All language subtitles for surf.girls.hawaii.s02e01.1080p.web.h264-successfulcrab

I love surfing.

It's my life, and it's my
favorite thing in the world.

I am Ēwelei'ula Wong.
I am 19 years old.

I am native Hawaiian and a
competitive professional surfer.

Ēwe Wong
looking loose and radical.

Ēwe Wong drills it again.

I learned a
lot about what it means

to be in the world
of pro surfing.

Ēwe!

She got a pep in her step!

A ton of support.

Ride. Ride!

Training.

And oh an a in my corner has gotten
me through many competitions.

Ēwe Wong.

Bringing me closer to
my dream of becoming world champion.

I think you're gonna, like, have
the coolest trajectory to watch.

-I'm stoked for you.
-Thank you.

Bye, oh an a.

And now,
for the first time ever,

I'll be taking on the
international stage

on the Challenger
Series without my mom

or my hoi crew with me.

However, this season, I've
gotten to know a group of women

from all around the world, and we
formed a strong support system.

The Challenger
Series is the battlefield.

A lot of champions from
around the world competing.

And that's just what
makes it so exciting.

Every heat is red-hot.

There's 48 women
from around the world competing,

and only top five get a chance at
becoming the next world champion.

My brother Gabriel

was the first Brazilian
to become a world champ.

But I want to be
known as Sophia,

not just Gabriel's
little sister.

I just want to write
my own history.

I see myself as an
inspiration for my country.

My 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.

People joking,
calling me "the bull."

They think that in the
water I look like a bull.

In
2022, I felt the rush

of being crowned the
World Junior Champion.

Now I want to ride that wave
to become world champion

at the highest level.

Being Hawaiian and ʻŌlelo,
that's part of my identity.

I am pursuing surfing
as a cultural practice.

My goal is to make the world
tour and also represent Hawaii.

There's six events
on the Challenger Series.

The Challenger
Series is so stacked.

It's 48 of the top
surfers from every region,

and every is a fight
for everyone's lives.

The Challenger Series is a whole
different beast to the qualification gate.

The stakes are higher,
the pressure's higher.

You need to be top five to
make the Championship Tour.

Obviously, that
factors into every surfer's mind

because that is the highest
level of achievement.

This season's
competition is tougher than ever,

and with only the top
five spots up for grabs,

it's truly anyone's game.

I'm ready to do what I need
to do to win a world title.

We had a dynasty with Steph Gilmore,
Tyler Wright, and Carissa Moore.

They've dominated world
titles for over a decade.

But I see change in the air

with this new generation of
women's professional surfing.

We're in Ballito.

This is the third stop
on the Challenger Series.

This is a super important event.

We only count the best
four results out of six,

and this is the halfway mark.

A lot of surfers haven't had great
results in the first two in Australia.

So this is kind of it for them. They
need to start climbing up the ranks.

Ballito's a
very high-quality wave.

It's very heavy and can
be pretty dangerous.

It breaks into a very shallow
sandbank and then a few rocks.

So there's a lot of risk,
and injuries can happen.

Last year, the
waves were definitely sizable

and we were breaking
boards during free surf.

Also, South Africa is
known for having sharks.

I love the spirit in South
Africa. So much love, so much life.

The greatest food,
the best of surf.

You can do everything
all in one place.

-Hi, babe.
-Hi, Mom.

How are you doing?

I'm good.

How's it been traveling
without Mommy?

Especially on the
really long plane.

Yeah, I know. I, like,
barely slept that flight

because I was, like,
stressed about...

getting around

'cause I didn't have to worry
about anything last year

because you were here.

It's a good growing,
learning experience,

and I feel confident
you can handle it.

Yeah, me too.

How about the time difference?
Are you getting used to it?

Yeah, slowly.

It's pretty hard.

I mean, yeah, 12 hours is...

as bad as it gets.

No, for sure,
that's a long time.

So how are you feeling
about the contest coming up?

Ēwe, his is stop three.

You definitely are doing better
than you were last season.

You look much more comfortable
on heats than you did before.

You seem more confident.

Yeah, I mean, I'm excited.

The last two events went a lot
better than they did last year,

so I feel a lot
better about that.

The goal is to get a good
result at this one, right?

Yeah, I really want to drop
one of my Australia events.

First stop on the
Challenger was Australia

at Snapper and Narrabeen.

In both events I ended
up making a heat.

I think you've made a lot of
improvements since last season.

Although I felt
really good about my surfing,

results-wise it wasn't the best.

And you can only
drop two events.

If you can get a good
result at this contest,

it'll be a good setup for
the rest of the events.

My name
is Ēwelei'ula Wong.

I am 19 years old.

I'm from Hawaii,
and this is my second year

on the Challenger Series.

My first year was
definitely very challenging.

We're
at the Ballito Pro.

Ēwe Wong looking to advance.

Not the strongest
turn of the heat so far.

Kept losing first round, and
I kind of got stuck in that.

-Oh!
-Another little error.

It was very discouraging,

and I had a really hard
time getting out of that.

I wasn't really
happy with myself

and my surfing.

My mindset was the biggest
challenge to overcome.

So far this year, I already feel so
much better and stronger mentally.

This is my first year traveling
by myself without my mom.

I really like my mom
being by my side,

but I also like having
the independence.

I do want to work on
my competition surfing.

I feel a lot more confident
just free surfing,

but I want to start surfing,
like, myself in competition.

I get performance anxiety
when I'm chasing scores

Surfing is such an
individual sport

that every decision you make
comes with a lot of pressure.

If I'm gonna have a future
in professional surfing,

I need to learn how to
overcome that anxiety.

Stay
focused and keep progressing,

and make sure your head
is in the right place.

-Yeah.
-You know, just keep... Keep that up.

Yeah, I feel a lot
more confident,

so probably go for another
surf later on today.

Good.

We miss you.

I miss you too.

I'll be watching.

Bye.

Wow. This is so hard.
Like, I don't even know where to start.

I say salad.

Thank you.

Do you guys usually
have these, like, for lunch

before you guys leave?

-Yeah.
-Yeah?

In Brazil, we also have,
like, some beans, too.

We eat beans at lunch.

The food in Brazil is really
good. Would you like some?

Yes, thank you.

Oh!

Pumpkin.

This is so fun.

I don't know if it's
for you guys too,

but surfing used to be super
social at that young age.

And then as you get older,
like your friend group,

some of them stop surfing,
and then you have to, like,

find new friends that
live internationally.

We see each other six times a year.
We don't see each other that often.

And then it's kind
of pretty lonely.

It is.

So how old were you when
you learned to surf?

-Seven years old when I started surfing.
-Me too.

Really? Yeah, my parents surf.

It's so sick. Like,
surfing with my mom.

Wait, your mom surfed?

Yeah, my mom was one of the
first Portuguese women surfing...

-Wow.
-...in Portugal.

That's special.

How long have each
of you been on the challenges?

This
is my second year.

This is my third year.

-My third.
-Okay.

So, yeah, we're all still
newish to the challenges,

compared to some of those
girls that, like, you...

-Been doing it for a while.
-Yeah.

You've all seen for years
and years on the challenges.

I remember when I was younger,
watching heats with them in them.

Yeah, and now you're, like,
competing against them.

Yeah.

My name's Jessie Van Niekerk.

I'm 22 years old.

I'm from Cape
Town, South Africa.

I was raised on the beach
from a very young age

and started surfing
around the age of five,

and did my first competition
when I was about six years old.

My parents saw that my brother
and I just clicked straightaway

into the ocean and into surfing,

and that we loved it and
we were super competitive.

So they just kept feeding
us what we were loving.

The girls who surf in South Africa,
they are usually very gnarly,

very hardcore and tough people.

So it produces
very good surfers.

I think what sets me apart
from other competitors

is the support that I
have from my parents.

My dad is my coach.

He has been my coach the
last, like, 15 years.

We are so close, and it
just makes things so good

having him because
he knows me so well.

I do take it seriously as like a job
because it's always been our lifestyle,

and my parents had a vision
of: if it's what you love,

then why would you
go any other way?

I'm currently right at the bottom of
the rankings on the Challenger Series

because I've had two
first-round knockouts so far

in the first two
events of the year.

So there's no more throwaway results.
I can't lose another first round.

I need to make every
first year and beyond.

Testing, one, two.

The Challenger
Series touches down in Africa.

Welcome to the Ballito Pro,

where the best aspirant
surfers from across the planet

will be looking to put
in big performances.

Tide's coming in, so
you're gonna have to move.

You're gonna have to be mobile.
And you've been sitting deep.

The shallower you sit, the better
you can see what's going on

and then you can move deeper,
but it's not a problem.

Kay.

Each contest on the
Challenger Series starts with 48 women

progressing through rounds
of 48, 32, 16, and finals.

Advancing improves your chances
of finishing in the top five,

and securing a spot on
the Championship Tour.

This event last year,
I made three heats,

which is what I hope
to get to this year.

Have fun.

Everyone's pushing to make rounds
here, so everyone's very focused.

I haven't even made
a heat this year,

so to make a heat at Ballito would
be definitely a good breakthrough.

It's gonna be a
very "heated" event.

But the focus right
now is Ballito,

stop number three on
the Challenger Series.

Looks like we got
our first wave of the event.

We're up and going.

It is Ēwe Wong.

Turns beautifully.

Good job, babe.

It's Jessie Van
Niekerk. Still no ride from her.

What's she thinking?
She's being too selective?

I think she's identified,
Greg, that sitting out there

and waiting for the perfect
little triangle to come through,

that's not gonna happen.

At the moment, Ēwe
Wong with the lead.

Look at this. Open left-hander.

And a combo of moves.

Opening up
with that first score, 3.2.

-She's in the game.
-She's in the heat.

It's so tight out there.

We are still waiting for
a last score to drop in for white.

We saw last of green
come in at a 5.93,

but last of white is 6.07.

Jessie Van Niekerk
moving up to first place.

You made it.

What a relief.

Sign up again.

I managed to jump up to first
right, like, after the buzzer went.

That was a game for one.

Unbelievable.

Mom's freaking out right now.

Yeah!

This is actually my first
win on the challenges.

-What's your name?
-Oscar.

Oscar. Nice to meet
you. I'm Jessie.

Hopefully, I can get
some more heats going.

Ēwe Wong in blue,
the Hawaiian in second.

I made my heat.

Really happy about that because the
waves are really grimy and small.

I'm really excited
for round two.

Winning my first heat helps calm my
nerves and makes me less stressed.

It was a short one
for Sophia Medina.

Medina again.

That was nice, using the rail.

Giving it some back-foot welly
and get some nice release as well.

Really cool to
see. She's coming into her own,

and she doesn't really draw
any comparisons to her brother.

It's her own unique style.

Yeah, they surf
really different, don't they?

Sophia Medina
with the lead right now.

Oh! Beautiful turn there.

Flaring the tail out
for Sophia Medina.

She never really looked to have her
feathers ruffled at all in that heat.

She just looked confident
pretty much throughout.

I could see that the judges
really like powerful maneuvers.

I got a set, and I only did one
turn, and it was a good score.

So 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.

I'm gonna FaceTime Mom. I'm
sure they were watching.

It's nice to know my mom's
always watching my heats

on the WSL live broadcast.

She makes me feel confident

and she keeps me on track.

Hi, Mom.

Oh, I like your sweater.

Thanks. It's freezing.

Good job. That was just tough.

You stayed busy, you got a ready
start, caught plenty of waves.

Caught a lot of waves

What's your thinking based upon
this heat or the next heat?

Staying busy paid off, so
I'll probably keep doing that

if the conditions stay the same.

I mean, this heat,

the girl who's staying the most
busy is getting the best scores.

-So...
-Okay.

Well, just wanted to give
you a call after my heat.

-Daddy says, "Good job."
-Thanks, Dad.

-Okay, love you, sweetheart.
-Okay, love you too.

-Bye.
-Bye.

When the meat
is defrosted quickly, it's more tender.

-Really?
-Yeah.

He always cooks
chicken every competition.

He's known... Like, on the tour,

he's known for cooking
chicken and rice.

It's always
nice to travel with you.

It's great to be on
the road with you.

Not every dad gets
that privilege.

I
feel like you're more of a dad

than a coach most of the time.

You balance it well.

I
am Sophia Medina.

I am 19 years old
and I'm from Brazil.

This is my
third year on the Challenger.

Growing up, most of the
people in the water...

weren't girls.

It would just be me. And
even, like, my wet suit,

was, like, a boy's wet suit.

The moment I knew I wanted
to a professional surfer

was when I was ten and I
did my first competition

And then I lost.

So that was kind of like,

I don't like losing this.

Like, I want to win a contest.

Since that time,

something changed in my mind.

I was like, I really
want to, like,

put everything I have in this.

Hello!

I want to be the first
Brazilian female world champion.

My dad now is my coach.

He's an amazing dad and,
like, he really supports me.

He's like a best friend, really.

The oldest brother, Gabriel,

is a professional
surfer as well.

Since I was little, I used to watch
him surfing and winning contests.

He was the first Brazilian
to become a world champion.

I always wanted to just
not be in his shadow.

I want to write my own history.

Sophia's a real athlete.

She's got the genes.
She's got this raw talent.

If Sophia doesn't qualify for the
CT this year, it's gonna come soon.

I can see it.

This year, I decided to
not compete the QS regionals events.

For me, it's a big risk because
on the Challenger Series,

if I don't make it
to the top rankings,

if you're not on the top ten,

I will have to do it all again.

And I've never been
on the top rankings,

so that's a big risk.

But I feel like I belong here.

I really have faith if I
work hard, I will get there.

Let's call Mom.

She's been waiting
to hear from us.

-Hi, Mom.
-Hello.

-So...
-I have to tell you,

your sunshine and palm tree...

-In the backyard.
-Ballito's pretty good.

This is the best place
for an event in winter.

So, number
one, we are well.

Um, Jess...

Sorry, we need
money. We need cash.

-Flying on fumes.
-Yes.

Fortunately, there's breakfast at
the accommodation in the mornings.

That's actually our main meal.

And we have the biggest
breakfast they can cook us.

Yeah, well, don't stress.
Listen, I will send $200 tonight.

-Two hundred dollars?
-Thank you.

Yeah.

Everyone has obviously
got major expenses.

Traveling on tour is expensive.

When you qualify for
the Challenger events,

you do earn prize
money per round.

And each round it
probably doubles, roughly.

So I put pressure on
myself to get good results.

I need the prize money
to continue to do this.

Some of my QS prize money came
through for the local camp,

so I'll book some...

South African local flights
to get us to the airport.

And we've already booked
our flights onto the US.

Yes, just don't book the flight
back to France and then Portugal.

Jess, will that come out
of your Ballito money?

Yes. I wish
we could fly you out,

I wish we could buy you your...

So, that's the whole deal, is we
need to try and get you out here

on tour with Jess.

And sooner rather
than later, because...

We are but incomplete.
We're struggling without you.

-Severely.
-You're missed.

You're very missed by everyone.

It would be amazing if you
can come back between the US.

Otherwise, you know,
12 months a long time.

-Yeah.
-So, love you.

-I'll send you that money.
-Awesome.

I love you very much.

Speak to you. Speak to you soon.

-Bye.
-Bye.

Bye.

It's on.
Women's round of 32 surfing.

It's game on.

There goes the South
African Jessie Van Niekerk.

Yeah, nice
turn from Jessie.

Lovely pace to the
combination for Isabella Nichols.

She's just surfing to
the conditions on hand.

South African Jessie Van Niekerk,
maybe a little bit of urgency.

Now needs to get the
heat moving forward.

They all seem to be struggling a
little with the line up this morning.

It's very important for
Jess to make her round.

It will do her very,
very good to know

that she can actually beat
some of the big names.

Jessie Van
Niekerk will have to find

close to the best
wave of the heat,

reaching her
requirements of 5.97.

Oh, the South African will
not find the number on that.

Back to the drawing board.

Perhaps not the answer to
her requirements of the 5.97.

I think I got a bit too
selective in the second half.

Just turn around and
look at that wave.

That wave there is giving
the two or three turns.

You were just missing them.

The smaller waves you need
to try and go, but go hard.

Yeah.

I skipped
the round of 48 this time

because I finished 12th in the
Challenger Series last year,

and if you're ranked high enough,
you get to skip the first round.

They were all breaking
that way, but they have moved back again.

What about the
intermediate waves in this set?

You like staying active,
so let's keep it active.

I have a surfing coach.

His name is Rodrigo Sousa.

We've known each other
since I started surfing,

when I was seven years old.

As a coach, he always kind of did
the father part too, in a way,

because 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.

He's more than a coach for me.

I want to win the event.
I need good results.

And if I want to be on tour, these
four events are really important,

and I need the points.

And a big
heat coming your way.

Let's go.

There goes
the World Junior Champion,

Lisbon's Francisca Veselko.

Nice two-ten combo from her.

It's a good start.

You want to start strong, and, you
know, the last turn was really strong.

Nice tight pivot on
the first turn for Leilani McGonagle.

She sets the pace
for the heat now,

with quite a bit
of time still left.

Young Portuguese surfer.
Nice, strong surfing.

Unfortunately,
she'll go down.

Let's go. Come on.

This is an important
wave for young Francisca Veselko.

What's she got here?

Sweet turn combo
for the young Portuguese surfer.

It's game on with
3:20 on the clock.

Okay,
so Francisca Veselko,

there is a score dropping in.

Taking so long.

It's bad for the heart.

The loss of blue
dropping in at a 7.83

Yeah!

A 7.83.

So, surfers, we have
a situation change.

Blue now in the lead.

Red, you are in second.

Red to go, looking for a 6.74.

Just one
snap opportunity there

We're counting
down, in four, three, two...

Let's go!

Yeah! Needed this.

Quite a
performance from the young surfer

from Lisbon, Portugal.

Francisca Veselko, watch for
the future for this young lady.

I
was really nervous.

We're here,
we accomplished so much!

Good one.

Wow. So, exciting heat.

It was surfer in
blue taking the win.

On the first year
of the Challenger Series,

I don't even think
I made one heat.

I just felt nervous and just
getting it a lot in my head.

I've improved a lot since then.

Mentally, I feel
strong, so bring it on.

This event is really important
because although I felt really good

about my first events,
the results weren't great.

So if I do want to move
up in the rankings,

like, I have to
start doing well now.

Here goes Wong.

Nice turn.

Ēwe exchanges. Sort of quick
wave. A decent one, cut the turns.

Fierro is in rhythm from her
nice wall in front of her.

Ēwe's second wave.

Medium-sized wave. Two
nice turns. Good control.

Riding under the
second one. Got some foam on.

She does pretty well just to
add a little extra to that.

Well, a little spicy there, huh?

Meanwhile, Etxabarri.

And that's a bit
better from her.

5.93, and jumps up to second.

Wong now in a little
bit of trouble.

They're chasing
the number, 5.81.

She just needs a little
more of an improvement.

This will be Etxabarri here.

She got under control
the lineup now.

Particularly control Ēwe Wong. They'll
be chasing her down on the 5.81.

As we get to the
end of the clock.

Ugh! Damn.

I'm hard
on myself when I lose.

I haven't really met
any of my expectations.

The biggest challenge
that I've faced this year

is just getting
out of my own head.

Here
in beautiful Ballito.

It's the round of 32, heat 4.

And here comes Erin
Brooks, Zoe Benedetto,

Sophia Medina and Minami Nonaka.

Sophia Medina off
to a quick start.

Zoe Benedetto.

Nice snap for her.

Sophia Medina is in the lead.

Nice big open turn.

She has showed remarkable steps in
improving over the last 18 months.

Sophia has been
working on her "A" game,

like going to the wave systems

and really trying to figure out
that element of her surfing.

Two-ten
combo for Sophia Medina.

Ten minutes to go.

Nonaka, nice and sound
fundamentals to that lip line.

We see a new heat leader now.

Slipping under five minutes.

Sophia Medina will just
climb up into the lip.

Just keeping that
scorecard turning over.

Two surfers advance.

Medina, second place position.

Onto the round of 16.

-I didn't think I'd do it!
-You were in first place.

I hit the water and
I thought, "Damn it!"

No, you passed!

Ah!

I'm
just glad to make it through.

It was a tough heat,
but we made it.

So on to the next round.

-Daughter.
-Mother.

Is it going to be fun?

My mom
is really helpful.

I call my mom every day, and
she talks me through things.

So.

Thoughts?

What are your thoughts?

You got the first
wave. Excellent.

You need to carry that early start
momentum through the whole heat.

But you handled
yourself with composure.

You didn't seem
particularly nervous.

All the things that kind of were
in the hang-ups of last year.

-Yeah.
-And I think that's, like, a positive

move in a good direction.

It's a learning process.

It's not any kind of
indication on your talent.

But you definitely have things
that you have to work on,

and you have to decide whether or
not you're willing to work on them.

I mean, what are your takeaways?

My surfing felt good.

Like, I didn't
feel disconnected.

But I definitely
was playing it safe.

I do have a fear of failure.

Um, I feel like I
even go into heats,

like, hoping to not lose and
just wanting to make it through.

And I'm not thinking
about actually winning,

which is part of the mental game

that comes with being
a competitive athlete.

Literally, everybody who watches you
surf knows what your talent level is.

It's whether or not
you're willing to commit

to what it takes to be
a competitive surfer.

That is in question.

And it's fine if that's
not what you want.

Like, if you want
to be a free surfer,

I'll back you 100%.

Like, I think you do all the
things for the most part necessary

to be the best surfer
that you can be.

I don't think you do all the
things that are necessary

to be the best competitor
that you can be.

Does that seem like a
reasonable sort of assessment?

Yeah, that
is very reasonable.

I see the other competitors
and what they're doing

to be the best competitive
surfer that they can be,

and I definitely don't do that.

Like, working out,
working with a coach,

all that stuff that
typically athletes do.

I 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,

I just feel like I would feel
even more not great about myself.

You've got three
more contests to go.

That's lots of opportunity

if you want to grasp it.

Yes.

I'm excited for those events.

Okay, well, I will
talk to you later.

Have fun. Support your friends
if they're still in the contest.

-I love you so much.
-Love you too.

Bye, Mom.

-It's firing.
-Getting bigger.

You guys want to go surf?

-Maybe after this coffee.
-Same.

So are you guys really competitive,
like even outside the competition?

Always.

Like, when I was small
and I used to play...

Before I started,
like, actually surfing,

like, I used to play tennis

-Really?
-And before tennis,

I was also, like, in karate.

And I was so competitive.

Like, I have videos of
me, like in the karate.

We were just warming
up and I was running

trying to be the fastest one.

I'm very competitive,
but now I managed

to be a less out of the water

-Yes.
-You know?

-You're managing that well.
-Yeah.

I never was very
competitive, like...

But now I see that I really
need to be competitive.

I think it's important
to just, like,

now bring that out
of the water as well.

Sometimes we surf so much
and we compete so much

that you kind of forget, like...

-Why you really want it.
-...why you really surf.

Sometimes I'm, like, in the
water, like, frustrated.

Or I'm like, I don't want to
even be in the water sometimes.

But I'm like, just tired. I'm
like, "Ugh, I don't want to..."

I don't want to even surf.

And then I think, like, why am
I... Why am I not happy about it

if this is like what I
actually love the most?

But then if I go free-surf
with my brother, like,

all those feelings,
like, come back

like, "Ah, I love surfing."

I think surfing's
very much like that

because, like, everyone has doubts and
everyone has days that is just, like...

It's not made for me, or, like,
those deep thoughts comes.

When you
need to do well,

you automatically put
pressure on yourself.

And the mental part
is very important.

It's the thing that
we all struggle with.

-You lose more than you win.
-For sure, 100%.

And all the hard work, you're
like... You lost and you're like,

"Wow, but I'm doing
everything right."

I'm doing... I'm
surfing so many hours.

Like, I'm going to the gym.

I'm doing all the things I need
to do to be a professional surfer.

And when you lose,
it's so painful.

There are a lot of
mental obstacles in surfing.

We are all fighting
the same battles.

We're all losing or winning.

We're all trying to improve.

I just try to do everything I
can to be in a good mindset.

When you win, it's
like it's all worth it.

Introducing heat number one, round
of 16 for the Women's Division.

The World Surf
League's Challenger Series

gearing up for a
day of competition.

This is the round before
the quarterfinals.

In this contest, you got
to be careful about your choices.

You need also to get waves.

And some people really,
like, just wait for so long.

And maybe you won't get
that wave you're waiting for

because here is
very inconsistent,

and you've got to take
any opportunity you have.

Our
first round of 16 heat.

You've got to
have different strategies

once you are person on person.

You're only focusing
on one other athlete.

It's time to get
this contest underway for the day.

It's gonna
be a very exciting heat.

Let's have a look at Sierra Kerr, if
she could belt anything of her own.

There she goes into the lip.

Straight back, Sophia Medina.

So both surfers just
striking the lip.

Front-foot surfing from her,

and she gets into another
quick two-ten combo.

Big smile on her face as
well. She's liking that.

I think Sophia's
a very powerful surfer.

She's getting better
at surfing, skill-wise.

I really admire her work
ethic and dedication.

And
under priority.

She's just gonna keep
that scorecard moving.

And, again, nice, clean
combination she's surfing.

Nice and fluid.

Fifteen seconds.

Young Sierra
Kerr will just pack the bags

and just think it's been a...

You can see the visual
frustration there.

Sophia Medina on her way
to the quarterfinals.

I thought she
might throw an air, you know?

I was like, "She's going for
an air, I gotta stop that!"

Can they
take a photo with you?

You're welcome.

Feels so good.

I just can't believe I've been here,
like, for the past three years,

just trying to make the round two,
and now I'm in the quarterfinals.

That's an amazing feeling.

I'm going for everything.

Like, you know, it's
nothing or everything.

Feels so good to be in the
quarterfinals for the first time.

Woo!

Welcome you to the
last heat to decide the quarterfinal,

as we greet you with
Francisca Veselko,

the young Portuguese surfer,
current World Junior Champion,

taking on rising
star Bella Kenworthy.

You've
been surfing nonstop.

Find your spots, be proactive.

You can't control the rest.
Control yourself and let it be.

Be proactive, right?

Let's do this.

This is the
final heat of the round of 16,

as we cut the field in half.

One more surfer to add
to the quarterfinals,

and the field at the Ballito
Pro will be down to eight.

Big section here for
Francisca Veselko.

She is leading this
one at the moment.

Come on, Kika.

That's
Bella Kenworthy.

And stick to that,
nice and strong.

Softer section,

and incomplete for the young
Portuguese surfer Francisca Veselko.

It's not a great run.

She just needs to find one section
to hit hard and get the seven points.

Nothing really standing
out at us yet in the final heat

before the quarterfinals
get underway.

Getting scores is
not... because you've got a lot

of these one-maneuver waves.

But that's a little bit
of an opportunity lost.

Number in
favor of Bella Kenworthy,

and that exchange brings
her into the lead.

Ten and a half on the clock.

Ah, this might be a good one.

This first...
lots of spray off that.

And then a little sniff there,

but a bit indecisive with that
oncoming section and what to do.

Bella Kenworthy
looking to hold on to this lead here.

She's certainly trying to nudge
her scorecard ahead of herself.

Under 90 seconds remaining.

Can the
young Portuguese surfer

find the opportunity
for the number?

A bump approaches, but the
clock is on the countdown.

It looks like the clock may
just beat the opportunity

for Francesca Veselko
to find another ride.

And that is gonna be the story.

So... so unfortunate.

I tried to pick
up speed with the closeout wave.

Be proud.

It wasn't there.

Look ahead.

It's tough.
This is my third year on the Challenger.

It's a learning process, but maybe
I'm just getting ahead of myself

and I just want
to qualify so bad.

And it's hard like...

not having the results.

I don't know how to explain it.

Let's call big brother.

Let's call Bi.

-Hey, Bi!
-What's up, little one?

Were you sleeping?

Uh, no.

Good
job. You made a heat.

-Thank you.
-Tomorrow, you're gonna make again.

Hopefully, the waves are better.

Yes, hopefully.

It was so nice because, this
heat, I waited for the right wave.

That's... That's a good sign.

Yeah.

-Let's try to improve.
-Yes.

If I could ask you one advice

you would give me
here for my next heat.

Yeah, follow your heart

and enjoy your
time in the water.

Surf is so fun, and you love it.

Uh, you know Dad is
there on the beach.

-Yes.
-Go surf for him.

Yes. I'll do that.

Tomorrow, I'm gonna be
rooting for you here.

Thank you, my brother.

Kisses Bi, I love you!

I'll sleep some more.

-Always sleeping.
-Love you guys! Smash it, okay?

Love you so much, Bi!

I love
you too. Take care.

-Love you too.
-I love you!

Oh, I miss him.

Talking to Mom and Bi is
hard because now I miss them even more.

You miss
more when you speak more.

-It's real, yeah.
-But we have each other.

Yeah.

Sacrifices we make.

-Very good.
-Yeah, we're here.

-Let's make it worth it.
-Yeah.

Welcome to
quarterfinals stage of competition.

Eight ladies remain in these
surfer-on-surfer heats.

Today's a big day.

I haven't been to
quarterfinals yet.

I've come this far.

Quarterfinals, it's a
really good spot to be.

My strategy is just
focusing and believing

that I can adapt

and really improvise out there.

Sophia Medina
taking on Ellie Harrison.

Here it goes.

Yeah, look at this quick
start there, Medina.

So, clear statement from her.

Harrison...

Ellie really
utilizing a good bottom turn there.

Putting a lot of
board on the rail.

Medina
again off the bottom.

Snaps one.

And pushing hard here.

Another hit off the rail.

Try to get the third turn in
and it wasn't really there.

Time check, eight minutes.

Ellie also this
wave, a little bit bigger now.

What's gonna happen
on the inside?

Very similar to her last wave.

But that one she just
goes up a little bit late.

Four on the clock.

Medina, nice turn.

Still a tight heat,
though. A tight contest.

Harrison having a look at that.

Here she goes.

Nice first turn.

She'll still be chasing
Medina now with priority.

Final minute here. Crucial wave.

This one, Medina will
take this, and bang.

Drifts a nice turn off the top.

And a smile from her.

I think she's just kind of
saying, "What else can I do?"

Just can't believe I'm in the
semifinals of the Challenger Series.

And I take every advice my
brother and my Dad give to me.

I tell him, "We're
going to do this."

And he's like, "Yes, we are. I
know that already. We're doing it."

It's quarterfinals
and then semifinals.

And then let's
hope for the final.

Whoo!

Last year, I came here every
single day with my mom.

-Wow. You came with your mom?
-Yeah.

Here? You guys had that?

-I had that.
-Oh.

So good.

I needed this.

I met Sophia, like,
six or seven years ago.

She's always been
super cool and sweet.

We're very supportive
of each other.

It's nice to talk to
someone about the struggles

of competing and being
on the Challenger.

-So you surfed yesterday?
-Yeah.

The first
heats are the hardest.

After I, like,
made it past the...

-Then you're just like...
-Yeah.

-I'm like, okay, I'm happy.
-Yes.

That is true. You're
already satisfied.

-Yeah.
-Yes.

Do you have, like, sometimes
you have a bad surf

-and you're just like...
-Yes.

And it dictates my mood
for the rest of the day.

I used to do well with the loss.

Like, I lost. Okay, I'll
get better and better.

But then, like, the last couple
events that I lost at home,

it was really hard to deal.

Like, I don't know.

Sometimes you're even more experienced,
but somehow, the losses are just...

-Really hard.
-Yes.

-Especially the regional ones too.
-Mm-hmm.

Those 30-minutes heat,

sometimes we think it means that
we're like... It means everything.

-Like life or death.
-Yes, exactly.

But I think it's good to be a
little hard on yourself sometimes,

-because that's when you get better.
-Right, for sure.

So, like, if you're always
like, "Oh, that's okay."

-It won't go...
-You can't be complacent.

-You have to push yourself.
-Yes. Yes, exactly.

Surfing and competing really
teaches you how to be resilient...

True.

...and overcome adversity.

Yes. And I think, like, the ones
that are most strong and stay

and is very, like, resilient are
the ones that are gonna get there.

I agree.

This year, I'm
really trying to...

if I do have a bad result,
try to push it aside

and just enjoy where I am.

Yes. I really get that that.

-That's like...
-Power of the mind.

Power of the mind, yeah.

So we have under ten
minutes to start, surfers.

Under ten minutes to start.

It is finals day here
at the 2024 Ballito Pro.

It's a big semifinal to start.

Vahiné Fierro against
Sophia Medina.

So find your seats in the sand

and let's watch some
exciting surfing here.

Let's check
out semifinal number one.

Vahiné Fierro of France taking
on Sophia Medina from Brazil.

Oh, gets this lay back.
Very quick start here for Sophia.

Fierro
off the bottom. Bang.

There's that radical approach.

Medina has got a lead
early on in this.

There's a slightly safe finish.

Oh, she gets washed
over the rock.

That isn't safe.

Wow.

She has been
smashed on those rocks.

Sophia Medina.

Definitely
pain on the back there.

Oh no.
This is not good.

I want to be
a world champion surfer,

and the only way to
do that is to win.

You draw so much from your oh
an a, from your family, from the ocean.

Take that power
and be like, "Ah!"

Kika.

Three stops
left on the Challenger tour.

Hits it off the lip.

Love it, love it.

That's three
chances that could make or break

-my surfing career...
-This heat's fired up.

...and my
championship dreams.

That's
a great combo.

Oh, that was nice!

I'm here to collect
some prize money. Also...

Okay,
so now we're on.

Everything matters. I'm
not here just for fun.

You guys are awesome
people to hang out with.

Despite the
incredible highs...

I'm happy.

Oh, no.

...and the
devastating lows.

...just made a mistake.

...I've got to stay focused
and keep my head in the game.

Obviously, I have a lot
of things to work on.

Challenger isn't just
something you breeze through.

Everything in surfing
is such a fine line.

-Don't overthink it, be instinctive.
-Yeah.

But then also, like,
you want to be focused

and use your brain.

This isn't
just about a trophy.

I really want to
qualify for the tour.

This is my life.

We're just fighting for
a spot on the world tour.

-See you in the heat.
-See you in the heat.