By SDCN Editor
Oceanside, CA–The next generation took over Oceanside on the final day of the Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro, crowning its youngest cape winner in event history.
The title returns to San Clemente courtesy of Eden Walla’s massive win at age 15 in her first-ever QS Final appearance. The win catapults Walla to No. 1 in the North American region.
This year marked the youngest Final in Super Girl history, with 14-year-old Kiara Goold (PYF) finishing in second and equal thirds shared by teenage sensations Ruby Stringfellow (13) in her first-ever WSL event and already proven QS threat Eweleiula Wong (19).
“It means so much to me. I’ve been watching this event for so long and I just tried to channel all my energy that I had today into that last heat.I’m stoked,” said Walla. “Thank you to everyone watching me and supporting me, my sponsors, and my friends, they’re the best. Always have faith in yourself and always believe in yourself, and, of course, always have fun.”
The Final kicked off in a flurry with an exchange between Walla and Kiara Goold with Walla’s backhand garnering a 6.17 (out of a possible 10) to Goold’s 4.17. Walla, stayed busy and found herself into an afternoon gem with a sharp, backhand attack and landed a 7.33 to take a commanding lead over the 14-year-old Tahitian.
A tough Finals Day draw awaited Tahiti’s newest QS addition of Goold and the 14-year-old rose to the occasion. She overtook reigning Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW), Regional No. 1 Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) and 2024 Challenger Series contender Eweleiula Wong (HAW) in her path to first-ever QS Final. Goold’s second place finish has her now residing 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, 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.”
The next generation took over Oceanside throughout the weekend with Stringfellow making her WSL debut in phenomenal form. The 13-year-old blistered through Finals Day in great form eliminating QS veteran Leilani McGonagle (CRC) in their Round of 16 bout before upsetting reigning Super Girl Surf Pro champion, Alyssa Spencer (USA), in her Quarterfinal heat. But, Stringfellow fell just short of the Finals in a close battle against eventual winner Eden Walla (USA).
Eweleiula Wong (HAW) continues to show she’s a proven QS threat at only 19 and surged into another Super Girl Surf Pro Semifinal. Wong started her pursuit of the cape in the Round of 16 over North America No. 1 Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN), before knocking out Maddie Storrer (USA) in the Quarterfinals. Her run ended in the semis where she fell to eventual runner-up, Goold.
The North side of the iconic Oceanside pier also saw a strong showing from the next generation of longboarders as young phenom Cash Hoover (HAW) earned both the highest heat total of the weekend (a 19.5) and the highest single wave score – a perfect 10 – as she advanced to the Final.
However, Hoover met her match in 17-year Malia Ilagan of Ventura, CA, whose poise and footwork in challenging conditions won over the judges to earn her first Super Girl Surf Pro Longboard cape. Stella Landers (USA) and Alexa Johnson (HAW) shared equal thirds, bowing out in the Semi-Finals.
Ilagan rolled into the Finals, while Hoover had to eliminate reigning Super Girl Surf Pro Longboard Champion, San Diego’s Summer Romero, to earn her place in the Finals.
A specialty Super Girl Pro Team Event brought back some of the event’s iconic names, including Brianna Cope (HAW), Anastasia Ashley (USA), and Moana Jones Wong (HAW), pairing them with emerging talents such as Skai Suitt (HAW), Sofia Gamboa (USA), Zoe Chait (USA), Daya McCart (USA), and Malia Lima (HAW). It was the best of three in a Round Robin format with the cumulative heat total taking the win.
Jones Wong joined Suitt in a powerhouse team that overcame an early deficit and answered in powerful form to eventually take the win and leave Oceanside with some hardware.
