Thanks to an historic showing at the World Surfing Games in Japan, the Surf Canada team is now ranked 10th overall in the rankings.

At last month’s ISA World Surfing Games in Miyazaki, the Canadian men placed 5th and the women 12th overall in the world rankings. This brings Surf Canada to a 10th place overall ahead of next year’s Olympic Games.

Above: Peter Devries. Top: Mathea Olin.

This year’s Surf Canada team was comprised of Peter Devries, Shane Campbell and Cody Young, while the women’s trio featured Mathea Olin, Bethany Zelasko and Paige Alms. Tofino’s Devries rose to the occasion in his round two heat, facing off against World Surfing League (WSL) heavyweights Felipe Toledo and Jordy Smith, ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively in 2019. Devries’ finished atop the heat with a 14.83 scoreline, beating out Toledo’s 14.60 and sending Smith to the repechage rounds.

“Canada’s Olympic Pathway Team responded in force against the World’s best,” says Surf Canada Executive Director Dom Domic, “With our men’s team beating four WSL Tour surfers in three heats…Canada is a serious force and other teams have taken note.”

Team Brazil earned Gold—their first in 19 years. In addition to Italio Ferreira’s Gold, Brazil finished with two other individual medals. Gabriel Medina took the Bronze in the Men’s Division and Silvana Lima took Silver in the Women’s Division. The Team Silver Medal went to USA, led by an individual Silver Medal performance from Kolohe Andino and a Copper Medal from Carissa Moore. The 2018 Gold Medalist Team Japan earned the Bronze, while the Copper Medal went to Team Peru.

Next up, Surf Canada will head south to Huntington Beach, Calif. to compete against the world’s top upcoming surfing talent at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, October 26 – November 3. More information can be found on www.isasurf.org.