El Porto, CA – May 31 – The second annual Queen of the Bay surf contest, held on Saturday at El Porto and hosted by the South Bay Boardriders Club (SBBC), brought together top-ranked young surfers and enthusiastic beginners in a day celebrating women’s surfing across generations.
Fifteen-year-old Cash Hoover, one of the nation’s leading young longboarders, claimed victory in the Girls Squad Longboard (15–25) division. The Hawaii native added this title to her growing resume after recently winning her first World Surf League (WSL) QS event in Virginia Beach over Memorial Day weekend. Hoover also placed fourth in the shortboard division at Queen of the Bay.
Also 15, Teagan Meza took first place in the Girls Squad Shortboard division, overturning last year’s result when Hoover won both the longboard and shortboard titles. Meza, based in Oahu and a member of the USA Surfing Development Team, recently clinched the West Coast Regional Championship title in the 14-and-under category at Huntington Beach.
Local competitor Lisa Boos, a standout from SBBC and Mira Costa High School, placed second in both longboard and shortboard events. Her mother, Britta Boos, earned first place in the Lady Legends Shortboard (41+) division and second in longboard.
Despite the presence of elite talent, the contest welcomed surfers of all experience levels, featuring dedicated divisions for beginners. The inclusive event attracted more than 200 participants, ranging in age from 7 to 78, and took place in ideal, three-foot surf conditions.
The idea for an all-female surf contest was first proposed three years ago by SBBC board member Stephanie Rudy, who noticed a lack of female participation in her son’s school surf events.
“Sometimes it doesn’t feel like a safe space for girls when there’s a lot of boys involved,” Rudy explained.
Rudy collaborated with fellow board members Lenie Ramos and Beth Campbell to bring the event to life.
Among the youngest participants, Cai Berry stood out by winning the Micro Gromettes Assist (under 9) division.
One of the many family pairings in the event included Ana Cordero, 51, and her daughter Eva Mota, 17. Cordero, whose daughter competes for Palos Verdes Peninsula High, was excited to finally experience competition firsthand.
“I finally get to see how it feels to compete,” she said. “Usually, El Porto is full of guys. Girls can barely catch a wave, and now it’s our beach for the day.”
“I’m super proud of my mom for competing. I always try to get her to do it,” Mota added. Cordero placed second in her division, while Mota placed fifth.
The event’s oldest competitor was Kat Traina, 78, who returned to surfing at age 61 after a long hiatus. Traina finished third in the Legends Longboard (41+) division, which was won by Ginny Horstman, owner of Stoked Chocolate in Hermosa Beach.
Horstman’s daughter Millie, a freshman on the Mira Costa High School surf team, won the Gromette Longboard (10–14) division, continuing the family tradition.
Traina, who surfs regularly at The Cove in Palos Verdes, said she originally feared male surfers more than the waves. “I don’t like crowds, so events like this are great,” she shared.
The community spirit extended beyond the surf. Women-owned businesses supported the event, including Jus’ Poke co-owner Stephanie Honda, who hosted a lei-making station. Top finishers were honored with handcrafted leis.
The day also featured raffles with prizes such as surf trips to Hawaii and Cabo, and a custom surfboard shaped by Emily Bark of Bark Surfboards.
The event was emceed by pro surfer Kassia Meador, a former No. 2 WSL Women’s Longboard Tour competitor. “We have so many generations of women surfers here,” Meador said. “It’s great to celebrate the ocean, the community, and the ladies of the water.”