Kirra Pinkerton Soars To Victory At U.S. Air Force Super Girl Surf Pro

Originally posted on SURFER | By Jake Howard | Last updated Nov 11, 2024 11:08 AM ET

Stormy, ragged three- to five-foot surf was the order of the day for the finals of the U.S. Air Force Super Girl Pro in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, but that was all good with San Clemente's Kirra Pinkerton. Her hometown has slogged its way through a dismal run of waves this fall, so anything with a little push and power was a welcomed break from the norm. It was so welcomed, in fact, that Pinkerton put in one of her most inspired performances of the year.

Dispatching Canada's Sanoa Dempfle-Olin in the final to top the podium, Pinkerton's talent was on true display in the semifinals, where she racked up a near-perfect 19.83 heat total against last year's winner, Hawaii's Keala Tomoda-Bannert. Posting a 10-point score in the heat, it was the first perfect score ever awarded in the Super Girl Pro in Jacksonville.

“This is an event I’d come watch as a little kid and my dad signed me up when I was 11 years old. It was my first QS and I just feel like it’s been a long time coming and I’m very thankful,” Pinkerton explained after the awards ceremony. “I just honestly feel relief. When you know what it’s like to lose so many times that when you win you just want it to keep going. It’s been amazing spending time with all the groms.”

For the effort, Pinkerson, who finished ranked 14th on the WSL Challenger Series in 2024, sets herself up for success next year as she now sits comfortably in first place on the WSL's North American Qualifying Series, ahead of Dempfle-Olin.

"To all the girls out there, there's going to be a lot weight on your shoulders sometimes but if you have fun it's the only way you can have success in life. I feel like that's where the success came from this week because I had a lot of fun," Pinkerton added.

Earlier this year, another San Clemente surfer, Eden Walla, took out the Super Girl Pro in Oceanside, California. At only 15 years old she set the record for the youngest-ever competitor to win the event. No doubt, the girls from San Clemente know how to win when it comes to Super Girl standouts.

Up next, the North American Qualifying Series heads south of the border for the Pacifico Cerritos Surf Open, which will run from November 20-23.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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