Finals Day awaits at the World Surf League (WSL) U.S. Air Force Super Surf Pro presented by Jersey Mike's Subs, a North America and Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) 3000, after top-seeded women made their highly-anticipated debuts in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. Two-to-three foot, challenging conditions tested the women's Round of 64 before conditions improved for Round of 32 clashes and now the 2024 event victor is set to be crowned.
Lilie Kulber Ups the Ante Heading into Finals Day
An incredible start for Lilie Kulber sent her surging into Finals Day after dismantling her Round of 32 bout with a 16.17 (out of a possible 20) heat total. Kulber's aggressive forehand attack blasted into multiple sections on offer with the higher tide providing a platform high-performance surfing to post a day's best 8.50 (out of a possible 10). Now, Kulber prepares for a massive Finals Day to gain momentum in her 2024/2025 season.
"It definitely feels really good and I was feeling really confident going into that heat," said Kulber. "I was worried for a second that I wasn't going to get a backup but I was able to get it going. This is the best Florida we've had for a contest so I'm super stoked. It's great to be into Finals Day but I'm still just taking it one heat at a time. I'm in a completely different mindset and just trusting the process, having faith, and believing that a wave is going to come."
Zoe Benedetto Regains Major Momentum in Florida Waters
Reigning North America QS Regional victor Zoe Benedetto held down Florida waters in dominant form, posting an excellent 8.17 in her Round of 32 bout. A tough year on the Challenger Series only motivated Benedetto further and now moves into Finals Day with plenty of momentum toward a maiden Super Girl Surf Pro cape after recently becoming an aunt.
"I was really excited to get another chance today. My first heat was really stressful but that last heat was really fun," said Benedetto. "Conditions improved a lot between my heats and it felt good to find that 8.17. Jacksonville is a lot like other beaches in Florida so I felt comfortable."
Kirra Pinkerton Continues to Find Her Form in the Jersey
Kirra Pinkerton opened up her Jacksonville Beach campaign with a stunning 15.63 heat total and kept that momentum into the Round of 32 with a second heat win. Pinkerton's relentless forehand attack kept her surging as she looks to best her Quarterfinal result from the La Marginal Surfing Pro QS 3000.
"It was definitely tough after the tide started going back out and it was really hard to read. You would just kind of stand up on a wave and if it had a line you were stoked," said Pinkerton. "I was really stoked with my first heat and now I just need to button up a few things after that last heat. It's great to be in back-to-back Finals Day but in Puerto Rico I was pretty sick so I wasn't expecting a lot of myself but now I'm feeling 100 percent and expecting a lot more."
Chelsea Tuach Takes Control, Back into the Round of 16
Barbados' first-ever Championship Tour (CT) qualifier, Chelsea Tuach, showed her elite backhand attack for an excellent 8.00 and 14.10 heat total. Tuach's ability to adapt to conditions from pumping El Rastrial, Puerto Rico, to challenging Jacksonville Beach was on full display as she posted a 6.10 in the dying moments to retake the lead from an in-form, current Hawaii/Tahiti Nui No. 1, Eweleiula Wong who also advanced.
"That definitely felt good to win that heat. That heat this morning was a little tricky with not as many opportunities and then I was watching Kirra rip it up the heat before mine," said Tuach. "I saw there were more opportunities and I love the heats where you can just keep surfing. You go from first to second to third, back to first, it's just really fun to surf it out."
Also earning their place into Finals Day with Round of 32 wins, Tuach's fellow Barbadian Chelsea Roett, Jacksonville Beach's own Lanea Mons, emerging threats Reid Van Wagoner and Alana Lopez are all ready to vie for the 2024 U.S. Air Force Super Girl Surf Pro cape.
Event organizers will reconvene at 7:30 a.m. EDT for a likely 8:30 a.m. EDT start.
Watch Live
The U.S. Air Force Super Girl Surf Pro presented by Jersey Mike's Subs will run November 8 through 10. Once called ON, the event will be streamed live at WorldSurfLeague.com, WSL YouTube channel, and the free WSL App beginning Saturday, November 9.
Day 1: Brilliant Debuts Kickstart Action in Jacksonville Beach
The World Surf League (WSL) U.S. Air Force Super Surf Pro presented by Jersey Mike's Subs, a North America and Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000, North America and Hawaii/Tahiti Nui contingent took over Jacksonville Beach, Fla., in two-to-three foot conditions with early event threats making their statements. The Round of 96 finished in its entirety and now sets up the heavily-stacked Round of 64 where top seeds will make their debuts.
Fresh off a Round of 96 win Maddie Stanton (USA) was all smiles into the Round of 64. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Maddie Stanton Strikes Excellence in Powerful Fashion
California's Maddie Stanton found her form in a dominant debut, posting the day's best single-wave score of an 8.67 (out of a possible 10) and heat total of an excellent 16.34 (out of a possible 20). Stanton's relentless backhand overpowered a dreamy left that rewarded her with multiple opportunities to put on a showcase. Now, Stanton prepares for the top-seeded Round of 64.
"The waves are actually super fun right now and there's a lot of waves to stay busy. I got lucky to find those and just stoked to show my surfing ," said Stanton. "It gives me a lot of confidence to put up those scores and take a win. This event is always super fun and I'm stoked to see more waves for the weekend."
Current Hawaii/Tahiti Nui No. 2 Kiara Goold (PYF) came out swinging. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Kiara Goold Continues to Push Her QS Season in Winning Form
A decimating start from Kiara Goold put the event on alert with her razor-sharp forehand picking apart the Jacksonville Beach Pier lineup for a brilliant debut. Goold's runner-up finish in Oceanside marked a career-best and took over the No. 1 spot for Hawaii/Tahiti Nui. After a third-place finish at The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro Goold entered this event as the No. 2 competitor and looks to keep her momentum in full swing.
"I couldn't believe I got those insiders and they just formed up so well so I'm stoked," said Goold. "It's nice just going back-to-back with events and I'm happy I like planes (laughs). Shifting from big waves to small waves is hard but I'm stoked to be able to adapt really fast. It would be amazing to make another Final out here and the older girls are really pushing me so it's exciting."
Faviola Alcala (PUR) keeps her momentum alive and thriving in the jersey. - WSL / Dylan O'Donnell
Puerto Rico's Faviola Alcala Forehand Power Goes Excellent
Straight off an event in her home waters of Puerto Rico, Faviola Alcala (PUR) unleashed her power once more this time in Jacksonville Beach. Alcala's forehand was on full display to post an excellent 8.33 and 15.34 heat total before nearly landing an air-reverse toward the end of the heat. The QS contender has regained her excitement for the jersey and now continues to see results building.
"It's nice to come back from the break I took and get these scores and some results. The waves are so fun out there right now and I'm stoked to get win that heat," said Alcala. "It's great to keep the jersey on after the event back home as well. To feel that momentum and get these scores early on is great for my confidence and I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
Skai Suitt (HAW) pushed the standard in her debut with precision and power. - WSL / Dylan O'Donnell
Skai Suitt Pushes Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Surge in Debut
The Hawaii/Tahiti Nui contingent showed they're ready for any conditions with Skai Suitt leading the charge. The 14-year-old, Suitt, continued to show her prowess in the jersey and notched an impressive 14.34 heat total on her sharp backhand. After earning her first QS Final appearance earlier this year in home waters, Suitt now looks to push her surfing among North America's leading contenders.
"It's really fun to just be finding waves with just two other girls out. Plus it's really glassy after the first two days I was here and it being onshore wind," said Suit. "It feels pretty good to keep the event momentum going. In Oceanside I only made my first heat and not happy on that but going from Sunset to here is good to get the ball rolling again so I'm stoked."
Zoie Zietz (NDL) put on a forehand clinic in her debut for an excellent 8.50. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Also finding early success, Zoie Zietz, Olivia Storrer, Ayla Stutzman,Avery McDonald, Sofia Gamboa, Zoe Panettiere, Kaydn Persidok, Scout Mitchell, Tia Rista, Coral Schuster, and Ava Wagester kicked off their campaigns with Round of 96 wins.
Rising Tides took over the lineup in Jacksonville Beach to help inspire the next generation of young women. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Rising Tides Brings A Wave of Inspiration to Jacksonville Beach
The WSL Rising Tides mentorship program swept through Jacksonville Beach to help inspire the next generation of women competitors. Former Championship Tour (CT) competitor Chelsea Tuach, reigning North America QS Regional victor Zoe Benedetto, reigning Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor Keala Tomoda-Bannert, former WSL World Junior Champion Kirra Pinkerton, and recent La Marginal Surfing Pro winner Leilani McGonagle spent time with the participants for a Q&A and took them out for a surf.
"This was actually my first Rising Tides I've been a part of and it's such a great idea. It's intimidating some times with all the guys and I think this is great to give these girls some confidence in the water," said Tomoda-Bannert. "I wish that this was around when I was growing up because I feel their froth and it rubs off on you which is amazing. It was a really fun afternoon with them and hopefully this is something that keeps building them up for years to come."
Event organizers will reconvene at 7:30 a.m. EDT to determine a likely 8:00 a.m. EDT start.
For more information, please visit www.WorldSurfLeague.com.
Watch Live
The U.S. Air Force Super Girl Surf Pro presented by Jersey Mike's Subs will run November 8 through 10. Once called ON, the event will be streamed live at WorldSurfLeague.com, WSL YouTube channel, and the free WSL App beginning Saturday, November 9.