Photo: Brent Bielmann//World Surf League
Twelve-year-old Teahupo’o local Kelia Mehani Gallina has earned a spot in the World Surf League’s Lexus Tahiti Pro. Gallina, known as Miss Teahupo’o on Instagram, defeated Aelan Vaast in the trials on July 20 to qualify for the Championship Tour event next month in Tahiti.
“I have no words,” Gallina said on the broadcast after winning the trials. “I’m so happy. I can’t believe it.”
Gallina said she’s going to be training for the event in the coming weeks, and that it will be a “dream” to match up with the top-ranked Molly Picklum.
Top surfers expressed their elation for Gallina in the comment section on social media.
Bethany Hamilton called Gallina’s win “sick.” Tatiana Weston-Webb said, “So amazing! Congrats Kelia! Take ‘em down.” Erin Brooks chimed in, “Congrats!”
As per Gallina’s WSL profile, she has competed in one Qualifying Series event, the 2024 TOA Pro in Tahiti, where she placed 25th. She started surfing Teahupo’o at four years old and regularly posts videos threading the wave’s dangerous tubes.
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The men’s trial was won by Mihimana Braye, who defeated Firmin Tairoa in the final. In 2024, Braye eliminated Griffin Colapinto before narrowly falling to John John Florence in the round of 16.
Braye joins 2024 Olympic gold medalist Kauli Vaast as the other men’s wildcard. Three-time world champ Gabriel Medina lobbied the WSL for one of those two wildcards, but his request was denied.
The WSL has yet to announce who the remaining regional women’s wildcard will be.
The Lexus Tahiti Pro – the last event of the 2025 WSL CT before the Finals in Fiji – will take place August 7-16 at the renowned left-hander and 2024 Olympic venue, Teahupo’o.
