Youngest Super Girl Final in Event History Kiara Goold Finishes Second; 13-Year old Ruby Stringfellow and Teenager Eweleiula Wong (HAW) Earn Equal Thirds
Youth Also Reigned in the Longboard Competition as 17-Year Old Malia Ilagan Wins Her First Cape Over Cash Hoover (15) in a Close Final
OCEANSIDE, California, USA (Sunday, September 22, 2024) – The next generation took over Oceanside at the final day of the Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro, crowning it’s youngest cape winner in event history. The title returns to San Clemente courtesy of Eden Walla’s massive win at age 15 in her first-ever QS Final appearance. The win catapults Walla to No. 1 in the North America region.
This year marked the youngest Final in Super Girl history, with 14-year old Kiara Goold (PYF) finishing in second and equal thirds shared by teenage sensations Ruby Stringfellow (13) in her first-ever WSL event and already proven QS threat Eweleiula Wong (19).
“It means so much to me. I’ve been watching this event for so long and I just tried to channel all my energy that I had today into that last heat.I’m stoked,” said Walla. “Thank you to everyone watching me and supporting me, my sponsors, and my friends, they’re the best. Always have faith in yourself and always believe in yourself, and, of course, always have fun.”
The Final kicked off in a flurry with an exchange between Walla and Kiara Goold with Walla’s backhand garnering a 6.17 (out of a possible 10) to Goold’s 4.17. Walla, stayed busy and found herself into an afternoon gem with a sharp, backhand attack and landed a 7.33 to take a commanding lead over the 14-year-old Tahitian.
A tough Finals Day draw awaited Tahiti’s newest QS addition of Goold and the 14-year-old rose to the occasion. She overtook reigning Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW), Regional No. 1 Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) and 2024 Challenger Series contender Eweleiula Wong (HAW) in her path to first-ever QS Final. Goold’s second place finish has her now residing atop the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui rankings.
“It’s super cool this being my first QS ever and I’m super proud of myself because I tried to make a big maneuver going for an air,” said Goold. “Even though I didn’t land it, it was still really fun and I’m stoked to the make the Final. I want to say thank you to all my friends and family back home in Tahiti cheering me on. I’m really happy to represent the surfing community and island of Tahiti.”
Eden Walla and Kiara Goold at Awards Ceremony. Credit: © WSL / Steinmetz
Walla and Goold battle it out in the Final. Credit: © WSL / Steinmetz
Youth Shines in the Surf this Weekend
The next generation took over Oceanside throughout the weekend with Stringfellow making her WSL debut in phenomenal form. The 13-year-old blistered through Finals Day in great form eliminating QS veteran Leilani McGonagle (CRC) in their Round of 16 bout before upsetting reigning Super Girl Surf Pro champion, Alyssa Spencer (USA), in her Quarterfinal heat. But, Stringfellow fell just short of the Finals in a close battle against eventual winner Eden Walla (USA).
Eweleiula Wong (HAW) continues to show she’s a proven QS threat at only 19 and surged into another Super Girl Surf Pro Semifinal. Wong started her pursuit of the cape in the Round of 16 over North America No. 1 Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN), before knocking out Maddie Storrer (USA) in the Quarterfinals. Her run ended in the semis where she fell to eventual runner-up, Goold.
Maila Ilagan (R) bested Cash Hoover (L) to win her first Super Girl Surf Pro Cape in Longboard Competition. Credit: © WSL / Steinmetz
Youth Also Reigned in the Longboard Competition as 17-Year Old Malia Ilagan Wins Her First Cape Over Cash Hoover (15) in a Close Final
The North side of the iconic Oceanside pier also saw a strong showing from the next generation of longboarders as young phenom Cash Hoover (HAW) earned both the highest heat total of the weekend (a 19.5) and the highest single wave score – a perfect 10 – as she advanced to the Final.
However, Hoover met her match in 17-year Malia Ilagan of Ventura, CA, whose poise and footwork in challenging conditions won over the judges to earn her first Super Girl Surf Pro Longboard cape. Stella Landers (USA) and Alexa Johnson (HAW) shared equal thirds, bowing out in the Semi-Finals.
Ilagan rolled into the Finals, while Hoover had to eliminate reigning Super Girl Surf Pro Longboard Champion, San Diego’s Summer Romero, to earn her place in the Finals.
Skai Suitt (HAW) (L) and Moana Jones Wong (HAW) (R) won the Super Girl Pro Team Event. Credit: © WSL / Steinmetz
Moana Jones Wong, Skai Suitt Win Specialty Super Girl Pro Team Event
A specialty Super Girl Pro Team Event brought back some of the event’s iconic names, including Brianna Cope (HAW), Anastasia Ashley (USA), and Moana Jones Wong (HAW), pairing them with emerging talents such as Skai Suitt (HAW), Sofia Gamboa (USA), Zoe Chait (USA), Daya McCart (USA), and Malia Lima (HAW). It was the best of three in a Round Robin format with the cumulative heat total taking the win.
Jones Wong joined Suitt in a powerhouse team that overcame an early deficit and answered in powerful form to eventually take the win and leave Oceanside with some hardware.
Bishop Briggs closes out the Super Girl Surf Pro Weekend Event. Credit: © ASA Ent / Steinmetz
BEYOND THE SURF — NISSAN CONCERT SERIES, SUPER GIRL GAMER PRO, FREE FESTIVAL VILLAGE
Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro Final Results:
1 – Eden Walla (USA) 13.00 3,000 points
2 – Kiara Goold (PYF) 11.77 2,340 points
Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Eden Walla (USA) 12.70 DEF. Ruby Stringfellow (USA) 10.37
HEAT 2: Kiara Goold (PYF) 10.40 DEF. Eweleiula Wong (HAW) 5.47
Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Eden Walla (USA) 12.17 DEF. Bailey Turner (USA) 4.50
HEAT 2: Ruby Stringfellow (USA) 14.23 DEF. Alyssa Spencer (USA) 11.83
HEAT 3: Eweleiula Wong (HAW) 10.67 DEF. Maddie Storrer (USA) 7.17
HEAT 4: Kiara Goold (PYF) 10.00 DEF. Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) 3.87
Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Bailey Turner (USA) 10.43 DEF. Talia Swindal (USA) 9.83
HEAT 2: Eden Walla (USA) 10.43 DEF. Sara Freyre (USA) 3.60
HEAT 3: Ruby Stringfellow (USA) 13.74 DEF. Leilani McGonagle (CRC) 8.50
HEAT 4: Alyssa Spencer (USA) 18.00 DEF. Mathea Dempfle-Olin (CAN) 3.93
HEAT 5: Maddie Storrer (USA) 9.40 DEF. Vela Mattive (USA) 5.93
HEAT 6: Eweleiula Wong (HAW) 10.04 DEF. Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) 8.20
HEAT 7: Kiara Goold (PYF) 11.50 DEF. Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW) 5.74
HEAT 8: Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) 11.66 DEF. Lilie Kulber (USA) 6.07
About Super Girl Pro:
Established 18 years ago as a showcase for women in action sports, Super Girl Pro is the only large-scale, all-women’s action sports, esports & lifestyle series in the world. Developed by ASA Entertainment as a celebration of female strength & empowerment, the platform has grown into an event series, providing opportunities for young women in areas where they’re traditionally underrepresented. Super Girl Pro includes Super Girl Surf Pro; Super Girl Snow Pro, headlined by 2X Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsey Jacobellis; and Super Girl Gamer Pro Esports Competition.