FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jack Beresford, Kneeboard Surfing USA

San Juan Capistrano’s Kevin Skvarna won the open division at the 2025 Kneeboard Surfing USA Titles and Festival, becoming the first to win three U.S. titles in a row. The event was held March 14 at Oceanside Harbor’s South Jetty in head-high surf with occasional rain showers. More than 40 participated with competitors traveling as far away as Seattle and Scotland.

Rachel Lord of Ventura had a busy day, competing in both the open division and junior division. After her other women’s division rivals were unable to participate, she was crowned U.S. champion. Other winners included Oceanside’s Chris Buscemi who won the AAA division, Huntington Beach’s Wayne Kopit who won the AA division, and Torrence’s Cormac Cove O’Brien who won the junior division.

The 2025 Kneeboard Surfing USA Titles and Festival served as an important qualifier for the next world titles event being held in Saquarema, Brazil in 2026. The event was originally scheduled for February 14 at Huntington Beach, but needed to be rescheduled due to stormy conditions. The event was last held in Oceanside in 2017, a contest won by Huntington Beach legend Tom Backer.

Kneeboard Surfing USA President Jack Beresford said the event is as much a gathering of friends as it is a competition. “We compete hard, but in the end this is a celebration of kneeboard surfing, which has a rich 60-year history,” said Beresford. “How many sports can you come out and see the best in the world going head-to-head with true legends?”

Results:

• Open Division: 1. Kevin Skvarna, 2. Adam Shapiro, 3. Jack Beresford, 4. Sam Coyne, 5. Roger Hughes
• AAA Division: 1. Chris Buscemi, 2. Scott Wessling, 3. Sebastian “Seabass” Perez, 4. Jason Foster
• AA Division: 1. Wayne Kopit, 2. Tom Linn, 3. Joe Willix, 4. Randy Reed, 5. Dylan Frisch
• Junior Division: 1. Cormac Cove O’Brien, 2. Dylan Frisch, 3. Rachel Lord, 4. Dylan Newcomb
• Women’s Division: 1. Rachel Lord

Premier Sponsors included Bird’s Surf Shed, Block Surf, BruSurf, Casa Sirena Surf Lodge (Nicaragua), Freeline Design, Kneelo Gear, Parkes Kneeboards, TK’s Frog House, Isurus Wetsuits, Race-Trac Traction Co., ROM Beer Co., and Walden Surfboards. Event Sponsors included GryptaLite High Performance Traction, Hanalei Fins, Jeff Jensen, Plastic Fantastic Surfboards, Stevo Kneelo Creations, Stonefish Skegs, and Tidelines Tide Calendars.

Photo: Kevin Skvarna competing at the 2025 Kneeboard Surfing USA Titles and Festival, held March 14 at Oceanside Harbor’s South Jetty (photo by Mark Bromley).