Media: @devindmedia // Words: Jason Wilson
Gerardo Valencia Claims 2nd Place at El Rey De Lovers!
The 2025 United Skim Tour kicked off with a bang last month at the legendary Lovers Beach in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The first stop on the tour, El Rey De Lovers, is no ordinary contest—this is big-wave skimboarding at its most intense, where raw talent meets punishing Pacific shorebreak.
Hosted by Cabo skim icon Juan “Bullo” Carlos, this world-renowned event attracts elite riders from across the globe. And this year, many are calling it the best skim contest ever. Heavy, overhead siders reeled in along the steep coastline, exploding into perfect barrels, pushing riders to their physical and mental limits. Lovers Beach is more than just a spot—it’s a rite of passage, a proving ground where only the best standout and many others are humbled back to training.
Leading our team were Gerardo and Yahir Valencia—two fearless brothers known for charging the fiercest Mexican shorebreak with style and grit. Yahir, the 2024 champion, returned in full-send mode, ready to defend his crown. Joining them were the Brazilian Skim Storm, Leo Freitas and Romario De Sousa, bringing the fire and fight that Brazilian competitors are most known for. From the Gulf Coast of the USA, Cabo first-timers Dylan Duncan and Mason Broussard rounded out the squad, eager to make their mark and find the barrel of their dreams.
The competition was stacked. Heavy hitters like Blair Conklin from Laguna Beach, Brazilian phenom Lucas Fink, and the always entertaining John Weber descended on Cabo, raising the level and intensity of every heat. These titans don’t hit every contest—but when they do, the level of riding goes through the roof.
Our team rose to the occasion. While Dylan and Mason bowed out after day one, the rest of our crew fought into day two with gutsy, inspired performances. Yahir wrangled one of the biggest bombs of the event—a towering 10-foot double-up—and nearly rode it to perfection before diving into a closeout explosion. Though it wasn’t enough to secure a finals berth, it was a ride that’ll be remembered. Leo and Romario delivered strong performances as well but were narrowly edged out by the surgical precision of Blair Conklin.
That left Gerardo Valencia—cool, focused, and on fire. After a show-stopping semifinal that had the crowd erupting, he advanced to the finals to face Lucas Fink. Gerardo threw down some great riding, but in the end, Fink held on to the crown with another flawless performance.
As tradition demands, the day wrapped with an unforgettable awards party in downtown Cabo. Riders from around the world danced shoulder to shoulder, swapping stories and celebrating one of the most iconic El Rey De Lovers events in history.
Skimboarding’s heart beats loudest in Cabo—and this year, it roared!
