An inbound swell provided a new stage for the World Surf League (WSL) WRV Outer Banks Pro presented by Pacifico, a men’s and women’s Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000, contenders to showcase an array of high-performance surfing. The top-seeded women competitors continued to make their Round of 32 debuts before action shifted to the men’s Round of 64 where top seeds awaited their respective debuts before Round of 32 draws ensued. With the two-to-four foot wind swell pulsing throughout the day, competitors elevated the scale to set up all-important Quarterfinal bouts.
Caleb Crozier Cranks the Scale Toward Near-Perfection, Backs it Up in Round of 32
Amid the top seeds making their brilliant debuts, Caleb Crozier (USA) played an early spoiler in comeback fashion against former event victor Taro Watanbe (USA), also advancing, while posting a near-perfect 9.50 (out of a possible 10). Crozier’s combination of a turn to a big air-reverse on his backhand pushed the scale after accruing a 6.60 on a single, backhand air earlier in the heat for a 16.10 (out of a possible 20) heat total. The Southern Californian kept his composure in a stout Round of 32 affair, advancing behind an in-form Carl Burger (USA), and Crozier moved into the Quarterfinals after a four-year stint away from competition.
“I didn’t think it was 9.50 but I was stoked on it, probably shouldn’t have claimed it again (laughs),” said Crozier. “It’s about head-high on the sets so I’m stoked. I showed up first heat and it was firing and I knew it was just going to be a surfing battle which is my favorite because you’re just doing your surfing. It’s been weird not doing competitions for four years and realizing how frantic I was back then versus now. I was comboed so just to be able to fight back, I’m just stoked.”
Jake Davis Finds His Form, Battles Toward the Quarterfinals
After a hard-fought Round of 64 bout, Jake Davis (USA) regained his form in decimating form to blast an excellent 8.50 over fellow San Clemente standout Kei Kobayashi (USA), former event victor Taro Watanabe (USA), and Round of 64 threat Titus Santucci (USA). Davis was able to find his scoring waves under priority, including his 8.50, and posted a 14.45 heat total with Kobayashi advancing behind him into the Quarterfinals.
“I woke up a little bit under the weather and just feeling weird, but I found a Starbucks and had a litte breakfast with my wife, laid down and I just felt totally back to normal,” said Davis. “I got all my scores under priority and felt that the guys were a little off the bank and just went back to that zone every time. That 8.50 was super clean and just had a lot of speed, tagged it, and just buttoned it up on the end.”
“I’m pretty much a full-time coach, that’s my job and definitely want to be a pro surfer but you have to pay the bills,” said Davis. “I know I can give back to the youth and I coached Jett Schilling to his World Junior title and an equal ninth at the US Open, and it’s just fun to be with friends and see them succeed.”
A marathon day witnessed brilliant performances from the likes of Kai Kushner (USA), who posted the day’s best heat total of a 16.15, William Hedleston’s (USA) and Ryland Rubens’ (USA) excellent 8.75, and more throughout the Round of 64 with respective heat wins before moving into the Round of 32.
More decimating performances from Carl Burger (USA), Lucas Owston (USA), Reed Platenius (CAN), Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN), Matton Bain(USA), Cannon Carr (USA), and Greyson Grant (USA) earned them crucial Round of 32 wins to storm their way into the Quarterfinals and a potential Finals Day.
Lanea Mons Lights Up Outer Banks Debut for Quarterfinal Appearance
Lanea Mons (USA) set a new standard for the women with the rise in swell and unleashed her signature forehand attack to post the first excellent score of the day, an 8.00, in the Round of 32, Heat 8. Mons’ comfort in East Coast waters translated to a confident showing with a Round of 32 best, 15.00 heat total. Now, Mons looks to keep her pace toward back-to-back Finals at the WRV Outer Banks Pro.
“I’m super happy and the Outer Banks has a special place in my heart, I’ve been coming here since I was a kid,” said Mons. “I’m just really happy I could get the ball rolling and keep it moving. It’s like home to me getting to bring my family and my dog, I love the East Coast contests. There were some really sick lefts so I’m super stoked with that heat.”
Vela Mattive Brings Her Progression, Pushes through Debut
Vela Mattive (USA) put on a display of forehand and backhand power to accrue a 13.50 heat total, including a 7.50 single-scoring wave, and moved straight into the Quarterfinals. Mattive narrowly missed out on the Final in Virginia Beach, but brought her bravado to the Outer Banks as she looks to close out the East Coast leg with a big result.
“That was such a fun heat, I’m super stoked to win it and stoked for tomorrow” said Mattive. “It’s so good starting off the heat strong and building off those scores felt good. It’s super important to finish strong and just having a good attitude no matter what the waves are and just making the most of it.”
Also joining the Quarterfinal draw, Kylie Pulcini (USA) earned a clutch Round of 32 victory to start the day.
Event organizers will reconvene at 8:30 a.m. EDT for a possible 9:00 a.m. EDT.
WRV Outer Banks Pro Women’s Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) vs. Taylor Stacy (USA) vs. Eden Walla (USA) vs. Ayla Stutzman (USA)
HEAT 2: Zoey Kaina (USA) vs. Faviola Alcala (PUR) vs. Zoe Chait (USA) vs. Alana Lopez (USA)
HEAT 3: Avery McDonald (USA) vs. Mia Moore (USA) vs. Kylie Pulcini (USA) vs. Ellie Barimo (USA)
HEAT 4: Vela Mattive (USA) vs. Kaydn Persidok (USA) vs. Lanea Mons (USA) vs. Daya McCart (USA)
WRV Outer Banks Pro Men’s Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Jake Davis (USA) vs. Tyler Gunter (USA) vs. Carl Burger (USA) vs. Luke Guinaldo (USA)
HEAT 2: Lucas Owston (USA) vs. Kei Kobayashi (USA) vs. Reed Platenius (CAN) vs. Caleb Crozier (USA)
HEAT 3: Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN) vs. Kai Barton (USA) vs. Matton Bain (USA) vs. Taj Lindblad (USA)
HEAT 4: Cannon Carr (USA) vs. Kai Kushner (USA) vs. Greyson Grant (SWE) vs. Owen Moss (USA)
WRV Outer Banks Pro Women’s Round of 32 (Heats 6 – 8) Results:
HEAT 6: Kylie Pulcini (USA) 10.80 DEF. Daya McCart (USA) 9.40, Carlie Eastwood (USA) 6.95, Mia Calderon (PUR) 6.35
HEAT 7: Vela Mattive (USA) 14.65 DEF. Mia Moore (USA) 12.00, Zoe Panettiere (USA) 10.65, Míamar Soto (PUR) 10.65
HEAT 8: Lanea Mons (USA) 15.00 DEF. Ellie Barimo (USA) 7.00, Skylar Steinmetz (USA) 6.65, Ava Wagester (USA) 6.40
WRV Outer Banks Pro Men’s Round of 32 Results:
HEAT 1: Jake Davis (USA) 14.45 DEF. Kei Kobayashi (USA) 13.50, Taro Watanabe (USA) 13.00, Titus Kaimana Santucci (USA) 10.55
HEAT 2: Carl Burger (USA) 13.65 DEF. Caleb Crozier (USA) 13.45, Anthony Fillingim (CRC) 11.25, Parker Cohn (USA) 11.10
HEAT 3: Lucas Owston (USA) 13.05 DEF. Tyler Gunter (USA) 11.35, Makai Castle (USA) 9.85, Manuel Selman (CHL) 9.65
HEAT 4: Reed Platenius (CAN) 12.25 DEF. Luke Guinaldo (USA) 11.55, Teddy Wittemann (USA) 11.25, Giorgio Gomez (COL) 9.10
HEAT 5: Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN) 14.35 DEF. Kai Kushner (USA) 12.25, Eeli Timperi (FIN) 10.15, Chase Niemann (USA) 9.05
HEAT 6: Matton Bain (USA) 12.10 DEF. Owen Moss (USA) 12.00, Nadav Attar (ISR) 11.60, Tosh Talbot (CRC) 6.40
HEAT 7: Cannon Carr (USA) 15.25 DEF. Kai Barton (USA) 10.55, William Hedleston (USA) 9.85, Dylan Hord (USA) 6.75
HEAT 8: Greyson Grant (SWE) 14.50 DEF. Taj Lindblad (USA) 13.40, Ryland Rubens (USA) 6.60, Ryan Huckabee (USA) 6.10
WRV Outer Banks Pro Men’s Round of 64 Results:
HEAT 1: Titus Kaimana Santucci (USA) 13.60 DEF. Carl Burger (USA) 12.05, Blayr Barton (USA) 11.10, Benji Lange (USA) 6.80
HEAT 2: Kei Kobayashi (USA) 14.65 DEF. Anthony Fillingim (CRC) 12.90, Tex Mitchell (USA) 11.50, Lukas McMahon (FIN) 4.40
HEAT 3: Parker Cohn (USA) 13.00 DEF. Jake Davis (USA) 11.65, Teo Grani (PAN) 11.40, Kai Gale Grani (PAN) 10.55
HEAT 4: Caleb Crozier (USA) 16.10 DEF. Taro Watanabe (USA) 13.70, Oscar Urbina (CRC) 11.95, Dwight Pastrana (PUR) 11.35
HEAT 5: Lucas Owston (USA) 13.25 DEF. Giorgio Gomez (COL) 12.35, Ryder Smith (USA) 11.05, Tomas King (CRC) 10.95
HEAT 6: Tyler Gunter (USA) 14.00 DEF. Reed Platenius (CAN) 11.10, Miles McCall (USA) 9.05, Jake Dodson (USA) 8.40
HEAT 7: Luke Guinaldo (USA) 15.25 DEF. Manuel Selman (CHL) 12.20, Cose Stoyanoff (USA) 11.95, Gavin Bren (USA) 8.75
HEAT 8: Teddy Wittemann (USA) 13.30 DEF. Makai Castle (USA) 12.15, Sebastian Llompart (PRI) 11.40, Michael Dunphy (USA) 11.20
HEAT 9: Chase Niemann (USA) 12.50 DEF. Owen Moss (USA) 11.55, Laird Lavik (USA) 10.25, Thomas Meekins (USA) 7.85
HEAT 10: Kai Kushner (USA) 16.15 DEF. Matton Bain (USA) 13.05, Will Deane (USA) 11.15, Mikel Kauffmann (PRI) 7.55
HEAT 11: Tosh Talbot (CRC) 13.40 DEF. Eeli Timperi (FIN) 12.50, Sam Reidy (CRC) 12.20, Sebastian Mendes (USA) 11.20
HEAT 12: Nadav Attar (ISR) 15.50 DEF. Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN) 13.00, Gabriel Griffin (USA) 9.05, Kepa Mendia (USA) 8.65
HEAT 13: William Hedleston (USA) 14.25 DEF. Taj Lindblad (USA) 13.85, Rex Hennings (USA) 9.45, Mason O’Toole (USA) 9.15
HEAT 14: Cannon Carr (USA) 12.90 DEF. Greyson Grant (SWE) 11.55, Logan Radd (USA) 11.20, Remy Armstrong (USA) 9.40
HEAT 15: Ryland Rubens (USA) 15.30 DEF. Dylan Hord (USA) 12.35, Nicolás Epps (PRI) 9.20, Luke Godinez (USA) 7.30
HEAT 16: Ryan Huckabee (USA) 12.00 DEF. Kai Barton (USA) 9.95, Declan Fitzgerald (USA) 9.50, Loyal Kenworthy (USA) 5.95
Watch Live
The WRV Outer Banks Pro presented by Pacifico will run August 28 through September 1. Once called ON, the event will be streamed live at WorldSurfLeague.com, WSL YouTube channel, and the free WSL App.