Byron Bay surfer claims first career win

BYRON Bay surfer Kai Ellice-Flint has claimed a career first win at Lexus US Open of Surfing, defeating four-time world tour champion Taylor Jensen in the men’s longboard final at Huntington Beach.

The 29-year-old scored a 13.83 (out of a possible 20) in the final with a wave score of 6.33 before a 7.50 sealed the win.

Jensen, who won the event last year, was forced to settle for a 12.06 after the pair swapped leads in the final.

Ellice-Flint was awarded a wildcard for the 2025 World Longboard Tour after just missing out last year.

“To win here is just incredible. As a grom, you look at the US Open like this is such a big event,” he said.

“I’m super grateful. “I’m doing this for my family, for my friends, and all the people who have supported me over the years.

“I just felt like I needed to push hard for this the last six or nine months. Coming up against Taylor (Jensen) in the final is super difficult, and you have to dig deep for that. It’s pretty sick.”

Ellice-Flint defeated 2023 champion Kai Sallas in the Round of 16 before facing 2018 World Longboard Champion Steven Sawyer (RSA) in the quarter-final.

He went on to overcome 2024 world number three John Michael Van Hohenstein, who posted a nine (out of a possible 10) in his quarter-final heat.

The next event is the Boardmasters Longboard Pro at Fistral Beach in Cornwell, England.