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Priority Destinations Pro: Full Ala Moana Bowls Briefing
Andrew Nichols
2021 witnessed a glimpse of what professional surfing had in store for 2022 with the introduction of the Challenger Series (CS). With that separation of tiers, a hyperfocus on the Qualifying Series (QS) becomes that much more paramount to push athletes to that next step of making their dream of Championship Tour (CT) qualification a reality.
The Priority Destinations Pro presented by First Hawaiian Bank and Mastercard offers a monumental opportunity for the WSL Hawaii/Tahiti Nui region for competitors to earn valuable points toward that Challenger Series aspiration. With only one event on offer in 2021/22', the HIC Pipe Pro QS 1000 was the only event to help qualify Hawaii/Tahiti Nui surfers to that next level, but, with First Hawaiian Bank stepping up, competitors are set for a big opening event at the famed Ala Moana Bowls June 17 - 24.
A Brief Bowls History
Ala Moana Bowls is noted as one of the Oahu's proving grounds that has provided the platform for rising amateur and professional surfing careers. A wave that offers a multitude of opportunity, winners of both 2015 and 2016 (the last back-to-back years a QS ran) had to rise to the occasion of whatever Bowls was delivering on that given day.
Joel Centeio, 2015, took down a formidable field or rising talent along with WSL Champion Sunny Garcia in their Final affair with pristine Bowls conditions.
"The waves were insane the whole time," Centeio told WSL. "The first day was perfect, 3-to-4-foot Middles, then today the North wind came and it was just the right size to where the guys could really lay into good turns and get some good barrels. So it's up there man, and I'm stoked I won."
Eli Olson's maiden QS victory in 2016 was no easy feat, overpowering the likes of emerging talents Noa Mizuno and Kaulana Apo alongside proven, 4x Pe'ahi Challenge victor Billy Kemper. Similar to 2015, conditions varied from rippable sections to barreling perfection that Olson conquered from start to finish before dedicating his win to big wave surfer Aaron Gold following his life-threatening injury.
"I'm ecstatic. I'm so happy and I'm humbled and I'm honored and I'm just so stoked that that's how it went down," Olson told WSL. "Family and friends, anybody who knows me knows that means the world to me. You can't put a price on family and friends. I'm just so happy that Aaron's back with us, 100 percent healthy and back with his family, so this one's for him for sure."
Olson returns to Bowls in hopes of reclaiming his title from six years ago.
Looking Ahead: First Hawaiian Bank Steps Up For Star-Studded Lineup and Promising Forecast
Now, the opportunity for valuable regional points is back with the help of First Hawaiian Bank stepping up as a local sponsor and providing this platform for some of the region's best once more and now including the women for the first time at the QS level.
The next generation has grown up since the last QS was held at the famed reefbreak and the likes of recent CT elite Imaikalani deVault and fellow Maui competitor Eli Hanneman are now in their prime looking for big results. But, they will have to overcome some of the region's proven competitors such as dominant threat Ezekiel Lau, former CT competitor and formidable Dusty Payne, along with the likes of Big Wave competitors looking for their mark on the QS including Kai Lenny and Kemper.
Women such as 2022 CT rookie Luana Silva, former CT veteran Coco Ho, alongside Challenger Series threats Brianna Cope and Zoe McDougall are just a few names making their presence known at Bowls this year. Joined by recent Billabong Pro Pipeline In Loving Memory of Andy Irons winner Moana Jones Wong and world-renowned surfer Bethany Hamilton, this event promises to be one for the books.
Matched by a promising forecast courtesy of Surfline, four-to-five foot, occasional plus is on the long-range report which could provide a spectacle for all those in attendance and following coverage.
The Priority Destinations Pro pres. by First Hawaiian Bank and Mastercard will run on the best three days of the event window opening June 17 - 24.
Eli Olson
2021 Men's Performer Of The Year Nominees: Kai Lenny, Peter Mel, Conor Maguire, Grant Baker, Sebastian Steudner, Ian Walsh, Nathan
2021 Men's Ride Of The Year Eli Olson at Jaws on January 16, 2021. Video from Aaron Lynton.
On January 16th, a swell lit up Jaws for the world's best big wave surfers. Here are the top ten images from Saturday's swell.
The men's and women's Paddle winners talk with Pete Mel about their experience paddling into the heaviest conditions at Jaws last winter.
The teams for the Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Rumble at the Ranch are in, Paige Alms and Eli Olson are BWA Paddle winners, and more.
Priority Destinations Pro
Check out the full event pres. by First Hawaiian Bank and Mastercard recap with some of the event's best performances.
The event pres. by First Hawaiian Bank and Mastercard received Ala Moana Bowls brilliance with jaw-dropping surfing throughout.
The event presented by First Hawaiian Bank and Mastercard got its best performance from none other than the Queen of Pipeline with a 17.75.
The first QS event at Ala Moana Bowls since 2016 turned on for South Shore's own Ezekiel Lau at the event pres. by First Hawaiian Bank and
The event presented by First Hawaiian Bank and Mastercard got kicked up a notch with near-perfection from the rising threat with a 17.50