The sharp rail work of Sai Maniwa (JPN) collected the highest single wave score of the event for the women at the 2025 Siargao International Surfing Cup QS 6000 at Cloud 9. Credit: WSL / Cait Miers
CLOUD 9, Siargao Island, Philippines (Monday, October 27, 2025) – A short day at the 2025 Siargao International Surfing Cup World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 6000 event saw the remaining six heats of women’s Round of 48 completed in wind-affected two-to-three foot surf. With few barrels on offer, turns were the order of the day. Those able to attack a cleaner open face were rewarded accordingly.
Sai Maniwa (JPN) made the best of it, earning an 8.50 (out of a possible 10), the highest single wave score of the event for the women so far, thanks to a series of three critical forehand hooks. A Quarterfinalist in 2022, Maniwa took the heat over last year’s Semifinalist, Milla Coco Brown (AUS), the pair eliminating Arisa Ishii (JPN) and Kya Heuer (INA). Born and raised in Japan, Maniwa moved with her family to Australia’s Gold Coast in her teens in hopes of advancing her surfing career. The 22-year-old continues to be a threat in the Asia region, but has struggled to find the results she’s hoped for this season.
“I had really good practice sessions over the past few days,” Maniwa said. “I tried to show my surfing in 25 minutes. I was looking for waves before the heat, and I knew where to go kinda. I’m happy that I was able to get an 8.50. I was struggling to get good results in the last couple of competitions. I was talking to myself after the competition and I knew that I have the ability to show my surfing, but also mentally, I’m kind of nervous every time. So I’m trying to make a good balance between them and I’m now enjoying my competition. So yeah, it’s really fun.”
Fellow Japanese competitor Shino Matsuda (JPN) found a wave late in the final heat of the day to unleash her backhand attack for a similar three-turn combo. The 6.43 earned was enough for Matsuda to temporarily take the lead, but two single hits in exceptionally critical sections on separate waves from Olive Hardy (AUS) allowed the West Australian to earn the heat win over the Olympian. A last second inside barrel from Natalie Fensom (AUS) almost turned the heat, but Matsuda and Hardy moved forward in the event, with Fensom and local surfer Pinky Alipayo (PHL) eliminated.
While the Australia / Oceania region accounted for wins in six of the eight heats in the round, 16-year-old Indonesian Jasmine Studer (INA) claimed victory in a tight heat that saw her compatriot Kailani Johnson (INA) eliminated. The strength of Studer’s backhand carves kept her ahead of Hinata Shimizu (JPN), who advanced in second.
“The waves are really peaky, I think it’s coming in a different swell direction, so there’s not a lot of wall in the face,” Studer said. “I’m happy to get the job done, and I’m super stoked. In the free-surfs recently, I haven’t been able to catch the waves I wanted, but I was able to kind of look at what waves were best and use that as my plan for the heat.”
Tayla Green (NZL), Keira Buckpitt (AUS), and Amelie Bourke (AUS) also claimed heat wins, while Shelamae Arjona (PHL) kept the hopes alive for the local crew, moving into the Round of 32 where former winner Nilbie Blancada (PHL) awaits her event debut.
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The 2025 Siargao International Surfing Cup QS 6000 presented by Philippine Sports Commission is proudly supported by the Municipality of General Luna, the Provincial Government of Surigao Del Norte, and SISA. Sponsored by PAGCOR, Kudosurf, Vissla, Lamari, and SDMI Sports.
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