DAY ONE IS ON: Starting with Women…The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro

The QS1000 Regional Qualifier is going to score on a solid 5-8 NW (chance of some 10′ Sunday); Trades moderate Saturday-Sunday. SNN

Opening Day Called ON at The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro

  • Women’s Round of 24 Starts at 8:00 a.m. HST
  • Men’s Round of 96 on Schedule
  • Live Scoring at WorldSurfLeague.com
Pictured: The wait is over and The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro is set for opening day action. Credit: © WSL / Thomas

SUNSET BEACH, Oahu, Hawaii (Saturday, November 2, 2024) – The World Surf League (WSL) Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro, a men’s and women’s QS 1000, has been called ON for an 8:00 a.m. HST start. Eight-foot, occasional plus, swell pulses into Sunset Beach’s famed reef to start competition beginning with women’s Round of 24 followed by men’s Round of 96.

“We’re excited to kick off Day 1 of The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro in solid eight-foot and bigger surf,” said Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Tour Manager Marty Thomas. “The WNW swell filled in overnight and from a great direction with clean, offshore winds. It’s going to be a great day of competition starting with the women before going directly into men’s action.”

The women will take over Sunset Beach to start competition with two-time Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS victor Moana Jones Wong (HAW) facing Skai Suitt (HAW), Kiki Oshiro-Kaneshiro (HAW), and Melanie Bartels (HAW) in the Round of 24, Heat 1.

Sunset Beach’s own Chesney Guinette (HAW), recent Challenger Series wildcard standout Noah Klapp (DEU), Malia Lima (HAW), and more also make their Round of 24 debuts.

Maui, Hawaii duo Levi Young (HAW) and Kai Lenny (HAW) will take on Justin Roberson (HAW) and Todd Coffey (HAW) to kickstart men’s Round of 96, Heat 1.

Current Hawaii/Tahiti Nui No. 2 Oliver Zeitz (HAW), QS veteran Torrey Meister (HAW), North Shore standout Koa Rothman (HAW), emerging talent Luke Tema (HAW), aerial threat Noah Beschen (HAW) and more await their Round of 96 debuts.

The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro event window opens October 28 through November 4, 2024. Event organizers will run on the best three days during the window.

For more information, please visit www.WorldSurfLeague.com.

  • PRIOR UPDATES BELOW
  • The North swell was downgraded as the storm sent most of its energy to our east. Looks promising for this weekend. Friday gets a long 20 sec NW to NNW rising esp. late in the day… and all weekend will be 5-8′ maybe 10′ at Sunset since it jacks long periods so well. SNN

Competition Called OFF for the Day at The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro

  • Next Call, Wednesday, October 30 at 7:00 a.m. HST
Pictured: Event organizers and competitors await Sunset Beach to come to life for opening day of The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro. Credit: © WSL / Heff

SUNSET BEACH, Oahu, Hawaii (Monday, October 28, 2024) – The World Surf League (WSL) Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro, a men’s and women’s QS 1000, has been called OFF for Monday, October 28 and Tuesday, October 29. Event organizers continue to track the forecast for a promising NW swell on the horizon for Oahu’s famed North Shore.

“The swell we were looking at to begin the event on opening day today didn’t fill in the way we were hoping so we’ve called competition off for today and tomorrow,” said Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Tour Manager Marty Thomas. “We already had our eyes on the impending swell that looks favorable for later this week and hopefully it continues to track well. We’ll provide another update Wednesday, October 30 at 7:00 a.m. HST.”

Once competition gets underway, the likes of defending event victor Nora Liotta (HAW) will take to the to water alongside current Hawaii/Tahiti Nui No. 1 Kiara Goold (PYF), rising regional threat Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW), perennial Challenger Series contenders Eweleiula Wong (HAW) and Zoe McDougall (HAW), reigning Hawaii/Tahiti QS Regional victor Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW), North Shore staple Moana Jones Wong (HAW), and more.
For the men, an also heavily-stacked draw includes defending event winner Shion Crawford (HAW), 2024 CT rookie Eli Hanneman (HAW), who looks to rejoin the world’s best, current Hawaii/Tahiti Nui No. 1, and former CT veteran, Ezekiel Lau (HAW), 2024 Challenger Series contender Mihimana Braye (FRA), rising regional threats Brodi Sale (HAW), Noah Beschen (HAW), and QS veterans Joshua Moniz (HAW), Finn McGill (HAW), and North Shore staple Mason Ho (HAW) among many more.

The next call will be made at 7:00 a.m. HST, Wednesday, October 30, for a possible 8:00 a.m. HST start to competition.

The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro event window opens October 28 through November 4, 2024. Event organizers will run on the best three days during the window.

For more information, please visit www.WorldSurfLeague.com.

About the WSL
The World Surf League (WSL) is the global home of competitive surfing, crowning World Champions since 1976 and showcasing the world’s best surfing. The WSL oversees surfing’s global competitive landscape and sets the standard for elite performance in the most dynamic playing field in all of sports. With a firm commitment to its values, the WSL prioritizes the protection of the ocean, equality, and the sport’s rich heritage, while championing progression and innovation.
PRIOR UPDATES BELOW….

NEXT CALL WEDNESDAY. The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro QS 1000

  • Shion Crawford and Nora Liotta Return to Defend Event Titles
  • Event Organizers Watching for Potential Start Monday, October 28
Pictured: A favorable swell could provide potential for opening day of competition to get underway Monday, October 28 at Sunset Beach. Credit: © WSL / Heff

SUNSET BEACH, Oahu, Hawaii (Friday, October 25, 2024) – The World Surf League (WSL) Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro, a men’s and women’s QS 1,000 event competition window opens Monday, October 28 and event organizers are keeping a close eye on the opening day forecast. Hawaii/Tahiti Nui’s contenders return to the arena of Sunset Beach’s famed lineup to get their QS season back in the water.

Nora Liotta and Shion Crawford Return to Defend Event Titles
2023 marked maiden QS wins for both Nora Liotta (HAW) and Shion Crawford (HAW) at this event that helped secure their place among the 2024 Challenger Series. Now, Liotta returns to her regional QS season, following her best Challenger Series showing at the final event in Brazil, currently ranked No. 9 after two events of her 2024/2025 campaign. The 20-year-old powered her way atop the podium at Sunset Beach last year which jumpstarted her year before finishing runner-up at the U.S. Air Force Super Girl Surf Pro.

“It’s really exciting going into this event. I have a little more confidence being at an event closer to home and doing well there last year,” said Liotta. “I need some good results now to requalify for the Challenger Series next year so I’m happy it’s at a break I’m familiar with. And then the Super Girl as well. It’s a big change going from Sunset to Jacksonville but I love both places.”

Liotta will square off with the likes of current Hawaii/Tahiti Nui No. 1 Kiara Goold (PYF), rising regional threat Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW), perennial Challenger Series contenders Eweleiula Wong (HAW) and Zoe McDougall (HAW), reigning Hawaii/Tahiti QS Regional victor Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW), North Shore staple Moana Jones Wong (HAW), and more.

Crawford showcased some of his potential throughout the 2024 Challenger Series, including a massive air-reverse at Saquarema, and now looks to continue his momentum back in home waters. The North Shore competitor, Crawford, earned his first wildcard on the Championship Tour (CT) in 2024 at the Lexus Pipe Pro and now looks to return to the Challenger Series for his chance at joining the world’s best full-time in 2026.

“I’m super excited and I’m just going to go out there, have some fun and see where it goes,” said Crawford. “I’m just going into this event wanting to win. I feel like I haven’t won in awhile, going back to last year, so I want to get that winning feeling again. I love Sunset. I love the push and I just love to push super hard and try to get big scores. A lot of people inspired me this year like Kade [Matson], Jackson [Bunch], Jett [Schilling], and Kai [Martin]. I had a great time traveling with them and we all push each other.”

Crawford will take on contenders such as 2024 CT rookie Eli Hanneman (HAW), who looks to rejoin the world’s best, current Hawaii/Tahiti Nui No. 1, and former CT veteran, Ezekiel Lau (HAW), 2024 Challenger Series contender Mihimana Braye (FRA), rising regional threats Brodi Sale (HAW), Noah Beschen (HAW), and QS veterans Joshua Moniz (HAW), Finn McGill (HAW), and North Shore staple Mason Ho (HAW) among many more.

A promising swell trend continues to show as the winter season approaches the North Shore. Event organizers are following a potential swell to kick off competition on the opening day of the window, Monday, October 28.

The first call will be made at 7:00 a.m. HST Wednesday for a possible 8:00 a.m. HST start to competition.

The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro event window opens October 28 through November 4, 2024. Event organizers will run on the best three days during the window.

For more information, please visit www.WorldSurfLeague.com.

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