Alyssa Spencer returns to Finals Day at Super Girl Surf Pro

An incredible performance in challenging afternoon conditions from defending champ Alyssa Spencer (Encinitas) raised the standard heading into Finals Day action. Spencer’s backhand attack earned her the highest-scoring set of the day and sent her soaring into tomorrow’s Round of 16.

The Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro presented by CELSIUS will be streamed live at https://supergirlsurfpro.com/watch-live/ .

“I was just trying to find my rhythm and I managed to find a couple of good waves,” noted Spencer (above). “It’s amazing to reflect how far I’ve come and this event sparked the dream for me. Just getting to meet all my idols and when I was younger I dreamed of being where they are one day and now I am. I’m grateful for Super Girl for that.”

The impressive WSL debut from Huntington’s Ruby Stringfellow continued into Day Two, with the 13-year-old advancing to the Round of 16 as the youngest competitor, and upsetting Hawaii/Tahiiti Nui contenders Moana Jones Wong and Zoe McDougall.

Also adding their name to the Finals Day roster with Round of 32 heat wins were SoCal’s younger generation. Big performances from Vela Mattive, Bailey Turner, Eden Walla provided scattered upsets to advance to the Round of 16 bouts, joining current North America No. 1 Sanoa Demplfe-Olin (CAN), Kiara Goold (PYF) in tomorrow’s head-to-head matchups.

A tough day of competition witnessed the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui contenders face elimination throughout the Round of 32 after a successful showing in the Round of 64. ButVaihitimahana Inso (HAW) took her Round of 64 confidence after posting an excellent 8.33 and made her way into Finals Day once again in her young career. The 16-year-old bested fellow regional contenders Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW), Kohai Fierro (PYF), and Southern California’s Kirra Pinkerton (USA) for her shot at earning a Super Girl cape.

“I feel good,” said Inso. “I love California and especially this event and the environment around it is just the best. If I can keep making a couple more heats that’ll be amazing but just having a good fresh start in that first heat felt good to let loose.”

The full results are available here.

Sunday’s Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro Round of 16 matchups:
HEAT 1: Bailey Turner (USA) vs. Talia Swindal (USA)
HEAT 2: Eden Walla (USA) vs. Sara Freyre (USA)
HEAT 3: Leilani McGonagle (CRC) vs. Ruby Stringfellow (USA)
HEAT 4: Alyssa Spencer (USA) vs. Mathea Dempfle-Olin (CAN)
HEAT 5: Vela Mattive (USA) vs. Maddie Storrer (USA)
HEAT 6: Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) vs. Eweleiula Wong (HAW)
HEAT 7: Kiara Goold (PYF) vs. Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW)
HEAT 8: Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) vs. Lilie Kulber (USA)

LONGBOARD

Last year’s Longboard champion, San Diego’s Summer Romero, cruised through Saturday’s competition, hoping to claim the cape on Final Days once again. Romero leads the Sweet 16 longboards lineup, which starts at 8 a.m. Sunday.

As the only athlete to compete in both the longboard and shortboard competitions, Carlsbad’s Reid Van Wagoner easily advanced to the Round of 16 on the north side of the Oceanside Pier. Van Wagoner’s longboard journey continues Sunday, but she was eliminated from the shortboard comp in Round 32, after winning her Round of 64 heat.