Cloud 9 delivered a heavy, spectacular opening to the second stop on the Championship Tour and one rider made it look routine: Marama Takong. The veteran put together a clinical display of positioning and barrel-riding that underscored why he’s one of the reef’s most feared competitors.
Marama Takong: king of the rabbit warren
When Cloud 9 started pumping, Marama immediately put himself on another level. He threaded a backdoor runner and found an odd-shaped tunnel that other surfers passed up, earning an eight-point ride that effectively put his opponent Sammy Pupo on the back foot for most of the heat. Takong’s long history at Cloud 9 — including four event wins and an exceptional strike rate on the wave — showed up in his heat management and his ability to find seams nobody else saw. He advances to meet Ethan Ewing in the next round.
Women’s Round 1: Simmers stuns, names to watch advance
Caity Simmers opened her Cloud 9 campaign with a technical, high-scoring effort. A nine-point barrel followed by a 6.17 gave her a 15.17 two-wave total that left Caroline Marks requiring an unlikely 9.67. Simmers’ strategic entry behind the peak and controlled layback underscored the level of commitment Cloud 9 demands.
Luana Silva also produced a strong showing, edging Bettylou Sakura Johnson after both found steep, techy takeoffs and barreled sections. The heat conditions were shallow and punchy — takeoffs verging on vertical — so many competitors elected to kick out rather than ride into the unholy end sections.
Carissa Moore held firm against wildcard Sierra Kerr, posting one of the day’s standout deep barrels and moving on with a near-nine score. Molly Picklum survived a patchy exchange with local 15-year-old wildcard Mara Lopez to join Moore in the later rounds, tightening the race for the yellow jersey as the event heads toward Pipeline next.
Men’s Round 1: tube-offs, tactical priority plays and wildcards stirring the draw
The men’s field served up a full menu: deep backdoor barrels, late-game score hunts and several wildcards making noise. Connor O’Leary’s belligerent approach earned him an early lead and a heat win over Callum Robson after a tense priority exchange down the stretch.
Seth Moniz made the most of Cloud 9’s inner burrows, assembling back-to-back deep funnels and advancing past Marco Mignot. Filipe Toledo battled for separation with his opponent and found a late scoring wave that secured his progression. A highly entertaining tube-off between João Chianca and LOB produced a standout eight-point effort that swung the heat in LOB’s favor.
Several wildcards took advantage of local knowledge and aggressive positioning. Jack Robinson paddled into multiple mid-range scores to close out Bronson Meydi’s chase, while George Pittar outpointed local debutant Noah Arkfeld with a steadier heat plan. The wildcard Jayuard Alciso — nicknamed “The Dragon” — methodically chipped away at Kauli Vaast’s lead and came through in the closing minutes to advance, capping a day where the draw opened up in unpredictable ways.
Round 2 preview: momentum and matchups to watch
As the draw reshuffles, a few early narratives have emerged. Marama Takong’s form makes him the man to beat on this wave; his next match with Ethan Ewing will be a test of whether the favorites can topple the country’s local master. Seth Moniz continued to favor the burrow over big airs and managed to edge Italo Ferreira in Round 2, highlighting Cloud 9’s preference for natural-footed tube riders on the day.
Jack Robinson’s late heat composure and Filipe’s ability to find a game-saving score under pressure mean the knockout rounds could swing on small margins. Keep an eye on the wildcard challengers — a single strong barrel or a perfectly timed late drop can reshuffle the ranking points and momentum heading to Pipeline.
Injury watch
Competition intensity and the shallow reef made for some heavy impacts. Miguel (Miggy) suffered a critical final-wave wipeout in Round 2 and may have injured his knee; he was eliminated from the heat after a late 7.5 that shifted the scoreboard in his opponent’s favor. Watch for official medical updates from the WSL as the event continues.
Why this matters to surfers and the CT
Cloud 9’s inclusion on the CT calendar is justified by days like this: the reef tests barrel technique, wave selection, priority strategy and local experience. For surfers vying for the title, strong performances here set the tone before the high-stakes, 1.5x points multiplier at Pipeline. For shapers and athletes, Cloud 9 forces equipment and strategic adjustments — shorter, more drivey thrusters and a commitment to backdoor positioning pay dividends.
For fans and traveling surfers, Siargao’s Cloud 9 remains a must-watch and must-respect stop on the map. The reef’s shifting palettes of hollow runners reward patience and punishes mistakes, producing highlight-reel barrels and upending brackets when wildcards or local specialists turn up the heat.
What to watch next
Expect the contest to continue favoring surfers who can find and hold the pocket. Key matchups include Marama Takong vs. Ethan Ewing and ensuing rounds where Carissa Moore and Molly Picklum will both try to consolidate their event runs. Keep tabs on boards and lineups: Cloud 9’s steep takeoffs mean commitment and timing are everything.
Source: Stab Mag