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Incoming Swell Set to Kick Off HTA Sunset Pro and Qualifying Series North Shore Season

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5 days ago

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The World Surf League (WSL) Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series (QS) opens its iconic North Shore run beginning with the HTA Sunset Pro, a men’s and women’s QS 2,000-level event, October 26 through November 3. One of the most challenging venues on Oʻahu’s famed “Seven Mile Miracle,” Sunset Beach tests competitors’ abilities to navigate open ocean energy and match its power. And, with El Niño in full effect, the forecast is looking strong on opening day, Monday, October 26, as event organizers will convene at 7:00 a.m. HST to determine a possible start time to competition.

Defending Event Champ Kiara Goold (PYF) Set to Defend Iconic Win

One of Tahiti’s rising phenoms, Kiara Goold (PYF), earned an incredible win at Sunset Beach last season in pumping conditions. The Challenger Series contender claimed her win at just age 15 and is currently ranked No. 10 on the QS as she focuses on the world’s elite stage toward Championship Tour (CT) qualification this season. Now, Goold is back to reclaim her maiden QS title with a strong North Shore season of swell inbound.

“I just really wanted to make the Finals last year, and then the win is really just a cherry on top. I’m just so happy I got both,” said Goold. “That heat was so stacked. And I was pretty neutral going into it, and just had to reset and focus. I got a barrel, and that was my first-ever barrel there, and I was so happy to get a good score on that wave. The Challenger Series is definitely different. It’s a variety of everything, and we’re so used to perfect waves in the region. But, it’s been an awesome journey. And I’m just excited for these events coming up. The goal is to win it all, and I’m tenth on the rankings right now, with my goal being the Top 3. I think I can do it.”

Goold is set to take on the likes of reigning, three-time QS Regional victor and 2025 runner-up, Moana Jones Wong (HAW), current No. 1 and fellow Tahitian, Aelan Vaast (PYF), former event victor Eweleiula Wong (HAW), Sunset Beach’s own Chesney Guinotte (HAW), regional standout Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW), and more.

Joshua Moniz Returns For Unfinished Business at Sunset Beach

One of the region’s proven threats each year, Joshua Moniz (HAW), returns to Sunset Beach after his runner-up finish in 2025 helped continue his surge toward Challenger Series qualification. A victor at Haleʻiwa and Pipeline, Moniz nearly secured the third North Shore gem before Finn McGill (HAW) ultimately claimed the win. Moniz joined the Challenger Series elite for the 2026/2027 season after a brilliant run through the region, and now has his eyes set on another Final at Sunset Beach.

“There’s definitely a lot of hype coming into this North Shore season. I feel like most of us don’t really know what’s coming, and it could be big and perfect, or it could be big and stormy. It’s going to be a real unpredictable winter,” said Moniz. “But, to have all three events back at Sunset, Haleʻiwa, and Pipe is going to be really exciting.”

Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui’s world-class field awaits, including current Championship Tour (CT) competitor and previous CT event victor Barron Mamiya (HAW), former CTer Ezekiel Lau (HAW), multi-event winner Billy Kemper (HAW), and fellow Big Wave icon, Kai Lenny (HAW), plus current Challenger Series contenders Shion Crawford (HAW), Luke Tema (HAW), Mihimana Braye (HAW), and more.

HTA Scholar Athlete Program Joins Sunset Beach and Haleʻiwa

The inaugural HTA Scholar Athlete Program is a developmental initiative building on the recent addition of surfing as an official statewide high school sport. Two local scholastic surfers, one male and one female, will compete as event wildcards, as the WSL and HTA cover their Membership and Entry Fee costs, to facilitate local surfers to explore higher levels of competition at home in the Hawaiian Islands.

For the HTA Sunset Pro, the two HTA Scholar Athletes are Ace Arizumi (HAW) and Kenzi Nakamura (HAW) to take on the region’s best. Then, the HTA Haleʻiwa Pro Presented by Hurley will include Hayden Flores (HAW) and Addison Murphy (HAW) for the QS and Kala Kukea (HAW) and Puaiohi DeFries (HAW) for the Longboard.

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HTA Sunset Pro Daily Coverage: Day 2 — North Shore Turns ON, Big Performances Set Up Finals Day

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1 day ago

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October 27, 2026

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The iconic Sunset Point stormed to life for a pivotal day of competition at the HTA Sunset Pro, a men’s and women’s World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 2,000-level event, to determine Finals Day draws. Solid eight-to-ten-foot, occasional plus sets, wave faces put the region’s top contenders to the ultimate test and delivered some memorable performances through the women’s Quarterfinals and men’s Round of 64, with defending event victor Kiara Goold, Sunset Beach local Zoie Zietz, Joshua Moniz, Shion Crawford, Mason Ho, and Barron Mamiya leading the charge.

With the arriving storm impacting the North Shore, event organizers have called competition OFF for Wednesday, October 28.

Abundance of Excellence From Former Event Champions

From defending event victor Joshua Moniz, to 2023 Sunset Pro winner Shion Crawford, 2022 event winner and current Championship Tour (CT) competitor, Barron Mamiya, a 2017 Sunset Beach victor, Ezekiel Lau, and 2013 winner, Mason Ho, all posted an excellent number, meaning an 8.00 (out of a possible 10) or higher, in their respective debuts. Mamiya upped the ante with a 9.00 in a stout heat that only yielded the one score before Ho matched him in his Round of 64, Heat 12 battle to post a 15.00 (out of a possible 20) heat total.

“I thought yesterday was fun, but today was a lot more fun. It was just so much better with bigger waves, more consistent in that heat, and just cleaner,” said Ho. “It was maybe about as clean as Sunset gets.”

The 2023 HTA Sunset Pro victor, Shion Crawford, made his return to the QS with a statement-making performance, posting an excellent 8.00 and 15.00 heat total. “I’m just stoked to be back home and surf Sunset with some good waves, so I’m psyched,” said Crawford. “I’m feeling good. My ankle feels great in these bigger waves.”

But, Moniz topped the former event victors with a day’s best 15.25 heat total to jumpstart his back-to-back podium charge. This event would be the final gem in Moniz’s North Shore trifecta after winning both Pipeline and Haleʻiwa, as he continues to set the standard among the region’s premier talents.

Kiara Goold’s Sunset Title Defense Goes to Finals Day, Zoie Zietz Keeps Surging

A breakout year for Tahiti’s phenom, Kiara Goold (PYF), included a maiden QS victory at this event in 2025, and now she’s back in Finals Day. Goold’s forehand style and fearless approach pushed the scale to a 6.75, noting the women’s top single-scoring wave of the day, to take control of her 2026 debut. Now, the 15-year-old is looking for more Sunset glory as decorated QS contender Zoe McDougall (HAW) joins Goold in the advancing position.

“It feels really good to start like that. It’s always so hard to get that first wave and surf it your best,” said Goold. “Now I’ll go into the Semifinals with a different mindset and be more attacking rather than holding back. But I’m stoked to be back in Finals Day and hopefully get some more good waves.”

Fellow Tahitian Miliani Simon also joins Goold in the Semifinals, alongside an unstoppable Zoee Bradshaw, who earned her third-straight heat win in her QS debut, and regional threat Zoie Zietz. Zietz helped eliminate three-time Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor, Moana Jones Wong, alongside Sunset Beach’s own Chesney Guinotte.

Day 1: Rising Swell Pushes Opening Day Performances

When Sunset Beach begins to pulse, things get interesting, and the Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui contingent showed they’re ready for the task on opening day of the HTA Sunset Pro. The Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui North Shore trifecta is officially underway with opening day at the HTA Sunset Pro firing into action. Solid four-to-six foot wave faces, with glimpses of eight-foot plus sets, pulsed into the iconic Sunset Point lineup with women’s Round of 28, Round of 24, and men’s Round of 96 powering through in their entirety.

After getting her opportunity at multiple Challenger Series events in 2026, Zoie Zietz returned to the Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui QS platform in decimating form, unleashing her forehand attack for a 7.50 (out of a possible 10) and 14.90 (out of a possible 20) heat total, marking the best heat total of the women’s opening rounds. Joining Zietz with the performance of the day, Koa Smith delivered his signature backhand attack to post an excellent 8.50 and 15.35 heat total.

At age 13, Zoee Bradshaw made her QS debut in dominant form, leading with the Round of 28’s best single-wave score of a 7.75 and a 12.50 heat total. Plus, dynamic showings from Shayden Pacarro, who accrued a 14.00 heat total, and Mason Ho, who locked in an impressive 7.25, made their statements in pulsing Sunset conditions.

More available on WorldSurfLeague.com.

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