During an epic day of amazing waves and tremendous surfing performances, the 2013 ISA World Masters Surfing Championship officially closed.

The waves were incredible throughout the Finals. The morning heats saw glassy surf in the 6-8 feet range at the perfect right hand point-break in Montañita, Ecuador. A gentle onshore breeze picked up mid-morning, but the waves remained consistent and pumping all day
Team Hawaii successfully defended their title of World Team Champions and winners of the Eduardo Arena Perpetual Team Trophy, named after the Peruvian founder and first President of the ISA in 1964.

“Huge congratulations to all of the winners. This was an amazing competition with great waves and excellent performances from all athletes,” commented ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “Thank you to everyone that helped organize this amazing event including the President of Ecuador Rafael Correa, the Minister of Sport Francisco Cevallos and the Deputy Minister Augusto Moran, and the over 20 government organizations that helped make this World Championship a reality. Ecuador is an incredible surfing destination. We plan to come back next year with another ISA world championship.”

Grand Kahuna (over 50) Chris Knutsen was rewarded for his powerful surfing and impeccable wave selection with his fourth ISA World Championship. The South African reached the Final via the Repechage rounds, and put on a display of powerful, clean surfing. During the live webcast interview, the South African expressed his desire for a fourth gold medal to have one for every one of his grandchildren.

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Hey, we’re all busy, right? Life moves fast, for sure, but next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by your day-to-day routine, put yourself in Alana Blanchard’s shoes.

Imagine competing on the ASP World Tour, shooting for the Sports Illustrated‘s Swimsuit Issue, dating a pro surfer, designing a bikini line and building a new home, all while running an Instagram following of close to a half-a-million heads. ‘Tis the life of the 23-year-old Kauai bombshell.

But Alana is taking it all in stride…and ripping harder than ever in the process. Her past has been dotted with an on-again-off-again relationship with the ASP Top 16 (on tour in 2009, off in 2010, on in 2011, off in 2012, on in 2013). But she opened this year’s campaign with back-to-back quarterfinals, right about the same time her relationship with ASP World Junior Champion Jack Freestone bubbled into the limelight, which also closely coincided with her appearance in the S.I. Swimsuit Issue.

Springtime romance. Competitive success. Mainstream recognition. Blanchard’s year is humming along quite nicely; what follows is a quick, mid-season update, recorded last week somewhere between Bells and New Zealand.

HOW’S IT FEEL TO BE BACK ON TOUR AFTER A YEAR AWAY?

It feels good. I made the semis in the last ‘QS event in the Azores and afterwards they told me, ‘you made the ‘CT.’ And I was like, ‘I didn’t even know I could.’ So it was a bit of a surprise. But I’m super stoked to be back with all the girls. I’m taking this year a little more casual and trying not to stress out about all my heats.

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