San Clemente Teen Surfer Samantha Sibley Wins Against Some of World’s Best at Super Girl Surf Pro

Samantha Sibley, a San Clemente Surfer, is making her way up the pro circuit. This 17-year-old surfer is making waves in the industry as she took down some of the biggest names in surfing on Sunday, July 28, at the Super Girl Surf Pro in Oceanside.

The said event is a precursor to a bigger one called Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. Female athletes are in the spotlight during this event.

The women’s event at the U.S Open of surfing is set at 7:30 am. Tuesday, July 30.

Sibley’s Super Girl Surf Pro win (QS 6,000) was her first World Qualifying Series Title. This win makes her the youngest champion at this surf contest.

“This is the best day of my life,” Sibley said in a news release after the competition. “I’ve been coming to this event ever since I was little, standing on this beach, taking pictures with all my heroes, and now to be the Super Girl . . . I’m at a loss for words.”

During the early round 2, a fellow San Clemente teen surfer Kirra Pinkerton was an early bet. She won the heat, scoring 15.27 over Sibley’s 11.23. Both of them proceeded to the next round.

In the quarterfinal match, Sibley earned 12.16 against Pinkerton’s 10.70 score. With only 0.33 margin, Sibley slipped the World Tour Surfer Caroline Marks during the semifinals: 10.40 to 10.07. This score earned Sibley a spot in the finals.

During the finals, she went against the Tour Surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb. Scoring 8.0, Sibley single-handedly took the victory.

Sibley noted that it meant the world to her to be out there with Tatiana. She has looked up to her over the years, and now they’re really good friends.

Her win took her from the 52nd to the sixth in the QS rankings. The chances of her landing on next year’s World Tour get higher if she keeps her momentum.

The U.S. Open of Surfing (QS 10,000) will afford Sibley, alongside other women surfers, a chance to earn more points to move up the rankings.

The 12th year of Super Girl Surf Pro included concerts, a ‘women’s skateboarding competition, and an all-female DJ contest. It also featured an Air Force Female Fitness Challenge, yoga, and dance classes.