The World Surf League is gearing up for the Freshwater Pro to be held at the Surf Ranch in Lemoore. As part of the WSL women’s initiative, the Rising Tides Program hosted the women’s Freshwater Pro Trials and will run the expression session on Saturday, September 21 before the Finals. 

Earlier this week, seven of the best up-and-coming American surfers competed at the Surf Ranch to battle for the women’s Rising Tides wildcard. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) took the win after her waves were scored by WSL Associate Head Judge Luli Pereira and guest judges Lisa Andersen and Shane Beschen.

Bryan, 17, is Hawaii’s 2018 Regional QS and Regional Junior Champion. The Trials marked Bryan’s first time surfing at the Surf Ranch facility and now the Freshwater Pro will be Bryan’s first time competing in a Championship Tour event.

“I was beyond excited when I got the call from Jessi Miley-Dyer about the Rising Tides Trials,” said Bryan. “The opportunity to surf at the Surf Ranch and to compete for the wildcard was so special, and it was even more amazing to do it with all my friends. It is always so inspiring to see the up-and-coming girls ripping, just having fun and catching great waves. To be in the contest as my first CT is super cool and I cannot wait.”

Kade Matson (USA) was selected as the event wildcard by the Tours and Competition team based on his No. 1 ranking in the North America Junior Division and after his win at the 2019 Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior event. Competing in his first CT event only a few hours away from home, Matson is excited to compete alongside his friends from San Clemente.

“It’s huge for me to be in this event because it’s the highest level of competing for surfing right now and being just a junior and getting into it is huge for me,” Matson said. “And it’s cool too that I have a few friends in the event like Crosby (Colapinto), Griffin (Colapinto), and Kolohe (Andino) so it should be a blast. I am most looking forward to surfing that wave again. I had a practice day the other day and now I just want to keep going back because the wave is insane.”

The Freshwater pro kicks off Sept 19th.