PISMO BEACH, Calif., USA (Sunday, January 26, 2025) - Today, Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN), Jett Schilling (USA), Zoey Kaina (USA), and Nadav Attar (ISR) claimed wins at th World Surf League (WSL) SLO CAL Open at Pismo Beach, a men's and women's Qualifying Series (QS) 3000 and Pro Junior, in two-to-four foot, clean conditions to close out the marathon week. Momentous wins for Dempfle-Olin and Schilling move them closer to Challenger Series qualification with 3,000 major points to their 2024/2025 season. Plus, maiden WSL wins for Kaina and Attar put them out front toward WSL World Junior Championships qualification to start the 2025 season.
Sanoa Dempfle-Olin Claims First Major WSL Win in SLO CAL
One of Canada's solidified contenders, Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) added another major accolade to her name with a maiden QS 3000 victory. The 2024 Olympian, Dempfle-Olin, earned her first QS 3000 Final earlier this year and now jumps to No. 2 on the rankings following her victory.
The women's QS Final featured two of North America's top-tier rising talents between Dempfle-Olin and Reid Van Wagoner (USA) - both represented the region in the 2024 WSL World Junior Championships. Dempfle-Olin maintained an early two-wave lead over Van Wagoner before posting a 5.87 (out of a possible 10) to open up the heat. But, Van Wagoner's backhand attack accrued a heat-best 6.67 to take the lead and push Dempfle-Olin into needing a 6.31. The Canadian, Dempfle-Olin, maintained her composure and struck at her opportunity to post a 6.43 and turn the heat in the final minutes. With no more waves of consequence providing Van Wagoner the chance to answer, Dempfle-Olin emerged victorious.
"This is super special being my first QS 3000 win and first win of the season as well. The first step toward making your goal of winning is to make the Final and points-wise it was super happy to get to the Final," Dempfle-Olin said. "It feels good to get this win as the last big event before Barbados. Going into the end of the rankings high on the rankings is amazing and just getting the win at any event is great."
Dempfle-Olin overtook fellow Challenger Series qualification threat Eden Walla (USA) in their Semifinal clash with the highest event heat total, a 17.00 (out of a possible 20).
Jett Schilling finds Massive Breakthrough toward Challenger Series Qualification
An already proven Championship Tour (CT) qualification threat, Jett Schilling (USA) showed his poise throughout a massive Finals Day to win big in Pismo Beach. Schilling entered this event ranked No. 7 on the rankings after his win at the Surf Open Cerritos and now sits as North America No. 1.
Schilling's resounding form entered the Final against breakthrough talent Lucas Cassity (MEX) - entering his first QS Final - undefeated in his run and a shaky start to the heat provided Cassity an opportunity. Cassity laced a 7.00 in his opening attempt to put pressure on Schilling before the 2023 WSL World Junior Champion, Schilling, responded in dynamic form to post an excellent 8.00. But, Cassity wasn't going down without a fight, posting a solid 6.50 to push ahead before Schilling's decimating backhand attack led to a 7.73 and pushed far ahead in the battle. A lull in the action didn't provide Cassity a chance to strike back and the horn sounded to Schilling's massive win.
"SLO CAL is amazing and such a beautiful place with green lands everywhere, beautiful people, beautiful food and very grateful to win here in Pismo," Schilling said. "To get a win here is huge with all the points on the board. It was a big event for me and everyone else here to get points toward Challenger Series so I'm stoked. It's a huge confidence boost and I'm feeling amazing."
Schilling had to overcome a powerful Kyan Yang (USA) in the Quarterfinals and 2025 Challenger Series qualification hopeful Lucas Owston (USA) in a Semifinal clash before earning the 2025 event title.
Zoey Kaina makes her Statement, Wins Maiden Pro Junior Event
A perennial QS and Pro Junior threat, Zoey Kaina (USA), found her first claim to a WSL win in SLO CAL after a crazy finish to the Pro Junior proceedings.
Kaina faced off with Lanea Mons (USA), Bailey Turner (USA), and QS Semifinalist Eden Walla (USA) in a stacked Final. Kaina got started early on a minimal effort before Lanea Mons (USA) posted the first score of meaning with a 5.77. But, Kaina found a gem and unleashed her backhand attack to accrue an excellent 8.83 and push the scale. However, Walla and Turner were right behind Kaina with an exchange and Walla's single-maneuver hammer earned an 8.00. Walla found a 7.43 backup to put her opponents needing a major score to catch her.
"I'm super happy to take the win. The waves were super fun and I just wanted to get two good scores," Kaina said. "I'm just happy I made the Final and took a win today. I just stay disciplined, work hard every day and have fun. Qualifying for the World Junior Championships would be sick and it's definitely the goal this year."
But, with Kaina's 5.43 backup, Turner stood up before the horn sounded and rendered Walla's priority redundant as Walla stood up in front of her - meaning Walla was penalized with a priority interference and lost her full backup score to drop her to fourth.
Nadav Attar notches First-Career WSL Win in Dominant Form
An incredible day for Israel's representative, Nadav Attar (ISR), marked his first WSL win in dominant form as he went from start to finish without losing a heat - starting in the Round of 48. Attar, who resides in Costa Rica, had a massive support system behind him throughout the week and climbed his way to the top, starting the 2025 season at No. 1.
"I just have so much joy right now, it's my first WSL win and I'm so grateful for everyone supporting me," Attar said. "This was probably one of the best Pismo Beach lineups for a Pro Junior. Everyone was ripping so hard. This just means so much to me and to have my whole support crew with me the whole way, my sponsors supporting me, my family - I love you all and I just want to keep it going."
The Final featured 2024 Finalist Luke Wyler (USA) among in-form competitors Will Deane (USA) and Rex Hennings (USA). But, it was the Attar show once again as he showed more of his poise under pressure to post an opening 7.17 and put pressure on right away. A 6.80 by Deane kept him in the picture as Attar's 8.33 catapulted him to a massive lead - putting his opponents aside from Deane in a combination situation. Then, Attar polished a forehand gem once more to post a 7.67 and surge his way to a maiden WSL Pro Junior victory.
North America's contenders return to action at the Ron Jon Quiksilver Pro QS 1000 and Pro Junior in Cocoa Beach, Florida, beginning March 12 - 16.