Underdogs Take Over on Day 3 of the 2024 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Masters Surfing Championships

Excellent heats from Team SA’s Gary Van Wieringen and Tyrell Johnson. Surf City El Salvador – a solid six-to-eight foot swell poured into El Sunzal for day three of the 2024 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Masters Surfing Championship (WMSC). The powerful groundswell was consistent all day, providing epic waves for the completion of Main Round 2 in all six divisions and Repechage Round 2 in four divisions, along with Main Round 3 in men’s Masters (over 40) and Grand Masters (over 50).

Excellent heats from Gary Van Wieringen (RSA) and Daniel Garcia (ESP) lead men’s Grand Masters action.

2011 Masters Silver Medalist Gary Van Wieringen (RSA) claimed another solid victory today. Surfing in his first of two heats today, the 51-year-old matched his day one performance with another excellent heat total, 17.97, which included a 9.07 and an 8.90. Van Wieringen’s huge numbers left his competitors requiring a two-wave combination to defeat him; a lineup that included two fellow WMSC medalists, both former WSL Championship Tour (CT) surfers, Jojo de Olivença (BRA) and Mike Latronic (HAW), the defending Kahunas Gold Medalist, as well as Masahisa Sakamoto (JPN).

Gary Van Wieringen is in top form © Sean Evans.

“I was looking so forward to coming back,” Van Wieringen said. “Everyone knows it’s been 11 years since the Masters have had an event, so when I heard Fernando called it on, we were all so stoked. For me, it’s always been such a great opportunity. I never really did many international events when I was younger. It was always just the local ones in South Africa. So now, being back for my third Masters, and even the first two, just to compete against some of the bigger names, I’ve been so grateful to come up against them.”

Men’s Masters fired up by Tyrell Johnson (RSA) and Gilbert Brown (CRC)

Another South African, Tyrell Johnson (RSA), showcased his peak performance in men’s Masters Main Round 3 as the underdogs take over. The 43-year-old’s deep bottom turns, and huge carves earned him a 9.00 and 8.17, along with two additional backup waves that would have secured his victory. “The waves at the moment are reminding me of back home at Nahoon Reef,” Johnson said. “Just the deep bottom turns, big carves. I really feel like I’m back at home. Stoked. Really, happy.” Johnson’s 17.17 heat total was the highest of the day in men’s Masters, though Gilbert Brown (CRC) picked up the highest single wave score of the division so far earlier in the day, a 9.17. Brown advanced with Johnson to be one heat away from a medal in the final Main Round heat.

Team SA’s Tash Mentasti is through to the repechage round © Sean Evans.

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