WALLA WINS 2024 SUPERGIRL SURF PRO
Eden Walla (USA) claimed a massive win at the World Surf League (WSL) Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro presented by CELSIUS, a women’s Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000 event, in Oceanside, California. Challenging conditions leveled the playing field for the youth to shine in the youngest Final in Super Girl Surf Pro history between Walla and Kiara Goold (PYF) with Walla keeping the event win in Southern California. Walla’s, 15, victory marks the youngest Super Girl Surf Pro in event history.
The Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro title returns to San Clemente courtesy of Eden Walla (USA) after Sawyer Lindblad’s victory in 2022. Now, Walla boasts the title of youngest Super Girl Surf Pro victor at age 15 in her first-ever QS Final appearance. The win also catapults Walla to No. 1 in the North America region leaving Oceanside.
“It means so much to me. I’ve been watching this event for so long and thank you to all my friends for supporting me, they’re the best,” said Walla. “I just trie to channel all my energy that I had today into that last heat and I’m stoked. Thank you to everyone watching me and supporting me, my sponsors and my friends. Always have faith in yourself and always believe in yourself, and always have fun.”
The Final kicked off in a flurry with an exchange between Walla and Kiara Goold (PYF) with Walla’s backhand garnering a 6.17 (out of a possible 10) to Goold’s 4.17. Walla, 15, stayed busy and found herself into an afternoon gem to unleash more of her sharp, backhand attack and accrued a 7.33 to take a commanding lead over the 14-year-old Tahitian. The ocean didn’t provide any significant opportunities until the dying minutes when Goold was able to strike and posted a 6.67 to give herself a chance to claim a win. But, Oceanside’s lineup didn’t deliver the sections needed on her last wave as the horn sounded, crowning Walla the 2024 event winner.
A brilliant run from Walla included blitzing through Finals Day, beginning in the Round of 16 against growing QS threat Sara Freyre (USA). The 15-year-old then took that confidence forward to eliminate an in-form Bailey Turner (USA) in their Quarterfinal bout. But, all eyes were on the Semifinal battle between Walla and event standout Ruby Stringfellow (USA). Stringfellow’s quick start put Walla behind before Walla was able to surmount fellow teenage sensation Stringfellow and enter her first major QS Final.
Kiara Goold Notches First QS Final, Youngest Super Girl Final in Event History
A tough Finals Day draw awaited Tahiti’s newest QS addition of Goold and the 14-year-old rose to the occasion. Goold overtook reigning Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW) before taking on, pre-Super Girl Surf Pro, Regional No. 1 Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) in their Semifinal bout. Goold got the best of Inso in tough conditions before then taking on 2024 Challenger Series contender Eweleiula Wong (HAW) where she once again emerged victorious for her first-ever QS Final and now resides atop the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui rankings.
“It’s super cool this being my first QS ever and I’m super proud of myself because I tried to make a big maneuver going for an air,” said Goold. “Even though I didn’t land it was still really fun and I’m stoked to the make the Final. I want to say thank you to all my friends and family back home in Tahiti cheering me on. I’m really happy to represent the surfing community and island of Tahiti.”.
|
|
Wong continues to show she’s a proven QS threat at only 19 and surged toward another Super Girl Surf Pro Semifinal – her second-consecutive Super Girl Surf Pro including Jacksonville. Wong’s prowess in the jersey has taken her to two Challenger Series seasons, 2023 and 2024, and made her moves starting in the Round of 16 over North America No. 1 Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN), before overtaking Maddie Storrer (USA) in the Quarterfinals. Ultimately falling to eventual runner-up, Goold, Wong now prepares for her Challenger Series return at the EDP Ericeira Pro.
|
|
|
|
