SOUP BOWL, Bathsheba, Barbados (Friday, March 21, 2025) - The World Surf League (WSL) BTMI Barbados Surf Pro, a men's and women's Qualifying Series (QS) 5,000 and Live Like Zander Junior Pro in Loving Memory of Zander Venezia Presented Diamonds International await opening day, Monday, March 24. This marks the final stop for WSL North America's QS and Pro Junior season with 2025 Challenger Series and World Junior Championships qualification on the line with solid swell on the forecast. A special week will pay homage to the island's own Zander Venezia, which will lead to crowning this year's winners throughout the event.
Barbados' own Ready to Hold Down Home Waters
Each year a plethora of Barbados' own enter their home arena of Soup Bowl with the island's support backing them. Since becoming a QS 5,000, Chelsea Tuach (BRB) is the only Barbadian to claim a victory in 2022 alongside Josh Burke;s (BRB) vital runner-up in 2023. But, with local knowledge and the Bathsheba community behind them every heat, it's an opportunity to shine and keep the event title on home shores.
"I love this event for so many reasons and I'm so grateful to the BTMI and Surf Promotions for bringing it back year after year and giving us the opportunity of maximum points at the season finale," Tuach said. "For me, it's a chance to compete in front of my family at my favorite wave in the world. For our younger local surfers, it's a chance to see the very best in the region surf a wave they grew up on and get inspired. Having local support around this event makes it truly special for me. Even in the weeks leading up to the event, knowing I'm training and preparing at home for such a high-level event is awesome."
Tuach and Chelsea Roett (BRB) will look to hold down Soup Bowl on the women's front alongside a stacked field.
For Burke, this event has been the nudge needed for Challenger Series qualification the past two seasons as he looks for more at home.
"I'm very grateful to have a contest at home. It's definitely the best waves and vibes on our tour - and it happens to be on my turf," Burke said. "I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks and hopefully we get good swell for the event. Bathsheba is a one of a kind place and there's nowhere else like it in the world. It's a unique feeling in my life competing in front of my friends and family, but a lot of the Bathsheba guys watch me surf every day."
"I don't really need this event to think about Zander (Venezia). He slips into my mind everyday and I cherish my memories with him within. What I would like to do is win this contest and dedicate it to him. I know he would've been competing in the QS men's now trying to beat me for the title (laughs)."
Burke, alongside his brother Jacob, joins a hefty list of Barbados' own including, Lewis St John (BRB), Ocean Gittens (BRB), and Tommaso Layson (BRB).
Defending BTMI Barbados Surf Pro victors are Back
A momentous win for Zoe Benedetto (USA) marked the first women's back-to-back QS victor at Soup Bowl and pushed her toward winning the North America QS Regional title. Now, currently sitting just outside Challenger Series qualification, Benedetto looks for more success and to catapult her way into the Top 4.
"I have so much love for Soup Bowl and Barbados in my heart. It's my favorite event and I have a lot of great memories here which is always a nice feeling to have at a pretty important event," Benedetto said. "The end of the season is always stressful but I wouldn't choose any other place to spend it. I luckily have been surrounded by so much love here from family friends, the Allen family, that it just feels comfortable and natural. People have so much spirit and respect for the land and ocean it's refreshing."
"I love these kind of situations because I do seem to thrive off of it in some weird way. it's uncomfortable but learning how to adapt in every way whether that's with my surfing, mindset, environment, etc. to get to the end goal will always get me going."
Fellow defending event winner, and former Championship Tour (CT) competitor, Lucca Mesinas (PER) returns with everything to gain. Currently No. 4, Mesinas isn't dropping points and looks to build his case for a return to the Challenger Series.
But, Benedetto and Mesinas have the likes of current North America No. 1s Kirra Pinkerton (USA) and Jett Schilling (USA), reigning North America QS Regional victor Michael Dunphy (USA), former CTers Kolohe Andino (USA), Tuach, and Carlos Munoz (CRC) ready to strike. Plus, 2024 Challenger Series threats Owen Moss (USA), Talia Swindal (USA), Ryan Huckabee (USA), Leilani McGonagle (CRC) along with rising threats Lucas Owston (USA), Eden Walla (USA), Reid Van Wagoner (USA), Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) and many more.
Celebrating Zander Venezia and Pinnacle of North America Pro Junior Season
This event brings the North America competitors together to celebrate the life of Zander Venezia since his passing in 2017. An emotional win for Blayr Barton (USA) last season marked his first WSL victory in honor of Venezia and now returns as a full-time QS competitor looking to continue that success, and also paying homage to one of his friends.
"It is more than special looking at my trophy from last year and just knowing what I was capable of doing out here," Barton said. "I think the positive energy, the kindness of the people in the community and just the wow factor makes this place so unbelievable. I think last year's success definitely gives me a little bit of confidence but for the most part, I just look back and realize that I deserve to be here and that I'm capable of doing what I did last year again this year in the QS."
A remarkable season for Eden Walla (USA) has her eyeing both Challenger Series and, along with No. 1s Zoey Kaina (USA) and Nadav Attar (CRC), World Junior Championships qualification. Kaina and Attar's win in Pismo Beach has them sitting atop the rankings for a second attempt toward World Junior Championships after making her Olympic debut in 2024. San Clemente, Calif., competitor Walla now looks to add a major Pro Junior win to her resume with two QS wins to her name in 2024/2025.
"It's exciting for me to head to Barbados in a good spot on the rankings. This is my first year doing all the QS events so I'm felling very excited to have the opportunity to possibly qualify for the Challenger Series," Walla said. "I'm grateful for the year I've had. I feel fortunate to be able to travel around the world doing what I love. I'm excited to be going to Barbados and have the opportunity to compete at Soup Bowl. I have been watching this contest from home for a few years now and I'm excited to finally compete there."
The first call will be made Monday, March 24, to determine a possible start time for either the BTMI Barbados Surf Pro or Live Like Zander Junior Pro in Loving Memory of Zander Venezia Presented by Diamonds International.
Watch Live
The BTMI Barbados Surf Pro and Live Like Zander Junior Pro hold a competition window beginning March 24 through 30 at Soup Bowl, Bathsheba, Barbados. Once called ON, the event will be broadcast on www.WorldSurfLeague.com, the free WSL App, and WSL Youtube channel.