Promising swell inbound for WSL longboard qualifier at Ala Moana Bowls

A solid swell is forecast for Monday, setting up favorable conditions for the World Surf League’s Local Motion Surf Into Summer At Home In The Hawaiian Islands—a one-day Longboard Qualifying Series 1,000 event that will determine regional qualifiers for the 2025 WSL Longboard Tour.

The event at Ala Moana Bowls on Oʻahu follows this weekend’s amateur and pro community competitions and will serve as the Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui regional longboard finale.

“It’s shaping up to be a promising day to crown our regional winners” said WSL Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Tour Manager Marty Thomas. “It’s going to be an exciting, highly competitive day with the WSL Longboard Tour qualification scenarios playing out.”

Jarrard leads women’s field into regional finale

The women’s field enters the Ala Moana Bowls arena with Sive Jarrard (American Samoa) leading the charge and everything left to surf for in the final event of the season. Jarrard’s runner-up at the 2024 Local Motion Surf Into Summer earned her a place on the WSL Longboard Tour, and now the 22-year-old looks to rejoin the world’s best. A historic win at Haleʻiwa pushed her to No. 1 on the rankings as she looks to maintain that momentum on O‘ahu’s South Shore. 

“The Local Motion contest is so much more than just a contest. Families come down, it’s an entire week event and it’s really exciting,” Jarrard said. “You’re going to feel all that mana and all the culture coming together. I feel more confident going into this event, but I know the other girls work just as hard as I do. I’m just going in with a positive mindset and try to do my thing.”

But, perennial World Title threat, and former event victor, Sophia Culhane (HAW) along with current regional No. 2 Luluhia Kane Blomfield (HAW), 2024 WSL Longboard Tour contender Natalia Wunderlich (HAW) and more look to shake up the rankings. 

Van Hohenstein returns after breakout tour year

A defining year for emerging WSL World Longboard Title contender John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) landed him at No. 3 on the rankings to finish 2024. One of Waikīkī’s newest elite, Van Hohenstein joins a running list of the South Shore’s World Longboard Title threats including 2023 WSL Longboard Champion Kai Sallas (HAW), 2022 WSL Longboard Title runner-ups Kaniela Stewart (HAW) and Kelis Kaleopa’a (HAW), and more. Now, Van Hohenstein looks to sharpen his style ahead of the 2025 WSL Longboard Tour start and add his name to the Local Motion Surf Into Summer legacy.

“I’m glad that they’re running the event and it’s such a fun event to run. The whole community is coming to hang out and I’m stoked everyone gets to surf and a chance for the WSL Longboard Tour,” Van Hohenstein said. “The other year I finished 11th and last year I didn’t make the Finals here at Bowls. So I got fortunate to get the wildcard into the WSL Longboard Tour last year and finished in the Top 10. I just want to stay there and hopefully be there for the next 20 years but we’ll see.”

Qualification scenarios wide open

After The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleʻiwa Pro, Jarrard and Sallas lead the rankings heading into Ala Moana Bowls. For Sallas, his 2024 WSL Longboard Title runner-up finish earned him a spot back onto the 2025 Tour which puts current No. 2 Nelson Ahina III (HAW) in the qualification position. A hungry field awaits to not only surpass Ahina III, but to also join Local Motion Surf Into Summer history as an event victor. 

With a one-day format and strong swell expected, rankings could shift quickly.

Event organizers will assess conditions on Monday, June 9 at 7 a.m. HST, with a likely 8 a.m. start.

More information is available at WorldSurfLeague.com.