Levi Slawson Gets Breakthrough Win, Sawyer Lindblad Gets Her Second US Open of Surfing Victory

Just like their demeanor after the horn, Mateus Herdy and Levi Slawson employed very different approaches in the final of the 2025 US Open of Surfing. Mateus stood up 18 times to Levi’s five. Most of Mateus’s rides were glorified kickouts, but he didn’t let anything get past his chiseled jawline. 

It was the first Challenger Series final for both surfers, who also had stellar parts shown in the Snapt5 world premiere the night before. This was also the first event where Mateus surfed in the quarterfinals, a shocking stat considering his talent. Mateus took the lead early with some mid-range turns and appropriate scores. But Levi was the model of efficiency today. He stomped with one big maneuver — a huge frontside air reverse for a 7.33. Then he sat patiently for a big chunk of the heat before annihilating a left with three clean snaps. For most of the heat, Levi’s total was 13.50, meaning Mateus needed a 7.93, a major maneuver of his own. He stuck to the inside and hunted airs, but to no avail. 

It's a strategy that had paid off for Mateus earlier in the day. He landed a massive alley-oop in the quarterfinals that very morning against Ventura powerhouse Dimitri Poulos. The air was scored a deserved 9.5, the highest single-wave score of the US Open.

But against Levi, Mateus couldn't buy a legit wave for most of the final. And of course, things got interesting at the end. After throwing everything but the Fu Wax against the wall, it looked like Mateus was going to stick it. With just under a minute left, Levi let Mateus take a good-looking right. It was his 18th wave of the final. Under priority, Mateus stopped a solid air reverse, but his landing on the foam wasn’t clean. He worked it to the inside for one more snap. But would it be a 7.93?

Tension grew on the beach for several minutes after the horn. Mateus waited on the beach with the Brazilian flag on his shoulders. Levi sat on his board in the water. The scores trickled in like a busted coffee maker. Finally, the results arrived. Mateus’s last wave came in at a 7.7, a mere two-tenths shy of the win. 

Bedlad ensued in Levi's camp. It was a truly massive moment for him, and his emotions broke through when the scores were announced. He wept practically all the way to the stage. It’s been a long road for the 22-year-old from Encinitas — he got 25th in Newcastle and 49th in Ballito (Interestingly, Mateus won both of those four-man matchups). With his first Challenger Series win, Levi jumps to fourth on the rankings after coming into the event ranked 48th. Earlier in the day, Levi beat former CT surfer Kade Matson in the quarters and former US Open champ Hiroto Ohhara in the semis. 

“I’ve worked so hard for these kind of moments through my career and I’ve watched the US Open my whole life, and I’ve never even dreamt of being here,” Levi said. “Being in the Final with Mateus was so hard. He’s such a good surfer and you can’t really give him anything. In the end that wave looked terrible and he almost pulled it off. It’s just pouring out of me now. This whole week I’ve just been trying to keep my cool and I’ve surfed here so many times, and just focus on good surfing. It’s really come down to me just focusing on myself and believing in myself and just trusting everything. I’m in disbelief.”

The women’s final featured two teenagers: 19-year-old Sawyer Lindblad and 14-year-old Tya Zebrowksi. It was Tya who struck first, posting a 12.34 total in the first five minutes of the heat before Sawyer could even find her feet. This girl is a real threat as you can see in Rip Curl's grom film, Dunno. But in the end, Sawyer’s frontside read on the lefts narrowly gave her the edge (13.17 to 12.57).

Little rankings update: Tya, just 14 years old (!), is now leading the women’s Challenger Series. You can read Ben Mondy's profile on the French phenom here.

The win puts Sawyer in vaulted status as she’s now a two-time US Open of Surfing winner (2023 and 2025). The San Clementean was graceful through her carves and punchy on her snaps. Though she barely finished under the mid-year cut on this season’s Championship Tour, she’s a lock to be on tour next year because of the expanded women’s field. 

It feels pretty good," Sawyer said. "The first time I felt like I wasn’t expecting it, and this time I felt more pressure. Tya was surfing super good so congrats to her and I’m just so grateful to have one here again with my family here,” said Lindblad. “I feel like I’ve definitely grown as a surfer. My first win got me onto the CT and set me up for my career, and this one just feels extra special especially after not making the cut. I knew I could’ve made a charge for the Final 5 if I didn’t get cut so it felt like this is a good redemption.”

Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Final Results:
1 - Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 13.17
2 - Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 12.57

Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Final Results:
1 - Levi Slawson (USA) 13.50
2 - Mateus Herdy (BRA) 13.27

Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 10.07 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 9.50
HEAT 2: Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 12.40 DEF. Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 11.16

Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Mateus Herdy (BRA) 13.04 DEF. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 11.56
HEAT 2: Levi Slawson (USA) 13.43 DEF. Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 11.93

Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 12.53 DEF. Vahine Fierro (FRA) 10.33
HEAT 2: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 12.00 DEF. Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 9.84
HEAT 3: Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 15.10 DEF. Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) 13.50
HEAT 4: Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 12.93 DEF. Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 12.50

Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Mateus Herdy (BRA) 16.33 DEF. Dimitri Poulos (USA) 14.57
HEAT 2: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 12.76 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 12.37
HEAT 3: Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 12.20 DEF. Taro Watanabe (USA) 10.07
HEAT 4: Levi Slawson (USA) 15.33 DEF. Kade Matson (USA) 14.20

Levi Slawson Gets Breakthrough Win, Sawyer Lindblad Gets Her Second US Open of Surfing Victory first appeared on Surfer on Aug 3, 2025