By SDCN Editor
Oceanside, CA–Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro showcased a home beach advantage as SoCal surfers upset QS mainstays to advance.
Two-foot, occasional three-foot sets, provided opportunities for the women in the Round of 64 and Round of 32 to showcase their ability to adapt and perform. The coveted Super Girl cape and vital points toward 2025 Challenger Series qualification await tomorrow’s Finals Day.
An incredible performance in challenging afternoon conditions from defending champ Alyssa Spencer (Encinitas) raised the standard heading into Finals Day action. Spencer’s backhand attack earned her the highest-scoring set of the day and sent her soaring into tomorrow’s Round of 16.
“I was just trying to find my rhythm and I managed to find a couple good waves,” noted Spencer. “It’s amazing to reflect how far I’ve come and this event really sparked the dream for me. Just getting to meet all my idols and when I was younger I dreamed of being where they are one day and now I am. I’m really grateful for Super Girl for that.”
The impressive WSL debut from Huntington’s Ruby Stringfellow continued into Day Two, with the 13-year-old advancing to the Round of 16 as the youngest competitor, and upsetting Hawaii/Tahiti Nui contenders Moana Jones Wong and Zoe McDougall.
Also adding their name to the Finals Day roster with Round of 32 heat wins were SoCal’s younger generation. Big performances from Vela Mattive, Bailey Turner, and Eden Walla provided scattered upsets to advance to the Round of 16 bouts, joining current North America No. 1 Sanoa Demplfe-Olin (CAN), Kiara Goold (PYF) in tomorrow’s head-to-head matchups.
A tough day of competition witnessed the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui contenders face elimination throughout the Round of 32 after a successful showing in the Round of 64. But, Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) took her Round of 64 confidence after posting an excellent 8.33 and made her way into Finals Day again in her young career. The 16-year-old bested fellow regional contenders Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW), Kohai Fierro (PYF), and Southern California’s Kirra Pinkerton (USA) for her shot at earning a Super Girl cape.
“I feel good,” said Inso. “I love California and especially this event and the environment around it is just the best. If I can keep making a couple more heats that’ll be amazing but just having a good fresh start in that first heat felt good to let loose.”
