At 18 years of age, Alana Blanchard is a surf industry sponsor’s dream: a fearless competitor with model good looks. As a rookie on the ASP Women’s World Qualifying Series (WQS), Alana is currently ranked #5 and making a serious charge at her dream of qualifying for the World Championship Tour. 

The young ripper, born and raised in Hanalei, Kauai, had a stellar year in ’07, winning the Women’s Pipeline Championships, the Rip Curl Girls Festival Jr. Pro event in Spain, the Roxy Pro Trials in Haleiwa, as well as the Billabong Pro Pre-Trials event at Ho’okipa, Maui. Alana capped off an illustrious amateur career in 2007 making the finals and taking 4th at NSSA Nationals at Lower Trestles. Now she’s surfing for precious points and cash.

A third place finish at this year’s 6-Star Midori Pro in Newcastle, Australia, along with a solid result at the Van’s Pier Classic in HB and consistent showings throughout the first half of the WQS schedule have landed Alana at #5 — within striking distance of the WCT. The top six women from the WQS will make that leap to center stage in women’s pro surfing.

We caught up to Alana for a quick interview after an uncharacteristic performance at the Honda U.S. Open in Huntington Beach. She was seeded in the round of 48, but got knocked out in her first heat. While this may drop her from her current ranking, Alana is staying positive. “I still have the two 6-stars in Portugal and Haleiwa, so hopefully I’ll do better in those.” 

Read the interview …

(Source: Global Surf News)
(Photo Source: SB Surfboards)