Sean flies the Byrne Flag to Ballito - to kick off his WSL Challenger Series campaign

If you've been following our socials, you've probably already seen what Sean Gunning is about. And if you haven't do yourself a favour and pull up Sean's Instagram.

What you'll see is a modern free surfer creative, loose, spontaneous. The kind of surfing that looks like it's being made up on the spot, because a lot of it is. Progressive airs, unexpected rail changes, finding sections that other surfers wouldn't even look at. He's got the full repertoire and the instinct to use it.

What makes Sean genuinely exciting and what makes him dangerous on the Challenger Series is that he doesn't leave that surfing on the free surf clips. He takes it into competition. That ability to surf with freedom and still manufacture scores when it counts is rare. A lot of surfers can do one or the other. Sean does both. He's exactly the type of surfer that the new generation of contest judging rewards attack everything, keep it unpredictable, and back yourself. And he backs himself.

So how did he get here?

Boardmasters, Newquay — Runner-Up

Stop two of the European QS and one of the most watched events of the European summer. Sean surfed his way to the final and launched a full-rotation air for an 8.53 to push into second place, finishing runner-up behind Cornwall local hero Lukas Skinner in front of one of the biggest contest crowds of the season. It was the result that put him firmly in Challenger Series contention.

Spanish National Championship, Tenerife — Champion

He'd finished runner-up at this event the year before and came back with something to prove. He won every heat across two full days of competition, posted the best wave score of the entire contest a 9.87 in the quarters and took the final from defending champion Andy Criere. Dominant wire to wire.

Pro Taghazout Bay, Morocco — Season Closer

The highest-rated event on the European QS and the one that sealed it. Sean put together one of the standout heat performances of the event a 15.50 heat total on the back of a grab-rail air and an air reverse. When the rankings closed he was sitting 5th in Europe. Challenger Series confirmed.

Three events. Three statements. That's a campaign.

What's In The Board Bag

Sean heads into Ballito with a full a quiver built to cover whatever the South African coast throws at him.

 

Six boards. Something for small punchy beachbreak, something for when it turns on, and a step-up if the swell comes. 

 

CUSTOM ORDER