Since entries opened in September, over 500+ videos have been submitted from all corners of the globe including Australia, New Zealand, USA, Portugal, Spain, France, Brazil, UK, India, Wales, Indonesia, South Africa, French Polynesia, Peru, Canada, Thailand, Japan and more making it easily a touchstone year for the BL BLAST OFF and truly building a global community. Throughout the competition BL and the team were so lucky to witness the incredible talent of these groms, gnarly wipeouts, huge tubes, big airs and some seriously incredible surfing – the future is bright to say the least!
The challenge, judged by Lynch himself and a panel of some of the worldβs most exciting young names in surfing including Jack Robinson, Kyuss King, Mahina Maeda, Vahine Fierro and Eli Hanneman, has seen kids enter the radars of some of the sportβs biggest stars.
The winners of the Expert Choice category receive a Perfect Wave trip to the Maldives, while winners in the Peopleβs Choice category receive passes to Surf Lakes in Yeppoon to surf with Barton Lynch himself. Other category winners receive surfboards courtesy of Channel Islands Surfboards and Lost Mayhem Surfboards.
THE EXPERTβS CHOICE
Erin Brooks (Oahu) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/erin-brooks-10
Kai Odriozola (Basque Country, Spain) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/kai-odriozola
PEOPLEβS CHOICE
Rickson Falcao (Brazil) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/rickson-falcao
Jorre Claeys (Belgium) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/jorre-claeys
Ruby Stringfellow (Maui) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/ruby-stringfellow
BEST WAVE
Asher McClenahan (Maui) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/asher-mcclenahan
WORST WIPEOUT
Steve Roberson (Maui) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/steve-roberson-1
BEST TUBE
Kai Hall (Bali via South Africa) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/kai-hall-16
BEST AIR
Erin Brooks (Oahu) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/erin-brooks-7
MOST POTENTIAL
Locana Cullen (Avalon, AUS) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/locana-cullen
COACH AKOβs MOST POTENTIALΒ
Eden Hasson (Boat Harbour) AUS https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/eden-hasson-8
DIVISIONAL WINNERS
GIRLS & BOYS 8s
Leihani Zoric (Broken Head, AUS) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/leihani-zoric-11Β
Ethan Fernandez (FRA) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/ethan-fernandezΒ
GIRLS & BOYS 10s
Chesney Guillnotte (Oahu, US) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/chesney-guinotte-4Β
Lucas Deffenti (Gold Coast, AUS) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/ocea-curtisΒ
GIRLS & BOYS 12s
Ocea Curtis (Lennox Head, AUS) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/ocea-curtisΒ
Lukas Skinner (Cornwall, UK) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/lukas-skinnerΒ
GIRLS & BOYS 14s
Erin Brooks (Oahu, US) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/erin-brooks-10Β
Kai Odriozola (Basque Country, SPA) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/kai-odriozolaΒ
BLβs MVPΒ
Kai Hall (Bali via South Africa) https://epicentre.tv/bl-blast-off/video-challenge/kai-hall-17Β
FINALS WEEK VIDEOSΒ
Part 1 – Awards 8’s + 10s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxsaCw4TNrE&t=7sΒ
Part 2 – 12s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4aEsmHyn5Y&t=183sΒ
Part 3 – 14s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeuQTVm4C7w&t=3sΒ
Part 4 – Best Of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEZM5zuYp48&t=5sΒ
Part 5 – Experts Choice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ripryayXJ0Β
So, there you have it! BL and the team have chosen, and we think they have chosen well! Keep your eyes peeled on these young talents and all the groms who entered the event. Big things to comeβ¦