SOUP BOWL, Bathsheba, Barbados (Sunday, March 30, 2025) - Today, Talia Swindal (USA), Carlos Munoz (CRC), and Will Deane (USA) emerged victorious at the BTMI Barbados Surf Pro, a men's and women's Qualifying Series (QS) 5,000, and Live Like Zander Junior Pro Presented by Diamonds International. Pumping, four-to-six foot conditions tested competitors' endurance and power. A surge in her first WSL event back from injury, Swindal swept both the QS and Junior competitions in stunning form alongside Muñoz's magnificent finish to the Barbados Surf Pro. Plus, Deane earned his first-ever WSL win and claimed the North America Pro Junior Regional victory.
Talia Swindal Sweeps Major Victories at Soup Bowl
Talia Swindal's (USA) return to the WSL jersey following her injury put the contenders on notice with blistering performances in both the Barbados Surf Pro and Live Like Zander Junior Pro. Swindal blitzed through competition with excellent numbers throughout her campaign toward back-to-back Barbados Surf Pro Finals - starting with the day with a Semifinal win over Ella McCaffray (USA). A major setback at Morro Bay took the Malibu, Calif., competitor out of competitions and returned in dominating form. This marks Swindal's, 18, second major QS victory and first Pro Junior win of her young career.
"I'm just so grateful to be here and this means the world to me. Thank you so much to the Bathsheba community for sharing your waves and making this place so special," Swindal said. "What an insane day. Probably the best day of my life. I just kept surfing. Four heats is a lot but I just kept surfing. Big shout out to the Bathsheba boys for taking care of my backup board and to my mom, it's her birthday. This is just insane."
The women's QS Final featured Swindal and event standout Reid Van Wagoner (USA) with Van Wagoner having a chance to claim the 2024/2025 North America QS Regional title. A slow start gave way to Swindal unleashing her forehand attack to post an 11.17 (out of a possible 20) heat total heading into the final minutes. Van Wagoner found an opportunity to strike back but the wave didn't provide her a chance to showcase her decimating backhand and fell short of the requirement. Swindal held firm until the final moments, keeping Van Wagoner off the last wave to seal her momentous return to the QS.
This also marks the first a competitor has won both the QS and Junior at Soup Bowl and Swindal etched her name into Barbados surfing history.
A stout women's Final featured Van Wagoner, Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN), and Daya McCart (USA) in pulsing conditions. Van Wagoner struck first with a 5.17 but Dempfle-Olin's 6.83 set the scale. Then, Swindal responded with a deafening 8.67 to send herself to the first spot where she didn't relinquish it to start her Finals Day sweep.
"If you would'dve told me this would happen four months ago I'd be baffled," Swindal said. "Now I just want to focus on my next heat. We have Jack's Surfboards Pro next week but I want to stay present in the moment. I love it here in Barbados and I just want to thank my friends and family for supporting me through everything."
Carlos Munoz Takes Down Memorable Win in Excellent Form
Former CT competitor Carlos Munoz (CRC) left nothing to chance this week at Soup Bowl as he surged back to the Challenger Series courtesy of a Quarterfinal victory on Day 6. But, his Finals Day form was undeniable with excellent scores in both his Semifinal bout with Lucas Cassity (MEX) and an insatiable Final showing against Sebastian Williams (MEX). This marks Munoz's second QS victory as he looks to rejoin the CT in 2026.
"I can't believe it. My whole life I've been dreaming to win a contest of this caliber and everything just came together," Munoz said. "I've been feeling so good here. The people have been treating me amazing and I felt like I was surfing for Barbados to. My friends from Costa Rica supporting me is amazing and I want to say thank you to Jah, to God, and my family I love you guys so much. I'm just so stoked, pura vida."
The Costa Rican QS veteran, Munoz, showed his world-class form in a wave-for-wave Final with event standout Williams. Munoz's electric 8.67 set the tone with his signature power on the rail with Williams looking to bring his progression and flair. A critical exchange at the halfway mark notched another excellent score, an 8.10, for Munoz as Williams' 8.37 catapulted him back into the heat. But, the ocean didn't cooperate with Williams heading into the final minutes as his next opportunities didn't provide the score needed and Munoz emerged victorious.
Will Deane Breaks Through with Momentous Live Like Zander Junior Pro Win
North Carolina's Will Deane (USA) found his major breakthrough on the WSL level with a maiden win at Soup Bowl. Deane's form was unstoppable, winning each of his heats beginning with the Round of 32 all the way to the top of the podium. The 17-year-old earned a third-place finish in Pismo Beach which helped set him up to take the No. 1 spot on the North America rankings and qualify for the World Junior Championships.
"I'm so happy right now. It just feels insane and I'm in disbelief," Deane said. " Now I just want to keep on my program surfing good boards and surfing good waves. Hopefully more will come. Now it's straight into next week at the Jack's Surfboards Pro and I'm ready to go in there. I want to thank the Venezia family, R.I.P. Zander, we all miss him and just thank you to my family and friends who support me."
A Final featuring some of the region's top-tier talents unfolded with Deane facing Hayden Rodgers (USA), Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN), and Kai Kushner (USA). An impressive start from Deane earned a 7.00 to set the standard before Hasburgh and Rodgers both found good-range scores. But, Deane was on another level and posted an excellent 8.17 to put the field needing big scores. Rodgers' last-minute hail-mary air earned him a 7.33 but couldn't overcome Hasburgh and Kushner's brilliant showings as they finished second and third, respectively.
North America Regional Victors Emerge, Complete Challenger Series and World Junior Championships Qualifiers Confirmed
With the conclusion of the 2024/2025 North America QS and 2025 Pro Junior season, the regional victors are in. Lucca Mesinas (PER) sealed his second QS Regional win alongside Kirra Pinkerton (USA) earning her maiden North America title. Pinkerton and Mesinas started the year off with wins at the Jack's Surfboards Pro before Pinkerton went on to win at the U.S. Air Force Super Girl Surf Pro.
Pinkerton now also prepares for a wildcard opportunity at the upcoming Surf City El Salvador Pro.
"It's exactly where I want to be," Pinkerton said. "I know it doesn't always matter how you get there, but going to the Challenger Series already checked one thing off the list and is a confidence booster, and was so worth the hard work. This year took a lot of acceptance and accountability - and understanding these groms are getting way too good (laughs)."
For Zoey Kaina (USA) and Will Deane (USA), this marks their first-ever WSL Regional victories among a high-caliber class of emerging talents. Kaina's maiden WSL win came at the SLO CAL Open at Pismo Beach Pro Junior before falling just short of the Final in Barbados. Plus, Van Wagoner and Nadav Attar (ISR) join the 2025 World Junior Championships by finishing No. 2 on the rankings.
The 2025/2026 North America QS season begins at the Vans Jack's Surfboards Pro presented by 805 starting April 3 through 6, 2025.