Baler, the birthplace of Philippine surfing, lived up to its legendary status as the opening day of the Baler International Pro unfolded. Glassy waves and two-to-three feet of swell provided the perfect stage for Asia’s best surfers to battle it out in the first-ever WSL Qualifying Series (QS) 3000 event held here. While the Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) was put on hold due to shifting weather patterns, the main event kicked off with electrifying heats in both the men’s and women’s divisions.

The morning began with calm conditions, but multiple weather fronts rolled in throughout the day, keeping the surfers on their toes. The first front arrived during the men’s Round of 48, adding an element of challenge. However, the ocean smoothed out for the first heat of the men’s Round of 32, allowing for impressive displays of skill.

Roi Kanazawa (JPN) put his Japanese beach break expertise to good use, finding incredible speed and flow to connect multiple turns across a long distance, earning an impressive 15.25 heat total. Meanwhile, an aerial battle brewed between Kian Martin (SWE) and Eduardo Alciso (PHL), with Martin landing a soaring superman air to match Kanazawa’s score and Alciso showcasing the best air reverse of the day. Martin ultimately secured the win, progressing alongside Kanazawa, while Alciso and Neil Sanchez (PHL) were eliminated.

Marama Tokong is enjoying his time in Balar
Marama Tokong is enjoying his time in Balar Credit WSL Abdel Elecho

Martin’s victory was particularly emotional, as he dedicated it to his late friend Febri who passed away the previous year. “It’s his birthday today,” Martin shared. “He gave me the drive, the will to do it. I was watching his videos, trying not to cry, but I did that as much as I could for him, to make him proud.”

Philmar Alipayo (PHL) emerged as the lone Filipino victor in a heat featuring three highly-ranked Japanese competitors, including Keijiro Nishi (JPN) and Rinta Oooto (JPN). Both Nishi and Longboard Tour stalwart Taka Inoue (JPN) were eliminated, highlighting the competitive nature of the event.

Young Baler local Ailen Magos (PHL) thrilled the crowd by progressing through the Round of 48 in his home break, while 11-year-old Cathleya Casals (PHL) etched her name in history as the first Baler woman to compete in a WSL event at her hometown. Casals, inspired by her grandmother, a pioneer of women’s surfing in Baler, expressed her excitement: “I started surfing when I was 5-years-old and my favorite surfers are John John Florence and Caroline Marks.”

Family ties were strong throughout the day, with sisters Sakura and Kaede Inoue (JPN) advancing in separate heats, and mother-daughter duo Daisy Valdez (PHL) and Kaila De La Torre (PHL) competing back-to-back. De La Torre even caught waves behind her mother as Valdez was giving her winner’s interview, showcasing the supportive atmosphere of the event.

Susan Escanilla (PHL), a familiar face on the national and QS circuits, stole the show in the women’s division with a unique maneuver. After tagging the outside section, she navigated a flatter section by dropping to prone position before quickly hopping back up and delivering two powerful hits on the finishing sections, securing a high score with her unorthodox approach. “It was a really nice wave,” Escanilla said. “I never thought I could catch that wave and get that score. So I’m very happy to do that, and then I was like oh no, I have to (lay on my board) and stuff, so I did it.”

With the competition heating up, surfers in both divisions have been asked to be on standby tomorrow morning for a possible 7:30am start. The promise of epic conditions and thrilling battles awaits as the Baler International Pro continues to unfold.