The final showdown of World Surf League (WSL) North America's Qualifying Series (QS) and Pro Junior 2023/2024 season opens tomorrow, March 18, for the BTMI Barbados Surf Pro QS 5,000 and Live Like Zander Junior Pro in Loving Memory of Zander Venezia presented by Diamonds International. Men's and women's competitors will be vying for 2024 Challenger Series qualification and World Junior Championships spots at the famed reef break of Soup Bowl. Spectators will be able to watch it all LIVE March 18 - 24 at WorldSurfLeague.com to see who claims the event wins and who becomes North America's QS and Pro Junior Regional victors.
Burke and Tuach Look to Reclaim Event Titles for Home Soil
Soup Bowl hosted its first QS in 2018 in memory of Bill Thomson and, when competitions resumed post-COVID, returned in 2022 with the first women's QS event in its history. Barbados' own Chelsea Tuach officially stamped her mark as the Queen of Soup Bowl with a victory after winning multiple Pro Junior events. Now, Tuach is back for a chance to reclaim her throne after an impressive win from Zoe Benedetto (USA) added her name to Soup Bowl and Barbados' incredible history.
"This is a special place for me, I think it's the place I've spent the most time surfing and it's my favorite wave," said Tuach. "It's my favorite place to come and just a beautiful piece of our coastline. To share it with everyone and have it be validated over and over again, and compete with all the surfers knowing that everyone is at the top of their level. When it was a Pro Junior I won it a few times and when it upgraded to the [Barbados Surf] Pro, and I took the win I just felt so in rhythm and hearing the beach erupting every score - I was overcome with emotion."
Tuach has the opportunity to play ultimate spoiler and surge up the rankings but will have to contend with the likes of Benedetto, current North America No. 1 Bella Kenworthy (USA), No. 2's Talia Swindal (USA) and Kirra Pinkerton (USA), fellow Barbadian threat Chelsea Roett, reigning Live Like Zander victor Noah Klapp (DEU), and many more.
Harnessing the energy from his home island and the Bathsheba community, Josh Burke (BRB) made an incredible run all the way to runner-up. Though Burke fell just shy of the coveted title, it earned him a spot on the Challenger Series after catapulting from deep in the rankings to No. 6. Now, the 27-year-old looks to bring the first men's BTMI Barbados Surf Pro title to home soil once more.
"I'm very excited for this event and it's obviously my favorite one just being at home and I feel at home with all my friends around me," said Burke. "There's no place to have a 5,000 than Soup Bowl and the Bathsheba community. The vibe down there is amazing and hopefully Soup Bowl comes to life, it's all I've been hoping for the last couple of years. Last year it didn't go my way [in the Final], so hopefully this year it goes my way."
Burke knows the task at hand and will have to battle with the likes of North America No. 1 Alan Cleland (MEX), former event victor Michael Dunphy (USA), current Challenger Series qualifiers Taro Watanabe (USA), John Mel (USA), Levi Slawson (USA), Ryan Huckabee (USA), Taj Lindblad (USA), plus recent Ron Jon Quiksilver and Roxy Pro victor Owen Moss (USA), and many more.
North America QS and Pro Junior No. 1 Kenworthy Ready to Hold Strong
Bella Kenworthy (USA) currently sits atop both the North America QS and Pro Junior with an opportunity to become the first woman in the modern era to claim both in the same year. Kenworthy's remarkable run added a recent, back-to-back sweep in Cocoa Beach and now looks to carry that fire into Soup Bowl after a third-place finish in the QS and equal fifth-place in the Live Like Zander Junior Pro.
"This is such a special event just with how nice the people are and the wave is definitely one of my favorite waves that I've ever surfed," said Kenworthy. "It's just such a special event to be a part of. I'm definitely focused on just trying to get a good result and haven't thought too much about where I'm ranked just because everyone is so close and I'm excited."
Kenworthy and current No. 2 Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) will look to hold strong among a talented field of Pro Juniors including reigning North America Pro Junior Regional victor Talia Swindal (USA), California's emerging competitors Reid Van Wagoner (USA), Sara Freyre (USA), and many more.
Moss Ready to Fend Off Pro Junior Contenders, Gittens Is Feeling the Rhythm at Home
Fellow Pro Junior No. 1 Owen Moss (USA) has both Challenger Series and World Junior Championships qualification on his mind. A recent sweep in Cocoa Beach earned the North Carolina competitor his first-ever WSL wins as he enters this event having made two previous Finals in the Live Like Zander Junior Pro.
"Zander was a good friend and this is a really special event and it's one I definitely want to win," said Moss. "I've gotten second and third so I'd love to win. I'm stoked to be back here and surfing some really good waves. I've been feeling good for awhile now and to finally break through the Quarters of the QS felt really good and now it's the same thing for this event."
Moss and current No. 2 Kai Kushner (USA) will have to fend off the likes of in-form competitors Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN), Luke Wyler (USA), Ryan Huckabee (USA), and the island's own Ocean Gittens (BRB) who is ready to hold down home waters.
Event organizers will convene at 7:30 a.m. EDT for a possible 8:00 a.m. EDT start to opening day of competition.
Watch LIVE
The BTMI Barbados Surf Pro and Live Like Zander Junior Pro in Loving Memory of Zander Venezia presented by Diamonds International holds a competition window that opens March 18 through 24. Once called ON, the event will be broadcast live at WorldSurfLeague.com, the free WSL App, and WSL YouTube channel.