ARECIBO, Puerto Rico, USA (Sunday, November 3, 2024) - Today, Leilani McGonagle (CRC) and Dimitri Poulos(USA) claimed momentous wins at the inaugural La Marginal Surfing Pro, a men's and women's Qualifying Series (QS) 3000, in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Pristine, four-to-six foot conditions provided the platform for contenders to showcase their high-performance capabilities with McGonagle and Poulos emerging victorious over Chelsea Tuach and Taro Watanabe in the Final.
Leilani McGonagle Notches Second Major QS Win in the Caribbean
A showdown between North America's perennial threats highlighted the women's Final between Chelsea Tuach (BRB) and Leilani McGonagle (CRC). A slow start witnessed Tuach earn the better of the opening exchange with McGonagle by a small margin. The perennial QS standouts traded the lead multiple times heading into the back half of the Final with Tuach having the slightest edge over her Costa Rican opponent, McGonagle, with a 5.67 (out of a possible) in her score line. A massive exchange unfolded in the final five minutes with McGonagle unleashing her forehand attack to overtake the lead from Tuach with a heat-best, 7.83. Tuach wasn't finished and in the dying moments found an opportunity but fell just short of the requirement, crowning McGonagle the event victor.
"I'm just really grateful to all my team and want to thank my family who always supports me. Everyone here from Costa Rica has been super supportive and I'm just so over the moon," said McGonagle. "It was tough at the start getting a set on the head and being out of position but I'm stoked to get that one and I respect Chelsea so much and it was special to share that Final with her. I feel like this wave is really tricky so having that experience helps and I had a heartbreaker the last time I was here just missing qualifying for the Olympics by one spot so this is a little bit of a redemption."
A tough competitive year for McGonagle gets a second wind for the Costa Rican after decimating performances throughout her time at the La Marginal Surfing Pro. The multi-event winning competitor, McGonagle, had her fellow Costa Ricans in attendance all cheers on Finals Day after besting QS newcomer Reid Van Wagoner (USA) in the Semifinals leading up to her all-star clash with Tuach in the Final.
Dimitri Poulos Back on Top, Notches Second-Career QS Victory
The men's Final witnessed fireworks right out of the gates with Taro Watanabe (USA) and Dimitri Dimitri Poulos (USA) going wave for wave with Watanabe's 7.00 taking the lead. Poulos was able to regain the lead with a combination of 10.33 but only briefly. Watanabe then took to his backhand power on multiple, critical sections to post one of the day's best single-wave scores of an 8.17. However, Poulos fought back with a combination of an opening turn followed by a massive, backhand air-reverse that he stomped for a near-perfect 9.50. Poulos was able to maintain the lead with minimal opportunities coming through in the final minutes and earned his second-career QS victory.
"I've had some shockers in the last few events so to come out on top feels really good. Thank you to everyone who supports me, a special thanks to my parents and I wouldn't be here without you," said Poulos. "I'm tired (laughs). After I got that 9.50 it took me about ten minutes to paddle out just feeling every muscle in my body. But, I'm happy to come away with it, that was really fun."
2024 Challenger Series contender Poulos returned to the North America QS in defiant form with a powerful backhand display throughout the event. Poulos' road to the Final included a Quarterfinal bout with fellow Californian Taj Lindblad (USA) before taking on 2023 CT qualification threat Jett Schilling (USA) in a stout Semifinal affair.
Chelsea Tuach (BRB) took her incredible form all the way to the Final. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Chelsea Tuach and Taro Watanabe Finish with Key Runner-up Performance in Puerto Rico
Barbados' first-ever CT qualifier, Chelsea Tuach (BRB), showed she's still a force to be reckoned with after a commanding week at Arecibo took her to the Final. Tuach's backhand power outmatched some of region's best talents from proven elite to emerging threats, besting Olivia Storrer (USA) in their Semifinal bout before taking on McGonagle in the Final.
"Getting into the Final and getting second you're asking yourself why does it feel good and kind of suck at the same time (laughs). But, I'm happy to have gotten there and it was good to surf that Final with Leilani," said Tuach. "We joked it was one for the old girls after the Super Girl was all the young girls doing really well so it was fun. I think we used to be a bit jealous of the Australia and Asia QS but the schedule for us this year is amazing. To have an event here, in Pismo, multiple QS 3000s - it's just amazing. And to go back-to-back for events coming up is great with another Super Girl so I'm looking forward to keeping this momentum going."
Taro Watanabe (USA) put on a showcase of forehand power throughout the event. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
After earning multiple wildcards on the Challenger Series and showing glimpses of his explosive surfing, Taro Watanabe (USA) put on a forehand clinic throughout Finals Day. The Malibu, Calif., competitor, Watanabe, overcame former CT competitor Lucca Mesinas(PER) in their Quarterfinal duel before taking down a Semifinal battle with event standout Hayden Rodgers (USA).
"It's really hard to do well in these events and this is the best I've ever done in a QS 3000 so I'm going to take that moving forward," said Watanabe. "Congratulations to Dimitri and it was really fun. These are the days you love to surf heats because you're just doing your own thing and he came out on top today but I had a great time. This contest we've had almost too big of waves and Finals Day it all came together and just had fun heats with Lucca and Hayden and Dimitri. There's still a lot of events so I'll try to keep my head down and my goal is to get back to the Challenger Series next year."
The next North America QS event will be the Air Force Super Girl Surf Pro presented by Jersey Mike's Subs beginning November 8 through 10 at Jacksonville Beach, Florida.