PAPARĀ, Tahiti, French Polynesia (Friday, May 2, 2025) - The World Surf League (WSL) TOA Pro, a Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui men's and women's Qualifying Series (QS) 2,000, opening day stage is ready for some of Hawaii and Tahiti's elite QS contenders to kickstart their 2025/2026 season. A massive opportunity returns with Paparā added back to the schedule and for the first time will begin the start toward 2026 Challenger Series competition. Tahiti's own are ready to hold down home waters after the QS men's title remained on the island in 2019.
2025 Challenger Series Qualifier Vaihitmahana Inso Ready for Tahiti Debut
In her second full year among the QS contingent in the 2024/2025 season, Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) held within the Top 3 to qualify for the Challenger Series. The 17-year-old earned her first QS win in home waters at the Ala Moana Bowls for the 2024 Local Motion Surf Into Summer which helped spark Inso's year to finish ranked No. 3. Now, Inso prepares for the next step, but first makes her first trip to Tahiti for the QS.
"I'm really excited to compete at Paparā. I personally have never been to Tahiti so I'm just excited to see the place and we have an extra venue now. An extra place for the Hawaiʻi athletes to compete, which is really important," said Inso. "I was a lot longer the last time it ran and it was cool to see everyone go to Tahiti so for us to go back, especially for the women, I think it's really cool and I'm looking forward to it. My focus and goal was to qualify for the Challenger Series, and I was so happy I lucked into that. I'm looking forward to the Challenger Series and I've never been to a lot of the places on that level and I'm just excited to go."
A monstrous showing at Haleʻiwa showed Kauli Vaast's (FRA) power in the jersey. - WSL / Tony Heff
Kauli Vaast Returns Looking for Another WSL Win at Paparā
The now Paris 2024 Olympic Games Gold Medalist Kauli Vaast (FRA) returns to the lineup where he claimed his first WSL Pro Junior win. Vaast, now 23, went back-to-back in 2018 and 2019 as he nearly swept the 2019 event after earning runner-up in the QS behind fellow Tahitian Taumata Puhetini (PYF). The 2024 Challenger Series contender looks to make his charge toward requalifying and start his trek toward ultimately joining the world's best on the Championship Tour (CT).
Vaast will have to fend off some of the region's heavyweight contenders including former CT competitor Eli Hanneman (HAW), recent Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro winner Finn McGill (HAW), McGill's fellow 2025 Challenger Series qualifiers Oliver Zietz (HAW), Luke Swanson (HAW), Luke Tema (HAW). Plus, fellow Tahitians Mihimana Braye (PYF), Enrique Ariitu (PYF), Tereva David (PYF), and more including the island's emerging talents are all ready to retain the event title for Tahiti.
Tahiti's Own Kiara Goold Set for First QS at Home
One of Tahiti's rising talents, Kiara Goold (PYF), will compete in a QS at home for the first time after earning the Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui wildcard for the 2025 Challenger Series. Goold's first season among the QS elite garnered her first Final appearance at the Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro. The 14-year-old will be one of the youngest competitors on the Challenger Series, but has shown surfing beyond her years in and out of the jersey as she looks to become the first Tahitian woman to win the event.
"It's so cool to have an event at home, because I surf here all the time and it would mean a lot for me and the locals to win at home in front of family and friends. Plus I have always wanted to win this event since I was 8 years old when I watched Bettylou Sakura Johnson win the last QS they had here. It was really inspiring. Having no expectations on my first year on the QS made it fun. I learned so much. Meeting new people, making new friends and traveling to new places is what it's all about. My Final at Oceanside is what motivated me. It was an amazing feeling."
"Other than Tahiti and Hawaii, I've only surfed Oceanside and Jacksonville thanks to the Qualification Series. And now that I'm on the Challengers series, I can't wait to travel to all of these amazing places and to surf in different waves."
Goold joins the likes of fellow Tahitians Kohai and Heimiti Fierro (PYF), and Aelan Vaast (FRA) looking for the top honor at Paparā. But, a tall order awaits with two-time Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor Moana Jones Wong (HAW), reigning region winner Eweleiula Wong (HAW), recent The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro winner Zoe McDougall (HAW), and more.
Event organizers will make an opening day call on Monday, May 5 at 7:00 a.m. TAHT.
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