First photo: Spectators watch from the beach as Maui’s Imaikalani deVault surfs in the first semifinal heat of the Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro today in Queensland, Australia. DeVault defeated Jett Schilling of California 13.34 to advance to the final, where he lost to Brazil’s Samuel Pupo 15.10-7.33. While falling short of the World Surf League Challenger Series title, deVault took a huge step toward getting back to the Championship Tour with his runner-up finish — the top 10 finishers in the six-event Challenger Series earn spots on next year’s CT. “It feels insane, it felt really good to get into the first QS final of my life,” deVault, who made his maiden voyage on the CT in 2022, was quoted as saying in a WSL news release. “This is my first experience seeing Snapper with swell. It’s been an insane few weeks of being here. Making it to the finals was the cherry on top.”
World Surf League / Andrew Shield photo
Second photo: Pupo (left) and deVault hold their trophies after the final. In the women’s final, Australia’s India Robinson defeated California’s Sawyer Lindblad 14.17-10.17.
Cait Miers photos
Third photo: DeVault surfs in the first quarterfinal today. DeVault beat Australian’s Jacob Willcox 12.50-9.97 to kick off his finals day. Stop No. 2 on the Challenger Series is the GWM Sydney Surf Pro, which starts Wednesday.
Cait Miers photos
