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> News > Jack Freestone Wins Red Bull Airborne Bali 2019

surfing News

Jack Freestone Wins Red Bull Airborne Bali 2019

Jack Freestone (AUS), winner of the 2019 Red Bull Airborne Bali, Keramas, Bali, Indonesia, May 17. Image credit: / WSL / Dunbar

17 May 2019

Jack Freestone (AUS) won the Red Bull Airborne Bali, a World Surf League (WSL) specialty event that highlights aerial surfing. Freestone, 27, flew through the Qualifiers and Final in three-to-four foot (1 - 1.2 metre) waves at Keramas, a break adored by the air specialists due to the mega ramps offered by the wave.

Jack Freestone was an early standout and easily qualified for the Final with epic performances through both of the Qualifying heats. Freestone has long been known for his prowess in the air. He continuously dishes up some of the most mind-boggling freesurfing sections with an array of technical, vertical, and powerful aerial maneuvers. In the Final, it was a huge frontside air-reverse to the flats that saw Freestone clinch an unassailable lead, gifting him his first Red Bull Airborne victory.

Watch: Day 2 Post Show: Jack Freestone Wins Red Bull Airborne Bali

With all three Airborne events won by Championship Tour (CT) surfers so far, Freestone would love to copy Italo Ferreira’s success from the Gold Coast and take out both the Red Bull Airborne and the CT event in the same week.

“I’m so stoked to win this event,” Freestone said. “It was so much fun. To share the water with all of those guys was so sick. I’ve got a really good relationship with Keramas. I love it and it seems to suit me perfectly. My plan now is to take this confidence into the main event and hopefully get through some CT heats this weekend.”

Freestone had Hawaii’s Kalani David (HAW) and Eli Hanneman (HAW) nipping at his heels throughout today's Final. Both surfers landed their fair share of airs in the Final but were unable to get the height and rotation needed to move up to first. Mason Ho (HAW), Ian Crane (USA), and Eric Geiselman (USA) showed glimpses of brilliance earlier in the day but struggled to find the landing gear on some huge, reverse, flip, and straight air attempts in the one-hour Final.

“This event is the best thing that has happened for a lot of these guys,” David said. “It’s so great that WSL, Red Bull, and Josh Kerr put this event on because it gives the freesurfers and air specialists an opportunity to showcase their talent on the world stage. This kind of event definitely pushes performance levels for sure. In the Final, Jack (Freestone) and I were just going back and forth, trying to go bigger and better than one another, which was cool. This is definitely the coolest event I’ve ever been a part of.”

An honorable mention must go to the group of surfers who narrowly missed the Final cut (falling below the Top 6 spots), including Chippa Wilson (AUS), who threw down some of the most technical airs of the event, including an impressive backhand big spin. Indonesian competitors Bronson Meydi (IDN) and I made Darma Yasa (IDN) went huge in front of their home crowd but just fell short of a Finals appearance. Maui’s Matt Meola (HAW) also turned heads with his almost flawless rodeo flip during the Qualifying Round.

For highlights from the Red Bull Airborne Bali, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Red Bull Airborne Bali Final Results:

1 - Jack Freestone (AUS) 5.93

2 - Kalani David (HAW) 5.63

3 - Eli Hanneman (HAW) 4.47

4 - Ian Crane (USA) 1.00

5 - Eric Geiselman (USA) 0.00

5 - Mason Ho (HAW) 0.00

Red Bull Airborne Bali Remaining Qualifying Round Results (H4-6):

Heat 4: Ian Crane (USA) 20.16 DEF. Jack Freestone (AUS) 16.87, Mason Ho (HAW) 15.26, Kalani David (HAW) 9.39, I Made Darma Yasa (IDN) 7.66, Jay Davies (AUS) 0.00

Heat 5: Eli Hanneman (HAW) 17.43 DEF. Eric Geiselman (USA) 14.86, Oliver Kurtz (USA) 7.86, Finn McGill (HAW) 1.54, Noa Deane (AUS) 0.00, Reef Heazlewood (AUS) 0.00

Heat 6: Lee Wilson (IDN) 14.87 DEF. Chippa Wilson (AUS) 14.07, Matt Meola (HAW) 9.74, Bronson Meydi (IDN) 8.94, Yago Dora (BRA) 0.00, Eithan Osborne (USA) 0.00

About the WSL

The World Surf League (WSL) is dedicated to celebrating the world's best surfing on the world's best waves through a variety of best-in-class audience platforms. The organization, headquartered in Santa Monica, is a global sport with regional offices in Australasia, Africa, North America, South America, Hawaii, Japan and Europe.

The WSL has been championing the world's best surfing since 1976, annually running more than 180 global events across the Men's and Women's Championship Tours, the Big Wave Tour, the Longboard Tour, Qualifying Series, Junior Championships, as well as the WSL Big Wave Awards. The League possesses a deep appreciation for the sport's rich heritage while promoting progression, innovation and performance at the highest levels, and in doing so crowns the undisputed Men’s and Women’s World Champions across all tours.

Showcasing the world's best surfing on its digital platform at WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL has a passionate global fan base with millions tuning in to see world-class athletes like Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Tyler Wright, John Florence, Lakey Peterson, Paige Alms, Kai Lenny, Steven Sawyer, Soleil Errico, Carissa Moore, Gabriel Medina, Courtney Conlogue and more battle on the most dynamic field of play of any global sport.

For further information on World Surf League, please follow this link.