MORRO BAY, Calif., USA (Sunday, December 8, 2024) - Today, Eden Walla (USA) and Taro Watanabe (USA) emerged victorious at the World Surf League (WSL) SLO CAL Open at Morro Bay, a men's and women's Qualifying Series (QS) 1000. Three-to-five-foot, clean conditions held throughout the day at Morro Rock to provide a plethora of scoring potential, before afternoon conditions challenged the contenders, that Walla and Watanabe were able to capitalize on each heat. Noteworthy runner-up results for Zoey Kaina (USA) and Ryan Huckabee (USA) earn them 800 points toward 2025 Challenger Series qualification with the race heating up on the final stretch of the 2024/2025 QS season.
Eden Walla Overpowers Her Way Back Atop the Podium
A Final of North America's promising new talents of Eden Walla (USA) and Zoey Kaina (USA) unfolded with both earning their second QS Final appearance of 2024/2025. Walla's 5.50 (out of a possible 10) got the heat underway with testy, afternoon conditions challenging the young women. But, Walla continued to show her prowess in the lineup and found a 6.67 to pull away from Kaina. But, Kaina couldn't find a wave of consequence to push back as Walla's forehand attack increased her lead heading into the final minutes and ultimately her second-career QS win.
"I just wanted to come in here and do my best surfing and show everyone what I can do so I'm super happy to come away with a win," said Walla. "I love it here and had such a great week with my family seeing everything. There were a few contests where I feel like I didn't focus on doing my best surfing and it didn't give me the result I wanted. A win gives you a boost of confidence but there's always that voice inside your head that doesn't want to let you be confident. So I'm just going to keep surfing and having fun."
2024/2025 standout, Walla, made every heat count with numerous excellent scores from start to finish and brought that bravado to Finals Day. Walla's stout Quarterfinal battle with Kaia Howard (USA) was hard-earned before unleashing her form in a Semifinal battle with Zoe Chait (USA). The 15-year-old's, Walla, backhand attack continued to match Morro Bay's power and posted a 15.40 heat total moving into the Final. Walla now sits at No. 3 with her win at the Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro QS 3000 and this win in her keeper results.
Taro Watanabe's Consistency Yields Second Morro Bay Title
The men's Final featured two of the event standouts Taro Watanabe(USA) and Ryan Huckabee (USA), both posting multiple excellent scores throughout their surges. A slow start turned into fireworks from Watanabe in his third-consecutive QS Final, posting an excellent 8.83 on a formidable backhand after multiple hits that were perfectly timed. This followed his opening wave of consequence that earned a 6.67 and left Huckabee in a combination situation, meaning he needed two new waves to match Watanabe's 15.50 heat total. In the dying minutes, Huckabee found a gem that he unleashed his own backhand attack on to earn an excellent 8.00 of his own. But, time expired before Huckabee could strike again and Watanabe emerged victorious.
"It's amazing to get a win. You just never know with every contest being different and there's so many amazing surfers," said Watanabe. "To make three Finals in a row, I just want to be consistent. I do want to win but consistency is important and today I got the win and I'm just happy. The year on the Challenger Series I got to see guys who qualified were just consistent and I feel like my level changed because I was watching the best guys and surfing against them. And also losing a lot and just taking all that I've learned from the Challenger Series and applying it to the Qualifying Series. I want to be back there and it's a good first three events back from the Challenger Series so I'm stoked."
North America No. 1, Watanabe's, undeniable form on the QS pushed him to his third-career QS win and kept him atop the rankings. The 22-year-old, Watanabe, found an excellent scoring-wave in each of his heats beginning with a Quarterfinal win over 2024 Championship Tour (CT) rookie Kade Matson (USA). Then, Watanabe overpowered event threat Luke Guinaldo (USA) in their Semifinal clash, posting an 8.83 on his way to the Final.
Zoey Kaina (USA) delivered clutch performances on Finals Day to earn runner-up - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Zoey Kaina and Ryan Huckabee Kick Off Final Stretch of QS Season with Runner-up Results
Zoey Kaina (USA) entered Finals Day with a fifth Quarterfinal appearance and carried that momentum to her second Final of the 2024/2025 season. The 14-year-old's clutch Quarterfinal performance over Mia Moore (USA) witnessed Kaina earn a 6.77 when she needed it most before facing defending event winner Ella McCaffray (USA) in a Semifinal clash. Kaina's poise under pressure found her earning yet another last-minute score to overtake McCaffray. Now, Kaina moves to No. 6 on the rankings and the final stretch of the year in her sights.
"It feels good to get the rhythm going and I'm stoked to make the Final. It was a really fun week," said Kaina. "The waves can be tricky here and sometimes it can take a day to figure out the lineup. But, I'm happy to make heats and get second-place. It's super fun doing all these events and I'm loving the QS grind."
Ryan Huckebee's (USA) arsenal of airs and power led to multiple excellence scores and two 9.50s in his overall campaign. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Ryan Huckabee (USA) found his rhythm in the jersey and charged through the SLO CAL Open at Morro Bay from his debut, posting a 9.50, to Finals Day. Huckabee's powerful backhand attack accrued yet another 9.50 over Taj Lindblad (USA) in their Quarterfinal bout before posting an excellent 8.00 in the Semifinals against good friend and fellow event standout Dimitri Poulos (USA). This result moves Huckabee into the Top 30 with a chance to strike in upcoming events to close out the season.
"It feels great. A little bittersweet wanting to win and it came down to a priority mistake where I went on a small one and Taro's 8.83 was right behind it," said Huckabee. "I'm stoked to get on a rhythm and Taro has been in three Finals in a row and now I want to carry that kind of momentum into the next few events. This event is a momentum builder and could play in at the end of the year as well. But the QS 3000 and 5000 is what I'm really focused on and hopefully get a repeat performance in one of those and get back on the Challenger Series."
The next stop on the 2024/2025 North America QS season begins December 12 - 15 at the men's Pacifico Surf Open Puerto Escondido QS 1000.