PAPARĀ, Tahiti, French Polynesia (Friday, May 9, 2025) - Today, Tya Zebrowski (FRA) and Kauli Vaast (FRA) claimed wins at the World Surf League (WSL) TOA Pro, a Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui men's and women's Qualifying Series (QS) 2,000, after a brilliant conclusion to the first event of the season. Four-to-six foot waves provided a high-performance showdown to crown Zebrowski, 14, and Vaast, 23, victors in dynamic form. This marks Zebrowski's first QS win in home waters after claiming the 2024/2025 WSL Europe QS Regional victory ahead of the 2025 Challenger Series - not earning points in the Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui region for this victory. For Vaast, it was unfinished business achieved after a runner-up in 2019.
Zebrowski and Vaast Provide Tahitian Sweep in Home Waters
A clash of Tahiti's prominent women threats including Tya Zebrowski (FRA), Kiara Goold (PYF), and Aelan Vaast (FRA) faced Hawaiʻi's newest QS contender Skai Suitt (HAW). Zebrowski's early start garnered a 13.25 (out of a possible 20) heat total over the field. Vaast's aggressive style was able to earn her a 7.75 (out of a possible 10) and put her name in the mix, but Zebrowski wasn't to be outdone. The Tahitian, Zebrowski, unleashed her decimating backhand attack to post a near-perfect 9.50 to all but solidify her victory - putting Goold and Suitt into a combination situation as time wound down.
"We had really good event Finals with really good waves. I'm super happy to get the win and hopefully I continue to feel this more this year," said Zebrowski. "It makes me feel more confident for the Challenger Series. I haven't done a contest for a long time so it feels good to compete again and now I'll hope to win in Australia. I'm really grateful to all my family and my sponsors for the support. "
Zebrowski's Round of 32 debut held as the women's top performance with over 17 points to her name heading into yet another dominant Quarterfinal showing. A tiebreak in the Semifinals went to Goold but Zebrowski brought her form to the Final when it mattered most for a bragging rights win as she doesn't get points surfing out of her Europe region.
The men's Final provided fireworks from start to finish with Tahitian duo Kauli Vaast (FRA) and Mihimana Braye (PYF) taking on Hawaiʻi's emerging talents MaiKai Burdine (HAW) and Luke Swanson (HAW). An intense battle kicked off with Braye posting near-excellence on a 7.75 before Burdine answered with a 7.00 of his own. Braye and Vaast then shared a massive exchange that pushed the scale with Vaast's impeccable timing and power posting a 9.25 alongside Braye's 8.25. The 2019 event runner-up, Vaast, then found another gem to unleash his signature flair and power on to post another excellent 8.90 to take the lead heading into the final minutes with the event's second-highest heat total of an 18.15.
With no more waves of consequence providing an answer back, Vaast emerged victorious in his first QS Final on home soil.
"Winning a QS event is one of the best things. I haven't won too many events, especially on the QS, so this one feels good at home," said Vaast. "The last tie I did this event I won the junior and got second in the QS. This one is dedicated to my brother for his birthday tomorrow. It's good for the confidence and now to be first in the rankings I'm just going to go as hard as I can."
Vaast's Final Day brilliance boasted a perfect 10-point in a Quarterfinal screamer to post the event's highest heat total of an 18.75. Now that the Tahitian is competing in the Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui region, this marks a major leap out front to start the year.
"That's the goal is to have the most Tahitian guys in the Final as we can. We ended up in the three heats together so it was great. My sister was in the Final too so I'm proud of her and congrats to all the other girls, everybody is stoked."
Aelan Vaast (FRA) nearly made it a sibling sweep and finished runner-up at home. - WSL / Lilou Valero
Aelan Vaast and Mihimana Braye Earn Runner-up to Start 2025/2026 Season
Another one of Tahiti's own standouts and younger sister to Kauli, Aelan Vaast (FRA), started her Finals Day surge with a dominant Semifinal performance to make her way to the Final. Vaast's 14.15 heat total held as the women's Semifinals best for her first-ever QS Final appearance, and in home waters to finish with a runner-up.
"It's amazing to get my first Final on the QS here at home and brings so much confidence for the season. I just changed my region after competing in Europe but now I'm back in this region and I'm excited to compete at some great venues like Sunset," said Vaast. "This year the goal is to qualify for the Challenger Series. It's a good start for me and now I can't wait to see what the future has in store this year."
Mihimana Braye (PYF) still hunts a maiden QS win on Tahitian soil with a brilliant Finals Day push. - WSL / Lilou Valero
For Mihimana Braye (PYF), this marks his first year in search of requalifying for the Challenger Series since its inception and showed he's up for the task with multiple excellent scores in the event, particularly on Finals Day. Braye's exceptional form earned him a Quarterfinal heat win before arguably the heat of the event unfolded in the Semifinals featuring Vaast, Braye, 2024/2025 No. 2 Finn McGill (HAW) and No. 3 Oliver Zietz (HAW). Now, Braye prepares for the year ahead.
"It's a great start to the year. Falling off the Challenger Series was really hard to process so I had to get back to reset for the process," said Braye. "Super stoked to be here for the start of the regional year and super happy to make the Final. It was a great event and I would've loved to win but that's how it goes and hopefully keep it going. It's special and thank you to WSL and the Federation for making this happen."
Next Generation of Hawaiʻi Contenders Rise to Final Showings
This marked Skai Suitt (HAW) second-career QS Final of the teenager's start among her fellow Hawaiian and Tahitian contingent. Suitt's precision and technique led her to a runner-up in the Round of 32, Quarterfinals and Semifinals to join Vaast into the Final. Plus, an amazing 2024/2025 season for Kiara Goold (PYF) continued in her new season debut with a massive Finals appearance. Goold's form on Day 1 took her surging through the Quarterfinals behind Zebrowski before getting one back on her fellow Tahitian in today's Semifinals.
For MaiKai Burdine (HAW) and Luke Swanson (HAW), the goofy-footed duo showed they're set for a big year ahead with Final appearances. Swanson now sets his eyes on the 2025 Challenger Series following a breakout year last season earned him a first-ever QS Final. This marks Burdine's maiden QS Final as the North Shore of O‘ahu competitor looks to make major noise this season.