French female surfers shine at the 2026 US Open of Surfing
The Lexus US Open of Surfing, the second stop on the 2026 Challenger Series, is a crucial step toward the Championship Tour. In Huntington Beach, the French female surfers are determined to earn valuable points in the race for qualification.
A strong French showing right from the first round
Teams that qualified after the first day:
Aelan Vaast, Kauli Vaast's sister, continues her excellent start to the Challenger Series by winning her heat.
Tessa Thyssen proves her experience and advances to the Round of 32.
The other French women continue to gain experience competing against a very strong international field.
Quarterfinals:
Johanne Defay advances to the semifinals
Round of 16 - Quarterfinals - Semifinals
B. Hennessy 6.00 E. Walla 11.56 S. Kerr 11.57
J. Defay 12.83 J. Defay 14.76 J . Defay 9.7
Johanne Defay has built on her excellent start to the competition at Huntington Beach by advancing to the semifinals of the 2026 Lexus US Open of Surfing. She did so after decisively defeating Brisa Hennessy, who had been performing very well in big-wave conditions. Having already won the US Open in 2015, Defay remains in contention for another major title.
A tougher semifinal awaited her against the very young surfer from Queensland, Australia, Sierra Kerr, who right from the start caught a frontside wave with a massive turn at the top of the wave and her fins sticking out after a powerful bottom turn.
Sierra Kerr went on to win the competition in an all-Australian final.
US Open - Huntington Beach - Source: World Surf League
An ambitious new generation in France
Women's surfing in France now boasts one of the most promising lineups in the world.
With a mix of experienced female surfers and young talents, the next generation is already well established.
Among the names that will continue to headline the season:
Johanne Defay
Vahine Fierro
Tya Zebrowski
Aelan Vaast
Tessa Thyssen
This diversity allows France to consistently qualify for the final stages of the biggest tournaments.
Huntington Beach, a challenging spot
Unlike the powerful waves at Teahupo'o or Pipeline, Huntington Beach is a beach break that is constantly changing.
Female surfers must:
quickly assess the sandbars and, if necessary, weave through the Huntington Beach Pier;
choose the best TV shows;
be patient;
be able to perform a variety of maneuvers on waves that are sometimes irregular.
This versatility makes the Lexus U.S. Open a particularly challenging competition.
What are the challenges involved in qualifying for the Championship Tour?
Each qualification earns you essential points.
With only two stages completed, the standings are still wide open, but some early trends are already emerging.
A spot in the quarterfinals—or even the semifinals—can give a female surfer a significant lead in the race for the Championship Tour.
For the French women, the goal is clear: to stay in contention with the best teams ahead of their upcoming matches in Brazil, Portugal, and then Australia.
Series to Watch
The final stages of the competition promise several high-level matchups, featuring the Brazilian men’s team and the equally strong U.S. team with Griffin Colapinto and Jake Marshall.
Meanwhile, the current rising stars among the women’s rookies, Erin Brooks and Bettylou Sakura Johnson, were eliminated just before the semifinals.
French fans will be paying close attention today as Johanne Defay, the only French competitor still in the running, faces off against three Australians.