Sunset Beach is here and the stoke is high. Photo: Screenshot
With the first stop of the Championship Tour done and dusted, we’re turning our attention a few miles up the beach. The waiting period for the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach has begun. Deemed one of the most challenging stops on tour, Sunset Beach is anyone’s game.
Ramzi Boukhiam, Jadson Andre, Johanne Defay, and Sophie McCulloch are all still out due to injury. In their place, the WSL has announced four injury replacements as well as two men’s and one women’s wildcard surfers.
For the men, Carlos Munoz, the season-long injury replacement will take Boukhiam’s spot. As the highest ranked Hawaiian surfers on the regional Qualifying Series, Eli Hanneman will replace Andre at Sunset. As the second highest ranked surfer on the Challenger Series, Keanu Asing has been awarded one of the men’s wildcards alongside Kai Lenny.
On the women’s side, as the season long injury replacement Teresa Bonvalot will be taking Defay’s spot. Luana Silva, the second highest ranked Hawaiian surfer on the Challenger Series will be replacing McCulloch. Finally, as the highest ranked Hawaiian surfer on the Challenger Series, Zoe McDougall has been awarded the women’s wildcard.
Last year, Brissa Hennessy claimed the win for the women, marking her first ever CT win. For the men, it was wildcard Barron Mamiya who was chaired up the beach and crowned the champ. Who will take the coveted win this year?
The waiting period for the 2023 Hurley Pro Sunset Beach kicks off on Sunday, February 12. Watch it live on Worldsurfleague.com.
