At 19, Tatiana Weston-Webb is a rookie in women’s world-class surfing. But Sunday at Oceanside Pier, the Hawaiian stamped herself as a wahini to watch.
Tatiana Weston-Webb won the Supergirl Pro surfing competition in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
“Tati” defeated Courtney Conlogue in the two-woman final to win the Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro, called the largest female surf contest in the world, with 112 entrants.
Last year’s runner-up won this time amid waves far smaller than at home in Kauai.
“I’m so stoked,” Weston-Webb told worldsurfleague.com. “It’s such a prestigious event because there’s so many great girls that have won here and I’m really happy to be a part of that tradition. My strategy was to take it one wave at a time and keep it slow instead of freaking out and rushing myself.”
More than a thousand turned out on the sand, lining the pier and visiting a village of commercial booths. Young girls seeking autographs greeted surfers as they came onto the beach.
Tatiana Weston-Webb waves to the crowd after winning the Supergirl Pro surfing competition in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
That’s not to say she isn’t already a world traveler. Weston-Webb has surfed in Fiji, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, France and Spain.
Two weeks ago, worldsurfleague.com reported: “During her first six months on the Women’s Samsung Galaxy Championship World Tour, … Weston-Webb has far exceeded expectations. She started the season at No. 16 on the Jeep leaderboard, and has since flown up the rankings to No. 7 in the world.”
Weston-Webb began surfing at age 8. Her mother was a professional bodyboarder.
“It was difficult to be in the right spot for the right wave throughout the event,” Weston-Webb was quoted as saying. “I noticed the judges were scoring one really big turn on the outside and I tried to focus on doing one big maneuver in my heats.
“I’m really looking forward to the Vans US Open of Surfing this week [in Huntington Beach], after hearing there may be some more waves and keeping my fingers crossed I do well there.”
Alessa Quizon navigates a wave in the Supergirl Pro women’s surfing competition in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
Malia Manuel from Hawaii hugs the pier on her way to shore. Photo by Chris Stone
Winner Tatiana Weston-Webb with hat is interviewed after winning the final. Photo by Chris Stone
Sage Erickson, who won the competition last year, signs for young fans. Photo by Chris Stone
Spectators line the beach beneath the officials tent. Photo by Chris Stone
Tatiana Weston-Webb emerges from the surf. Photo by Chris Stone
Local celebrities surfed prior to the final. Photo by Chris Stone
Fans greet Courtney Conlogue, holding her surfboard, as she wins a semifinal. Photo by Chris Stone
Sage Erickson (left) and Courtney Conlogue hug as they complete a semifinal. Photo by Chris Stone
Dimity Stoyle competes in a round of the Supergirl Pro women’s surfing contest in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
A photographer grabs shots of surfers as they compete. Photo by Chris Stone
Alessa Quizon navigates a wave in the Supergirl Pro women’s surfing competition in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
Courtney Conogue competed in the finals of the Supergirl Pro women’s surfing contest in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
Tatiana Weston-Webb won the Supergirl Pro surfing competition in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
Sage Erickson signs her autograph as dozens of girls hug her and get their photos taken with her. Photo by Chris Stone
Nikki Van Dijk competes in the semifinal of he Supergirl Pro women’s surfing contest in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
A surfing contest in Oceanside. File photo by Chris Stone
Alessa Quizon gets ready for her turn in the Supergirl Pro women’s surfing competition in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
Coco Ho rides the edge of the wave in the Supergirl Pro surfing contest i Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
Sage Erickson signs her autograph as dozens of girls hug her and get their photos taken with her. Photo by Chris Stone
Nikki Van Dijk competes in the semifinal of he Supergirl Pro women’s surfing contest in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
Nikki Van Dijk competes in the semifinal of he Supergirl Pro women’s surfing contest in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
Spectators lined the Oceanside Pier to watch the finals of the Supergirl Pro surfing competition. Photo by Chris Stone
Tatiana Weston-Webb won the Supergirl Pro surfing competition in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
Sage Erickson, last year’s winner, takes on a wave in the Supergirl Pro women’s surfing contest in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
Tatiana Weston-Webb waves to the crowd after winning the Supergirl Pro surfing competition in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
Tatiana Weston-Webb won the Supergirl Pro surfing competition in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
Nikki Van Dijk competes in the semifinal of he Supergirl Pro women’s surfing contest in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
Tatiana Weston-Webb won the Supergirl Pro surfing competition in Oceanside. Photo by Chris Stone
