Zoie Zietz and Levi Young Win 2026 HTA Sunset Pro

SUNSET BEACH, O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, USA (Sunday, November 1, 2026) — Today, Zoie Zietz (NLD) and Levi Young (HAW) emerged victorious at the HTA Sunset Pro, a men’s and women’s World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 2,000-level event.

Sunset Beach tested some of the region’s premier contenders in a battle against Mother Nature, with Zietz and Young claiming their first-ever QS victories. A massive Finals Day kicked the North Shore leg into high gear, pushing ten-to-twelve-foot wave faces with non-stop action.

Zietz Claims Maiden QS Victory in Pumping Sunset Beach Conditions

A first-ever QS Finals appearance for 17-year-old Zoie Zietz (NLD) culminated in a maiden QS victory after multiple Semifinal finishes in her young career. Representing the Netherlands while calling Kauaʻi home, Zietz comes from a rich surfing background—her older brother Oliver competes on the Challenger Series, and her uncle Sebastian Zietz (HAW) was a CT icon for over a decade.

Overcoming macking Sunset Beach conditions, Zietz took down her Semifinal heat before taking control of a stacked Final featuring proven QS warrior Zoe McDougall (HAW), Sunset local Chesney Guinotte (HAW), and Tahiti’s Miliani Simon (PYF).

Zietz struck early in the Final, posting a 6.25 (out of a possible 10) and following up with another 6.25 on her forehand attack to secure the top spot.

“I honestly can’t believe it. It’s kind of shocking still, and I’m just super stoked,” said Zietz. “This is my first QS Final too, so just to get the win off is kind of amazing. It was huge out there, so I was a little bit scared, but I was also really hyped up and excited. It definitely gives me confidence. I’m hoping to do well at Haleʻiwa too so I can make Challengers, so this is really good for my points, and I just made World Juniors too in El Salvador, so I’m super stoked.”

With the victory, Zietz jumps to No. 5 on the regional rankings and secures her spot alongside Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) to represent the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui region at the upcoming World Junior Championships.

Young Overcomes Heavyweight Finals Day for First-Ever QS Win

Maui’s perennial standout Levi Young (HAW) broke through a stacked field to claim his long-awaited maiden QS victory. The 22-year-old powered through a four-heat marathon on Finals Day—navigating the Round of 32, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals before coming out on top in a heavy Final.

Young opened the Final with an excellent 8.40 and backed it up with an 8.00 to post a 16.40 heat total. He held off three former event winners: Shion Crawford (HAW), former Championship Tour icon Ezekiel Lau (HAW), and 2024 winner Luke Tema (HAW).

“I actually can’t really believe it. It’s still sinking in. That was a really gnarly Final with some of my best friends, some of the boys I’ve looked up to my whole life,” said Young. “We did four heats today, and it was crazy. In that last heat, my arms were cramping up… But I just kept pushing, and the training paid off.”

Young enters the remainder of the 2026/2027 season with high momentum as the tour heads to Haleʻiwa.

North Shore’s Own Zoe McDougall and Shion Crawford Earn Runner-Up Finishes

Decorated local contender Zoe McDougall (HAW) logged her first Finals appearance since her victory at Haleʻiwa in 2024, placing second in the women’s division and boosting her race for 2027 Challenger Series qualification.

“It’s epic to get such bombing conditions, and surf waves at my home break, sleep in my bed,” McDougall shared. “It’s nice to start the run off with a Final, and hopefully just keep it going in the next few events.”

On the men’s side, Haleʻiwa’s Shion Crawford (HAW) turned in a standout performance to take second place. Crawford posted several high scores throughout the day, including an impressive 8.15 single wave score in the Final.

“I just sent it on that 8.15, honestly,” Crawford laughed. “I heard Levi with two 8s, and I was like, you know, I’m just going to huck this thing. I saw the section coming down over my head… and then the next thing you know, I made it.”

Competition Results

Women’s Final Results

Zoie Zietz (NLD) – 12.50
Zoe McDougall (HAW) – 8.10
Chesney Guinotte (HAW) – 4.75
Miliani Simon (PYF) – 4.25

Men’s Final Results

Levi Young (HAW) – 16.40
Shion Crawford (HAW) – 8.15
Ezekiel Lau (HAW) – 12.25
Luke Tema (HAW) – 7.25

Women’s Semifinal Results

HEAT 1: Miliani Simon (PYF) 5.75 DEF. Zoe McDougall (HAW) 5.65, Kiara Goold (PYF) 4.90, U’ilani Nakao (HAW) 4.75
HEAT 2: Zoie Zietz (NLD) 10.55 DEF. Chesney Guinotte (HAW) 7.85, Zoee Bradshaw (HAW) 7.00, Eweleiula Wong (HAW) 5.20

Men’s Semifinal Results

HEAT 1: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 15.60 DEF. Shion Crawford (HAW) 15.35, Barron Mamiya (HAW) 14.00, Tikanui Smith (PYF) 5.35
HEAT 2: Levi Young (HAW) 12.20 DEF. Luke Tema (HAW) 12.10, Kingston Panebianco (HAW) 9.25, Oliver Zietz (NLD) 7.25

Men’s Quarterfinal Results

HEAT 1: Tikanui Smith (PYF) 10.75 DEF. Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 9.90, Cody Young (HAW) 8.35, Luke Swanson (HAW) 7.55
HEAT 2: Barron Mamiya (HAW) 17.95 DEF. Shion Crawford (HAW) 15.00, MaiKai Burdine (HAW) 12.55, Merrik Mochkatel (HAW) 9.85
HEAT 3: Kingston Panebianco (HAW) 14.90 DEF. Levi Young (HAW) 10.65, Koa Smith (HAW) 10.45, Ezra Clark (HAW) 6.85
HEAT 4: Luke Tema (HAW) 13.10 DEF. Oliver Zietz (NLD) 11.25, Rylan Beavers (HAW) 9.30, Joshua Moniz (HAW) 6.10

Men’s Round of 32 Results

HEAT 1: Luke Swanson (HAW) 12.60 DEF. Merrik Mochkatel (HAW) 10.00, Kiron Jabour (HAW) 9.75, Pax Tybuszewski (HAW) 4.00
HEAT 2: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 13.50 DEF. Shion Crawford (HAW) 8.25, Gregg Nakamura (HAW) 6.65, John Silver Iv (HAW) 1.80
HEAT 3: MaiKai Burdine (HAW) 8.90 DEF. Tikanui Smith (PYF) 8.40, Legend Chandler (HAW) 4.90, Makai McNamara (HAW) 4.50
HEAT 4: Barron Mamiya (HAW) 16.85 DEF. Cody Young (HAW) 12.15, Kalani Rivero (HAW) 9.00, Jeronimo Vargas (BRA) 7.90
HEAT 5: Kingston Panebianco (HAW) 11.50 DEF. Luke Tema (HAW) 8.80, Sheldon Paishon (HAW) 6.75, Shayden Pacarro (HAW) 6.65
HEAT 6: Levi Young (HAW) 11.95 DEF. Rylan Beavers (HAW) 10.65, Kainehe Hunt (HAW) 9.95, Mason Ho (HAW) 9.60
HEAT 7: Joshua Moniz (HAW) 11.75 DEF. Koa Smith (HAW) 10.20, Brodi Sale (HAW) 10.10, Kai Martin (HAW) 9.25
HEAT 8: Oliver Zietz (NLD) 10.25 DEF. Ezra Clark (HAW) 6.85, Nalu Deodato (HAW) 6.60, Jackson Dorian (HAW) 4.75