Today, Erin Brooksand Jackson Bunch emerged victorious at The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro, a Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000, in solid six-to-eight foot conditions over heavily-stacked fields. Brooks and Bunch officially secured their place into the Sambazon World Junior Championships with their wins, joining Nora Liotta and Shion Crawford - who claimed the 2023 Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Pro Junior Regional titles. A runner-up finish added more success to Keala Tomoda-Bannert incredible run as Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor as the men await to determine their final rankings for Challenger Series qualification.
The young phenom Erin Brooks added another illustrious win to her growing resume and secured spot into the Sambazon World Junior Championships.
The women's Final featured nearly all of the region's top talents of the 2023/2024 season including No. 1 Keala Tomoda-Bannert, No. 2 Nora Liotta, No. 4 Erin Brooks, and rising regional threat Puamakamae DeSoto. Tomoda-Bannert established her presence right away with a 6.75 (out of a possible 10), but Brooks responded with two scores to push herself into the lead early on in the heat with Liotta and DeSoto holding onto their backup scores. But, Liotta continued to show her dominant form and pushed herself to an excellent 8.50 as Tomoda-Bannert also added a 7.90 to her score line to maintain control of the heat. But, Brooks wasn't done and in the dying minutes of the Final dropped the event's highest single-scoring wave of a 9.65 to overtake the lead and secure her first-ever WSL QS victory.
"It's super special to win here at Haleiwa," said Brooks. "I've had some of my best amateur contests here and I feel super comfortable at this wave and I'm glad we got to score some firing Haleiwa. I didn't care if I fell, I was just trying to get the biggest wave and hit it as hard as I possibly could to get the highest score and it happened. I'm super excited to be into the World Junior Championships. I was there last year at Seaside and getting to do the CT format is really great for all of us [Pro] Juniors."Â
Brooks' win at the Corona Saquarema Pro earned her a spot back into the Challenger Series for 2024, but this win solidified her spot among the Sambazon World Junior Championships in January after earning her spot into the Final behind DeSoto in their Semifinal clash. Now, Brooks sets her eyes on a World Junior Championships title and taking on the world's contenders for a chance to qualify for the 2025 Championship Tour (CT).
With only minutes remaining, Maui's own Jackson Bunch turned in a clutch performance to turn the heat and claim his second-career QS victory. Bunch's win earned him a spot into the Sambazon World Junior Championships and No. 2 spot on the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui rankings heading into the final event of the season.
A slow start to the men's Final gave way to reigning Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor Jackson Bunch posting a 7.75 on his decimating backhand against Haleiwa's hometown hero Shion Crawford, Maui's in-form Cody Young, and CT competitor Jake Marshall. But, Marshall answered with an excellent 8.00 of his own to put pressure on the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui contingent moving into the back half of the heat. Young catapulted himself from fourth to first place with his searing forehand, earning a 7.00 and looked to have a second-career QS win within grasp.
But, Bunch's backhand was undeniable and retook the lead heading into the dying minutes to secure his second-career QS win.
"Haleiwa is such a hard wave so I knew I had to go in head down and just watching Erin [Brooks] she was sending it so hard and knew I had to do something like that," said Bunch. "I got lucky and got the last wave and just tried to surf it as good as I could. [Having a shot at World Juniors] is what every junior wants. Kai Barger won it and I want to do that and make Maui proud, hopefully win another one for the island. Now I'm just excited to go surf in paradise down [in Rangiroa]."
With a massive win, Bunch earned his place back into the Sambazon World Junior Championships. A dream run through Finals Day witnessed Maui's own, Bunch, earn a convincing Round of 32 victory before earning an advancing place behind Crawford in both the Quarterfinals and Semifinals. Now, Bunch prepares for his redemption run at the World Junior Championships before the final QS event of the year where he looks to defend his Rangiroa title.
Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW) finished her dominant run over the 2023/2024 regional rankings with a fourth Final appearance. - WSL / Tony Heff
Tomoda-Bannert already had the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional title to her name coming into Haleiwa after a dominant run through the season, including two victories and three Final appearances. The Kauaian's breakthrough year will see her take on the region's best from around the world in 2024 for her shot at qualifying for the CT.
"I feel like I had a really tough year last year so I just really just wanted a comeback year," said Tomoda-Bannert. "Every contest I just didn't want to feel satisfied and I'm really stoked to get second here and keeping my points well above everyone. As of right now I'm just trying to financially be okay for next year because it is expense and when I get there I'll be set for the Challenger Series."
Jake Marshall (USA) welcomed more time in the jersey leading into the 2024 CT season and finished runner-up. - WSL / Tony Heff
Though 2024 CT returner, Marshall, doesn't earn points for his runner-up finish, the Encinitas, California competitor kicked off his North Shore winter in great form. Marshall's advancing position in each of his Round of 32, Quarterfinal, and Semifinal heats were enough to keep some of Hawaii/Tahiti Nui's proven and rising threats at bay as he prepares for a big season back among the world's best starting at Pipeline on January 29, 2024.
"It means a lot to compete here," said Marshall. "This is oen of my favorite waves not only here but anywhere in the world and I had a lot of fun at this contest. This region is stacked with a lot of great surfers and I really love competing. I thought I'd come and compete, have some fun, and just really enjoy this wave so I'm really happy with this week."
Nora Liotta's (HAW) best season yet earned her the 2023 Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Pro Junior Regional title. - WSL / Tony Heff
A third-place finish for Nora Liotta notched a third-consecutive Final appearance as the Maui competitor claims the the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Pro Junior Regional title.
"It means so much to qualify for the World Junior Championships and get a regional title," said Liotta. "It's been a long learning process and I'm still learning. This is so much more to competing than just surfing heats and all competitive surfers know that. It has really pushed me and opened up my mindset to what's achievable."
Shion Crawford's (HAW) run through 2023/2024 season so far earned him the regional Pro Junior title. - WSL / Tony Heff
Haleiwa's own Shion Crawford held firm for back-to-back Final appearances, earning fourth behind Maui's Cody Young, who earned a season-best third-place finish, and now looks for his opportunity to continue showcasing his potential at the Sambazon World Junior Championships as Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Pro Junior Regional victor.
"It feels good to get a rhythm going in contests," said Crawford. "I'm stoked to be first in the rankings with all the guys in this region. And I'm really excited to have a shot at being a [WSL] World Junior Champion."
The men's 2023/2024 Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS season concludes at the Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro beginning March 4 - 8.
Final Women's Hawaii/Tahiti Nui 2023/2024 Rankings:
- Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW)
- Nora Liotta (HAW)
- Erin Brooks (CAN)
- Eweleiula Wong (HAW)
Updated Men's Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Rankings:
- Shion Crawford (HAW)
- Jackson Bunch (HAW)
- Mihimana Braye (FRA)
- Robert Grilho III (HAW)
- Kai Martin (HAW)
Action got back underway at The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro, a Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000, and more dominant performances from top-seeded competitors ensued. Men's Round of 64, Heats 5 - 16, wrapped up debuts from the heavy-hitters before women got their Round of 24 and Quarterfinals completed in their entirety. Now, Finals Day awaits with a promising swell on the forecast on the horizon.
The former CT elite Luana Silva decimated her Quarterfinal debut, earning an excellent 16.50 heat total in the process.
One of the North Shore's standout competitors, Luana Silva, showcased her world-class capabilities and posted an excellent 8.00 (out of a possible 10) and event-best so far, 16.50 (out of a possible 20) heat total in her Quarterfinal debut. The former Championship Tour (CT) elite, Silva is set to take on the 2024 Challenger Series and displayed she hasn't lost her hunger in the jersey heading into Finals Day.
"This is the place where I started surfing and I've grown up surfing here since I was five years old," said Silva. "I think everyone else on the North Shore who was born and raised here grew up surfing Alii and Haleiwa so it's just special. I have a really good crew here and it's home, there's no other place like it in the world."
Maui's leading woman Nora Liotta started off her Haleiwa surge with a solid 15.10 heat total and is pressure-free in the last event of the 2023/2024 season.
Current Hawaii/Tahiti Nui No. 2 Nora Liotta squared off with current No. 1 Keala Tomoda-Bannert, Isla Sexton, and Lucy Jarrard in Quarterfinal, Heat 1. Liotta's form went unmatched in her debut, accruing a 15.10 (out of a possible 20) heat total to start her Haleiwa run. Now, Maui's own Liotta looks to hold firm and finish the season strong.
"It feels amazing to be able to just surf and have fun," said Liotta. "The waves were really fun so I'm super excited. I guess I'm just surfing and got lucky with the priority rotation and got to pick the best waves. I haven't that much fun in a heat in awhile."
Erin Brooks (CAN) continues her excellent form across the world to North Shore's waters. - WSL / Tony Heff
Eweleiula Wong earned her way back into the Semifinals and is joined by Erin Brooks after an impressive Quarterfinal, Heat 4 victory of her own to close out the day. Only eight women remain and await their Finals Day showing to determine a 2023 victor.
Leading the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui rankings, Mihimana Braye wasted no time reinforcing his position with the event's best, single-scoring wave of an 8.75 on his decimating backhand.
Braye Unleashes Backhand Attack, Moniz and McGill Flourish in Debuts
Current Hawaii/Tahiti Nui No. 1 Mihimana Braye unleashed his signature backhand power to post an excellent 8.75. Braye's determination to rejoin the Challenger Series contenders is palpable and the Tahitian isn't holding back with only two events remaining to secure his place among the regional qualifiers.
"I'm just feeling good and so happy to surf this wave with only four people out, it's always hardwork during the free surf," said Braye. "The goal is just to do what I do best. Just surf and have some fun, and try to qualify for the Challenger Series. I'm just taking it heat-by-heat and trying to enjoy my surfing."
Oahu's own Joshua Moniz turnedd in an impressive 14.85 heat total in his Haleiwa debut and remains hungry for a big result to catapult up the rankings.
Joshua Moniz found his form to turn in a 14.85 heat total utilizing his forehand attack. The QS veteran looks to add on to his result from Sunset Beach and continue building points toward 2024 Challenger Series qualification. Now, Moniz heads into Finals Day with plenty of momentum and looking for more despite a minor injury.
"I tweaked my knee a bit about two weeks ago, but that's how it goes," said Moniz. "I'm just surfing in my heats and then just chilling, there's no pressure for me. The waves are fun, it's like four foot Haleiwa and pretty fun for a contest as long as you get a good one."
Looking to kickstart his season, Finn McGill laid down an excellent 8.00 in his Round of 64 debut as he hunts a result at Haleiwa.
Finn McGill is on the hunt for a big result to kickstart his 2023/2024 campaign, currently sitting at No. 13 on the rankings, and delivered an excellent showing. McGill's speed and power earned him an excellent 8.00, backing it up with a 6.00, and surged into the Round of 32.
"The waves are firing right now it's just slow, kind of dying north swell but when they come they're really fun," said McGill. "I have no results right now so I have to get a result. This is where I learned how to surf, this is where I grew up, this is my daycare. It'd be awesome to win an event here, I've never really done well in a QS so to bring it home would be awesome."
arron Mamiya (HAW) returned to the jersey for more reps among Hawaii/Tahiti Nui's top talents. - WSL / Tony Heff
Championship Tour (CT) competitors Barron Mamiyaand Jake Marshall brought their world-class forehands to Haleiwa with Marshall accruing an impressive 14.90 heat total. Future 2024 CT rookie Eli Hanneman also delivered an impressive showing in his debut as he looks to prepare for the world's best next season.
Also earning important Round of 64 wins, Kai Martin keeps his pace to earn a spot into the Sambazon World Junior Championships and is joined by fellow Pro Junior standout Brodi Sale, Mason Ho, Cody Young, Kai Paula, and Torrey Meister.
Event organizers have called competition OFF for Tuesday, November 28 and will recovene Wednesday, November 29 at 7:00 a.m. HST to determine the next call.
Excellent Showcases Push the Standard on Opening Day
Opening day of The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro, a Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000, fired into action with solid, eight-to-ten foot conditions on offer to start the day. The swell held firm throughout the day and provided moments of magic for the men's Round of 96 and Round of 64, Heats 1 - 4. Women's competition was called OFF for the day.
Haleiwa's hometown hero, Shion Crawford, debuted with opening day's best performance including an 8.00 and 14.00 heat total.
Closing out the day in excellent form, Haleiwa's own Shion Crawford posted the day's best performance in his Round of 64, Heat 4 debut. Crawford's relentless forehand attack provided an 8.00 (out of a possible 10) and 14.00 (out of a possible 20) heat total at his home break. Now, the emerging threat awaits his Round of 32 bout and will look for back-to-back wins.
"It was pretty fun, I got a couple waves and made it through that heat so I'm stoked," said Crawford. "It kind of cleaned up a bit too so that was nice for my heat. Now I'll just recover and just have no expectations. Just go into my next heat and don't think too far."
Seeded competitors including reigning Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor Jackson Bunch, QS veteran Shayden Pacarro, and rising threat Diego Ferri also earned key wins.
The former CT elite and Maui standout, Dusty Payne, dished out an excellent 8.25 in his Round of 96 debut.
Maui's standout Dusty Payne put on a showcase throughout opening day. Payne's incredible win here in 2014 helped pave the way to his Championship Tour (CT) qualification and showed he still has his world-class forehand today, earning an excellent 8.25. But, the former CT elite competitor has his eyes set on more at Haleiwa.
"It's just one wave and I know I'll need a lot more of those to do what I need to do here, but it's good to get a good start" said Payne. "Haleiwa is a special place. I grew up doing a lot of contests here and it always has a special place in my heart. Once I grew up and surfed the outside and found out how good of a wave it is, I'm just so grateful to be here."
Fellow Maui competitors Levi Young and Kai Lennyalso earned impressive wins in their Round of 96 and await their Round of 64 bouts.
Torrey Meister (HAW) showcased his experience at Haleiwa with a commanding heat win. - WSL / Tony Heff
QS veteran and big wave charger, Torrey Meister, matched Payne's excellent showing, boasting an 8.25 of his own, and notched a 13.85 (out of a possible 20) heat total as the highest heat total of the Round of 96. Meister didn't get the result he was after at the O'Neill Cold Water Classic and brought some of that fire to the hallow ground of Haleiwa where he looks to add a few more heat wins to his name.
"It's so fun out there and it's really cool to do an event at Haleiwa," said Meister. "I think the last year I was out was 2019 so it's been a long time. I was doing the Cold Water Classic and saw Haleiwa, and saw it would be like this so I got here. This swell is way bigger than predicted and hopefully it hangs around for a few more days to get some more fun surf."
Meister is joined into the Round of 64 by Legend Chandler, Makai McNamara, Koa Smith, Diesel Storm Butts, Love Hodel, Steve Roberson, Kingston Panebianco, Gavin Klein, Cody Robinson and Luan Nogues after each earned big debut wins in the Round of 96.
Event organizers will reconvene for a 7:00 a.m. HST call to determine a possible 8:00 a.m. HST start.
The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro will run on the best three days of the event window beginning November 26 - December 7.
Erin Brooks and Jackson Bunch Win 2023 The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro
Andrew Nichols
Today, Erin Brooksand Jackson Bunch emerged victorious at The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro, a Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000, in solid six-to-eight foot conditions over heavily-stacked fields. Brooks and Bunch officially secured their place into the Sambazon World Junior Championships with their wins, joining Nora Liotta and Shion Crawford - who claimed the 2023 Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Pro Junior Regional titles. A runner-up finish added more success to Keala Tomoda-Bannert incredible run as Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor as the men await to determine their final rankings for Challenger Series qualification.
The women's Final featured nearly all of the region's top talents of the 2023/2024 season including No. 1 Keala Tomoda-Bannert, No. 2 Nora Liotta, No. 4 Erin Brooks, and rising regional threat Puamakamae DeSoto. Tomoda-Bannert established her presence right away with a 6.75 (out of a possible 10), but Brooks responded with two scores to push herself into the lead early on in the heat with Liotta and DeSoto holding onto their backup scores. But, Liotta continued to show her dominant form and pushed herself to an excellent 8.50 as Tomoda-Bannert also added a 7.90 to her score line to maintain control of the heat. But, Brooks wasn't done and in the dying minutes of the Final dropped the event's highest single-scoring wave of a 9.65 to overtake the lead and secure her first-ever WSL QS victory.
"It's super special to win here at Haleiwa," said Brooks. "I've had some of my best amateur contests here and I feel super comfortable at this wave and I'm glad we got to score some firing Haleiwa. I didn't care if I fell, I was just trying to get the biggest wave and hit it as hard as I possibly could to get the highest score and it happened. I'm super excited to be into the World Junior Championships. I was there last year at Seaside and getting to do the CT format is really great for all of us [Pro] Juniors."Â
Brooks' win at the Corona Saquarema Pro earned her a spot back into the Challenger Series for 2024, but this win solidified her spot among the Sambazon World Junior Championships in January after earning her spot into the Final behind DeSoto in their Semifinal clash. Now, Brooks sets her eyes on a World Junior Championships title and taking on the world's contenders for a chance to qualify for the 2025 Championship Tour (CT).
A slow start to the men's Final gave way to reigning Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor Jackson Bunch posting a 7.75 on his decimating backhand against Haleiwa's hometown hero Shion Crawford, Maui's in-form Cody Young, and CT competitor Jake Marshall. But, Marshall answered with an excellent 8.00 of his own to put pressure on the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui contingent moving into the back half of the heat. Young catapulted himself from fourth to first place with his searing forehand, earning a 7.00 and looked to have a second-career QS win within grasp.
But, Bunch's backhand was undeniable and retook the lead heading into the dying minutes to secure his second-career QS win.
"Haleiwa is such a hard wave so I knew I had to go in head down and just watching Erin [Brooks] she was sending it so hard and knew I had to do something like that," said Bunch. "I got lucky and got the last wave and just tried to surf it as good as I could. [Having a shot at World Juniors] is what every junior wants. Kai Barger won it and I want to do that and make Maui proud, hopefully win another one for the island. Now I'm just excited to go surf in paradise down [in Rangiroa]."
With a massive win, Bunch earned his place back into the Sambazon World Junior Championships. A dream run through Finals Day witnessed Maui's own, Bunch, earn a convincing Round of 32 victory before earning an advancing place behind Crawford in both the Quarterfinals and Semifinals. Now, Bunch prepares for his redemption run at the World Junior Championships before the final QS event of the year where he looks to defend his Rangiroa title.
Tomoda-Bannert already had the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional title to her name coming into Haleiwa after a dominant run through the season, including two victories and three Final appearances. The Kauaian's breakthrough year will see her take on the region's best from around the world in 2024 for her shot at qualifying for the CT.
"I feel like I had a really tough year last year so I just really just wanted a comeback year," said Tomoda-Bannert. "Every contest I just didn't want to feel satisfied and I'm really stoked to get second here and keeping my points well above everyone. As of right now I'm just trying to financially be okay for next year because it is expense and when I get there I'll be set for the Challenger Series."
Though 2024 CT returner, Marshall, doesn't earn points for his runner-up finish, the Encinitas, California competitor kicked off his North Shore winter in great form. Marshall's advancing position in each of his Round of 32, Quarterfinal, and Semifinal heats were enough to keep some of Hawaii/Tahiti Nui's proven and rising threats at bay as he prepares for a big season back among the world's best starting at Pipeline on January 29, 2024.
"It means a lot to compete here," said Marshall. "This is oen of my favorite waves not only here but anywhere in the world and I had a lot of fun at this contest. This region is stacked with a lot of great surfers and I really love competing. I thought I'd come and compete, have some fun, and just really enjoy this wave so I'm really happy with this week."
A third-place finish for Nora Liotta notched a third-consecutive Final appearance as the Maui competitor claims the the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Pro Junior Regional title.
"It means so much to qualify for the World Junior Championships and get a regional title," said Liotta. "It's been a long learning process and I'm still learning. This is so much more to competing than just surfing heats and all competitive surfers know that. It has really pushed me and opened up my mindset to what's achievable."
Haleiwa's own Shion Crawford held firm for back-to-back Final appearances, earning fourth behind Maui's Cody Young, who earned a season-best third-place finish, and now looks for his opportunity to continue showcasing his potential at the Sambazon World Junior Championships as Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Pro Junior Regional victor.
"It feels good to get a rhythm going in contests," said Crawford. "I'm stoked to be first in the rankings with all the guys in this region. And I'm really excited to have a shot at being a [WSL] World Junior Champion."
The men's 2023/2024 Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS season concludes at the Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro beginning March 4 - 8.
Final Women's Hawaii/Tahiti Nui 2023/2024 Rankings:
Updated Men's Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Rankings:
Action got back underway at The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro, a Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000, and more dominant performances from top-seeded competitors ensued. Men's Round of 64, Heats 5 - 16, wrapped up debuts from the heavy-hitters before women got their Round of 24 and Quarterfinals completed in their entirety. Now, Finals Day awaits with a promising swell on the forecast on the horizon.
One of the North Shore's standout competitors, Luana Silva, showcased her world-class capabilities and posted an excellent 8.00 (out of a possible 10) and event-best so far, 16.50 (out of a possible 20) heat total in her Quarterfinal debut. The former Championship Tour (CT) elite, Silva is set to take on the 2024 Challenger Series and displayed she hasn't lost her hunger in the jersey heading into Finals Day.
"This is the place where I started surfing and I've grown up surfing here since I was five years old," said Silva. "I think everyone else on the North Shore who was born and raised here grew up surfing Alii and Haleiwa so it's just special. I have a really good crew here and it's home, there's no other place like it in the world."
Current Hawaii/Tahiti Nui No. 2 Nora Liotta squared off with current No. 1 Keala Tomoda-Bannert, Isla Sexton, and Lucy Jarrard in Quarterfinal, Heat 1. Liotta's form went unmatched in her debut, accruing a 15.10 (out of a possible 20) heat total to start her Haleiwa run. Now, Maui's own Liotta looks to hold firm and finish the season strong.
"It feels amazing to be able to just surf and have fun," said Liotta. "The waves were really fun so I'm super excited. I guess I'm just surfing and got lucky with the priority rotation and got to pick the best waves. I haven't that much fun in a heat in awhile."
Eweleiula Wong earned her way back into the Semifinals and is joined by Erin Brooks after an impressive Quarterfinal, Heat 4 victory of her own to close out the day. Only eight women remain and await their Finals Day showing to determine a 2023 victor.
Braye Unleashes Backhand Attack, Moniz and McGill Flourish in Debuts
Current Hawaii/Tahiti Nui No. 1 Mihimana Braye unleashed his signature backhand power to post an excellent 8.75. Braye's determination to rejoin the Challenger Series contenders is palpable and the Tahitian isn't holding back with only two events remaining to secure his place among the regional qualifiers.
"I'm just feeling good and so happy to surf this wave with only four people out, it's always hardwork during the free surf," said Braye. "The goal is just to do what I do best. Just surf and have some fun, and try to qualify for the Challenger Series. I'm just taking it heat-by-heat and trying to enjoy my surfing."
Joshua Moniz found his form to turn in a 14.85 heat total utilizing his forehand attack. The QS veteran looks to add on to his result from Sunset Beach and continue building points toward 2024 Challenger Series qualification. Now, Moniz heads into Finals Day with plenty of momentum and looking for more despite a minor injury.
"I tweaked my knee a bit about two weeks ago, but that's how it goes," said Moniz. "I'm just surfing in my heats and then just chilling, there's no pressure for me. The waves are fun, it's like four foot Haleiwa and pretty fun for a contest as long as you get a good one."
Finn McGill is on the hunt for a big result to kickstart his 2023/2024 campaign, currently sitting at No. 13 on the rankings, and delivered an excellent showing. McGill's speed and power earned him an excellent 8.00, backing it up with a 6.00, and surged into the Round of 32.
"The waves are firing right now it's just slow, kind of dying north swell but when they come they're really fun," said McGill. "I have no results right now so I have to get a result. This is where I learned how to surf, this is where I grew up, this is my daycare. It'd be awesome to win an event here, I've never really done well in a QS so to bring it home would be awesome."
Championship Tour (CT) competitors Barron Mamiyaand Jake Marshall brought their world-class forehands to Haleiwa with Marshall accruing an impressive 14.90 heat total. Future 2024 CT rookie Eli Hanneman also delivered an impressive showing in his debut as he looks to prepare for the world's best next season.
Also earning important Round of 64 wins, Kai Martin keeps his pace to earn a spot into the Sambazon World Junior Championships and is joined by fellow Pro Junior standout Brodi Sale, Mason Ho, Cody Young, Kai Paula, and Torrey Meister.
Event organizers have called competition OFF for Tuesday, November 28 and will recovene Wednesday, November 29 at 7:00 a.m. HST to determine the next call.
Excellent Showcases Push the Standard on Opening Day
Opening day of The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro, a Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000, fired into action with solid, eight-to-ten foot conditions on offer to start the day. The swell held firm throughout the day and provided moments of magic for the men's Round of 96 and Round of 64, Heats 1 - 4. Women's competition was called OFF for the day.
Closing out the day in excellent form, Haleiwa's own Shion Crawford posted the day's best performance in his Round of 64, Heat 4 debut. Crawford's relentless forehand attack provided an 8.00 (out of a possible 10) and 14.00 (out of a possible 20) heat total at his home break. Now, the emerging threat awaits his Round of 32 bout and will look for back-to-back wins.
"It was pretty fun, I got a couple waves and made it through that heat so I'm stoked," said Crawford. "It kind of cleaned up a bit too so that was nice for my heat. Now I'll just recover and just have no expectations. Just go into my next heat and don't think too far."
Seeded competitors including reigning Hawaii/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor Jackson Bunch, QS veteran Shayden Pacarro, and rising threat Diego Ferri also earned key wins.
Maui's standout Dusty Payne put on a showcase throughout opening day. Payne's incredible win here in 2014 helped pave the way to his Championship Tour (CT) qualification and showed he still has his world-class forehand today, earning an excellent 8.25. But, the former CT elite competitor has his eyes set on more at Haleiwa.
"It's just one wave and I know I'll need a lot more of those to do what I need to do here, but it's good to get a good start" said Payne. "Haleiwa is a special place. I grew up doing a lot of contests here and it always has a special place in my heart. Once I grew up and surfed the outside and found out how good of a wave it is, I'm just so grateful to be here."
Fellow Maui competitors Levi Young and Kai Lennyalso earned impressive wins in their Round of 96 and await their Round of 64 bouts.
QS veteran and big wave charger, Torrey Meister, matched Payne's excellent showing, boasting an 8.25 of his own, and notched a 13.85 (out of a possible 20) heat total as the highest heat total of the Round of 96. Meister didn't get the result he was after at the O'Neill Cold Water Classic and brought some of that fire to the hallow ground of Haleiwa where he looks to add a few more heat wins to his name.
"It's so fun out there and it's really cool to do an event at Haleiwa," said Meister. "I think the last year I was out was 2019 so it's been a long time. I was doing the Cold Water Classic and saw Haleiwa, and saw it would be like this so I got here. This swell is way bigger than predicted and hopefully it hangs around for a few more days to get some more fun surf."
Meister is joined into the Round of 64 by Legend Chandler, Makai McNamara, Koa Smith, Diesel Storm Butts, Love Hodel, Steve Roberson, Kingston Panebianco, Gavin Klein, Cody Robinson and Luan Nogues after each earned big debut wins in the Round of 96.
Event organizers will reconvene for a 7:00 a.m. HST call to determine a possible 8:00 a.m. HST start.
The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro will run on the best three days of the event window beginning November 26 - December 7.
Erin Brooks
Featuring Joel Vaughan, Erin Brooks, Zoe Benedetto, Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri, Laura Raupp, Monnojo Yahagi, Luke Thompson, Shion Crawford,
The young phenom Erin Brooks overpowered fellow goofy foot competitor Noah Klapp in their Round of 16 dual and returns to the Quarterfinals
The 2023 SAMBAZON World Junior Championships wildcard threat, Erin Brooks, put the event on notice with one of the day's best performances.
The young phenom Erin Brooks added another illustrious win to her growing resume and secured spot into the Sambazon World Junior
Rising Star Brooks Fresh Off Challenger Series Win, Ready for Jax Beach, Mons Looks to Make Her Mark at Home, DeSoto Hopes to Capitalize on
Hawaii/Tahiti Nui
With only minutes remaining, Maui's own Jackson Bunch turned in a clutch performance to turn the heat and claim his second-career QS
The former CT elite Luana Silva decimated her Quarterfinal debut, earning an excellent 16.50 heat total in the process.
Maui's leading woman Nora Liotta started off her Haleiwa surge with a solid 15.10 heat total and is pressure-free in the last event of the
Oahu's own Joshua Moniz turnedd in an impressive 14.85 heat total in his Haleiwa debut and remains hungry for a big result to catapult up