OCEANSIDE, Calif., USA (Thursday, September 19, 2024) - The World Surf League (WSL) Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro presented by CELSIUS, a women's Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000 event, is opening day ready in Oceanside, California, with some of North America and Hawaii/Tahiti Nui's top-tier competitors awaiting their debuts. The three-day event offers 3,000 vital points towards 2025 Challenger Series rankings alongside free concerts, activations, and more in the event's 17th year among WSL competitions. This marks the second stop for Hawaii/Tahiti Nui's contingent to capitalize on major points as the North America women enter the fourth stop of their respective season for a chance to make their move early on the rankings.
Alyssa Spencer is Back to Defend Her Title
Southern California's own Alyssa Spencer is one of only two competitors to boast Super Girl capes coast-to-coast and returns to defend her 2023 title. Spencer made her dream of qualifying for the Championship Tour (CT) a reality after her 2022 Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro Semifinal result helped propel her to the Challenger Series. Now, the 21-year-old is back to spread more inspiration to the young women in attendance at Oceanside.
"That was a dream come true last year. This was the first contest I went to watch when I was kid and I just thought it'd be so cool if I could win this one day," said Spencer. "It was the first QS contest I ever did and my dad brought back this memory after my heat and I told him 'I want to do more of these.' That little fire that was lit in me from that event is what really sparked [my whole career]. It was full circle and a dream come true to win it last year."
Strong Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Contingent led by Vaihitimahana Inso
Each year since the event began, the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui contenders have made their mark with the likes of five-time WSL Champion, and Tokyo Games 2020 Gold Medalist, Carissa Moore and Coco Ho taking capes back to Oahu. But, it's been since Moore's win in 2018 that a Hawaiian has claimed a win in Oceanside, and current regional No. 1 Vaihitimahana Inso hopes to change that. Inso earned her first QS win earlier this year at Ala Moana Bowls and now the 16-year leads a strong Hawaii/Tahiti Nui field into Southern California.
"I love the Super Girl. I've been coming here since I was 12 or 13, and just that atmosphere of the contest being around an all-girl event is a different kind of feeling," said Inso. "California just kind of feels like a second home and so I'm excited and I don't feel like there's any pressure. If I make a couple of heats, I'm happy, and anything on top of that is a bonus. After Bowls and ISA I just feel like that was a big confidence booster so hopefully just keep going with the flow and see what happens."
The Chase for the Cape Begins Friday Among Formidable Field
Current North America No. 1, Canada's Sanoa Dempfle-Olin, Barbados' former CT elite Chelsea Tuach and QS veteran Chelsea Roett join Costa Rica's Leilani McGonagle and more that bring international talent to the table for a chance at bringing home the Super Girl cape away from Southern California and Hawaii for the first time in event history.
But, they will have to square with SoCal's Challenger Series representatives Kirra Pinkerton, Talia Swindal, alongside former event winner Samantha Sibley, and more rising contenders. Plus, Floridian threats Zoe Benedetto and Lanea Mons look for their first Super Girl cape alongside fellow East Coast competitors.
Also, the likes of Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Challenger Series competitors Eweleiula Wong, Zoe McDougall, two-time Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor Moana Jones Wong, reigning regional victor Keala Tomoda-Bannert, QS veteran Brianna Cope, and more are looking to secure the Super Girl win for their home islands.
It all goes down alongside a full weekend of fun and concerts for the whole family headlined by Bishop Briggs, Ceelo Green, Lovelytheband, Beach Weather, and more.
Event organizers will convene at 7:30 a.m. PDT to determine a likely 8:20 a.m. PDT.
Watch Live
The Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro presented by CELSIUS will run September 20 through September 22. Once called ON, the event will be streamed live at WorldSurfLeague.com, WSL YouTube channel, and the free WSL App beginning Saturday, September 21.
*The event is supported by Nissan, in conjunction with its California Nissan Dealers, CELSIUS, the U.S. Air Force, Jersey Mike's Subs, Verizon, Visit Oceanside, Fiji Airways, Golden Road Brewing, Logitech G, the Mission Pacific Hotel, Essence Cosmetics, Owala, Clean Reserve, Funkaway, Raising Cane's, Perfect Hydration, Pura Vida, Frontwave Credit Union, ROAR Organic, Blenders Eyewear, Vive Organic, Mad Hippie, Waterloo Sparking Water, and the U.S. Marines.