Caption: Nineteen-year-old Jordy Collins (USA) claimed the North America Men’s QS Regional Title after a huge breakout year.
Credit: WSL/ Nichols
HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/ USA (Tuesday, November 28, 2017) – The World Surf League (WSL) is proud to formally announce its North America Regional Champions after concluding its 2017 regional season November 19 at the men’s Qualifying Series (QS) Pismo Beach Open QS1,000 presented by Dignity Health. The winner of each QS Regional Champion Title is granted seeding into the highest rated events, a QS10,000, for the first half of the following year — giving them the opportunity to qualify for the Championship Tour (CT).
The Regional Junior Tours offer competitors 18-and-under a chance to vie for a chance to compete at the World Junior Championships. The men’s Top 4 from each region are guaranteed a spot into the event as the Top 2 women also earn their place at Kiama, Australia, in January.
Caption: Collins’ Quarterfinal result at the Jack’s Surfboards Pro boosted him to No. 1 early on, but had to fight back by year’s end.
Credit: WSL/ Nilton Baptista
A long season for the men’s QS regional season, stretching from January 13 to November 19, ended with 19-year-old Jordy Collins (USA) earning the 2017 North America Men’s QS Regional Title. It was a hard-fought year for the up-and-coming talent, who made his way to No. 95 on the international this year before the Hawaiian Pro QS10,000, that ended with a needed Quarterfinal result at Pismo Beach. Collins’ year had multiple highlights that included a career best, runner-up result at the Ron Jon Vans Pro QS1,000 and two Quarterfinal appearances en route to his first-ever Regional Title.
“I wasn’t even thinking about it the whole year, but I knew I was right there and to actually get it is great,” Collins said. “My junior career has been pretty lackluster so to come out my first year on the QS and earn this title means a lot. It’s reassuring to know I can put scores together, I can make heats, and I can win a title. There were a bunch of standout moments throughout the year just with Chile and the waves there, but to get this title is the best feeling that can’t be topped. I’m stoked to get a few results throughout the year and string it together.”
“I’m psyched knowing there’s not as much pressure trying to get certain numbers and seeds by chasing events — I’ll be seeded in those big events right away,” Collins added. “It’s going to be nice not having to do some of those events like random QS1,500s across the world I had to do this year so I’m really looking forward to just putting my focus into these bigger ones and giving it my all.”
Caption: Caroline Marks (USA) continues to amaze the surfing world and did so in great form to claim the region’s top honor.
Credit: WSL/ Nichols
Caroline Marks’ (USA) remarkable 2017 ended with her first North America QS Regional Title at age 15. Marks finished off the regional season with an exclamation point at the Paul Mitchell Neon Supergirl Pro QS6,000 — earning a Semifinal finish and taking the title by 15 points. The Floridian-turned-California transplant went on a tear after her equal 13th result to start the year by earning a Semifinal appearance at the Barbados Surf Pro and followed with a Quarterfinal result at the Los Cabos Open of Surf.
“This year has just been great and to cap it off with this title is pretty special,” Marks said. “I didn’t put too much pressure on myself this whole year and, working with Mike Parsons, he’s really helped me a lot just learning how to keep having fun. Everything’s felt like it’s falling into place, but I’ve been training every day and surfing as much as I can every single day, so I feel like I’ve put the work in. It didn’t just fall in my lap. I’m starting to love the training process and I know it’s going to do nothing but help me.”
Caption: Marks’ deadly backhand attack was just one of the factors that earned her the Regional Title.
Credit: WSL/ Laurent Masurel
“I think looking back on growing up with my brothers and the competitiveness we have has really been a huge thing in what I’m doing now,” Marks said. “I’ve still got them to surf with a bunch and they always push me so much. Even running heats with them in the water gets so competitive it’s not even funny. I’d come in crying from the water sometimes, but it’s only made me better. I’m so thankful for them and my parents for all their support throughout my life, it’s amazing to have them by my side.”
More on Marks’ history-making CT qualification to follow the men’s QS finale at Sunset Beach, Oahu, and announce the 2018 North America rookie class.
Caption: Ryland Rubens (USA) (L) and Alyssa Spencer (USA) (R) also earned their first-ever Regional Titles in great fashion.
Credit: WSL/ Nichols
The Junior Tour continues to offer a glimpse of the talent each region has to offer and this year’s battle for No. 1 was no exception. While a Top 4 spot earns you a place into the men’s World Junior Championships, only the No. 1 can claim the outright title of North America. The 2017 North America Junior Regional Titles in Dedication to Zander Venezia went to Ryland Rubens (USA) and Alyssa Spencer (USA) after incredible performances throughout the year.
Rubens did just that straight out of the gates with a win at the Ron Jon Vans Pro Junior and did not relinquish that top spot for the entire year. The Ocean Beach, California, native followed up his win with a runner-up in Los Cabos and looked well on his way to a dominant year. But, following a Quarterfinal appearance, Rubens began to falter with an equal 13th and equal 9th in consecutive events that left the door open. The 18-year-old caught a break in Barbados and his fellow contenders did not earn the result needed — claiming his first-ever regional title.
Caption: Ryland Rubens (USA) will be one to watch in his first full season among the QS elite.
Credit: WSL/ John Ferguson
“It feels nice to look back at this year and, even though there were some ups and downs, know I held the lead the entire year to earn this title,” Rubens said. “I think I got complacent towards the end after having that lead for so long and that’s what nearly got me. I learned it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and to also not get to high on the highs, as well as too low on the lows. It’s good to learn these things now because I feel it will serve me well in the future as I take on the QS. It’s meaningful to finish out my junior career with this title because it’s really hard to put a full year together and to know that I can do that is nice to have in my head moving forward.”
This also marks Rubens’ first appearance at the World Junior Championships of his Pro Junior career as he ages out of the Junior Tour next year.
Caption: Alyssa Spencer (USA) continues to be a top threat among her junior peers and is only building steam.
Credit: WSL/ Nichols
Fellow San Diego County surfer Spencer was on track to earn the North America Women’s Junior Regional Title last year, but fell just short in the final event. However, the 14-year-old came out of the gates firing once again and defended her Ron Jon Vans Pro Junior win to start the season. Spencer also followed up her win with a runner-up in Los Cabos before her mid-year slump at the Vans US Open — though the damage was done. Spencer headed into the final event of 2017 with nearly a 600-point lead and capped it off with a runner-up finish.
“It’s really cool to finally get the title this year after I watched Leilani make it to the Final last year and win the title along with the contest,” Spener said. “I was so happy for her, but I really wanted to get it so this is special to earn it this year. I’ve wanted to check this off my list for awhile now and I’m so happy. This year I felt like I was in a really good rhythm in each contest. It was great to make a couple Finals and make a run at Worlds once again — that’s always the goal at the end of the year.”
“I’m just going to be preparing for that event now and pushing my surfing the best I can,” Spencer added. “The other girls are just continuing to get better and we’re all pushing each other harder every time we’re in the water. It’s really exciting to see that and to have that experience last year against them, as well as surfing against them on the QS this year, I know to expect their best.”
The 2018 North America season begins at the Florida Pro presented by Florida Beer Company Sunshine State Lager January 18 through 24 in Sebastian Inlet, Florida.
Jordy Collins 2017 Regional Title Counting Results: 2,075 points
Shoe City Pro QS1,000 – 25th
Ron Jon Vans Pro QS1,000 – 2nd
Jack’s Surfboards Pro QS1,500 – 5th
Thomo QS1,000 In Memory of Bill Thomson – 9th
Pismo Beach Open QS1,000 – 5th
Caroline Marks 2017 Regional Title Counting Results: 1,820 points
Shoe City Pro QS1,000 – 13th
Barbados Surf Pro QS3,000 – 3rd
Los Cabos Open of Surf QS6,000 – 5th
Paul Mitchell Neon Supergirl Pro QS6,000 – 3rd
Ryland Rubens 2017 Regional Title Counting Results: 2,750 points
Ron Jon Vans Pro Junior – 1st
Los Cabos Open of Surf – 2nd
Vans Pro Junior – 5th
RVCA Pro Junior – 13th
Live Like Zander Junior Pro In Memory of Zander Venezia – 9th
Alyssa Spencer 2017 Regional Title Counting Results: 2,500 points
Ron Jon Vans Pro Junior – 1st
Los Cabos Open of Surf – 2nd
Live Like Zander Junior Pro In Memory of Zander Venezia – 2nd
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