“I Can’t Explain It Anymore”: Despite Being More Than 7000 Miles Away From Home, Two-Time Longboard Surfing Champion Shares Heartfelt Note

With the U.S. Open of Surfing underway at Huntington Beach in California, only four surfers remain. August 5 saw the quarterfinals of the tournament coming to an end with a bunch of shocks and upsets to the world of surfing. Amidst the crashing waves of the Pacific, one surfer is representing his nation, thousands of miles away.

Rogelio Esquievel Jr, the two-time Longboard Surfing Champion, has continued to surprise fans throughout the competition. In the quarterfinals battle, Esquievel Jr faced off against Richie Cravey of the United States, showcasing his incredible talent on the waves. The WSL social media account was also quick to capture the winning moment.

Rogelio Esquievel Jr books a place in semis

Rogelio Esquievel Jr, dominated the waves with finesse and precision, earning a remarkable 14.13 points in his heat against Cravey’s 7.40. The Filipino’s moment of triumph was captured and shared on the official Instagram account of WSL. Posting a video of the surfer, viewers could see the sea of fans that were cheering and celebrating Rogelio Esquievel Jr. with love and support. As the fans were waving the Philippine flag, the Filipino surfer was visibly ecstatic and filled with unparalleled pride. Speaking on his amazing reception, the surfer said, “I can’t explain it anymore. It is so nice to be here with these guys. Thank you so much.”

Between the two quarterfinalists, both surfed a total of 18 waves in total, with calm wind conditions and an average heat score of 10.77. According to a World Surf League poll before the match, fans had picked Esquievel Jr to advance to the semis with a whopping 66% votes as compared to Cravey’s 34%. Esquievel Jr’s had been training for an additional three weeks in the Californian waves, and it surely paid off.

The first Filipino to ever qualify for the World Longboard Tour will now face Kaniela Stewart in the semis, for the very first time in his career. While the other semifinals will see Taylor Jensen and Tony Silvagni battling for a place in the finals. As for Esquievel Jr, his surfing journey has been full of inspiration and determination.

Rogelio Esquievel Jr’s surfing journey

It would be fair to say that with his hard work and talent, Rogelio Esquievel Jr has put his hometown San Juan, La Union, Philippines on the surfing map. He made history by winning the first-ever World Surf League (WSL) event held in his beloved hometown. The WSL La Union LQS1000 victory rightfully brought the surfing spotlight to the Philippines. From there, he moved on to the ISA World Longboard Championship in Surf City, El Salvador. With a unique blend of signature style and impeccable wave selection, he gracefully rode his way to the copper medal in the men’s longboard category.

Read more: “3rd World Circus Sideshow”: New ‘Wave of the Day’ From American Surfing Event Causes Uproar Among Fans Amidst Scoring Controversy

Esquievel Jr has also had the pleasure of being mentored by some world-class coaches. Esteemed coaches like Luke Landrigan and Ian Saguan have played pivotal roles in molding his talent into true greatness. As the surfer prepares for his semifinal heat, he is supported by the surfing community of an entire nation. As he inches closer to the elusive world title with each victory, his journey continues to serve as inspiration for countless aspiring surfers in the Philippines and beyond.

Watch this story: The US Open of Surfing Takes a Violent Turn as the Video of Clash at Huntington Beach Goes Viral