<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Alyssa Spencer </strong>(USA) and <strong>Dimitri Poulos </strong>(USA) have emerged victorious at the <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2025/qs/464/la-marginal-surfing-pro/main" target="_blank">La Marginal Surfing Pro</a>, a World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 4,000-level event, in stunning fashion. Two-to-four-foot, clean morning conditions gave way to steadily increasing winds that offered more high-performance clashes to crown Spencer and Poulos the event victors over <strong>Eden Walla</strong> (USA) and <strong>Hayden Rodgers </strong>(USA). A marquee event in the 2026 Challenger Series qualification race is in the books, and it provided a rankings shuffle heading into the back half of the season. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Spencer Reestablishes Herself Atop the Podium in Excellent Form</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A former Championship Tour (CT) contender, <strong>Alyssa Spencer’s</strong> (USA) dominance on the North America region now includes an eighth QS victory with her La Marginal Surfing Pro win. The 22-year-old, Spencer, currently sits at No. 11 on the Challenger Series in hopes of rejoining the world’s best on the CT and found her winning form once again among the region’s top Challenger Series qualification hopefuls. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“This feels really great It’s been over a year since I won a contest, so that feels really good to have that winning feeling again, get that back and find my rhythm in the jersey,” said Spencer. “This event was really good for my confidence, just competing and surfing in a lot of heats. It’s a good ground level going into the rest of the year. Hopefully I don’t have to come back to the regional events to do that, and I can stay on the Challenger Series. This is a great step to help me feel comfortable in the jersey.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The women’s Final featured cemented North America standout <strong>Alyssa Spencer</strong> (USA) facing one of the region’s fastest rising talents, <strong>Eden Walla </strong>(USA). The first exchange just moments after horn sounded proved to be pivotal with Spencer’s forehand attack providing an excellent 8.00 (out of a possible 10) start to Walla’s 6.83. Spencer was able to find a quick backup to extend her lead, but Walla answered back with a fiery backhand attack to post a 7.50 and took control of the heat with 20 minutes remaining. However, the former Championship Tour (CT) contender, Spencer, rose to the occasion to lay down more of her forehand power to post a 6.83 of her own and regain the lead.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Heading into the final 10 minutes, Walla continued searching for her 7.34 requirement but couldn’t bring down her progressive flair and ultimately Spencer held firm for a momentous win.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Spencer's road to the Final went through the region's best including current No. 1 <strong>Bailey Turner </strong>(USA) in the Quarterfinals before facing <strong>Chelsea Tuach</strong> (BAR) in an all-former CT Semifinal clash. Now, Spencer awaits her return to the Challenger Series at the Lexus Pipe Challenger beginning January 29, 2026. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Poulos’ Dream Run Earns Historic, Back-to-Back Wins in Puerto Rico</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dimitri Poulos</strong> (USA) continues to take the professional surfing world by storm, earning a third-career QS victory and pushing the pace as North America No. 1. Poulos’ outstanding 2025 year has him ranked No. 11 on the Challenger Series, and within striking distance of CT qualification, along with finding major results on the QS in between. The 22-year-old standout, Poulos, now awaits his return to the Challenger Series at the Lexus Pipe Challenger on January 29, 2026.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"It feels pretty unreal. Yesterday I was surfing my first heat and I'm just happy to be here today," said Poulos. "I've had a few results on the Challenger Series and I'm excited for Pipe, but with the break, I'll just do as many regional events as I can. I have so many people I'm thankful for. I want to give the biggest shoutout to my parents, without them I wouldn't be here. Thank you for all the support online, and from the boys here and back home." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A slow start to the men’s Final gave way to fireworks from Poulos and event standout <strong>Hayden Rodgers</strong> (USA). Poulos’ backhand attack overpowered El Rastrial’s running left to post an excellent 8.10 against Rodgers’ massive alley-oop to post an 8.50. A hard-fought battle continued with both surfers finding backup scores with the nod going to Poulos' relentless backhand precision, earning a 6.83 to regain the lead and hold firm until the final sounded to make history. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Poulos' Finals Day surge included a Quarterfinal win over proven QS and Challenger Series contender <strong>Josh Burke</strong> (BAR), where he posted a day's best 8.83, before moving into the Semifinals against Encinitas, Calif. competitor <strong>Greyson Grant </strong>(USA). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Pivotal Runner-up Finishes for Eden Walla and Hayden Rodgers</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Multi-Challenger Series wildcard and now three-time QS victor, <strong>Eden Walla’s</strong> (USA) blossoming career is beginning to show she’s a force among North America’s contenders. The 16-year-old, Walla, blitzed through the La Marginal Surfing Pro to claim her first QS win away from home waters in California. This marked her first Final of the 2025/2026 season and Walla didn’t let the opportunity slip away to jump up to No. 2 on the rankings. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I've had a couple Quarterfinals in a row now so to make a Final feels really good," said Walla. "When I got that interference yesterday, it's one of my favorite heats I've ever surfed looking back. I felt like I did a good job of staying calm and coming in today. I was just stoked to be here and have that confidence. Alyssa is an amazing surfer, she's a CT surfer in my eyes, so coming up against her felt like a great opportunity to push myself and hopefully one of these days I'll get here (laughs)."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Walla had to overcome rising talent <strong>Zoey Kaina</strong> (USA) in the Quarterfinals before battling with event standout <strong>Daya McCart</strong> (USA), posting more excellence heading into the Final against Spencer to earn her best result of the season so far. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Already a QS win to his name, <strong>Hayden Rodgers</strong> (USA) reestablished himself as one of North America’s emerging threats with a runner-up at the La Marginal Surfing Pro. Rodgers’ signature aerial antics helped pave the way to a Final at El Rastrial after a Semifinal finish in 2024. The 19-year-old, Rodgers, powered through Finals Day with victories over QS threat<strong> John Mel</strong> (USA) in the Quarterfinals and an in-form <strong>Eeli Timperi</strong> (FIN) in their Semifinal clash to move up to No. 4 on the rankings. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"It felt really good to go one more heat than last year. It's great to get a result, still a little weird when you get second and don't know how to feel about it, but getting that confidence knowing I can make to a Final is good," said Rodgers. "Seeing the consistency in events go up is great. The goal is always Finals Day, even though things happen in heats. This wave really suits my surfing which is cool and it was great to just surf and have fun what I'm doing."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next stop of the 2025/2026 North America QS season is the <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2025/wqs/4996/super-girl-surf-pro" target="_blank">Super Girl Surf Pro Presented by Jersey Mike’s Subs</a>, beginning November 8 through 9 in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>La Marginal Surfing Pro Women’s Final Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1- Alyssa Spencer (USA) 14.83 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 - Eden Walla (USA) 14.33</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>La Marginal Surfing Pro Men’s Final Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1- Dimitri Poulos (USA) 14.53</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 - Hayden Rodgers (USA) 14.33</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>La Marginal Surfing Pro Women’s Semifinal Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Alyssa Spencer (USA) 15.00 DEF. Chelsea Tuach (BAR) 9.77</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Eden Walla (USA) 11.94 DEF. Daya McCart (USA) 9.23</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>La Marginal Surfing Pro Men’s Semifinal Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Hayden Rodgers (USA) 11.67 DEF. Eeli Timperi (FIN) 11.03</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Dimitri Poulos (USA) 14.00 DEF. Greyson Grant (SWE) 9.77</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>La Marginal Surfing Pro Women’s Quarterfinal Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Alyssa Spencer (USA) 11.67 DEF. Lanea Mons (USA) 10.24</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Chelsea Tuach (BAR) 11.60 DEF. Bailey Turner (USA) 9.90</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 3: Eden Walla (USA) 13.83 DEF. Zoey Kaina (USA) 10.03</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 4: Daya McCart (USA) 12.00 DEF. Victoria Duprat (USA) 11.23</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>La Marginal Surfing Pro Men’s Quarterfinal Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Eeli Timperi (FIN) 13.17 DEF. Taj Lindblad (USA) 9.76</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Hayden Rodgers (USA) 10.80 DEF. John Mel (USA) 9.50</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 3: Dimitri Poulos (USA) 14.00 DEF. Josh Burke (BAR) 13.87</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 4: Greyson Grant (SWE) 12.93 DEF. Lucas Cassity (MEX) 12.33</div><div> </div>