SURF FIRES FOR MASSIVE DAY OF ACTION AT KRUI PRO IN SUMATRA 
- 8 QUARTERFINALS REMAIN IN MEN'S DIVISION & 4 SEMIFINALISTS IN WOMEN'S
- FINALS SET TO RUN IN EPIC SURF TOMORROW
- MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT WORLDSURFLEAGUE.COM

Caption: Australia's Harley Ross tearing through waves and heats at the Krui Pro today.
Credit: © WSL / Tim Hain

QUARTERFINALISTS DECIDED AT KRUI PRO WOMEN’S QS1,000 
- SURFERS FROM 6 COUNTRIES REMAIN IN CONTENTION
- MEN'S DIVISION SET TO RESUME TOMORROW
- MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT WORLDSURFLEAGUE.COM

Caption: Lucia Martino from Spain going to work on the long lefts on offer at the Krui Pro today.
Credit: © WSL / Tim Hain

KRUI PRO QS SET FOR START IN SUMATRA INDONESIA
- QS1500 MEN AND QS1000 WOMEN TO START IN PUMPING SURF EARLY TOMORROW
- EVENT WILL HAVE LIVE WEBCAST FOR FIRST TIME EVER
- MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT WORLDSURFLEAGUE.COM

Caption: WSL and Government Officials start the 2018 Krui Pro with a Press Conference.
Credit: © WSL / Tim Hain

WSL HAWAII/TAHITI NUI TO WRAP 2017/’18 WINTER SURF SEASON AT PIPELINE
- KAUAI'S GABRIELA BRYAN HEADS INTO WAHINE PIPE PRO AS REGIONAL FRONTRUNNER
- PIPE PRO JUNIOR TO SEE TOP HAWAII ATHLETES COMPETE AGAINST SEVEN OTHER COUNTRIES

Caption: WSL Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Junior rankings leader Wyatt McHale (HAW) finished in the Semifinals at last year's Pipe Pro Junior.
Credit: © WSL / Freesurf / Heff

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Haleiwa, Oahu/HAWAII – (Tuesday, March 20, 2018 ) -- The World Surf League (WSL) Hawaii/Tahiti Nui region has just returned from French Polynesia, where it completed a series of five different competitive events, and now opens a new event window for the Pipe Pro Junior and Wahine Pipe Pro from April 27 – March 3. A Men’s Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) 1,000 and Women’s QS 1,000, the two divisions will count toward regional rankings for 2018 and see top placing surfers one step closer to a sought-after spot in the 2018 World Junior Championships.

Fresh off a win at the Papara Pro Vahine Open Tahiti and runner-up at the Papara Pro Junior, Gabriela Bryan (HAW) heads into the Wahine Pipe Pro as the top seed. The Kauai native also won the Sunset Pro Junior in January and now leads both the Women’s QS and Women’s Pro Junior rankings in the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui region.

“I had a list of goals this year and both of them got ticked off,” Bryan said following her Papara Pro Vahine Open win. “One of my goals was to win a Pro Junior, one of them was to win a QS. I’ve just been working really hard so it’s cool to finally have all the hard work pay off.”

Following the Wahine Pipe Pro, Bryan plans to compete in a few more QS events around the world to maintain momentum, then head into the Pro Junior at Turtle Bay this October with a focused desire to win.


Bryan's committed approach is what earned her a win at the Sunset Pro Junior and Papara Pro Open Vahine this year. Image: WSL/Freesurf/Heff

“Hopefully at the Turtle Bay Resort Pro Junior I can claim the regional title for the Junior division and go to Worlds, that would be really awesome,” Bryan said. “Heading into that final Pro Junior of the year, my goal is to obviously win and come out on top for the overall rankings.”

The Pipe Pro Junior will feature a 48-man field with athletes like Dwight Pastrana (PRI), 17, traveling from as far as Puerto Rico to compete. The other countries represented in the competition include French Polynesia, Australia, USA, Mexico, Costa Rica and Japan.

Leading the Men’s Pro Junior regional rankings is 16-year-old Wyatt McHale (HAW), who finaled at both the Sunset Pro Junior in January and the Papara Pro Junior last week.

“I’m pretty stoked to be consistent and hopefully get one more good result before the end of the year,” said McHale following his second-place finish at the Papara Pro Junior. “I definitely want to qualify for World Juniors and if I could win the region that would be awesome too, but main goal is World Juniors.”

Defending event winner and 2017 Regional Junior Champion Barron Mamiya (HAW) will return to Hawaii after a successful stint in Australia that saw him earn runner-up at the Burton Automotive Pro QS 6,000 and surf the Vissla Sydney Surf Pro. Currently in the No. 5 spot on the International QS rankings, Mamiya is the highest rated athlete from Hawaii for potential Championship Tour (CT) qualification in 2019.


Last year's Pipe Pro Junior winner, Mamiya returns to defend his title in his final year as a Junior. Image: WSL/Freesurf/Keoki

Also entered in the men’s draw is Finn McGill (HAW), 17, who earned a win at the first Pro Junior event of the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui season. He sits only 275 points below McHale on the regional rankings and will be a fierce contender at Pipeline, given his prowess at the world-famous break. A proven winner at Pipe, McGill won the 2016 Pipe Invitational against an incredibly stacked field of veterans to receive a spot into the Billabong Pipe Masters, the final WSL Men’s CT stop of the year.

The QS Women and Junior Men will have the opportunity to surf Pipeline with only a few other competitors in the lineup, a rare occasion considering the popularity of the perfect, barreling wave. The eight-day holding period will feature two full days of competition with a 48-man field for the Junior Men and a 16-man field for the Women's QS.

Fans can visit WorldSurfLeague.com for live scoring during the Wahine Pipe Pro and Pipe Pro Junior, or check out the event pages for highlights, images and more. The two events conclude the  WSL's competitive winter surf season on Oahu’s North Shore and athletes will reconvene in October for the Turtle Bay Resort Pro events to reactivate alongside the swells.

TAUMATA PUHETINI AND GABRIELA BRYAN VICTORIOUS AT PAPARA PRO OPEN TAHITI  
- OCEAN MACEDO AND KEALA TOMODA-BANNERT FINISH RUNNER-UP 
- BRYAN LEADS WOMEN'S REGIONAL PRO JUNIOR AND QS RANKINGS

Caption: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Taumata Puhetini (PYF) raise their country flags during the closing ceremony at Taharu'u Beach. Credit: © WSL / Rolland

PAPARA, Tahiti, French Polynesia – (Thursday, March 15, 2018) -- Taumata Puhetini (PYF)and Gabriela Bryan (HAW) were victorious today at the Papara Pro Open Tahiti, a World Surf League (WSL) Men’s and Women’s Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000 event, after stomping the field of competitors and absolutely dominating their respective final heats against Ocean Macedo (HAW) and Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW).

The Papara Pro Open Tahiti featured four divisions of competition, including a Men’s and Women’s Pro Junior, which Bryan earned runner-up in earlier this week. Today’s win was sweet redemption for the Kauai surfer and she now leads both the Pro Junior and Women’s QS WSL Hawaii/Tahiti Nui regional rankings.

Puhetini is one of Tahiti’s most talented athletes and earned an even bigger name for himself after today’s win. He went against Macedo in an exciting Hawaii versus Tahiti clash and opened the man-on-man Final with an excellent 9.50 for a backside full rotation air. The projection from Puhetini combined with creative surfing was unparalleled and he ended the competition with a 17.50 combined heat total.


Puhetini had a unique approach and combined maneuvers to earn the top scores of the event. Image: WSL/Rolland

“It feels pretty good, to win at home and represent all the Tahitians, my family and friends, it’s amazing,” said Puhetini. “I know Ocean is a good surfer, he is still pretty young, he’s only 15 years old, but I knew that I had to choose the best waves during the heat and that’s what happened.”

From Papeno‘o, the Tahitian has earned a place among the world’s best, competing in the Billabong Pro Tahiti Men’s Championship Tour (CT) event for the last four years.

“I feel blessed. Everywhere I go surf, like Taharu‘u or my home break Papeno‘o or Teahupo‘o, I feel blessed every day,” Puhetini said.

Macedo tallied a 7.13 and 7.00 in the first few minutes of the Final and fought hard throughout the 30-minute heat, however Puhetini displayed the entire repertoire of judging criteria wave after wave. After earning an 8.00 to backup his near-perfect score, Puhetini combed Macedo, meaning, Macedo needed a combination of two scores to take the lead.


Macedo won his Semifinal heat against Noa Mizuno (HAW) with an 8.33 and 8.50. Image: WSL/Rolland

“It was definitely tough going against someone who knows the break like the back of their hand, but it was really fun,” said Macedo, who won the 2017 Hurley Surf Club Pro Junior at Turtle Bay Resort in October and a slot in the World Junior Championships.

In the women’s division, Bryan was on a tear in the Final, which saw a battle between two hard-charging Kauai surfers. Bryan took off on multiple long, right-handed waves to highlight her impeccable frontside surfing and ended with a 17.33 to take out Tomoda-Bannert.

“It was my goal coming over here to win the QS, and of course the Pro Junior, but I’m so stoked to win my first ever QS and it was super cool to win it here in Tahiti,” said Bryan. “Keala and I have had a lot of heats together and we’re constantly back and forth. She’s a great friend and we surf all the time together, so it was really cool to surf a Final with her.”


Bryan (left) and Tomoda-Bannert both live and surf on the North Shore of Kauai. Image: WSL/Rolland

Bryan is off to a powerful start to 2018 after winning the Sunset Pro Junior in January, placing second in the Papara Pro Junior Vahine earlier this week and now earning the Papara Pro Vahine women's QS 1,000 title.

“I had a list of goals this year and both of them just got ticked off,” Bryan continued. “One of my goals was to win a Pro Junior, one of them was to win a QS. I’ve just been working really hard so it’s cool to finally have all the hard work pay off.”

Tomoda-Bannert was not far behind Bryan’s excellent scores and earned an 8.20 and 7.50 in the Final with excellent wave selection and committed, above the lip surfing. This is the 16-year-old’s best competitive result and first Final appearance in a QS.

“Runner-up feels great, me and Gabi have been competing for a really long time, we live on the same island, we surf the same place every day and I had fun out there with her,” said Tomoda-Bannert. “For the QS, this is my first time going into the Final so I’m happy. I’m real excited for the Pipe Pro. I hope that we can go to Teahupo‘o while we’re still in Tahiti to practice.”


In the Semifinal against 2018 Papara Pro Junior Vahine winner Leila Riccobuano (HAW), Tomoda-Bannert scored a 9.00 and 9.10 for committed attacks like this. Image: WSL/Rolland

The next event in the WSL Hawaii/Tahiti Nui region is the Wahine Pipe Pro QS 1,000 and Pipe Pro Junior, which has a holding window from March 27 – April 3 and takes place at the famed reef break of Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore.

 
RESULTS
Athletes listed in first through fourth, all surfers from Hawaii unless otherwise noted.

Men’s Final
1st – Taumata Puhetini (PYF), 17.50
2nd – Ocean Macedo, 14.03

Women’s Final
1st – Gabriela Bryan, 17.33
2nd – Keala Tomoda-Bannert, 15.70

Men’s Semifinals, 1st advances, 2nd = 3rd place
SF1: Ocean Macedo, Noa Mizuno
SF2: Taumata Puhetini (PYF), Ariihoe Tefaafana (PYF)

Women’s Semifinals, 1st advances, 2nd = 3rd place
SF1: Gabriela Bryan, Karelle Poppke (PYF)
SF2: Keala Tomoda-Bannert, Leila Riccobuano

Men’s Quarterfinals, 1st advances, 2nd = 5th place
QF1: Ocean Macedo, Noah Hill (USA)
QF2: Noa Mizuno, Robert Grilho
QF3: Ariihoe Tefaafana (PYF), Vehiatua Prunier (PYF)
QF4: Taumata Puhetini (PYF), O’Neill Massin (PYF)

GABRIELA BRYAN SCORES FIRST PERFECT 10
AT PAPARA PRO OPEN TAHITI,
QS WINNERS DETERMINED TOMORROW
- TAHITIAN POWER HEAT SEES TAUMATA PUHETINI EARN BEST HEAT TOTAL
- WATCH FINAL DAY OF EVENT AT HTTPS://LA1ERE.FRANCETVINFO.FR/POLYNESIE/

Caption: Taumata Puhetini (PYF) displayed powerfully smooth surfing at Papara for Day 2 of the QS 1,000. Credit: © WSL / Rolland

PAPARA, Tahiti, French Polynesia – (Wednesday, March 14, 2018) -- Gabriela Bryan (HAW)earned the first perfect 10-point ride of the Papara Pro Open Tahiti, a World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000 event, for committed, above-the-lip power surfing today in the women’s first Quarterfinal. Bryan was in a league of her own while the men’s division showcased equally high-performance surfing with the man-on-man Quarterfinal heats set for a final day tomorrow.

Bryan, who placed runner-up at the Papara Pro Junior Vahine two days ago and won the Sunset Pro Junior in January, had a flawless approach today and utilized priority with calculation. The wave set up perfectly for multiple maneuvers and she unanimously wowed the judges with high-level, seamless surfing.

“I had first priority on that and I needed to better a 7,” Bryan said post-heat. “Taking off, the wave looked like it was going to double-up pretty well and to better a 7 you kind of just need to put everything into every turn and that’s what I did. I had a pretty critical last section and I ended up making it, so I was pretty stoked.”


Absolute determination from Bryan garnered excellent scores from judges. Image: WSL/Thomas

Hailing from Kilauea, Kauai, Bryan, 15, has grown up surfing the powerful Hawaiian surf and attributes this to her steadfast style.

“On Kauai there’s so many gnarly waves that you just have to go out of your comfort zone and just give it your best, all while being safe,” she continued. “It definitely helps (being from Kauai) because you always are going to have to push the limits.”

Another notable performance from the women’s division came from Papeno‘o’s Karelle Poppke (PYF), niece and surf student to Hira Teriinatoofa (PYF), who had a standout performance in the  Men's Round 1 yesterday. Poppke had a commanding vertical backside attack and tallied an excellent 9.0 in the second Quarterfinal to eliminate Kelta O’Rourke (HAW) from competition. Poppke, 20, also had the highest two-wave total of the day in the women's division, a 17.80.


Local threat Poppke will go against Bryan in the first Semifinal once competition resumes. Image: WSL/Rolland

“The waves were pumping and really good,” Poppke said. “I just surf and have fun. It’s a challenge (going against the Hawaii athletes) because I know they have really good surf and I just want to prove my surfing. I’m just staying focused on my goal to win this contest and have fun in the water.”

A Tahitian power heat kept the beach abuzz with excitement when Taumata Puhetini, Vehiatua Prunier, Hira Teriinatoofa and Eliott Napias battled in the final exchange of the Men’s Round 3. Completely in command of the wave, Puhetini was a force of precision and poise and nailed multiple excellent rides, including a 9.50 for a long right-handed wall that provided the opportunity for a series of forehand attacks, capped off with a critical floater that landed him basically on the beach. Puhetini scored a combined heat total of 18.00, the highest in the competition.

“I feel pretty good, the waves are good today, some good lefts and rights and I found two good scores, I’m stoked,” said Puhetini. “I feel confident for tomorrow because I got that 9 and that 8, I surfed pretty good, my boards are good, I feel good and ready for tomorrow.”


Puhetini successfully completed his ride after landing the critical closeout section on the inside. Image: WSL/Rolland 

Puhetini last competed in the 2017 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing on Oahu’s North Shore, however cites financial reasons for not traveling or competing in 2018; the Papara Pro Men’s QS 1,000 is his first event of the year. When he is not surfing, Puhetini works as a local butcher in Fa‘a‘a and Papeete and hopes to travel back to Hawaii for the highly-anticipated winter surf season this year.

2016 Regional Junior Champion and technically polished goofy-footer, Noa Mizuno (HAW)advanced through two rounds today despite feeling under the weather.

“I woke up this morning a little sick so I’m just trying to preserve energy for tomorrow,” he said. “It seemed like I was trying to go through the motions, but guess I was getting bigger scores for those corner rights. But I was feeling good and my board feels really good, I can’t wait for tomorrow.”


Mizuno's backhand fundamentals were on-point in today's punchy surf. Image: WSL/Rolland

Mizuno complimented an all-Hawaii heat in Round 3, including Ocean Macedo and Logan Bediamol of Maui and Michael O’Shaughnessy from the Big Island. Macedo advanced behind Mizuno with a 15.60 combined heat total, however Mizuno scored the best ride of the 25-minute heat, an 8.40 for textbook technique.

“Today is good because there’s a lot of waves and you can roll the dice a lot,” Mizuno continued. “I don’t know how many waves I caught, I think probably either 8 or 9 in that last heat so just more chances to get the score. It was fun.”

Defending event winner Ariihoe Tefaafana (PYF) stream rolled through Rounds 2 and 3 today and tallied two heat wins and multiple excellent scores including a 9.0. His consistent surfing and calculated forehand attack garnered a spot into the Quarterfinals, where he will meet Vehiatua Prunier (PYF) in a man-on-man clash.

The Papara Pro Open features four different divisions including a Men's and Women's QS 1,000 and a Men's and Women's Pro Junior, and has a holding period of March 11 - 16. Live scoring will be available on WorldSurfLeague.com and the Papara Pro event pages, and the final day of competition will be broadcast LIVE by Polynesie 1re at http://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/polynesie/.
 
RESULTS
Athletes listed in first through fourth, all surfers from Hawaii unless otherwise noted.

Women’s Quarterfinals, 1st advanced, 2nd = 5th place
QF1: Gabriela Bryan, Izzi Gomez (USA)
QF2: Karelle Poppke (PYF), Kelta O’Rourke
QF3: Keala Tomoda-Bannert, Angelina Yossa
QF4: Leila Riccobuano, Savanna Stone

Men’s Round 3 (Round of 16), 1st and 3nd advance, 3rd = 9th place, 4th = 13th place
H1: Noah Hill, Robert Grilho, Christopher Bluthardt, Cole Alves
H2: Noa Mizuno, Ocean Macedo, Logan Bediamol, Michael O’Shaughnessy
H3: Ariihoe Tefaafana (PYF), O’Neill Massin (PYF), Shayden Pacarro, Kauli Vaast (FRA)
H4: Taumata Puhetini (PYF), Vehiatua Prunier (PYF), Hira Teriinatoofa (PYF), Eliott Napias (PYF)

Men’s Round 2 (Round of 32), 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd = 17th place, 4th = 25th place
H1: Cole Alves, Michael O’Shaughnessy, Kainehe Hunt, Sheldon Paishon
H2: Robert Grilho, Ocean Macedo, Ulualoha Napeahi, Lahiki Minamishin
H3: Logan Bediamol, Noah Hill, Mateia Hiquily (PYF), Wyatt McHale
H4: Noa Mizuno, Christopher Bluthardt, Ian Gentil, Brodi Sale
H5: Ariihoe Tefaafana (PYF), Eliott Napias (PYF), Stellio Bobet (PYF), Matahi Drollet (PYF)
H6: Shayden Pacarro, Vehiatua Prunier (PYF), Tereva David (PYF), Turo Ariitu (PYF)
H7: Taumata Puhetini (PYF), O’Neill Massin, Luciani Heremoana (PYF), Maxime Ratia (PYF)
H8: Hira Teriinatoofa (PYF), Kauli Vaast (PYF), Joey Johnston, Heifara Tahutini (PYF)

Women’s Round 3 (Round of 16), 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd = 9th place, 4th = 13th place
H1: Gabriela Bryan, Karelle Poppke (PYF), Ariana Shewry (NZL), Aelan Vaast
H2: Kelta O’Rourke, Izzi Gomez (USA), Rina Kitazawa (JPN), Heimiti Fierro (PYF)
H3: Angelina Yossa, Savanna Stone, Tiana-Breeze De Mooij (NZL), Pomare Dreisziger (CHL)
H4: Leila Riccobuano, Keala Tomoda-Bannert, Luana Coelho Silva, Marie Moana Troja (PYF)

PAPARA PRO TAHITI COMPLETES MEN’S AND WOMEN'S ROUND 1, ROBERT GRILHO EARNS
NEAR-PERFECT 9.50  
- HIGHEST HEAT TOTAL PRODUCED BY PAPARA LOCAL HIRA TERIINATOOFA
- DEFENDING EVENT WINNER ARIIHOE TEFAAFANA ADVANCES IN FIRST 

Caption: Robert Grilho blasting off the top for a 9.50. Credit: © WSL / Rolland

PAPARA, Tahiti, French Polynesia – (Tuesday, March 13, 2018) -- The World Surf League (WSL) Papara Pro Men’s Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000 event began today with multiple excellent scores tallied from Hawaii and Tahitian surfers, following an exciting Final day that crowned two Pro Junior winners yesterday at the Papara Pro Junior. The day’s top ride, a 9.50, went to 14-year-old Robert Grilho (HAW) for powerful rail-to-rail top turn combinations, while Tahitian powerhouse Hira Teriinatoofa (PYF) earned the next single best score, a 9.35 for a rapid series of explosive, backside turns.

The Men’s division was called on in peaky 2-4ft. surf at the black sand beach of Papara and the competition was narrowed down to 32 surfers, all eager for the QS win and a jump in the WSL Hawaii/Tahiti Nui regional ratings. Grilho set the standard for high-scoring rides in Heat 4 against recent Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro winner Sheldon Paishon (HAW), Eala Stewart (HAW) and Zac Hedemann (HAW) with a series of aggressive vertical attacks.

“I was just comfortable, my home break is really similar to Papara,” said Grilho who hails from Kapolei, Oahu and surfs White Plains regularly.  “If I did fall it wouldn’t really matter because I already had two solid waves, so I was just surfing how I surf and I got a 9.”

Grilho had an 8.25 and 7.50 in his scoreline, so after dropping a 9.5 he increased his lead on fellow competitors to combo the field. Nearly 40 waves were ridden in the heat, a testament to the contestable conditions, and Grilho advanced into Round 2 along with Paishon. Currently in the No. 3 spot on the regional rankings after his victory last week, Paishon displayed critical, committed surfing for a 7.55 and 7.50 from judges.


Sheldon Paishon hooking it to the next round. Image: WSL/Rolland

The final heat of Men’s Round 1 highlighted the lightning quick surfing of Hira Teriinatoofa (PYF), who lives five minutes from Papara and is a known standout at the beach break, along with the famed reef break of Teahupo‘o on Tahiti. Teriinatoofa’s backside turns garnered an excellent 9.35, which he backed up with an 8.50 for the highest combined heat total of the event, a 17.85.

“I have local knowledge so I know the waves and I know when it’s like this it’s really tricky, so I was playing with the priority,” said Teriinatoofa. “Once I have no priority I just paddle for anything and try to get some waves, try and build my scores and the 9 came at the right moment so I’m stoked.”


An in-form Teriinatoofa uses local knowledge to post the highest heat total of the day. Image: WSL/Rolland

Teriinatoofa has coached two surfers to success here at Papara – Vahine Fierro (FRA), who took home a win in 2016 at the Papara Pro Junior Vahine and Kauli Vaast (FRA), who was victorious at yesterday’s Papara Pro Junior Men’s division, along with standout surfer Eliott Napias (PYF). Teriinatoofa will go against Vaast in Round 2 once the event resumes and said it is important to remember that they are competitors in the water but first and foremost friends on land.

Defending event winner Ariihoe Tefaafana (PYF) nailed a solid 8.0 for text book style technique on a driving bottom turn into an air reverse in Round One Heat 9. His approach was confident and powerful, and the Papara local now moves into Round 2 where he will meet Cole Alves (HAW), Matahi Drollet (PYF) and Stellio Bobet (PYF).

“I have a little bit of pressure (as defending event winner), I was stressing a little bit to be honest,” said Tefaafana. “But I know I feel good and feel confident at home, I just had to pick the right waves and do my job and I did it.”

The Tahitian competed in the last two QS 6,000’s, the Burton Automotive Pro and Vissla Sydney Surf Pro and plans to travel to Japan for the Ichinomiya Chiba Open in May followed by a string of events in Europe. Last year he qualified for his very first Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, a prestigious event that takes place along the North Shore of Oahu from November 12 – December 8, and hopes to make his way to Hawaii again this winter for another opportunity.


Tefaafana shows a professional style approach to capture the heat win. Image: WSL/Rolland

“It was my first Triple Crown and it was such a new experience for me,” said Tefaafana. “I had never really surfed there in contests and I learned more than anything else. It was a real lesson for me to go there and I can’t wait to go again. This is the main goal and maybe to be in the top 100 for the QS 10,000’s next year, but first to win the contest and then get into the Triple Crown for sure.”

This year has seen the return of Maui’s Ian Gentil (HAW) to competition, who posted a strong runner-up result at the opening QS of the region, the Sunset Open Men’s QS 1,000. With stylish frontside surfing, the 22-year-old advanced in first from Round One Heat 7 against Logan Bediamol (HAW), Eli Hanneman (HAW) and Makai McNamara (HAW).

“Papara is standard QS waves, it’s what everyone is used to surfing and I just want to get a result and surf some of the other reef breaks while I’m here,” said Gentil. “Tahiti is really fun outside of the contest. I wasn’t expecting to get what we got at Rangiroa and I was so excited; my first heat I got so many waves that by the second heat I was tired and I had already surfed for four hours before then.”

Gentil was a strong contender at the Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro last week after posting a 9.00 and 9.25 in Round 1, however was ousted from the competition by 0.15 points in Round 2 by McNamara. His ultimate goal for competing this year is to qualify for the Vans Triple Crown.


Ian Gentil flairs back into QS competition. Image: WSL/Rolland

“I kind of just stopped surfing for a little while because I did it for a long time while I was pretty young, and I just got sick of it,” Gentil said in a candid post-heat interview. “Now I’m back surfing and having fun, going on these trips to compete, but I think of it as a surf trip, especially in Tahiti, and that makes it fun for me. Having to go through the learning process of starting something fresh is a life lesson and it’s a humbling thing to do and I’m trying to just apply what I’ve learned off-season to the QS.”

The Papara Pro Vahine women’s division saw two heats complete before a tropical storm forced event organizers to call the event off for the day. The highest single wave score was produced by 3x SUP World Surfing Champion Izzi Gomez (USA), an 8.25 for a combination of manuevers on one of the better waves of the afternoon.

Also advancing out of Round 1 from the women’s QS 1,000 was Aelan Vaast (PYF), Heimiti Fierro (PYF) and Ariana Shewry (NZL).

The contest will likely resume tomorrow morning after contest organizers assess conditions around 7:00am local time. The women will hit the water first for Round 2, followed by Men’s Round 2 and 3 and capping off the day with the women’s Quarterfinals finishing around 4:15pm.Live scoring is available on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app, along with highlights, photos and more.

The Papara Pro Open features four different divisions including a Men's and Women's QS 1,000 and a Men's and Women's Pro Junior, and has a holding period of March 11 - 16. Live scoring will be available on WorldSurfLeague.com and the Papara Pro event pages, and the final day of competition will be broadcast LIVE by Polynesie 1re at http://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/polynesie/. 
 
 
RESULTS
Athletes listed in first through fourth, all surfers from Hawaii unless otherwise noted.

Women’s Round 2 (Round of 24), 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd = 9th place, 4th = 13th place
H1: Aelan Vaast (PYF), Heimiti Fierro (PYF), Gillian McKenzie
H2: Izzi Gomez (USA), Ariana Shewry (NZL), Kai Corrie

Men’s Round 1 (Round of 64), 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd = 33rd place, 4th = 49th place
H1: Cole Alves, Lahiki Minamishin, Makai McNamara
H2: Michael O’Shaughnessy, Ulualoha Napeahi, David Dandois (PYF), Eimeo Czermak (PYF)
H3: Ocean Macedo, Kainehe Hunt, Levi Young, Luke Shepardson
H4: Robert Grilho, Sheldon Paishon, Eala Stewart, Zac Hedemann
H5: Mateia Hiquily (PYF), Christopher Bluthardt, Erwan Figuri (PYF), Edrick Baldwin
H6: Noah Hill (USA), Brodi Sale, Chris Foster, Andrew Wojcik (USA)
H7: Ian Gentil, Logan Bediamol, Elijah Hanneman, Landon McNamara
H8: Noa Mizuno, Wyatt McHale, Sage Tutterow, Gavin Hogan
H9: Ariihoe Tefaafana (PYF), Vehiatua Prunier (PYF), Ryder Guest
H10: Eliott Napias (PYF), Tereva David (PYF), Taylor Hutchinson (NZL), Ariimoana David (PYF) - NS
H11: Shayden Pacarro, Matahi Drollet (PYF), Kala Willard, Remi Mallet (PYF)
H12: Turo Ariitu (PYF), Stellio Bobet (PYF), Kekoa Cazimero, Kuio Young
H13: O’Neill Massin (PYF), Heifara Tahutini (PYF), Makana Pang
H14: Maxime Ratia (PYF), Joey Johnston, Kai Lenny, Eli Olson
H15: Kauli Vaast (FRA), Heremoana Luciani (PYF), Isaac Stant, Clement Guertener (FRA)
H16: Hira Teriinatoofa (PYF), Taumata Puhetini (PYF), Kalani Rivero, Dylan Franzmann

CORREA, BARONA TAKE OUT COPA TRIATHLON SPORT REEF PRO IN PERU

ALONSO CORREA AND DOMINIC BARONA WIN THE QS 1,000 IN SAN BARTOLO, PERU.
- MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT WORLDSURFLEAGUE.COM

Caption: Dominic Barona
Credit: © WSL / 

With their victories at the WSL Qualifying Series Men’s and Women’s QS 1,000 Copa Triathlon Sport Reef Pro, Alonso Correa (PER) and Dominic Barona (ECU) take the lead in the race for the 2018 WSL South America Title. In a high-scoring all-Peruvian Final, Correa defeated Miguel Tudela (PER) by a score of 17.60 to 15.90 in 3-4 ft. waves in San Bartolo, Peru. In the Women’s Event, Barona got her revenge over Anali Gomez (PER), who won the contest last year.
 
By earning 1,000 QS ranking points, Correa jumps from 104^th place to 46^th on the rankings after winning his first event in San Bartolo. Barona also moved up from 34^th to 24^th on the QS rankings. This was her second victory in San Bartolo, having won in 2011.

“It feels so great to win my first QS event here in Peru,” said Correa. “It’s even better since four Peruvians made it to the Semifinals. The Final was really tough because Miguel Tudela surfs so well, but I was able to find some good waves and thankfully, I got the scores to win. I’d like to congratulate everyone that competed so well and I’m stoked with this victory.”
 
Tudela himself also looked ready to win again, repeating his victories in 2012 and 2017 in San Bartolo, but Correa got off to an explosive start by earning an 8.60 and a 9.00 on his two best rides of the Final. Tudela also surfed well on the righthanders, scoring an 8.00 and a 7.90, but could not surpass Correa’s heat total of 17.60.
 
Correa was the standout surfer of the event, earning excellent-scoring rides throughout the contest including a 9.35, a 9.0 and several eight-point rides on Finals Day. Fellow Peruvian Joaquin Del Castillo also looked sharp by scoring a 9.75 and an 8.75 for an 18.50, the highest heat total of the event.
 
Despite winning the event, Dominic Barona was seen as an underdog with the likes of 3-time WSL South America Champion Anali Gomez (PER) and former WSL World Champion Sofia Mulanovich (PER) competing at home with support from the hometown crowd.
 
But the Ecuadorian left little doubt concerning her talent by winning 100% of her heats at the Copa Triathlon Sport Reef Pro. On her path to the winner’s podium on Sunday, Barona took down up-and-comers and veterans alike, including Tainá Hinckel (BRA), Lucia Indurain (ARG), Mulanovich and Gomez.

“It feels incredible to win here in Peru and I’m so happy I got the victory,” said Barona. “This event was great, all the girls surfed amazing and the waves were really good on both days. Competing against Anali (Gomez), Sofia (Mulanovich) and the younger girls made this victory even sweeter since everyone was surfing at such a high level.”
 
For more information, videos, photos and results regarding the 2018 WSL Qualifying Series Men’s and Women’s QS 1,000 Copa Triathlon Sport Reef Pro, please go to www.worldsurfleague.com.

Caption: Silvana Lima (BRA) will represent the Brazil Team at the WSL Founders' Cup of Surfing specialty event in May. 
Credit: © WSL /  Morris

SNAPPER ROCKS, QLD/Australia (Monday, March 12, 2018) - The World Surf League (WSL) today announced the full teams for the Founders’ Cup of Surfing presented by Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold. The specialty event will be the first public event at the world-famous Surf Ranch facility in Lemoore, California and will be held from May 5 - 6, 2018.

A first for the world’s best surfers, the continental co-ed teams event will see a cross-section of the world’s best surfers battling it out for the public at the world’s most high-performance man-made wave. 

“The Founders’ Cup of Surfing is going to be a really special part of the 2018 calendar,” Kieren Perrow, WSL Commissioner, said. “We’re really excited to be opening up this amazing facility to the public with this teams event. It’s something new for surfing, but I think it will be a lot of fun and exciting to see how the world’s best surfers perform in this kind of a format.”

AUSTRALIA TEAM:
Captain: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Mick Fanning (AUS)
Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Julian Wilson (AUS)
Tyler Wright (AUS)

BRAZIL TEAM:
Captain: Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Filipe Toledo (BRA)
Silvana Lima (BRA)
Taina Hinckel (BRA)

EUROPE TEAM:
Captain: Johanne Defay (FRA)
Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Frederico Morais (PRT)
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Frankie Harrer (DEU) 

USA TEAM:
Captain: Kelly Slater (USA)
John John Florence (USA)
Kolohe Andino (USA)
Carissa Moore (USA)
Courtney Conlogue (USA)

WORLD TEAM:
Captain: Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Michel Bourez (PYF)
Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
Paige Hareb (NZL)
Bianca Buitendag (ZAF)

The Surf Ranch facility, which was revealed online to the public in December 2015, boasts the best man-made wave in history - a 700-yard, high-performance, bi-directional wave featuring barrel sections and maneuver sections. 

Primarily existing as a testing facility, the Lemoore site has spent the past two years dialing in the technology under the guidance of 11-time WSL Champion Slater and feedback from visiting WSL surfers. A private test event last September proved very successful, paving the way for the May Founders' Cup of Surfing and the Surf Ranch CT event in September. 

Tickets will be available tomorrow, March 12, 2018 (Pacific Time) at WSLFoundersCup.com.