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Surf Girls Hawai'i Season 2 Episode 1
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00:00I'm taking everything.
00:15I love surfing.
00:17It's my life, and it's my favorite thing in the world.
00:21I'm Evelyn Uluwong.
00:22I'm 19 years old.
00:23I'm native Hawaiian and a competitive professional surfer.
00:27Evelyn Uluwong looking loose and radical.
00:30Evelyn Uluwong drills it again.
00:35I learned a lot last year about what it means to be in the world of professional surfing.
00:39Evelyn Uluwong!
00:40She got a pep in her step.
00:42A ton of support.
00:43Ride, ride.
00:45Training.
00:47Aunt Ohana in my corner has gotten me through many competitions.
00:50Evelyn Uluwong!
00:52Bringing me even closer to my dream of becoming a world champion.
00:56I think you're going to have the coolest trajectory to watch.
00:59I'm stoked for you.
01:02Bye, you're welcome.
01:04And now for the first time ever, I'll be taking on the international stage on the Challenger Series without my mom or my Hawaii crew with me.
01:12However, this season, I've gotten to know a group of women from all around the world, and we've formed a strong support system.
01:23The Challenger Series is the battlefield.
01:26A lot of champions from around the world competing, and that's just what makes it so exciting.
01:34Every heat is red hot.
01:36There's 48 women from all around the world competing, and only top five get a chance at becoming the next world champion.
01:43My brother, Gabriel, was the first Brazilian to become a road champ, but I want to be known as Sofia, not just Gabriel's little sister.
01:55I just want to write my own history.
01:57I see myself as an inspiration for my country.
02:03My whole family feels strongly that surfing is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing, so my parents are doing everything they can to support me financially to surf.
02:12People joking call me the bull, but they think that in the water, I look like a bull.
02:20In 2022, I felt the rush of being crowned the world junior champion.
02:25Now I want to ride that wave to become a world champion at the highest level.
02:30Being Hawaiian and olelo, that's part of my identity.
02:34I am pursuing surfing as a cultural practice.
02:37My goal is to make the world tour and also represent Hawaii.
02:42There's six events on the Challenger Series.
02:46The Challenger Series is so stacked.
02:48It's 48 of the top surfers from every region, and every heat is a fight for everyone's lives.
02:54The Challenger Series is a whole different piece to the Qualification Series.
02:58The stakes are higher, the pressure is higher.
03:01You need to be top five to make the championship tour.
03:05Obviously, that factors into every surfer's mind because that is the highest level of achievement.
03:10This season's competition is tougher than ever, and with only the top five spots up for grabs, it's truly anyone's game.
03:17I'm ready to do what I need to do to win a world title.
03:20We had a dynasty with Steph Gilmore, Tyler Wright, and Carissa Moore.
03:25They've dominated world titles for over a decade, but I see change in the air with this new generation of women's professional surfing.
03:32We're in Belido.
03:48This is the third stop on the Challenger Series.
03:51This is a super important event.
03:52We only count their best four results out of six, and this is the halfway mark.
03:59A lot of surfers haven't had great results in the first two in Australia, so this is kind of it for them.
04:03They need to start climbing up the rank.
04:07Belido's a very high-quality wave.
04:09It's very heavy and can be pretty dangerous.
04:12It breaks into a very shallow sandbank, and there's a few rocks, so there's a lot of risk, and injuries happen.
04:17Last year, the waves were definitely sizable, and people were breaking boards during pre-serve.
04:24Also, South Africa is known for having sharks.
04:29I love the spirit in South Africa.
04:31So much love, so much life, the greatest food, the best surf.
04:35You can do everything all in one place.
04:43I'm good.
04:44Hi, Mom.
04:45How are you doing?
04:47I'm good.
04:49How's it been traveling without Mommy?
04:52Especially on that really long flight.
04:55Yeah, I know.
04:56I've, like, barely slept that flight because I was, like, stressed about getting around because I didn't have to worry about anything last year because you were here.
05:08It's good growing, learning experience.
05:11And I feel confident you can handle it.
05:14Yeah, me too.
05:14How about the time difference?
05:16Are you getting used to it?
05:18Slowly.
05:20It's pretty hard.
05:22I mean, yeah, 12 hours is as bad as it gets.
05:26Yeah.
05:26I know for sure.
05:28That's a long time.
05:29So how are you feeling about the contest coming up?
05:32Yeah, this is stop three.
05:34You definitely are doing better than you were last season.
05:38You look much more comfortable on heats than you did before.
05:41You seem more confident.
05:42Yeah, I mean, I'm excited the last two events went a lot better than they did last year.
05:48So I feel a lot better about that.
05:53The goal is to get a good result of this one, right?
05:55Yeah, I really want to drop one of my Australia events.
06:00First stop on the Challenger was Australia at Snapper and Narrabeen.
06:04In both events, I ended up making a heat.
06:07I think you've made a lot of improvements since last season.
06:10Although I felt really good about my surfing, results-wise, it wasn't the best.
06:14And you can only drop two events.
06:17You can get a good result at this contest.
06:21It'll be a good set-up for the rest of the season.
06:25I'm from Hawaii, and this is my second year on the Challenger Series.
06:35My first year was definitely very challenging.
06:38We're at the Belita Pro.
06:40Iwa Wong looking to advance.
06:45Not the strongest turn of the heat so far.
06:47Kept losing first round, and I kind of got stuck in that.
06:51Ooh, again, another little era.
06:53It was very discouraging, and I had a really hard time getting out of that.
06:59I wasn't really happy with myself and my surfing.
07:03My mindset was the biggest challenge to overcome.
07:07Look at me now.
07:09Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
07:10So far this year, I already feel so much better and stronger mentally.
07:15This is my first year traveling by myself without my mom.
07:19I really like my mom being by my side, but I also like having the independence.
07:26I do want to work on my competition, serving.
07:29I feel a lot more confident just free surfing, but I want to start surfing like myself in competition.
07:35I get performance anxiety when I'm chasing scores.
07:39Surfing is such an individual sport that every decision you make comes with a lot of pressure.
07:44If I'm going to have a future in professional surfing, I need to learn how to overcome that anxiety.
07:50Stay focused and keep progressing and make sure your head is in the right place.
07:54So just keep that up.
07:58Yeah, I feel a lot more confident, so I'll probably go for another surf later on today.
08:04Good. We miss you.
08:05I miss you, too.
08:07I'll be watching.
08:08Good luck.
08:08Bye.
08:17Wow.
08:18This is so hard.
08:19I don't even know where to start.
08:21I say solid.
08:27Do you guys usually have this, like, for lunch, where you guys live?
08:31Is it different?
08:32Yeah.
08:33In Brazil, we also have, like, some beans, too.
08:36We eat beans at lunch.
08:38The food in Brazil is really good.
08:39Yes.
08:40Yes, I thank you.
08:42Ah.
08:43I love it.
08:46This is so fun.
08:48I don't know if it's for you guys, too, like, but surfing used to be super social at that young age,
08:53and then as you get older, like, your friend group, some of them stop surfing,
08:57and then you have to, like, find new friends that live internationally.
09:00Like, we see each other six times a year.
09:02Like, we don't see each other that often.
09:04And then it's kind of pretty lonely.
09:06It is.
09:06So how old were you when you learned to surf?
09:10Seven years old when I started surfing.
09:12Really?
09:13Yeah, my parents surf.
09:14It's so sick, like, surfing with my mom.
09:17Wait, your mom surfed?
09:18Yeah, my mom's one of the first Portuguese women surfing in Portugal.
09:23Wow.
09:24Yeah, that is super sick.
09:25That's special.
09:26How long have each of you been on the challenges?
09:29This is my second year.
09:30This is my third year.
09:32My third?
09:33Okay.
09:34So, yeah, we're all still newish to the challenges
09:37compared to some of those girls, like, that you...
09:40Been doing it for a while.
09:40Yeah, you've all seen for years and years on the challenges and...
09:45I remember when I was younger, like, watching Heats with them and them.
09:48Yeah.
09:48Yeah.
09:49And now you're, like, competing against them.
09:51Yeah.
09:52My name's Jessie Van Ekerk.
09:54I'm 22 years old.
09:55I'm from Cape Town, Saifriga.
09:57I was raised on the beach from a very young age
10:01and started surfing around the age of five
10:03and did my first competition when I was about six years old.
10:07My parents saw that my brother and I just clicked straight away
10:10into the ocean and into surfing
10:12and that we loved it and we were super competitive.
10:14So they just kept feeding us what we were loving.
10:17The girls who surf inside, yeah, they are usually very gnarly,
10:28very hardcore and tough people, so it produces very good surfers.
10:32I think what sets me apart from other competitors
10:35is the support that I have from my parents.
10:38My dad is my coach.
10:40He has been my coach for the last, like, 15 years.
10:42We are so close and it just makes things so good having him
10:45because he knows me so well.
10:47I do take it seriously as, like, a job
10:49because it's basically always been our lifestyle
10:51and my parents had a vision of if it's what you love,
10:55then why would you go any other way?
10:58I'm currently right at the bottom of the rankings
11:01on the Challenger Series
11:02because I've had two first-round knockouts so far
11:05in the first two events of the year.
11:06So there's no more throwaway results.
11:09I cannot lose round one.
11:10I need to make it through every heat and beyond.
11:13Taste the water.
11:20Taste the water.
11:21I'm blowing up.
11:22I'm blowing up.
11:23You can't keep me down.
11:24You can't keep me down.
11:25No, I don't start.
11:26I won't turn around.
11:28I won't turn around.
11:29You know you better pay attention.
11:31If you blink, then you can miss out.
11:33Because once I start, I never stop.
11:35I always go the distance.
11:37Watch me go.
11:38Challenger Series touches down in Africa.
11:42Welcome to the Belito Pro.
11:44They're the best aspirant surfers from across the planet.
11:47Well, they'll be looking to put in big performances.
11:49Tards coming in.
11:50So you're going to have to move.
11:52Okay.
11:52You're going to have to be mobile.
11:53And you've been sitting too deep.
11:55The shallower you sit, the better you can see what's going on
11:57and then you can move deeper.
11:58But it's not a problem.
11:59Okay.
12:00Each contest on the Challenger Series starts with 48 women,
12:05progressing through rounds of 48, 32, 16 and finals.
12:11Advancing improves your chances of finishing in the top five
12:14and securing a spot for the championship tour.
12:18This event last year, I made three heats,
12:21which is what I hope to get to this year.
12:23High five.
12:25Everyone's pushing to make rounds here.
12:26So everyone's very focused.
12:28I haven't even made a heat this year.
12:30So to make a heat at Belito would be definitely a good breakthrough.
12:34It's going to be a very heated event.
12:37But the focus right now is Belito.
12:39Stop number three on the Challenger Series.
12:44Looks like we've got our first wave of the event.
12:46We're up and going.
12:48And here is Eva Wong.
12:49It's up the turns beautifully.
12:52Good job, babe.
12:54It's Jessie Van Niko.
12:56Still no ride from her.
12:57What's she thinking?
12:58She's been too selective.
13:02I think she's identified, Greg.
13:04In fact, sitting out there and waiting for a perfect looking triangle to come to.
13:07That's not going to happen.
13:08At the moment, Eva Wong with the lead.
13:16Look at this.
13:17Open left-hander.
13:19And a combo moves.
13:21Jessie opening up with the first score.
13:233.2.
13:24She's in the game.
13:25She's in the heat.
13:25Absolutely.
13:26It's so tight out there.
13:27We are still waiting for a last score to drop in for White.
13:40We saw last of Green come in at a 5.93.
13:43But last of White a 6.07.
13:47Jessie Van Niko moving up to first place.
13:49We made it.
13:54What a relief.
13:56Son of a game.
13:58I managed to jump up to the first right after the buzzer went.
14:01That was against all odds.
14:04Unbelievable.
14:05Mom's freaking out right now.
14:07This is actually my first win on the challenges.
14:11What's your name?
14:12Oscar.
14:13Oscar.
14:14Nice to meet you.
14:15I get you.
14:16Hopefully, I can get some more heats going.
14:19Eva Wong in blue, the Hawaiian in second.
14:22I made my heat.
14:23I'm really happy about that because the waves are really grindy and small.
14:28I'm really excited for round two.
14:31Winning my first heat helps calm my nerves and makes me less stressed.
14:37This world is my audience.
14:40Don't be thinking that the show is free, no.
14:42This world is my audience.
14:44All eyes on me.
14:45It was a short one for Sofia Medina.
14:51Medina again.
14:53That was nice using the rail, giving it some back foot welly,
14:56and get some nice releases as well.
14:58Really cool to see.
14:59She's coming into her own, and she doesn't really draw any comparisons to her brother as well.
15:04It's her own unique style.
15:05Yeah, they surf really different, don't they?
15:08Sofia Medina with the lead right now.
15:11Oh, beautiful turn there.
15:13Flaring the tail out for Sofia Medina.
15:19She never really looked to have her feathers ruffled at all in that heat.
15:22She just looked confident pretty much throughout.
15:25I could see that the judges really like powerful maneuvers.
15:29I got a set, and I only did one turn, and it was a good score.
15:33So now I'm going to the second round just, like, trying to keep the momentum going, and I'm just feeling confident for my heat.
15:41I'm going to FaceTime mom.
15:46I'm sure they were watching.
15:47It's nice to know my mom's always watching my heats on the WSL live broadcast.
15:52She makes me feel confident, and she keeps me on track.
15:57Go ahead, mom.
15:58Oh, I like your sweater.
15:59Thanks.
16:00It's freezing.
16:01Thanks.
16:02It's freezing.
16:03Good job.
16:04That was tough.
16:05You stayed busy.
16:06You got an early start.
16:07Caught plenty of waves.
16:08Caught a lot of waves.
16:09What's your thinking based upon this heat or the next heat?
16:13Staying busy paid off, so we'll probably keep doing that if the conditions stay the same.
16:18I mean, this heat, the girl who's staying the most busy is getting the best scores, so.
16:24Okay.
16:25Well, just wanted to give you a call after my heat.
16:27Thanks, Dad.
16:28Okay.
16:29Love you, sweetheart.
16:30Okay.
16:31Love you, too.
16:32Bye.
16:33Bye.
16:34Bye.
16:35Bye.
16:36Bye.
16:37Bye.
16:38Bye.
16:39Bye.
16:40Bum.
16:41Ugh, bye.
16:45Bye, man.
16:47Bye.
16:54It's like this.
16:56The best thing that anybody wants to do with the ice cream has fresh water.
17:03It becomes pretty cold, great.
17:05Oh, man, nothing like water needs to maybeuniere the water of water.
17:07How matters for us?
17:08It's always good to travel with you. It's nice to travel with your daughter.
17:13It's not all the parents who have this privilege.
17:15But I think you're much more like a father than a coach.
17:18You know how to mix well.
17:23I'm Sofia Medina, I have 19 years, and I'm from Brazil.
17:27This is my third year on the Challenger.
17:30Growing up, most of the people in the water weren't girls.
17:33It would just be me.
17:35And even my wetsuit was like a boys' wetsuit.
17:38The moment I knew I wanted to be a professional surfer was when I was 10.
17:43I did my first competition.
17:45And then I lost.
17:47So that was kind of like, I don't like losing this.
17:51I want to win a contest.
17:53Since that time, something changed in my mind.
17:56I was like, I really want to put everything I have in this.
18:01I want to be the first Brazilian female world champion.
18:09My dad now is my coach.
18:11He's an amazing dad, and he really supports me.
18:14He's like my best friend, really.
18:16The oldest brother, Gabriel, is a professional surfer as well.
18:20Since I was little, I used to watch him surfing and winning contests.
18:25He was the first Brazilian to become a world champion.
18:29I always wanted to not be in his shadow.
18:32I want to write my own history.
18:34Sofia's a real athlete.
18:36She's got the genes.
18:37She's got this raw talent.
18:39Sofia doesn't qualify for the CT this year.
18:41It's going to come soon.
18:42I can see it.
18:43This year, I decided to not compete the QS regionals events.
18:46For me, it's a big risk because the Challenger Series,
18:49if I don't make it to the top rankings,
18:52if you're not on top 10, I will have to do it all again.
18:56And I've never been on the top rankings.
18:58So that's a big risk.
19:00But I feel like I belong here.
19:02I really have faith.
19:03If I work hard, I'll get there.
19:11Let's call mom.
19:13She's been waiting to hear from us.
19:15Super.
19:18Hi, mom.
19:19Hello.
19:20So...
19:21I have to tell you, your sunshine and palm tree...
19:24In the background.
19:25Belito's pretty good.
19:26Yeah.
19:27This is the best place for an event in winter.
19:29So number one, we all well.
19:31Jess...
19:33Sorry, we need money.
19:34We need cash.
19:38Flying on fumes.
19:40Fortunately, there's breakfast at the accommodation here in the mornings.
19:43That's actually our main meal.
19:45And we have the biggest breakfast they can cook us.
19:48Yeah, don't stress.
19:49Listen, I'll send $200 tonight.
19:52$200.
19:54Yep.
19:55Everyone has obviously got major expenses.
19:57Travelling on tour is expensive.
19:59When you qualify for the Challenger events, you do earn prize money per round.
20:04And each round, it probably doubles roughly.
20:06So I put pressure on myself to get good results.
20:09And I need the prize money to continue to do this.
20:12Some of my QS prize money came through for the local comp.
20:17So I'll book some South African local flights to get us to the airport.
20:22And then we've already booked our flights onto the US.
20:24Jess needs to stop the flight back to France and then Portugal.
20:28Jess, will they come out of your Belito money?
20:30Yes.
20:31I wish we could fire you out.
20:32I wish we could fire you here.
20:34So that's the whole deal is we need to try and get you out here on tour with Jess
20:39sooner rather than later because...
20:41We are a bit incomplete.
20:43We're struggling without you.
20:44So very...
20:45You're missed.
20:46You're very missed by everyone.
20:48Yeah.
20:49It would be amazing if you can come back between the US.
20:52Otherwise, five months is a long time.
20:54Yeah.
20:55So love you and I'll send you that money.
20:58Awesome.
20:59I love you very much.
21:00Speak to you.
21:01Speak to you soon.
21:02Bye.
21:03Bye.
21:04Bye.
21:05Bye.
21:06Bye.
21:07It's on.
21:08Women's round of 32 surfing.
21:12It's game on.
21:13Here goes the South African Jessie van Nijker.
21:15Yeah.
21:16That was a nice turn from Jessie.
21:19Lovely pace to the combination for Isabella Nichols who's just surfing to the conditions on
21:24hand.
21:25Yeah.
21:26South African Jessie van Nijker.
21:27Maybe a little bit of urgency now.
21:29Needs to get the heat moving forward.
21:30Girls seem to be struggling a little with the line-up this morning.
21:34It's very important for Jessie to make her round.
21:37It will do her very, very good to know that she can actually beat some of the big names.
21:41Jessie van Nijker will have to find close to the best wave of the heat.
21:46She, her requirements are 597.
21:53A South African will not find the number on that.
21:56Back to the drawing board.
21:57Perhaps not the answer to her requirements of the 597.
22:12Just turn around, look at that wave.
22:15That wave there is giving the two and three turns.
22:18You were just missing them.
22:20The smaller waves you need to try and go.
22:23But go hard.
22:24Yep.
22:25I skipped a round of 48 this time because I finished 12th in the rankings of the Challengers series
22:41last year.
22:42And if you're ranked high enough, you get to skip the first round.
22:45Good points.
22:46I have a surfing coach.
22:47His name is Rodrigo Souza.
22:48We've known each other since I started surfing when I was seven years old.
22:52As a coach, he always kind of did the father part too, in a way.
22:55Because when I was nine years old, my parents divorced and my dad went back to the US and I stayed in Portugal with my mom.
23:03He's more than a coach for me.
23:04He's more than a coach for me.
23:05I want to win at the event.
23:06I need good results.
23:07And if I want to be on tour, these four events are really important and I need the points.
23:10And a biggie, coming your way, let's go.
23:14Here goes to the world junior champion, there's been Francois.
23:15Francesca Veselka, nice two turn combo from her.
23:19She gets a good start.
23:20You'll wanna start strong.
23:23Let's go.
23:24Let's go.
23:25Here goes well junior champion, there's been Francesca Veselka.
23:26Nice two turn combo from her.
23:28It gets a good start.
23:33You want to start strong then.
23:34Yes.
23:36I knew everything was better.
23:39Okay last minute.
23:40The last turn was really strong.
23:45Nice time pivot on the first turn for Leilani McGonagall.
23:49She sets the pace for the heat now with quite a bit of time still left to play.
23:53Young Portuguese surfer.
23:54Nice, strong surfing.
23:57Unfortunately, she'll go down.
23:59Esco, come on.
24:00This is an important way for young Francesca Veselka.
24:04What she got here.
24:05Three-turn combo for the young Portuguese surfer.
24:13It's game on here with 3.20 on the clock.
24:16Okay, so Francesca Veselka, there is a score dropping in.
24:22Taking so long.
24:24It's bad for the heart.
24:26The last of Luke dropping in at a 7.83.
24:30Yeah!
24:30The last of Luke, a 7.83.
24:32So, surfers, we have a situation change.
24:34Two now in the lead.
24:36Red, you're on second.
24:38Red to go in the first.
24:39You're looking for a 6.74.
24:42Just one snap opportunity there.
24:45But counting the seat down in 4, 3, 2, 1.
24:52Yeah, we needed this.
24:55What a performance from the young surfer from Lisbon, Portugal.
24:59Francesca Veselka, watch for the future for this young lady.
25:02What a performance from the young lady.
25:03We need to be able to stand this.
25:06Good.
25:07Okay.
25:08Wow.
25:09So, exciting heat.
25:11It was surfer in blue taking the win.
25:15On the first year of the Challenger Series, I don't even think I made one heat.
25:19I just felt nervous and just getting it a lot in my head.
25:22I've improved a lot since then.
25:24Mentally, I feel strong.
25:26So, bring it on.
25:27This event is really important because although I felt really good about my first two events,
25:54the results weren't great, so if I do want to move up in the rankings, like, I have to start doing well now.
26:04There goes Wong.
26:07Nice turn.
26:09Opening exchanges through a quick wave.
26:10A decent one.
26:11Couple of turns.
26:14Sierra.
26:14Here's the rhythm from her.
26:16Nice wall in front of her.
26:18Give us a second wave.
26:23Medium-sized wave.
26:24Two nice turns.
26:25Good control riding out of the second one.
26:28It does have some foam on her.
26:29She does pretty well.
26:30Just to add a little extra to that.
26:32Oh, a little spicy there, huh?
26:36Meanwhile, Etchabari.
26:37And that's a bit better from her.
26:41Five-nine-three in.
26:42Jumps up the second.
26:43Wong now in a little bit of trouble and chasing the number.
26:45It's not a big one.
26:46Five-eight-one.
26:47She just needs a little bit more of an improvement.
26:49This will be Etchabari here.
26:50She's got to control the lineup now.
26:54Particularly control Eva Wong.
26:55You'll be chasing her down on a five-eight-one.
26:58As we get to the end of the clock.
27:05Oh, Tam.
27:06I'm hard on myself when I lose.
27:10I haven't really met any of my expectations.
27:13The biggest challenge that I've faced this year is just getting out of my own head.
27:22South here in beautiful Palito.
27:24It's the round of 32-heat-4.
27:26And here comes Erin Brooks, Zoe Benedita, Sofia Medina, and Minana Nunaka.
27:34Sofia Medina off to a quick start.
27:36Nice snap for her.
27:46Sofia Medina is in the lead.
27:49Nice big open turn.
27:50She has showed remarkable steps in improving over the last 18 months.
27:56Sofia's been working on her air game, like going to the wave systems and really trying to figure out that element of her surfing.
28:02Two-turn combo for Sofia Medina, 10 minutes to go.
28:05Now Nunaka, nice and sound fundamentals to that lip line.
28:11We see a new heat leader now, slipping under five minutes.
28:18Sofia Medina will just climb up into the lip.
28:20Just keeping that scorecard turning over.
28:23Two surfers advance.
28:27Medina in second place position.
28:29On to the round of 16.
28:31I'm just glad to make it through.
28:45It was a tough heat, but we made it.
28:48So, on to the next round.
28:50Daughter.
28:51Mother.
28:52My mom is really helpful.
28:53I call my mom every day and she talks me through things.
29:07So, thoughts, what are your thoughts?
29:12You got the first one, excellent.
29:14You need to carry that really strong momentum through the whole heat.
29:18But you handled yourself with composure.
29:22You didn't seem particularly nervous.
29:25All the things that kind of were in the hang-ups of last year.
29:29Yeah.
29:30And I think that's like a positive move in a good direction.
29:35It's a learning process.
29:38It's not any kind of indication, I think, on your talent.
29:41But you definitely have things that you have to work on.
29:44And you have to decide whether or not you're willing to work on them.
29:47I mean, what are your takeaways?
29:50My surfing felt good.
29:52Like, I didn't feel disconnected.
29:54But I definitely was playing it safe.
29:56I do have a fear of failure.
29:58I feel like I even go into heats, like, hoping to not lose.
30:03And just wanting to make it through.
30:05And I'm not thinking about, like, actually winning.
30:07Which is part of the mental game that comes with being a competitive athlete.
30:13Literally everybody who watches you surf knows what your talent level is.
30:18It's whether or not you're willing to commit to what it takes to be a committed surfer.
30:23That is in question.
30:25And it's fine if that's not what you want.
30:30Like, if you want to be a free surfer, back you 100%.
30:34Like, I think you do all the things, for the most part, necessary to be the best surfer that you can be.
30:41I don't think you do all the things that are necessary to be the best competitor that you can be.
30:46Does that seem like a reasonable sort of assessment?
30:49Yeah, it is very reasonable.
30:51I see the other competitors and what they're doing to be the best competitive surfer that they can be.
30:59And I definitely don't do that.
31:01Like, working out, working with a coach, all that stuff that typically athletes do.
31:08I guess I do fear that if I do put in all the work that everyone else does, get a coach, all that stuff, and I still don't do well,
31:17I just feel like I would feel even more not great about myself.
31:21Yeah, I've got three more contests to go.
31:24That's lots of opportunity if you want to trust them.
31:28Yes.
31:29I'm excited for those events.
31:32Okay, well, I will talk to you later.
31:35Have fun, support your friends.
31:37You're still in the contest.
31:38I love you so much.
31:39Love you too.
31:40Bye, Mom.
31:52It's firing.
31:53I'm getting there.
31:54Whoa!
31:55You guys want to go start?
31:57Maybe after this coffee?
31:58Same.
31:59So, are you guys really competitive?
32:03Like, even outside the competition?
32:06Always.
32:07Like, when I was small and I used to play, before I started, like, actually surfing, like, I used to play tennis.
32:14Really?
32:15And I was also, and before tennis, I was also, like, in karate.
32:18I was so competitive.
32:20Like, I have videos of me, like, in the karate.
32:23We were just warming up.
32:24Imagine.
32:25And I was running, trying to be the fastest one.
32:27I'm very competitive, but now I managed to be less out of the water.
32:32Yes.
32:33You know?
32:34You're managing that well.
32:35Yeah.
32:36I never was very competitive.
32:38Like, but now I see that I really need to be competitive.
32:42I think it's important to just, like, not bring that out of the water, as well.
32:47Sometimes we surf so much and we compete so much that you kind of forget, like, why you really surf.
32:53Yeah.
32:54Sometimes I'm, like, in the water, like, frustrated, or I'm like, I don't want to even be in the water sometimes.
33:00But I'm, like, just tired, I'm like, ugh, I don't want to, I don't want to even surf.
33:05And then I think, like, why am I, why am I not happy about it if this is, like, what I actually love the most.
33:12But then if I go free surf with my brother, like, all those feelings, like, come back, like, ah, I love surfing.
33:18I think surfing is very much like that.
33:21Because, like, everyone has doubts and, like, everyone has days that it's just, like, it's not meant for me.
33:27Or, like, those deep thoughts come.
33:30When you need to do well, you automatically put pressure on yourself.
33:34And the mental part is very important.
33:37It's the thing that we all struggle with.
33:40And you lose more than you win.
33:42For sure.
33:43100%.
33:44And all the hard work, you're, like, you lost and you're like, wow, but I'm doing everything right.
33:47I'm doing, I'm surfing so many hours.
33:50Like, I'm going to the gym.
33:51I'm doing all the things I need to do to be a professional surfer.
33:55And when you lose, it's so painful.
33:57There are a lot of mental obstacles in surfing.
34:00We are all fighting the same battles.
34:03We're all losing or winning.
34:05We're all trying to improve.
34:07I just try to do everything I can to be in a good mindset.
34:12When you win, it's like, it's all worth it.
34:17Introducing heat number one, round of 16 for the women's division.
34:24The World Surf League's Challenger Series gearing up for another big day of competition.
34:29This is the round before the quarterfinals.
34:35In this contest, you've got to be careful about your choices.
34:38You need also to get waves.
34:40And some people really, like, just wait for so long.
34:44And maybe you won't get that wave before.
34:46Because here is very inconsistent.
34:48You've got to take any opportunity you have.
34:51Our first round of 16 heat.
34:53Yep, you've got to have different strategies once you're person-on-person.
34:57You're only focusing on one other athlete.
34:59It's time to get this contest underway for the day.
35:03It's going to be a very exciting heat.
35:05Let's have a look at Sierra Key, if she can belt anything of her own.
35:08There she goes into the lift.
35:16So answering straight back, Sofia Medina.
35:18So both surfers just striking the lift.
35:20Front foot surfing from her as she gets into another quick two-turn combo.
35:30Big smile on her face as well.
35:32She's liking that.
35:33I think Sofia's a very powerful surfer.
35:36She's getting better at surfing, skill-wise.
35:39I really admire her work ethic and dedication.
35:44Under priority, she's just going to keep that scorecard moving.
35:48And again, nice, clean combination.
35:51She's surfing nice and fluid.
35:5315 seconds.
35:54The young Sierra Kerr will just pack the bags and just think it's been a great.
36:02She can see the visual frustration there.
36:07Sofia Medina on her way to the quarterfinals.
36:10It feels so good.
36:25I just can't believe.
36:26I've been here for the best three years.
36:28Just trying to make the round two and now I'm in the quarterfinals.
36:32That's an amazing feeling.
36:33I'm going for everything.
36:35It's nothing or everything.
36:36So it just feels so good to be in the quarterfinals for the first time.
36:39I welcome you to last heat to decide quarterfinal as we greet you with Francesca Veselka,
36:53the young Portuguese surfer, current world junior champion taking on rising star Bella Kenworthy.
36:59This is the final heat of the round of 16 as we cut the field in half.
37:06One more surfer to add to the quarterfinals in the field at the Belido Pro will be down to eight.
37:12Big section here to approach for Francesca Veselka.
37:13She is leading this one at the moment.
37:14Come on, Kika.
37:15And that's Bella Kenworthy.
37:16And sticks it up there nice and strong.
37:17Softer section and incomplete for the young Portuguese.
37:20That's a good one.
37:21This is the final heat of the round of 16 as we cut the field in half.
37:24One more surfer to add to the quarterfinals in the field at the Belido Pro will be down to eight.
37:28Big section here to approach for Francesca Veselka.
37:33She is leading this one at the moment.
37:35Come on, Kika.
37:36And that's Bella Kenworthy.
37:39And sticks it up there nice and strong.
37:44Softer section and incomplete for the young Portuguese surfer Francesca Veselka.
37:49What a great run.
37:50She just needs to find one section to hit hard and gather seven points.
37:55Nothing really standing out at us here in the final heat before the quarterfinals get underway.
38:00Getting scores is not because you've got a lot of these one-manoeuvre waves.
38:04But that's a little bit of an opportunity lost.
38:09A number in favour of Bella Kenworthy in that exchange brings her into the lead.
38:14Ten and a half on the clock.
38:15Oh, this might be a good one.
38:20This first turn whacked.
38:21Lots of spray off that.
38:22And then a little snap there but a bit undecisive with that oncoming section on what to do.
38:27Bella Kenworthy looking to hold on to this lead here.
38:31She's certainly trying to nudge her scorecard ahead herself.
38:34Under 90 seconds remaining.
38:36Can the young Portuguese surfer find the opportunity for the number?
38:41A bump approaches but the clock is on the countdown.
38:44It looks like the clock may just beat the opportunity for Francesca Veselka to find another ride.
38:50And that is going to be the story.
38:53It is so unfortunate.
39:00It is tough.
39:14This is my third year on the Challenger.
39:16I know it's a learning process, but maybe I'm just getting ahead of myself
39:20and I just want to qualify so bad.
39:22Then it's hard, like, not having the results.
39:27I don't know how to explain it.
39:41Let's call Big Brother.
39:44Let's call Big Brother.
39:46Hello, Big Brother.
39:48Hello, Big Brother.
39:49Hello, Big Brother.
39:50Hello, Big Brother.
39:52You were sleeping.
39:54Sorry.
39:55I don't know.
39:56I don't know, too, Big Brother.
39:58Good job, you made it.
40:01Tomorrow, you're going to make it again.
40:04Hopefully, the waves are very better.
40:06Yes, hopefully.
40:07It was so nice because this heat, I waited for the right wave.
40:12That's a good sign.
40:16Yeah.
40:18I'll try to improve.
40:20Yes.
40:21If I could ask you one advice you would give me here for my next heat.
40:27Yeah.
40:28Follow your heart and enjoy your time in the water.
40:32Surfing is so fun and you love it.
40:35Uh, you know, Dad is there on the beach.
40:38Yes.
40:39Those are for him.
40:40Yes.
40:41I'll do that.
40:43I'm gonna be rooting for you here.
40:46Thank you, my brother.
40:48Don't wanna be, bitch.
40:49I love you.
40:50I love you.
40:51I love you.
40:52I love you.
40:53I love you, Big Brother.
40:54I love you, Big Brother.
40:55I love you, Big Brother.
40:56I love you, Big Brother.
40:57I love you, Big Brother.
40:58Hey.
41:01Oh, I miss him.
41:03When you're talking to your mother with B, it gives you more joy, right?
41:07You miss more when you speak more.
41:09Yeah.
41:10But it's...
41:11We have each other.
41:12Oh, yeah.
41:13Sacrifices we make.
41:14That is good.
41:15Yeah.
41:16We're here.
41:17Let's make it worth it.
41:20Welcome to the quarter-final stage of competition.
41:30Eight ladies remain in these surfer-on-surfer heats.
41:34Today's a big day.
41:36I haven't been to the quarter-finals yet.
41:38I've come this far in the quarter-finals.
41:41It's a really good spot to be.
41:43My strategy is just focusing and believing that I can adapt and really improvise out there.
41:50Sofia Medina taking on Ellie Harrison.
41:56Here it goes.
41:58Yeah, look at this quick start there, Medina.
42:01So, clear statement from her.
42:04Harrison.
42:05Ellie really utilizing a good bottom turn there, putting a lot of board on the rail.
42:10Medina again.
42:11Off the bottom.
42:12Snaps one.
42:13And pushing hard here.
42:15Another hit off the rail.
42:17Tried to get the third turn in.
42:18It wasn't really that.
42:19Time G.
42:20Eight minutes.
42:21Here's Ellie also.
42:22This wave.
42:23A little bit bigger now.
42:24What's gonna happen on the inside?
42:25Very similar to her last wave.
42:27But that one, she just goes up a little bit late.
42:29Four on the clock.
42:31Medina.
42:32Medina.
42:33Nice turn.
42:34Still a tight heat though.
42:36Tight contest.
42:37Harrison having a look at that.
42:41Here she goes.
42:42Nice first turn.
42:45She'll still be chasing here.
42:46Medina now with priority.
42:47Final minute here.
42:48Crucial wave.
42:49This one, Medina will take this and bang.
42:50Drifts a nice turn off the top.
42:51And a smile from her.
42:52I think she's just kind of saying, what else can I do?
42:54I'm just gonna get this and bang.
42:55Drifts a nice turn off the top.
42:56And a smile from her.
42:57I think she's just kind of saying, what else can I do?
43:09I'm just gonna get to say.
43:10I just can't believe I'm in the semifinals of the challenge series.
43:13And I take every advice my brother gives me.
43:16I tell him, we're gonna do this.
43:18And he's like, yes we are.
43:20Like, I know that already.
43:21Like, we're doing it.
43:22Spider finals, not semi finals.
43:25Then let's hope for the finals.
43:41Last year I came here every single day with my mom.
43:44Wow.
43:45You came with your mom?
43:46Yeah.
43:47Here?
43:48You guys had that?
43:49I had that.
43:50Oh, okay.
43:51Did you feel good?
43:52I needed this.
43:53I met Sophia like six or seven years ago.
43:56She's always been super cool and sweet.
43:58We're very supportive of each other.
44:00It's really nice to talk to someone about the struggles of competing and being on the challenger.
44:05So, you surfed yesterday.
44:07Yeah.
44:08First, the heats are the hardest.
44:09After I, like, made it past the first.
44:11Then you're just like...
44:12Yeah.
44:13I'm like, okay, I'm happy.
44:14Yeah, it's true.
44:15Like, you're already satisfied.
44:16Yeah.
44:17Yes.
44:18You have, like, sometimes you have a bad surf and you're just like...
44:21Yes, and it dictates my mood for the rest of the day.
44:24Yes.
44:25I used to deal well with the loss.
44:27Like, I lost, okay, I'll get better and better and better.
44:30But then, like, the last couple events that I lost at home, it was really hard to deal.
44:36Like, I don't know, sometimes they're even more experienced, but, like, some of the losses are just, like...
44:42Really hard.
44:43Yes.
44:44Especially the regional ones, too.
44:45Mm-hmm.
44:46Those 30 minutes heat, sometimes we think it means the world.
44:49Like, it means everything.
44:50Like, life or death.
44:51Yes, exactly.
44:52But I think it's good to be a little hard on yourself sometimes, because that's when you get better.
44:57Right.
44:58For sure.
44:59So, like, if you're always like, oh, that's okay, it won't go, like...
45:02You can't be complacent.
45:03Yes.
45:04You have to push yourself.
45:05Yes, exactly.
45:06Yeah.
45:07Surfing and competing really teaches you how to be resilient.
45:09True.
45:10And overcome adversity.
45:12Yes.
45:13And I think, like, the ones that are most strong and stay, and it's very, like, resilient...
45:18Right.
45:19...are the ones that are gonna get there.
45:21I agree.
45:22This year, I'm really trying to...
45:25If I do have a bad result, try to push it aside and just enjoy where I am.
45:31Yes.
45:32And...
45:33I really get that.
45:34Power of the mind.
45:35Power of the mind.
45:36Power of the mind.
45:37Yeah.
45:43So, we have under 10 minutes to start, surfers.
45:46Under 10 minutes to start.
45:47It is finals day here.
45:49At the 2024, the Lito Probe, it's a big semi-final to start.
45:54Vahino Fierro against Sofia Medina.
45:58So, find your seats in the sand, and let's watch some exciting surfing here.
46:02Let's check out semi-final number one, Vahino Fierro of France, taking on Sofia Medina from Brazil.
46:18Oh, it gets this layer back.
46:19Very quick start here for Sofia.
46:21Fierro off the bottom.
46:22Bang!
46:23There's that radical approach.
46:24Medina has got a lead early on in this.
46:27There's slightly safer finish.
46:28Oh!
46:29She gets washed over the rocks.
46:30That isn't safe.
46:31Wow!
46:32She has been smashed on those rocks.
46:33Sofia Medina definitely came in the back there.
46:34Oh no.
46:35This is not good.
46:36Oh no.
46:37This is not good.
46:38Oh no.
46:39That isn't safe
46:44Wow
46:46She has been smashed on those rocks
46:50Sophia Medina definitely came in the back there. Oh
46:56No, this is not good
47:03I
47:05Want to be a world champion surfer and the only way to do that is to win
47:10You draw so much from your Ina from your family from the ocean take that power and be like
47:17There's only three stops left on the Challenger Tour hits it off the lip
47:22Love it. Love it. That's three chances that could make or break my surfing career this heat's fired up and my championship dreams
47:30That's a great combo
47:35I'm here to collect some prize honey. Awesome. Okay, so now we're on everything matters
47:42I'm not here just for fun. No, get on a brusca
47:45You guys are awesome people to hang out with despite the incredible highs
47:50Oh
47:52No, and the devastating loss
47:55Just just made a mistake. I've got to stay focused and keep my head in the game
48:02Obviously I have a lot of things to work on
48:05Challenger isn't just something you breeze through
48:08Everything and surfing such a fine line of like don't overthink it be instinctive. Yeah, but then also like you want to be like focus and use your brain
48:15This isn't just about a trophy. I really want to qualify for the tour. This is my life. We're just fighting for our spot on the world tour
48:24See you in the heat
48:54You
49:24You
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