World Surf League - Boardmasters 2026: Massive Day Jumpstarts Boardmasters Week with YETI Pro QS 4,000
- World Surf League
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Early Standouts Lukas Skinner, Sean Gunning Post Statement Wins
Rankings Leaders Tiara van der Huls, Lucia Machado Advance With Dominant Performances
Next Call: Thursday, August 6 at 6:00 a.m. GMT+1
FISTRAL BEACH, Newquay, England (Wednesday, August 5, 2026) - The World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) YETI Pro QS 4,000 kicked off proceedings at Boardmasters with a massive day, completing three rounds of the men’s and women’s competition. With small waves and windy conditions on offer, double banks were in play, allowing two heats to take place at the same time. The next call will be on Thursday at 6:00 a.m. GMT+1 for a possible 6:30 a.m. start, with organizers aiming to crown the QS winners before starting the Boardmasters Longboard Pro presented by YETI.
Early Standouts Lukas Skinner, Sean Gunning Post Statement Wins
Two-time event winner and Newquay local Lukas Skinner (GBR) stamped down his authority at Fistral Beach with an incredible display of skill today to post the highest heat total of 17.00 (out of a possible 20) on his way to the Round of 32. Skinner also dominated his Round of 32 heat to oust top seed Yago Dominguez (ESP) and Dylan Donegan Dos Santos (ESP), taking the win ahead of Enzo Cavallini (FRA). The 18-year-old’s last win was at the Casablanca Pro Junior in May, but after a short run at the first QS in Lacanau, he’ll be looking to turn things around back home.
Last year’s runner-up Sean Gunning (ESP) opened his campaign at Boardmasters with a good battle against Kai Odriozola (DEU) in the Round of 64, but then he switched into gear and showcased his well-rounded skillset to post a solid total of 15.23 in the Round of 32. Gunning booked his spot in the Quarterfinals ahead of Thomas Debierre (FRA), and if all goes well, the 24-year-old could find himself in a rematch with Skinner.
Mael Laborde (FRA) was the first to post an excellent score on the board in the Round of 96, and survived a tight battle in the Round of 64, but then his stunning run was ended in the Round of 32 where Uri Uziel (ARG) and Hans Odriozola (DEU) advanced.
A few upsets saw Challenger Series surfers Ido Hagag (WRL) and Guilherme Ribeiro (POR) eliminated from the competition in the Round of 32, as well as top British contenders Fynn Gillespie, Stanley Norman and Luke Dillon.
Rankings Leaders Tiara van der Huls, Lucia Machado Advance With Dominant Performance
The women’s Round of 32 threw a few spanner in the works, with a few favourites already eliminated from the competition, while top contenders emerged to take their place in the Quarterfinals. After her stunning runner-up performance in Lacanau at the first stop of the season, Erica Maximo (POR) suffered an early elimination, but Tiara van der Huls (NLD) and Lucia Machado (CNY) responded with dominant performances to advance to the Quarterfinals.
Van Der Huls has been racking up impressive results across the Pro Junior and QS divisions this year, and her third place in Lacanau has her sitting at No. 2 on the European QS rankings. The 20-year-old goofy-foot enjoyed a strong start to her Boardmasters campaign, stitching together a 12.40 total to take the win ahead of Sarah Leiceaga (FRA).
In the final heat of the day, Lucia Machado (CNY) put together a scintillating performance to take the win ahead of Camilla Kemp (DEU). Machado was leading from the start with a 6.67 (out of a possible 10) as her opener, but she secured the win when she posted an excellent 8.17 towards the end of the heat. Machado is currently tied No. 2 on the rankings with Van Der Huls.
Challenger Series surfer Ariane Ochoa (ESP) also enjoyed a solid performance today, finding a gem in the lineup for a 7.00 to comfortably take the win ahead of Ainhoa Leiceaga (FRA). After the competition was called off at the end of Heat 4, the competition will resume tomorrow with the women’s Round of 32, Heat 5. The next call will be on Thursday at 6:00 a.m. GMT+1 for a possible 6:30 a.m. start.
The YETI Pro QS 4,000 and Boardmasters Longboard Pro 1,000 presented by YETI will take place from August 5-9, 2026 at Fistral Beach, Newquay.
Boardmasters Open 2026 is proudly supported by YETI, with media partners Carve and SurfGirl.
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