2022 ISA World Surfing Games: Japan and USA qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics on day 8 - Results, finals highlights, and full replays

Paris 2024

Get the lowdown on the eighth and final day of the 2022 ISA World Surfing Games, with results and highlights from Saturday 24 September as Japan and USA claim the first surfing spots to Paris 2024 in Huntington Beach, California.

5 minBy Ash Tulloch | Created 24 September 2022
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(Sean Evans / WaterWorkMedia)

There was no better way to wrap up the 2022 ISA World Surfing Games than with surfing's first spots for the next Olympics being won.

Congratulations to Japan for winning the men's national team spot for Paris 2024 and USA who claimed the women's national team spot.

Read more about the quota spots here.

On top of the Olympic spots being won, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) and Kirra Pinkerton (USA) won individual titles.

Day eight was jam-packed with drama, joy, titles, and Paris 2024 qualifying berth twists and turns in the final heats on Saturday (24 September) in Huntington Beach, California.

Continue reading for the full review of Saturday's action, plus watch highlights and full replays of how day 8 unfolded on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com.

Moment of the day: Hello Paris 2024

The Olympic Games may be than two years away, but Paris 2024 was certainly at the front of people's minds on Saturday.

With two quota spots available for the top performing teams at the 2022 ISA Surfing Games, one per gender, the stakes were high and mathematical calculations for points were constantly being counted.

Various athletes tried to keep their country's hopes alive but in the end, it came down to the final heat for both the spots on offer.

Team USA men had a good shot to take the men's spot until both Kolohe Andino and Nat Young were eliminated before the final on Saturday. Their women's side performed well all competition with Gabriela Bryan and Zoe McDougall progressing through the rounds, but it was Kirra Pinkerton who went all the way. In securing the individual title she also helped confirm an Olympic spot for one woman from Team USA to compete at the Paris 2024 surfing competition taking place in Tahiti, French Polynesia.

"Every heat has been almost impossible," Pinkerton said after her win. "The fact that it all came together at the end, I’m just in complete awe right now."

In the men's quota spot hunt, Huntington Beach local Igarashi was in fierce form all competition and led his nation's charge despite a close battle from Indonesia, Australia, and Portugal.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist secured Japan's spot alongside his Japanese teammates, Kamiyama Keanu and fellow Olympian Murakami Shun.

Caught our eye: Mick Fanning

There was no shortage of fans on the beach making noise today.

We spied one rather familiar face with the Australian team though, none other than three-time WSL world champion, Mick Fanning.

The Australian surfing icon turned up to give some love, encouragement, and volume to his fellow countrymen's cheers.

As it happened: Day eight at 2022 ISA World Surfing Games

It was drama and action from the outset. There were even a few power outages to make things spicier on finals day.

Australia's Jackson Baker went to the air in his first heat and showed how much he wanted to taste glory. He made it through to the final but was unable to overcome an in-form Igarashi.

Rio Waida proved he's the real deal and took his surfing and fitness to new heights. The Indonesian surfed fourteen times during the event after falling into the repechage heats in round 1. There's no doubt he has more to give on the WSL Championship Tour.

The surprise performer of the men's competition was Guilherme Fonseca (POR) whose gutsy surfing got him into the final. His resilience in the competition was impressive and it's likely not the last we will see of him.

But ultimately Igarashi could not be matched, earning a two-wave total of 15.96, as Waida finished second with 14.04 and Baker third with 11.67.

“That was definitely really special,” Igarashi said after his win. “Obviously an individual win is great but to know that I secured the spot for Japan in the Olympics coming up, wow, that’s such a special feeling."

For the women, Pinkerton (13.63) claimed her most significant victory to date, having won the WSL world junior title in 2018.

The 20-year-old impressed in California with her backhand turns and outdid experienced veterans from France Pauline Ado (13) and Australia's Sally Fitzgibbons (11.6) who could not match the young rising star.

"I’m incredibly happy right now," Pinkerton said. "I don’t even know what to say, this whole week has been really cool.”

What's next: Surfing's Paris 2024 journey continues

While this event marks the start of surfing's journey to Paris 2024, there is much more to come.

Here is an outline of what the rest of the surfing qualifying process looks like, knowing that now Japan men and team USA women have one spot each secured.

WSL:

  • 2023 Tour: The highest-ranked 10 eligible men and 8 eligible women.

ISA World Surfing Games:

  • 2022 & 2024 - The winning teams by gender will qualify for 1 place for their respective country. The NOC will nominate the surfer of their choice at the end of the qualification system process.
  • 2023 - highest-ranked eligible man and woman per continent from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania (Total of 4 men + 4 women)
  • 2024 - highest-ranked 5 eligible men and 7 eligible women

2023 PanAmerican Games:

  • Highest-ranking eligible man and woman in the surfing competitions will qualify for a continental slot for the Americas.

Host nation:

  • France is guaranteed a place for 1 man and 1 woman as the hosts. If an athlete/s from France has already qualified, the slot(s) will be reallocated to the next highest ranking eligible surfer(s) from the 2024 ISA WSG.

Universality Place:

  • This is to promote development and provide opportunities to smaller nations to help develop the sport of surfing globally.
    1 man and 1 woman will earn a Universality Place.
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