12.73 DEF. Steven Sawyer (RSA) 11.83, Rogelio JR Esquievel (PHL) 10.43
