Carlsbad native Jack Van Wagoner has punched his ticket to the World Surf League Longboard Tour, clinching his spot after wrapping up the North America regional season at the Coastal Edge Steel Pier Classic in Virginia Beach. The result secures him a place alongside the region's and the world's top longboarders on the 2026/2027 WSL circuit.
Speaking after the event, Van Wagoner admitted the qualification came with a few nerves. "It was definitely a little stressful watching that last heat. It was mixed emotions rooting for Tony after he just beat me, but I'm super stoked to be back on Tour after everything played out," he said, as reported by FOX 5 San Diego. The outlet also notes he was eliminated in a heat by eventual winner Tony Silvagni yet still locked down the regional title on points.
At the Coastal Edge Steel Pier Classic, Malia Ilagan claimed the women's final with a 15.34 heat total, while Tony Silvagni took the men's final with a 12.17. The event left Jack Van Wagoner and Lia Diaz atop the final 2025/2026 North America longboard regional rankings, with Cole Robbins and Cash Hoover finishing runner-up in their respective divisions, according to Coastal Edge.
What’s next
The WSL Longboard Tour is set to open at the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, scheduled for July 25 through August 2, where Van Wagoner will be one of North America's representatives. The Huntington Beach event calendar lists the Longboard Tour stop on Surf City's official US Open schedule, per Surf City USA.
Carlsbad roots
Van Wagoner grew up surfing in Carlsbad and has long been a fixture in Southern California longboard contests, putting up strong results in scholastic meets and national events. Local club and event pages trace his steady rise through junior ranks into the national longboard scene, as documented by the Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club.
For Carlsbad and the broader North County surf scene, Van Wagoner's re-qualification is a reminder that high-level longboarding still runs deep along this stretch of coast. He will head into a compact international season with a hometown wave of support waiting when the Tour opens in Huntington Beach this summer.
