Virginia Beach Pro Winner Completes East Coast QS Triple Crown

In the final, Owen notched a 14.30 heat total and impressively outsurfed Ventura’s Dimitri Poulos, who was a semifinalist at the US Open and is currently sixth on the Challenger Series. With the win, Owen achieved the rare feat of winning all three WSL Qualifying Series contests on the US East Coast in just two years. He won in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and the Outer Banks, North Carolina, last season. It was an especially meaningful day for Owen, who dedicated the win to his late friend, Jacob Vindetti. 

“I’m stoked,” said Owen, who hails from North Carolina. “I won Cocoa Beach and then the Outer Banks last year, so I’m stoked to win all three on the East Coast. This means a lot more because it wasn’t just about me. It was more for Jacob and this whole swell was ‘Jacob Swell’ and his foundation is ‘Live Fearlessly’ so that’ll keep living on and this is for him. It’ll be fun down in Outer Banks and hopefully there’s some waves and even if not I’m ready to grind it out.”

This may have been Ella’s first QS win on the East Coast, but she’s no stranger to the victor’s podium. She’s won at Nias and Morro Bay, two waves that couldn’t be more physically different. A dreamy right tube and soft beachbreaks, Ella has diversified her portfolio. Now on the back of her third career win, the 22-year-old from Encinitas moves atop the North America rankings with plans on qualifying for the 2026 Challenger Series. 

"I'm just so, so happy,” said Ella, who posted a 12.23 heat total in the final over Lanea Mons. “I'm over the moon right now. It was really nice to have a hurricane swell actually and have waves. It was nice to surf it out in the heats each day and have waves the whole week. I'm stoked to head back to the Outer Banks. That was my first QS a long time ago. I'm excited to be heading back there and hopefully keep the momentum going."