Waveski Adventurers

26/04/2026

Greetings Possums on this wonderful post event day,

Some of us will be a little weary following a magnificent competition topped off by a seemingly endless celebration party last night at the Terraco Chopp (yep real name) overlooking the sites of Santos.

The special trophies and gifts I’m sure will take pride of place in the ‘trophy cabinet’.

Well what can I say firstly congratulations to all the winners and placegetters who gave their all to get a podium finish. The waves while not huge definitely gave everyone a chance to show off their skill level and impress the judges.

Under the leadership and guidance of Paulo Ribas - Brasil’s delegate for the WWSA and Contest Director Jadir Pessoti the event ran like clock work. Even when there was a thought that maybe ‘rabbits’ had infiltrated the live heat system, the judges continued on without any delay.

And boy did we need every minute with a changing swell and wind direction the most important call Contest officials need to make is when to stop the event and re start.

There was just something about this WWSA accredited event that was different and I suspect that the thousands of people dotting the beach watching in awe and the international spirit of all competitors just somehow made it special.

This is what sport is all about - do your best out in the ocean, but come out of the water with your head held high! We saw all of this regardless of which country you were representing.

Tim Tams just made for a little sweetener along the way - one of Australia’s greatest chocolate biscuit. So for any of you travelling take Tim Tams and watch the change on people’s faces.

Back to the results and these are as follows:

WAVESKI

Open Men’s Waveski
1 Luciano Neco De Bastiani, 2 Felipe Belmar 3 Mauricio Marcos de Souza, 4 Brett Cronin

Open Women’s Waveski
1 Jackie Dillon, 2 Romina Carrasco, 3 Daniela Verona 4 Ellen Fernandez, 5 Viviana Pippo

Adaptive
1 Felipe Doria, 2 Eugenio Fuenzalida, 3 Alexandra Xandão

Cadet
1 Daniela Verona

Junior
1 Viviana Pippo

Senior
1 Diego Anjariz 2 Novo Mateo, 3 Gonzalo Cespedes, 4 Guillermo Barreto

Master
1 Otto Juan Mateo Armando, 2 Felipe Belmar, 3 Paulo Ribas 4 Nando Barbosa

Grand Master
1 Brett Cronin, 2 Mauricio Souza, 3 Luciano De Bastiani. 4 Alexander Vilarinho

Legend
1 Luciano Cohen 2 Rogerio Cruz, 3 Eduardo Venegas 4 Marcos Marcondes

Grand Legend
1 Jackie Dillon

KAYAKSURF

Open
1 Otto Armando, 2 Mateo Novo, 3 Adrian Oliveras, 4 Taffoni Marino

Women’s
1 Viviana Sanchez, 2 Viviana Pippo, 3 Fabiola Skabiosis

Junior
1 Viviana Pippo

Senior
1 Mateo Novo

Master
1 Otto Armando, 2 Viviana Sanchez, 3 Leiva Leandro, 4 Taffoni Marino

Grand Master
1 Fernando Almada, 2 Mauricio Borsari, 3 Morgade Hernandez

Legend

1 Adrian Oliveras 2 Federico Piroli

Thank you to everyone - we had a blast and I’m so looking forward to watching the growth and development of waveski and surf kayak in South America - big future ahead.

On that note this is Scoop Newsworthy signing off for Waveski Adventurers and kayaksurf. See you all in Peru - for the 2026 World Waveski Surfing Titles.

Take care everyone.

25/04/2026

Waveski Adventures' Jackie Dillon currently surfing against C Romina, D Verona, P Viviana, E Fernandes in the Latin America Waveski & Kayak Championships taking place in Brazil.

https://www.youtube.com/live/r6UwOaLs7J8?si=XI0gDITLgj2t9Nm5

More waveski action throughout the day.

5 likes. "Latino Americano WaveSki e Kayak Surf Finals Day"

24/04/2026

Greetings Possums,

All the way from Quebra Mar Beach Santos location of the 2026 Latin Americano Waveski and Surf Kayak Championships.

With World Waveski Ranking points on offer, competitors were keen to get some runs on the board to assist with their seeding position for Worlds in Peru - October 2026.

The appointment of highly credentialed judges fully versed in waveski and surf kayak was very evident with riders rewarded with critical manoeuvres,directional change in the pocket of the wave with speed, power and flow.

The profile of competitors is definitely on the youth side with countries putting in a mighty effort to upskill, nurture and develop their riders.

Nerves and heart rates were palpable with the event commencing on Wednesday with small conditions. Definitely ideal for smaller riders - yee ha!

With an invariable swell which teased competitors into thinking something was looming out the back it was a game of strategy; go left, go right, just wait for the bigger sets to come through.

As they say in real estate - ‘Location, location, location!’

The use of the priority system is a game changer for our sport as everybody has a fair go taking turns in the lineup without fear of interference.

A big welcome back to the fray for Felipe Belmar from Chile following a 6 month injury lay off. The no. 1 seed in the Open picked up from where he left off making the most of the conditions.

Brett Cronin from Aus no. 2 seed on his new waveski carved the waves with precision, knowing where to sit with the quiet achiever capitalising on the small conditions.

The live heats and live streaming of the event has enabled everyone throughout the world to access the competition from the comfort of their armchairs.

The open women’s event was exciting even if I say so myself. And how refreshing it is to be back surfing in a sport that gives me so much joy.

Watching and being a part of the change is a pivotal moment for our sport with both Romina Carrasco and Daniela Verona improving very quickly with their skill development.
There are 5 women in the Open so 3 finals are run with results contributing to overall placings.

Romi blitzed the field with a highly scored wave showing what she is capable of on a waveski that she’s only ridden half a dozen times.

Daniela at 16 has a tremendous future with her skills on the upside.

Along with Viv Viviana Pippo who is a cross over athlete and newly minted Ellen Fernandes, the heat of 5 was fantastic.

With a lay day called yesterday it was an opportunity to interview country reps which was recorded on you tube. Each representative discussed the development of waveski in their countries and how proud they are to be representing their countries.

Today is another day and with fingers crossed the event is due to run for the full day.

Until my next report, this is Scoop Newsworthy on location signing off for Waveski Adventurers and kayaksurf.net & waveski.net

22/04/2026

Greetings Possums,

On this magnificent day in downtown Santos - Brasil.

First day of the competition - starts in a couple of hours and if you’re anyone like me getting ready for an event you’ve been awake for a while!

Yesterday we had the parade of participating nations and what a kaleidoscope of colours with teams adorned in their uniforms waving their national flags with pride.

The immense joy as we were introduced was palpable with internationals shouting out ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!’

The language of ‘Surfing’ is our medium of communication - a nod of the head, the Colgate toothpaste smile, the embracing of who we are is all we need to make a great day memorable.

Our event will be live streamed and with live heats anyone and everyone around the world will be able to access results as they come in. Link to access is via live heats platform - AWL (Association Waveski Latinoamerica)

https://www.youtube.com/live/ACkj30PzW-s?si=PEQTTQ5EB4g5z6ZI

Have a great day everyone. More updates as they come to hand.

This is Scoop Newsworthy signing off for Waveski Adventurers and kayaksurf.net & waveski.net

21/04/2026

Greetings Possums,

Well, what happened!

Do you remember as kid on the way to a sporting carnival telling your mum ‘Fluffy the dog has gone and taken my hockey boots out of my kit bag!’

Today something similar happened on the rather longish walk (100 metres) to the beach; the aliens sneaked into my back pack and ‘stole’ my wetsuit top.

True story - sort of. So like a child out of the 70’s I improvised and wore a t shirt instead. Thank goodness both the weather and water was very warm.

You might be wondering why I didn’t go back to the apartment and get it. Simple, navigating both the bike path and roads where zebra crossings are seemingly there for artwork is risky business.

So I took my chances and totally ruined a favourite top - salt water and sunscreen is not a good mix topped off with caked on pink zinc.

Well the fun continued, Mary-Ellen did some research as only one does on beach umbrellas. Turns out that for the last 4 days while we’ve been ‘cooking’ out in the ‘blazing’ sun we could have been under a free council beach umbrella.

And no it’s not that we didn’t want to pay - we just didn’t have any lose change. All good!

With me losing 3 scrabble games in a row we decided to hit the city sites - The Funicular - Monte Serrat- 147 metre ride up to the top or 467 steps. Breathtaking and heart stopping ascending in a rickety carriage.

The panoramic views were breathtaking with a 360 degree visual of the entire city of Santos - incredible landscape. Photos don’t do it justice. The church atop the mountain where locals sell their produce invokes a sense of time standing still. Memories etched here forever.

The descent was teeth chattering as the carriage was almost a vertical 90 deg drop - ok exaggerating here but still couldn’t wait to get my tootsies on flat ground - phew!

Yesterday evening was topped off with a stroll along the beach side boardwalk and we landed upon the bronze sculpture of a surfer - reflective of what Santos represents surf, surf and surf.

Tomorrow is the official welcome to the city and a street parade for all the competitors, officials and supporters. The contest proper is planned to start on Wednesday pending the conditions. So excited to be in this event - let’s see how well my shoulder goes.

Hopefully the aliens will have gone away and my outfit will be all intact as it’s heavily guarded under lock and key.

On that note - Scoop Newsworthy on location in downtown Santos signing off for Waveski Adventurers and kayaksurf.net & waveski.net.

See you all the lineup.

19/04/2026

Greetings Possums

And how is your weekend going. Well we didn’t quite make it to the museum, something called ‘surf’ got in the way. Yeah I know - I’ve got a note!

Beautiful conditions - off shore ebbing and flowing thigh to waist high and plenty on offer; not upsetting the locals who were mildly curious about this ‘thing’ I was riding.

I have to say Ms Pinky (waveski) does look very vibrant and along with Daniela Verona and Romina Carrasco who are on RD’s we should look pretty cool out there in matching colours.

We did undertake a bit of exploring yesterday and one takes their life into their own hands when attempting to cross the road. Even worse when you have a waveski - trying not to wipeout every other pedestrian as you cross the road.

The bike paths are totally off limits for pedestrians as we soon found out when a cyclist almost ploughed into us. Scary encounter - won’t happen again.

The atmosphere of Santos is vibrant with the beach as the main focal point. 7kms of pristine sand with umbrellas, beach chairs and ice cream vendors is picture post card perfect.

Of course couldn’t ignore the fitness crew playing beach volleyball, pickle ball and generally looking incredibly fit and well.

Just a bit of humour, I reckon people here get their first set of swimmers at age 3 and keep wearing them for life! My speedos look a little sad and ‘daggy’.

It’s way too early to be awake but I’m watching the Western Derby between West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers. Go the ………!

On that note time for Scoop Newsworthy to sign off.

See everyone in the lineup today.

30/03/2026

Finals day at the 2026 BrightSky Australian Adaptive Pro saw epic Waveski action and pumping 3–4 foot offshore surf! The athletes left it all out on the line.

Full Gallery by Maroochy Media:

The 2026 BrightSky Australian Adaptive Pro wrapped up yesterday in clean 3–4 foot surf at Main Beach, Byron Bay. A day full of finals saw champions carried up the beach by their teammates in pure adulation, including Waveski / Sit Champion Michael Johnson (Australia). As the first stop of three on

29/03/2026

He does it again! Michael Johnson is your 2026 Brightsky Australian Pro Adaptive Waveski / Sit Champion 🔥 .johnson1706 committed signature surfing demonstrated why he is the defending champ. Good on ya, Mic!



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28/03/2026

It's Finals Day down at ByronBay main beach for the ! A full day of high performance surfing is on the menu. The Waveski final is scheduled for 10:15am. Keep following the webcast at https://www.adaptivesurfproaustralia.com/

28/03/2026

Free Surfing with Michael Johnson in Byron Bay during the Adaptive Surf Pro Byron Bay.

Photographs by Maroochy Media

With small surf and a late start to the Brightsky Australian Pro Adaptive Surf Championships, waveski surfer Michael Johnson took the opportunity to stay loose and sharp with some time in the water. Although, it seems he’s not a fan of the sun — preferring to hang in the shade. Photographs by