Kneeboard Surfing USA, Team USA, had its best showing in recent memory in 2022 Kneeboard Surfing World Titles in Costa Nova Portugal. The Atlantic Ocean and hurricane Daniel served up some challenging conditions for the World Titles, but the team rose to the occasion. Team USA finished the contest with the highest number of awards (10) and the second highest number of division wins (3), bested only by the highly talented South African team (5). 

South Africa’s Tom Gray was crowned the new Kneeboard Surfing World Champion with a well deserved win. USA’s Sam Coyne repeated his World Titles runner up result. USA’s Kevin Skvarna took the third position. Diego Azevedo representing Brazil came in fourth. Sam and Kevin were stand out surfers throughout the contest. 

In the age divisions, we did well on both ends of the scale.  In the younger age divisions, Kevin Skvarna earned the Pro Junior (under 30) Champion title and Sam Coyne earned the Senior (30-39) Champion award.  We were well represented in the older divisions.  Scott Wessling earned the Immortals (65+) Champion honors with Brad Colwell placing third.  The Legends (60-64) division final was stacked with three Team USA competitors – Ed Dimick placing second, Mike Sears third, and Joe Coyne in fourth.  Chris Beresford took second place in the Kahunas division after a close battle with South Africa’s Gigs Celliers.

photos by Brad Colwell

Cheers to Team USA on an outstanding performance at the 2022 Kneeboard Surfing World Titles.  Congratulations to those that found a place on the podium and to the entire team for showing up and taking on the challenging conditions.  It was a great contest, and epic surf trip, and a good time with good friends.  Let’s do it again!

Start planning for the next world titles.  It was announced that the next Kneeboard Surfing World Titles will be held in South Africa in 2024 or 2025. Details to be announced. 

Kenny Stapleton of Australia stepped down as the long serving President of Kneeboard Surfing World Titles. Kelvin Weir was selected to replace Kenny in the leadership role.  Thank you to Kenny for his decades of service to the Kneeboard community.  Congratulations and thank you to Kelvin for taking on this important role to lead the Kneeboard Surfing World Titles into the future.

Results:

• Men’s Open: 1. Tom Gray SAF, 2. Sam Coyne USA, 3. Kevin Skvarna USA, 4. Diego Azevedo BRA
• Women’s Open: 1. Linnie Ash SAF, 2. Anne Milochau FRA, 3. Maider Atorrasgasti SPN,  4. Marina Franco SPN
• Juniors: 1. Loris DeMarco FRA, 2. Tomas Freitas POR, 3. Maximillian Elvang POR, 4. Antoine Baney FRA
• Pro Juniors: 1. Kevin Skvarna USA, 2. Lucas Honorato BRA, 3. Bernardo Figueiras POR, 4. Joao Vilhinho POR
• Seniors: 1. Sam Coyne USA, 2. Kelvin Weir NZ
• Masters: 1. Tom Gray SAF, 2. Heyken Sanchez VNZ, 3. Olivier Marimoutou FRA, 4. Cesar Segura SPN
• Grand Masters: 1. Lester Sweetman SAF, 2. Diego Azevedo BRA, 3. Anton Wiersma SAF, 4. Alfonso Alconero SPA
• Veterans: 1. Gavin Colman AUS, 2. Jerome Blanco FRA, 3. Larry Berger SAF, 4. David Hernandez SPN
• Kahunas: 1. Gigs Celliers SAF, 2. Chris Beresford USA, 3. Juan Navarro SPN, 4. Roman Rezac SAF
• Legends: 1. Baden Smith AUS, 2. Ed Dimick USA, 3. Mike Sears USA, 4. Joe Coyne USA
• Immortals: 1. Scott Wessling USA, 2. Murray Weir NZ, 3. Brad Colwell USA, 4. Martin Mitchell UK
• Team Challenge: 1. South Africa, 2. USA, 3. ANZAC, 4. France