The World Surf League (WSL) Hawai‘i/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) is gearing up for an exciting return to the waves with The Hawaiian Islands Present The Sunset Pro QS 1,000, scheduled to take place from October 28 to November 6.
This event marks Stop No. 2 of the 2023/2024 QS season, offering both men and women surfers a golden opportunity to accumulate valuable points towards the 2024 Challenger Series qualification.
The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) continues to play a crucial role in providing a robust season for local surfers, helping them to build their careers and earn points on their home turf. This event is particularly significant for Hawai‘i/Tahiti Nui’s rising stars and seasoned competitors, as they come together once again to battle it out for supremacy. Isaiah Moniz (HAW) and Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW) currently lead the rankings in their respective categories, making this event a crucial juncture to earn valuable points early in the season and get a head start in the Challenger Series qualification race.
Robin Erb, WSL North America/Hawai‘i Regional Director, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming event, stating, “Sunset is such a great venue to showcase the incredible talent in our region. We’re looking forward to more incredible performances and qualification stories as the Regional QS season rolls on, and are grateful for the continued support of the North Shore community and our event partners in helping us deliver these competitive opportunities for our local athletes.”
Daniel Nāho‘opi‘i, HTA’s interim president and CEO, also highlighted the importance of the partnership between HTA and WSL, emphasizing the commitment to supporting Native Hawaiian sporting pursuits and providing local surfers with the opportunity to qualify locally and compete globally.
The event promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with top-ranked surfers like Moniz and Tomoda-Bannert being joined by Championship Tour standouts, defending event winners Barron Mamiya (HAW) and Gabriela Bryan (HAW), Challenger Series threat Zoe McDougall (HAW), Shion Crawford (HAW), Sheldon Paishon (HAW), and more. Additionally, Hawai‘i surfing icon Mason Ho, reigning Hawai‘i/Tahiti Nui Regional QS Champion Moana Jones Wong (HAW), and other notable names will be vying for a crucial result to boost their 2023/2024 QS season.
With the event set to run on the best three days during the event window, the surfing community and fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating the action and drama that The Hawaiian Islands Present The Sunset Pro QS 1,000 is sure to deliver.
