“It feels amazing to go three-for-three and that’s the second time I’ve won going left at a righthand pointbreak (laughs),” Pinkerton said. “I hope this is the year I can take the North America title. It’s a good start and it’s better than I expected, now I just want to keep it going for a shot at Worlds.”

The 16-year-old got started right after horn sounded and found a rare Zippers left to unleash her backhand attack, earning a 7.83 (out of a possible 10). Despite not finding a decent backup, the first exchange would prove enough as Gabriela Bryan’s (HAW) last effort fell just short of the 7.37 requirement. This marks Pinkerton’s second-straight win of 2018, and third consecutive going back to last year’s Live Like Zander Junior Pro, and the only North America surfer to garner a keeper result.

“All of those girls deserved to win, they were ripping so hard and pushed me to my limits so it felt great to come out on top in that Final,” Pinkerton added. “It was super important to get that start and I would’ve been a lot more nervous going through the rest of that heat without it. I was so relieved when they announced that score and that helped keep me calm despite not being able to get a solid backup.”

Hawaii nearly took the event title back to the islands with the help of Bryan’s great performance. The Kauai, Hawaii, surfer is on a hot-streak of her own with two Qualifying Series (QS) wins this year, and a Pro Junior win in Hawaii. Bryan found a left that gave her the opportunity of taking a last-second win, but her 6.17 wasn’t enough as she now prepares for the Los Cabos Open of Surf QS 6,000.

“It’s pretty cool to make another Final this year, but it was the biggest Zippers I’ve ever surfed and it was super challenging,” Bryan said. “Being able to surf out there with three other girls is a great warm-up for the QS — especially that Final with some of those girls. It’s my first winning a few events this year and making Finals like this just help build my confidence to know I can do this.”

2016/2017 World Junior Champion Macy Callaghan (AUS) earned a second-straight Finals appearance at Zippers, finishing in third-place, and Hawaii surfer Luana Silva (HAW),14, capped off her incredible run with a fourth-place finish.

“It wasn’t the result I wanted, but I had fun out there and it was nice to get an advantage of already surfing a few heats before the QS starts,” Callaghan said. “I actually felt really old in that heat (laughs). These girls are so young and just ripping, especially Lulu [Luana Silva] who I’ve known since she was tiny. It’s crazy having a heat with her, Gabby [Gabriel Bryan], and Kirra [Pinkerton] stayed with me a lot in Australia so it was a lot of fun.”

“I’m super stoked with that Final after gaining some confidence from my Quarterfinal yesterday when I earned an 8.17,” Silva said. “It was really tricky out there so it was important to stay patient and get the good ones that came off the point. But, I couldn’t find those waves in the Final. I’m not doing the QS, but this was a great experience surfing against these girls who push me.”

Following the women’s Pro Junior Final, opening day for the Los Cabos Open of Surf Women’s QS 6,000 got underway as Round 1 Heats 1 – 7 were finished before Tropical Storm Bud began to show its presence and called competition off.

Tofino, Canada, competitor Hanna Scott (CAN) is finding her way into the competitive groove at age 27 and earned a spot in Round 2 after today’s debut. Conditions proved difficult for all competitors as the storm brought an increased high tide and limited major maneuvers. But, Scott performed well and is enjoying her time away from the frigid waters of home.

“I’ve been having some nightmare sessions out there the past few days just getting pounded so that wasn’t too bad,” Scott said. “It’s really nice to just get out the back and see some cleaner waves, but it was a lot of paddling. I’m really excited compete here, it’s my first time in this event, even though I’ve been to this area before, and I love it here. Any time I don’t have to surf in a wetsuit is a major win so I’m really looking forward to this one.”

Competition will be off Thursday due to Tropical Storm Bud affecting the area and event organizers will reconvene Friday to determine a start for Round 1 Heat 8.

For more information, please visit www.worldsurfleague.com or download the WSL App.

Los Cabos Open of Surf Women’s Pro Junior Semifinal Results:
1 – Kirra Pinkerton (USA) 10.70   1,000 points
2 – Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 9.50
3 – Macy Callaghan (AUS) 6.64
4 – Luana Silva (HAW) 2.00

Los Cabos Open of Surf Women’s Pro Junior Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Kirra Pinkerton (USA) 11.37, Macy Callaghan (AUS) 9.47, Zoe McDougall (HAW) 8.73, Zahli Kelly (AUS) 6.33
SF 2: Luana Silva (HAW) 9.07, Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 8.76, Savanna Stone (HAW) 5.47, Kelta O’Rourke (HAW) 2.24

Los Cabos Open of Surf Women’s QS 6,000 Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Rubiana Brownell (CRI) 7.67, Tiare Thompson (USA) 5.33, Coral Schuster (USA) 1.60, Havanna Cabrero (PRI) 1.07
Heat 2: Vittoria Farmer (AUS) 7.44, Sol Aguirre (PER) 7.20, Shelby Detmers (USA) 6.76, Ella McCaffray (USA) 5.80
Heat 3: Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW) 8.27, Audrey Presti (USA) 3.10, Coral Wiggins (CRI) 1.90, Elle Sampiere (USA) 1.43
Heat 4: Izzi Gomez (USA) 6.57, Taina Hinckel (BRA) 4.70, Malia Ward (USA) 3.97, Daniela Ramos (MEX) 0.87
Heat 5: Savanna Stone (HAW) 7.83, Molly Kirk (USA) 3.80, Alessia Moro (PER) 2.07, Serena Nava (USA) 0.83
Heat 6: Hanna Scott (CAN) 10.00, Kloee Openshaw (USA) 3.30, Ana Laura Gonazalez (MEX) 2.80, Mariana Assis (PRT) 1.40
Heat 7: Nicole Fulford (USA) 4.60, Olivia Pessanha (USA) 4.37, Cassidy McClain (USA) 3.70, Maile Davis (USA) 1.93

Upcoming Los Cabos Open of Surf Women’s QS 6,000 Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 8: Lorena Fica (CHL), Juliette Lacome (FRA), Alexa Muss (USA), Maya Larripa (MEX)
Heat 9: Rachel Presti (USA), Kayla Durden (USA), Jessica Grimwood (AUS), Lindsey Jacobellis (USA)
Heat 10: Julia Camargo (BRA), Kelta O’Rourke (HAW), Chiasa Maruyama (USA), Brooke Young (USA)
Heat 11: Emily Gussoni (ITL), Brooke Daigneault (USA), Abigail Dixon (USA), Valentina Resano (NIC)
Heat 12: Sara Wakita (JPN), Kayla Coscino (USA), Aloha Lopez (MEX), Mathea Demple-Olin (CAN)

The WSL has been championing the world’s best surfing since 1976, annually running in excess of 180 global events across the Men’s and Women’s Championship Tours, the Big Wave Tour, Qualifying Series, Junior and Longboard Championships, as well as the WSL Big Wave Awards. The League possesses a deep appreciation for the sport’s rich heritage while promoting progression, innovation and performance at the highest levels, and in doing so crowns the undisputed world champions in Men’s, Women’s across all divisions within the tour.

Showcasing the world’s best surfing on its digital platform at WorldSurfLeague.com as well as the free WSL app, the WSL has a passionate global fan base with millions tuning in to see world-class athletes like Tyler Wright, John John Florence, Paige Alms, Kai Lenny, Taylor Jensen, Honolua Blomfield, Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore, Kelly Slater, Carissa Moore, Gabriel Medina, Courtney Conlogue and more battle on the most unpredictable and dynamic field of play of any sport in the world.

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