Eimeo Czermak Scores Perfect-20, Wins Teahupo’o Trials, Leaves CT In Terror
And 13-year-old “Miss Teahupo’o” solidifies destiny, wins second year in a row.
Come August 8th, 23-year-old Eimeo Czermak and 13-year-old Kelia “Miss Teahupo’o” Gallina will be one heat away from potentially knocking the number one surfers in the world.
The two just beat the entire field of locals at mostly-pumping Teahupo’o to become the 2026 Tahiti Pro Trials winners and receive their wildcard spot in the Outerknown Tahiti Pro 2026.
The way the Trials system works in 2026 is this: the two Trials winners (in this case, Eimeo and Kelia) will surf in Round 1 against the CT’s bottom seeds. If they make it through that Round 1 heat, they will surf against world number one in their respective divisions (Leonardo Fioravanti and Gabriela Bryan). Not exactly the yellow jersey welcome party Leo was hoping for.
Eimeo’s road to his first and long-awaited Tahiti Trials win appeared effortless — he had a Perfect 20 heat and multiple 18+ point heats — until he faced off against his rival/friend Matahi Drollet in the final. After a few tube-for-tube exchanges, it was Eimeo who came out on top and earned his spot for the first time in a CT event.
The surfing world has had its eyes fixed on Eimeo for a while. He’s one of the few wildcards (along with Pipeline) that a world #1 surfer needing a result to solidify their lead will really, truly, not want to draw.
On the Women’s side, 13-year-old Kelia Gallina (the Instagram-dubbed “Miss Teahup’o”) will be the second-youngest surfer ever to surf in a CT, joining… herself, who was the first-youngest surfer to surf a CT last year. Kelia won last year’s Tahiti Pro Trials and clinched a spot in the main event. Unfortunately, she lost in the first Elimination Round to Gabriela Bryan, but might just have another chance at the Hawaiian this year.
In this year’s event, Kelia narrowly beat out Kohai Fierro (Vahine Fierro’s younger sister) in a competitive final with almondy, pinching barrels. Kelia had to fight through heats with surfers double her age the entire event and emerged dominant once again.
Gallina’s star is now decidedly ascending, with a board full of sponsors and a home island full of supporters cheering her on from the notorious channel. And, as it tends to happen with people her age, Kelia is notably bigger and better than she was last year. She still looks like a kid, but doesn’t look like a little kid. And her recent wave choice proves it.
Will this be the first time this season the betting odds favor a local wildcard? We’ll see in August…
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