Mexican Surfer Alan Cleland Makes History at US Open of Surfing

Mexican surfer Alan Cleland emerged victorious at the US Open of Surfing 2024 this past Sunday. Cleland triumphed over French surfer Marco Mignot in the final round, securing the championship with a spectacular comeback on his third wave.

Throughout the competition, Cleland faced off against a series of formidable opponents. In the round of 16, he competed against Brazilian Michael Rodrigues. He then went head-to-head with American Crosby Colapinto in the quarter-finals, and defeated Australian Jarvis Earle in the semi-finals.

In the final round, Cleland distinguished himself by riding only three out of the five permitted waves. Despite Mignot initially holding a lead with a score of 7.33, Cleland steadily increased his score, ultimately surpassing Mignot.

Cleland's victory was an emotional moment for the surfer, marking a historic achievement as the first Mexican to win the US Open of Surfing. This follows his impressive performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Overwhelmed by his victory, Cleland said, “I can't put into words what I'm feeling right now. The support from my country and friends has been incredible. Representing my flag and all those who came to support me and believed in me is a beautiful feeling. With just 13 seconds left and hearing people say, 'Hey! There's one more wave', and me thinking, 'Oh my god; Okay, here we go', and then catching that wave – it was just insane.”