HALEIWA, Oahu, Hawaii (Tuesday, December 3, 2024) - Today, Zoe McDougall (HAW) and Joshua Moniz (HAW) claimed wins at the World Surf League (WSL) The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro, a men's and women's Qualifying Series (QS) 1000, in phenomenal form. Pulsing, four-to-six-foot conditions set the Finals Day stage with more high-performance masterclasses unfolding from McDougall, Moniz, and fellow contenders vying for the 2024 event title. Haleiwa's own Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) and Shion Crawford (HAW) earned runner-up results, pushing Crawford atop the men's rankings as Eweleiula Wong's (HAW) Semifinal result kept her at No. 1 on the women's rankings to close out the women's regional QS season.
Zoe McDougall Claims First QS Win in Home Waters
The women's event returned to action to determine the 2024 victor. A heavily contested field was in attendance, and Zoe McDougall(HAW) rose to the top by day's end. This marks her first-ever QS victory in home waters to finish out the women's Hawaii/Tahiti Nui season.
A world-class Final featured McDougall, 2024 Championship Tour (CT) standout Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW), 2024 CT rookie Alyssa Spencer (USA), former CT competitor Luana Silva (BRA), and perennial QS threat McDougall. A brilliant opening wave from McDougall set the tone with her powerful forehand to post a 7.50 (out of a possible 10). But, Haleiwa's own Sakura Johnson put her CT form on full display to post an excellent 8.25 and take the lead from McDougall before Spencer was able to answer with a decimating backhand attack, posting a 7.25 and the lead.
But, McDougall wasn't done and glided into more Haleiwa perfection to unleash her forehand gauges and ride out clean to earn an excellent 8.20 for the lead heading into the final minutes. With, Sakura Johnson's 6.90 and Silva's 7.80 falling short of the requirement, McDougall claimed a momentous win of her career.
Zoe McDougall's (HAW) relentless forehand overpowered her opponents for a maiden Haleiwa QS victory. - WSL / Tony Heff
"It's so awesome to have a win at the place I literally learned how to surf and the first place I ever competed," said McDougall. "It's just a lot of first things here and it feels great to take a win at home in such amazing waves. It's been firing all week so it's just been a lot of fun. Honestly this year I've just been focusing on getting my mind right, slowing down and being smart. I took some time away from the Challenger Series and events wanting to come back feeling brand new."
"I signed with a brand new board company and sponsor. That's always a nice feeling when you feel really confident in your equipment and just a lot of fresh starts."
McDougall surged from the Quarterfinals, posting an 8.00 behind Silva's 17.30 (out of a possible 20) heat total before claiming a massive Semifinal win to help push her toward the Final and culminating in her victory.
Joshua Moniz Adds Iconic Haleiwa Win to his North Shore Trophy Case
In absolute stunning form from start to finish, Joshua Moniz (HAW) added another North Shore landmark to his career wins in Haleiwa. Moniz accounted for five, nine-point rides throughout his campaign and claimed his first QS win since 2018 at the Volcom Pipe Pro.
A Final of event standouts featuring Moniz, Finn McGill (HAW), CT competitor Imaikalani deVault (HAW), and Haleiwa's own Shion Crawford(HAW) unraveled to it's potential with an incredible showdown. A quick start from deVault and McGill gave way to Crawford attacking his home break with multiple critical maneuvers to earn an 8.50 and put pressure on his opponents. But, deVault answered back with a 7.60 of his own to regain the lead before Moniz locked into a set wave and pushed his powerful forehand to the limit - posting a 9.20 at the halfway mark. McGill answered with a 9.10, showing he wasn't going down without a fight
Then, Crawford found another gem and was able to showcase more of his power to post a 7.65 and the lead as time dwindled down. But, utilizing his signature power gauges, Moniz wasn't to be stopped and posted an 8.35 to retake the lead and hold firm until time expired.
Joshua Moniz (HAW) looked unstoppable from his first heat to the very end. - WSL / Tony Heff
"It feels great to win. It's been awhile and I've had a pretty bumpy surf career competing so to have an event like this where it went smooth from start to finish is pretty cool," said Moniz. "I can kind of feel that momentum again and be able to play at that level with all the big boys. I was just fired up to be in the water with a bunch of my friends and knew I had to surf good to win. I was just trying to get on the good waves and in the end it all worked out in my favor."
Moniz accounted for the top two heat totals of men's Finals Day with a 16.85 in his Semifinal clash over McGill, Brodi Sale (HAW) and Kauli Vaast (FRA) before his 17.55 total to finish out a near-flawless run, only earning runner-up in his Round of 32 heat.
Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) wasn't missing out on a competition at home and delivered brilliance. - WSL / Tony Heff
Haleiwa's Own Bettylou Sakura Johnson and Shion Crawford Take Runner-up Finishes
A 2024 CT standout, Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) helped push the level of women's surfing to new heights and brought that standard to her surge in home waters. Sakura Johnson started her Finals Day with an excellent 8.25, advancing behind Spencer, before posting another 8.00 in the Semifinals - once again advancing behind Spencer. Now, the rising World Title threat sets her eyes on more training ahead of the 2025 Lexus Pipe Pro.
"I'm so happy to have an event at home and just stoked to be in the water and competing," said Sakura Johnson. "That was so fun. I was so happy Luana [Silva] and were on opposite sides of the draw. It was special to share that Final with her and felt like we were going to meet there. I'm super excited for the start of the CT next year and just want to be 100 percent on everything to have a good start to the year and spend some time at Pipe."
Shion Crawford (HAW) held down his home break for another runner-up finish in his 2024/2025 season. - WSL / Tony Heff
Sakura Johnson's fellow Haleiwa competitor Shion Crawford (HAW) made another surge on the North Shore for back-to-back, runner-up finishes after Sunset Beach. The emerging QS threat continues to show his power and form on the WSL stage when conditions get critical and now rises to Hawaii/Tahiti Nui No. 1. Crawford's current form secured his place among the World Junior Championships contenders, alongside current No. 2 Luke Swanson (HAW), as he prepares to take on the world's top juniors.
"That was such a fun event and it was pretty much firing the whole time. It feels pretty good to be first in the rankings and get another second-place," said Crawford. "We all had our opportunities to show our surfing and that was the best part about it. I'm stoked that Haleiwa provided for a really fun event and now I'll just take it step by step and with World Juniors coming up maybe I could qualify for Challengers through there so we'll see."
Eweleiula Wong (HAW) finished the year strong and claimed the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victory. - WSL / Tony Heff
Women's QS Season Concludes, World Junior Championships Representatives Determined
A brilliant run for Eweleiula Wong (HAW) finished with a Semifinal result in Haleiwa and kept her atop the regional rankings to claim the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victory. This also secures her a place into the World Junior Championships alongside Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) as they represent Hawaii/Tahiti Nui against the world's top juniors. Plus, Wong, Inso and Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW) finished as the Top 3 and earned their place onto the 2025 Challenger Series.
The men's 2024/2025 QS season concludes in Rangiroa Pro QS 1000, Tahiti beginning March 3 through 7.