Rogelio “Jay-R’” Esquivel. –United Philippine Surfing Association Facebook page:
Rogelio “Jay-R’” Esquivel has reached the pinnacle of world longboard surfing twice in a month.
Shortly after punching a ticket to the World Beach Games, Esquivel earned a coveted spot in the 2023 World Surf League Longboard Tour, the first Filipino to reach the grand stage in the longboard event.
Esquivel ruled the Padrol Longboard Classic at the Halfway Kuta Beach in Bali, Indonesia to claim his second Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) victory that propelled the country’s premiere surfer in the discipline to secure the WSL Longboard Tour seeding.
Navigating a mix of sympathetic two- to three-foot waves and low tide conditions in the finals, Esquivel maneuvered his board with precision and skill, highlighted by an impressive Hang 5 to Hang 10 combination to initially earn 7.17 points.
Roland Lefeuvre of France briefly led the contest before the San Juan, La Union-based Esquivel executed his remarkable nose-riding talent, netting an excellent 8.00 from the judges to bag the trophy.
Esquivel’s triumph is a historic moment for a nation abound with surfing destinations and has triggered more future representations from Asia.
Daisy Valdez and Aping Agudo likewise didn’t disappoint, claiming third and fourth places in the women’s longboard ranking in Asia.
Esquivel recently qualified for the World Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia on Aug. 5-12 following a podium finish in the men’s individual longboard at the ISA World Longboard Championship in Surf City, El Salvador early last month.
Agudo will join Esquivel in Bali as the nation’s female entry in the discipline where Valdez and Jomarie Ebueza helped tow the Philippine to fourth overall in the team standings in El Salvador among 21 countries.