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Mom & Dad Surf Strength: New Parents Clinch World Title Shot By Winning Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic

Originally posted on SURFER | By August Howell | Last updated Oct 27, 2025 1:47 PM ET

Six months ago, Honolua Blomfield and her boyfriend, pro skater Clay Kreiner, welcomed their first child into the world. This past weekend, Reign’s mother won her sixth career event at the Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic. The 26-year-old three-time world champion was a standout throughout the contest, posting the two highest single-wave scores, both 9.80s, and claiming excellent two-wave totals in every heat.

It wasn’t the cleanest final, but Honolua did enough to best Avalon Gall, who had already taken out reigning world champion Rachael Tilly in the semis. After Honolua fell on her first right, Gall delivered a 7.17 and 8.50, putting the pressure on the Hawaiian. But Honolua reclaimed her elegant form on the second run, cross-stepping smoothly with criminal ease for a 9.27 (her fifth of the event). Gall failed to get an 8 on her two remaining waves, and the new mother was the last one standing. She credited Clay and her baby as motivating factors in her return to the podium.

“My boyfriend actually talked me into the mental, I guess, and you just got to believe in yourself, really,” Honolua said. “I tend to not do that a lot, but I'm glad that I had that in me just now to do. I was pregnant last year here and the contest after in El Salvador. And then I had my baby, and I really just wanted to do it, because who else would if not, you know? I just thought it'd be a cool thing to take my baby on the road with me, let him see a few things, and yeah, this was kind of the goal.”

On the men’s side, South African multitasker Steven Sawyer (who also rips on a shortboard), looked destined to win back-to-back events in Abu Dhabi when he made the final. Then 35-year-old Edouard, who’s having a career resurgence, found his dad strength. Like Honolua, he’s also a new parent; his child was born days before the Bells Beach event in September. The Frenchman had just placed last in the US Open, but he somehow surfed his way to the semis in Bells, and now all the way to the top in Abu Dhabi. Due to a combo of powerful frontside turns and several tubes, Edouard earned his first event win since 2021.

“I just love it, man, getting eight barrels, positioning, that was the best,” he said. “I really enjoy the wave, the setup this year was amazing. And I had fun, and that was the most important. I was really looking forward to getting barreled this year, so the win is a bonus. It's amazing.”

Abu Dhabi was a key event because it was the third and last regular-season event to qualify for a shot at a world title. Now, just 16 surfers will compete for world titles at the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships. The event window is from November 5-9. By winning Abu Dhabi, Honolua and Edouard leaped to No. 3 and 1 in the rankings, respectively.