Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN) emerged victorious at the WRV Outer Banks Pro Presented by Pacifico, a World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 2,000-level event, in a marathon Finals Day. An all-in Finals Day picked up action from the Round of 64, Heat 9, and powered all the way to the Final before crowning Hasburgh the event winner after a blistering performance. The East Coast leg is complete for the men, and the rankings are settled leaving the Outer Banks, but a big season still lies in store for Challenger Series qualification.
Hasburgh Claims Second-Career QS Victory In A Stacked Final
One of North America’s proven contenders, Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN), earned his major breakthrough win in 2024 at the Cabarete Pro, and found his surge atop the podium once more in the Outer Banks. This marked Hasburgh’s third Final in the Outer Banks, earning a runner-up in 2025 and a fourth-place finish in 2024, and he navigated through the tricky wind swell that provided him enough to finish atop the podium.
“I’m just feeling relieved. So many sleepless nights and just visualizing the Final. This level here is so gnarly, and all these guys surf so good, and I just find myself wanting to be that guy,” said Hasburgh. “I want to qualify, and it takes so much to do that. There are some people I want to thank. My parents, first of all, my mom, who is here with me every step of the way. My coach, Brad [Gerlach], calls me throughout all the events and in between to make sure I’m in a good place. This is where I want to be, I don’t see myself doing anything else. I’ve made that commitment to being a pro surfer, and I just have amazing people on my team. I’m just really happy.”
The tough conditions set the stage for a stacked Final affair featuring previous Challenger Series contender Jabe Swierkocki (USA), 2024 Virginia Beach Pro winner Blayr Barton (USA), 2024 Cabarete Pro winner Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN), and one of the region’s newest threats, Eeli Timperi (FIN). Barton wasted no time putting up scores to set the tone, but it was Hasburgh who reset the scale with his backhand attack to post an excellent 8.00 (out of a possible 10) to narrow the lead to a slim margin behind Barton. Another quick exchange between Barton, Timperi, and Hasburgh pushed Hasburgh up to a 14.25 (out of a possible 20) heat total to take a commanding lead. Swierkocki got his account started late in the heat, and as time dwindled, Hasburgh left them all needing solid scores for what the conditions offered until the final horn sounded to crown the Canadian the event victor.
Hasburgh powered his way through Finals Day, starting in the Round of 64, Heat 14, with a victory before advancing behind Barton in the Round of 32, and Jairo Perez (CRC) in the Quarterfinals. Hasburgh got the edge on Barton in their Semifinal bout, eliminating Perez and an in-form Sebastian Mendes(USA), who earned his best-career result in the Semifinals. Now, Hasburgh looks to keep his momentum thriving when the QS returns to action in Puerto Rico.
East Coast’s Own Blayr Barton Finds His Groove For A Runner-up Finish
Hailing from just north of the Outer Banks, Sandbridge, Va., competitor Blayr Barton (USA) nearly made a charge atop the podium following multiple heat wins in his Round of 64, Round of 32, and Quarterfinal heats before advancing behind Hasburgh in their Semifinal bout. The 21-year-old’s precision in the small conditions earned one of the day’s best single-wave scores of a 7.25 in his Quarterfinal heat and carried that momentum to a runner-up finish. This marked a major spark for the local hero, earning his first Finals Day appearance of the season as he now hunts for more.
“It feels so good. I’ve been waiting for this feeling of just making heats. It’s hard, it’s really hard to do that, and especially with these conditions,” said Barton. “When I made it through the Semifinal heat at the end, I was already so stoked just to be there with all these guys. I’ve been fighting and training so hard for this moment of getting back to a Final. I really wanted this one, but congrats to Wheeler. The waves were hard, but we did the best we could, and to come away with a second means a lot to just push my confidence. I’m stoked for the rest of the year, and we’re just getting started. I just want to thank everybody who supports me. My family, my friends, my girlfriend, WRV, my sponsors, it means so much.”
Eeli Timperi and Jabe Swierkocki Earn Finals Spots In Marathon Finals Day
Included in the Final, Eeli Timperi (FNI) found his competitive magic to surge from the Round of 88 all the way to the Final. Timperi, 19, powered through a stacked list of competitors that included a heavy Quarterfinal battle against eventual fourth-place finisher Jabe Swierkocki (USA). Swierkocki currently chases his requalification among the Challenger Series elite. He then went on to beat defending event victor Cannon Carr (USA)
For Jabe Sweirkocki (USA), this marked his first QS Finals Day appearance of the year as he enters the back half of the season looking strong. Swierkocki laid down the event’s best performance in his Round of 64 debut, posting a 14.75 heat total, and keeps the hunt for his maiden QS win. The Ventura, Calif., standout sits at No. 6 on the QS rankings now with more major events on the horizon.
WRV Outer Banks Pro Presented by Pacifico Final Results:
1 – Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN) 12.45
2 – Blayr Barton (USA) 9.70
3 – Eeli Timperi (FIN) 8.90
4- Jabe Swierkocki (USA) 4.95
WRV Outer Banks Pro Presented by Pacifico Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Jabe Swierkocki (USA) 9.00 DEF. Eeli Timperi (FIN) 8.25, Cannon Carr (USA) 7.40, Sam Reidy (CRC) 6.25
HEAT 2: Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN) 11.60 DEF. Blayr Barton (USA) 10.70, Sebastian Mendes (USA) 10.55, Jairo Perez (CRC) 10.25
WRV Outer Banks Pro Presented by Pacifico Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Cannon Carr (USA) 10.65 DEF. Sam Reidy (CRC) 10.10, Kyan Yang (USA) 10.00, Lucas Owston (USA) 3.50
HEAT 2: Jabe Swierkocki (USA) 8.30 DEF. Eeli Timperi (FIN) 7.55, Will Deane (USA) 7.40, Luke Lopez (USA) 5.55
HEAT 3: Jairo Perez (CRC) 11.25 DEF. Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN) 7.95, Dylan Sloan (USA) 6.45, Giacomo Mesinas (USA) 6.30
HEAT 4: Blayr Barton (USA) 13.00 DEF. Sebastian Mendes (USA) 8.90, Alejandro Bernales (PER) 8.20, Luke Guinaldo (USA) 6.60
WRV Outer Banks Pro Presented by Pacifico Round of 32 Results:
HEAT 1: Sam Reidy (CRC) 8.55 DEF. Eeli Timperi (FIN) 7.20, Kai Barton (USA) 6.20, Henry Rothey (USA) 6.05
HEAT 2: Cannon Carr (USA) 10.75 DEF. Jabe Swierkocki (USA) 8.85, Matton Bain (USA) 8.20, Luke Wyler (USA) 7.65
HEAT 3: Will Deane (USA) 9.25 DEF. Kyan Yang (USA) 8.45, Kai Gale Grani (PAN) 8.20, Wayne Satterwhite (USA) 6.70
HEAT 4: Luke Lopez (USA) 9.00 DEF. Lucas Owston (USA) 7.80, Cose Stoyanoff (USA) 7.55, Loyal Kenworthy (USA) 5.90
HEAT 5: Giacomo Mesinas (USA) 10.85 DEF. Luke Guinaldo (USA) 9.00, Cash Souter (USA) 7.35, Taylor Tice (USA) 4.35
HEAT 6: Dylan Sloan (USA) 9.05 DEF. Alejandro Bernales (PER) 8.90, Michael Dunphy (USA) 8.45, Chase Niemann (USA) 6.20
HEAT 7: Blayr Barton (USA) 11.10 DEF. Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN) 7.70, Enzo Ackermann (MEX) 6.50, Rex Hennings (USA) 5.35
HEAT 8: Sebastian Mendes (USA) 10.25 DEF. Jairo Perez (CRC) 10.15, Titus Kaimana Santucci (USA) 8.05, Gavin Bren (USA) 7.40
WRV Outer Banks Pro Presented by Pacifico Round of 64 (Heats 9 – 16) Results:
HEAT 9: Luke Guinaldo (USA) 8.00 DEF. Chase Niemann (USA) 6.55, Asher Craft (PUR) 6.15, Darshan Antequera (CRC) 5.70
HEAT 10: Cash Souter (USA) 7.75 DEF. Alejandro Bernales (PER) 7.50, Teo Grani (PAN) 5.55, Jacob Burke (BRB) 5.35
HEAT 11: Dylan Sloan (USA) 10.50 DEF. Giacomo Mesinas (USA) 5.05, Italo Mesinas-Dickson (USA) 4.10, Parker Cohn (USA)
HEAT 12: Michael Dunphy (USA) 12.10 DEF. Taylor Tice (USA) 9.45, Teddy Wittemann (USA) 7.35, Charlie Keese (USA)
HEAT 13: Blayr Barton (USA) 12.00 DEF. Sebastian Mendes (USA) 8.95, Miles McCall (USA) 8.15, Tommy Granger (USA) 4.55
HEAT 14: Wheeler Hasburgh (CAN) 10.85 DEF. Titus Kaimana Santucci (USA) 10.65, Carson Carr (USA) 7.75, Ryder Smith (USA) 7.30
HEAT 15: Jairo Perez (CRC) 12.85 DEF. Rex Hennings (USA) 9.05, Beckham McCart (USA) 7.25, Jonny Herrouin (USA) 4.45
HEAT 16: Gavin Bren (USA) 7.85 DEF. Enzo Ackermann (MEX) 5.35, Shane Frontino (USA) 3.75, Jett Schilling (USA)
